Subject line covers it.
I need a one-legged armrest for a "Gibson" parts banjo (banjo made mostly of Gibson late post-war parts).
Armrest for me is an "I don't care" part. Not paying a premium for genruine Gibson. But I don't want to go totally cheap, either. I have one of the very inexpensive Chinese armrests you can buy on eBay and Amazon and there's something about it that doesn't look quite as nice as armrests built more closely to the old Gibson standard.
So I'm looking at Saga/Golden Gate P-100 steel or P-104 brass. Both triple nickel plated. Both claiming to be faithful to 1930s style. Neither one expensive. Steel costs a little less.
Is there an objective reason to choose brass over steel?
….not if it’s nickel plated
Nickel plating does eventually wear. The steel will have brown rust when the nickel wears. Brass will have the yellow to brown color.
That said, most people don't play their instruments enough to wear through the nickel plating.
Bob Smakula
quote:
Originally posted by Bob Smakula...most people don't play their instruments enough to wear through the nickel plating.
The two-legged 1970s Gibson-stamped armrest on my other Gibson-parts banjo came to me with the plating worn through!
Looking at exposed brass vs steel didn't occur to me.
I'm 75 and unlikely to wear away the plating. But maybe I'll go with brass just in case!
Thanks.
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