jbanjoist - Posted - 09/03/2025:  13:47:17

What say you? And thanks for your ideas.

style 6 - Posted - 09/03/2025:  14:46:03

Just wipe with damp cloth but not very much or you won’t have any gold.

Culloden - Posted - 09/03/2025:  16:06:29

Especially if it's a Gibson RB800. They have the thinnest gold plating I've ever seen.

LifeLongStudent - Posted - 09/03/2025:  16:11:59

Dishwashing liquid (Dawn) and lukewarm water. Gently handwash then rinse and wipe dry.

itsnotyou - Posted - 09/03/2025:  19:52:59

I keep a coat of spray wax on the gold and use a clean microfiber cloth to gently remove dust.

Alvin Conder - Posted - 09/03/2025:  19:53:09

If it is a Gibson, especially if it is one of the aforementioned RB800’s, the gold plating is so thin that even looking at it can wear it off.

On any gold plating, I would not use anything more than distilled water and a very very soft cloth and lightly wipe, not rub, the surface to remove any dust or grime. Anything else will take off the plating.

HSmith - Posted - 09/04/2025:  00:13:39

The plating on all gold-plated banjos is very thin and always fragile. Unless you really can't bear the level of grime on yours, I'd leave it alone and call it 'patina'.
If you must clean it, don't use any metal polish of any kind. They are all abrasive to some degree and will remove some (or all) of the plating.
As others have suggested, use a very mild soft soap and warm water, applied gently with a clean, soft cloth. Apply very little (almost no) pressure and dry the surface with another clean, soft cloth.
In daily use, avoid touching the plated surface and keep the banjo in its case when not being played to avoid the gradual accumulation of more dust and contaminants.

The Old Timer - Posted - 09/04/2025:  07:12:39

The best way to clean banjo gold plate is NOT GET IT DIRTY.



Don't touch the gold plate anywhere other than the armrest and tailpiece. And they will eventually get dirty



Don't eat or drink when you have the banjo on. Don't sneeze on it. Don't sweat on it. Avoid playing it in HIGH humidity or fog. Don't leave it in the open around the house because it will accumulate dust, which looks like dirt after awhile.



And even with all this, over the years it will get dirty. It will look brown and "tarnished". Gold plate doesn't tarnish but it does accumulate dirt.



Now, when you spot some crud on it if you want to really be careful I suggest a fine brush, like some kind of soft natural hairs. If you can find one of those aerosol cans that just sprays compressed air, that would be the best.



If you rub gold plate with any kind of cloth or fabric, the gold plate will wear off.



As one wit posted here years ago "before you try to clean your gold plating, say good-bye to your gold plating".



Personally I love gold banjos, and to me dirt=character, if it's honestly earned.

Edited by - The Old Timer on 09/04/2025 07:17:10

randybartlett - Posted - 09/04/2025:  07:25:20

About every 4-5 years, I take mine apart. I run a sink of hot water and soak everything in diluted dawn dish soap. Then, rinse and dry.

Then I lightly coat everything with "renaissance wax polish". Apparently it was invented by the British Royal Museum to protect everything from suits of armor to the royal jewels. It puts an invisible layer of protection on the metal.

jbanjoist - Posted - 09/04/2025:  09:04:53

If it helps, it's a vintage Gold Star J.D. Crowe model.
Thanks for all the great tips. She's gotten dirty over the years.