How is the best way to refurbish the gold plating on my banjo?
Spencer
Refurbish? Is the gold gone or mostly gone? That calls for dissasembly and sending out to be replated. One place (of several) is Huber near Nashville. Another direct plating company is Nashville Plating. In the tenor/plectrum 4 string world Renee Karnes is known and popular for full restoration of old gold banjos.
If you just want to CLEAN your banjo, take GREAT care. DO NOT "POLISH" with ANY polishing compounds -- they will remove what gold you do have.
It is often said here that a t shirt and a fine mist of Windex is all you should do. Even that way, if you rub HARD, you will rub away the gold plate.
If you want to get off dust, dirt, crumbs, dandruff, etc. get a spray can of compressed air like would be used to clean a computer, and use that.
Generally the less rubbing, the better.
A fine bristle brush is better than rubbing with any cloth.
Some say that before you try to "polish" your gold plate, say good-bye to your gold plate.
Sounds like an early style D, I had one. The gold really didnt last in the early style D as well as it did final style D in mid to late 70s. They must’ve changed plating companies or formulas or something.
In the 80s I had my gold plated style D plating done by Advanced Plating in Nashville, taking it apart and insuring and mailing the parts. Also had them do stock Gibson electric guitar parts for a hollow-body, which had shed all its gold also. However, if Steve Huber offers such a service, now, I’d check with him first to gauge interest. I’d rather a “banjo guy” replate my banjo parts. In fact, I’d pay him to disassemble, plate, reassemble, and you’ll have a banjo setup as good as it could get. From what I hear. I’ve never met or dealt with Mr. Huber, only saw him with banjos displayed at SPBGMA show once, and admired his banjo line.
Newest Posts
'Good Tuesday Morning' 5 hrs
'Emerson' 10 hrs
'Gold Star GF-85 (Modified)' 10 hrs
'Going Down Town' 11 hrs
