How to dull/lighten an anodized finish

[Pea Turgh]

In one of my contemplative moods, whilst staring in to space instead of being a productive member of society, my gaze fell upon my favourite bass.  Felt the urge to change something, and thought gold anodized knobs to match the gold anodized scratchplate might work.  Knobs ordered/sailed/arrived - too damn gold.

 

Is it possible to tone the colour down to match the scratchplate?  Light sanding?

 

 

[BlueMoon]

I guess that, without testing, you’ll never know. It could get ugly pretty quickly if the top coating is very thin though.

I’d recommend starting with a light touch (e.g. kitchen sponge scourer) on a sacrificial example. Good luck.

[itu]

If those knobs are made of Al, the colour is inside the material. I'd be careful when scratching the surface. Slowly, please.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Nothing good can possibly come from sanding the knobs. It might be easier to darken the pickguard.

[Pea Turgh]

Yeah, I’ll probably screw it up.  Was hoping there would be a nice easy chemical solution, like pop it in vinegar for 30 seconds and it would magically match perfectly.

[snorkie635]

I don't think that this can actually be done (without the help of Q Section). I have a bass with the same gold pickguard and silver controls. If I were you, I'd leave well alone and learn to love it.

[Crusoe]

Just keep fiddling with them and your seat and finger gunk will probably do it for you. 😄

[Stub Mandrel]

Drop them in caustic soda and the colour will fade very rapidly.

[BlueMoon]

9 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Drop them in caustic soda and the colour will fade very rapidly.

That’s a good thought. 
 

Would mild acid also act in a similar way? Cola drinks, brown sauce, for example.

[Stub Mandrel]

4 hours ago, BlueMoon said:

That’s a good thought. 
 

Would mild acid also act in a similar way? Cola drinks, brown sauce, for example.

 

No, the problem with caustic is it is VERY fast, so use very dilute and tip into a boiling water & vinegar solution to stop the reaction.

 

It actually dissolves the tiny 'tubes' of aluminium oxide that hold the die. Too much will strip to bare aluminium. So a weak solution until a bit of die leaches out. The vinegar neutralises and stops the process. The boiling reseals (what is left of) the tubes.

[Pea Turgh]

Went to fit the new knobs - they don’t fit!  The holes are a bit small.  Never mind, I’ll make a more informed choice next time.  This set are going to live on an old Trace head that was missing it’s knobs.