tailpiece tarnish

[jamman]

The tailpiece on my mando has been tarnished and I was wondering what I should use to remove it. Any tips?

[phynie]

I have used liquid brass cleaner on mine. I just slip some paper towels under the tailpiece and lightly scrub it with a toothbrush. Works great! I don't remeber the brand name, I think it's mr metal.

[jalimando]

In the past, I have used a mild metals polish that I normally used to remove tarnish from my silver posessions. I don't know the name of the product off hand but when I get home, I will check on that.

If you are talking about the flat tailpiece cover, then make sure you remove it before you start to polish. I've never had a problem, but as good practice I always keep the metal polish away from the wood finish just in case a reaction would occur.

There are other possible solutions like sonic jewelry cleaners and such but the polish worked for me.

~jalimando

[sunburst]

I was wondering what I should use to remove it. Any tips?

Screwdriver.

OK, that's the worst joke I've posted in a while, but I just couldn't resist somehow.

Seriously, Simichrome polish and Flitz are both good products for keeping nickel and chrome clean. Not for gold! gold is too soft to polish, and doesn't tarnish anyway.
Try a motorcycle shop for these products, of if you know anybody who cleans or works on airplanes.

[bluebilly]

Hi. I've been a member for a while but I'm still new here. You may think I'm crazy but I use toothpaste (not gel) to clean my tailpiece cover. Believe it or not, you'll get one of the best shines you'll ever see on your tailpiece cover. :coffee:

[mando bandage]

I've decided to let mine tarnish in the hope that, eventually, my mandolin will be worth the price of a Gibson distressed model.

R

[JD Cowles]

these suggestions sound better than my usual spit and shirt-tail method

[GTison]

is there anything to prevent tarnish on gold covers?

[Ken Berner]

bowfinger, I've found that placing an old, soft cotton (folded) hankerchief(?) over the tailpiece helps. I always do this when wearing a short-sleeved shirt. No, it doesn't look too spiffy.

[mandoJeremy]

bluebilly, you are absolutely correct with the toothpaste. I found out many years ago that toothpaste is the best jewelry cleaner there is and it would work on tailpieces just as well.

[Lane Pryce]

Purty good results on teeth as well. Lp

[jamman]

Tried the toothpaste last night, breath smells much better now.

It did polish the tailpiece, bu didnt remove the actual tarnish. Will pick up a polish mentioned soon, thanks all.

[Jim Webster]

What kind of tailpiece is it? My Breedlove Quartz came with a stamped tailpiece that was (I believe) nickel plated. It looks exactly like the one that Stew Mac sells for $10 or so. It tarnished quickly and I couldn't find anything that removed the tarnish. I have a similar problem on my Johnson tricone resonator guitar where my right arm rests on the guitar body. Nothing I've tried removes the tarnish -- though I haven't yet tried toothpaste!

On the mando I traded up to an Allen gold plated cast tailpiece, which gave me added sustain as well as no more tarnish.

[bluebilly]

If you try the toothpaste really scrub hard with one finger in a cloth of some kind. After doing so, look at the cloth and you'll see it starting to turn dark. Repeat a few with a little bit of toothpaste, but still you have to scrub it pretty hard. Then wipe it prety clean with the clean part of the rag. You can't just put it on and expect it to work. You have to work hard for it to work, and use it once a week or until your tail peice cover starts to tarnish. (be sure to use toothpaste not gel)

[jamman]

I used my toothrush to work the tarnish, and it didn't budge. I'm wondering how tonight's brushing is going to taste.

[mandoJeremy]

Try the Meguiars #28 All Metal Polish. I use that stuff religously for removing tarnish from quite a few different things. You can get it at your local automotive paint store.