STINGRAY POLE PIECES

[B.Flat]

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?

 

[Bassmingo]

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. 

 

[pineweasel]

Yes, same on my '96. I tried polishing them but it made no difference 

[B.Flat]

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 ?

[ahpook]

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.

[B.Flat]

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.

[HazBeen]

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.

[itu]

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.