B.Flat Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 I have just bought a 1991 Stingray. The pole pieces appear "blackened", some more than others and most not so under the strings.(see photo) I cannot decide if this is natural ageing discoloration or if the poles were originally black. I seem to remember seeing photos of other Stingrays with blackened or non-silver poles. Can anyone shed any light on this for me please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassmingo Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Quote if this is natural ageing discoloration It is. I've owned a '98 Stingray from new and the pole pieces now resemble your photo above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineweasel Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Yes, same on my '96. I tried polishing them but it made no difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.Flat Posted October 6, 2019 Author Share Posted October 6, 2019 OK, thanks for the reply. Now I did own a 1978 S'ray for 30years, until it was stolen (heartbreak) but the poles never discolored. Can anyone with some knowledge of metallurgy/physics explain why these later pickup poles do this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 10 minutes ago, B.Flat said: OK, thanks for the reply. Now I did own a 1978 S'ray for 30years, until it was stolen (heartbreak) but the poles never discolored. Can anyone with some knowledge of metallurgy/physics explain why these later pickup poles do this ? My 79 Sabre has the discolouration, so I'm not sure it's to do with the age of the magnets. I'd guess it's to do with variations between the pole pieces themselves and how they were treated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.Flat Posted October 6, 2019 Author Share Posted October 6, 2019 That is interesting. Another point is when I look at the underside of the pickup the poles are are pristine metal, and also the edges are radius-ed, not shear cut like the visible ends when mounted. I am sure non of this affects the performance but I would like to know why it happens. I have tried to clean the end of one pole with some fine wet and dry, which did remove some of the discoloration, but also reveals that the metal is not smooth but pitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Caustic sweat.... it depends on your sweat type and how it corrodes the metal. Pretty sure of that, hence some basses do and others do not discolour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Sweat is very efficient. Depending on one's appetite, sweat can affect leather, plastics, metals etc. It tends to be acidic and include quite some chemicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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