Poll - Gold vs Silver

[ivancook]

Gold vs Silver. Ignoring the values of the actual metals, which color do you prefer for hardware?

[Hudmister]

Gold, absolutely gold, tuners and tail piece, bridge adjustment screws and gold strap buttons, gold tone frets. I only have one mandolin like this but two electric guitars. Looks great with phosphor bronze strings and sunburst finish. Gold is always a solid investment and looks great matched with ebony Hard to keep clean and shiny though, tarnish is a constant problem but a little TLC and it's a stunner. I do not believe any actual gold is involved in making gold instrument hardware but it looks gold.

[Mandobart]

I've always preferred nickel.

[ivancook]

Gold, absolutely gold, tuners and tail piece, bridge adjustment screws and gold strap buttons, gold tone frets. I only have one mandolin like this but two electric guitars. Looks great with phosphor bronze strings and sunburst finish. Gold is always a solid investment and looks great matched with ebony Hard to keep clean and shiny though, tarnish is a constant problem but a little TLC and it's a stunner. I do not believe any actual gold is involved in making gold instrument hardware but it looks gold.

Did you vote?

[Ray(T)]

It’s like asking an Englishman whether he would like tea or coffee. It depends how I feel at the time I’m asked; so I won’t be voting.

[Eric Platt]

When younger was allergic to gold. Specifically the nickel content. Made it an easy choice early on to not go for gold plating on instruments.

[yankees1]

Gold vs Silver. Ignoring the values of the actual metals, which color do you prefer for hardware?

!
Gold tuners, Gold frets, Gold tailpiece

[Murphy Slaw]

I love the patina of the worn gold look on my J-45.

I prefer everything to look aged.

It matches me better....

[soliver]

I was more a fan of Nickel Chrome (silver) at the outset of my interest in mandolin, but when I commissioned my Silverangel, I asked for Gold on a whim and really haven't looked back. I just think it looks snazzy!

[Denny Gies]

Silver tuning pegs and a gold tailpiece. That's what came on my Randy Wood F 5 so if it's good for Randy it's good for me.

[TheMandoKit]

For me, it depends on the wood and the finish. I have several instruments in honey/amber color, and gold looks best with them. 1920s F4 looks great with the tarnished silver-ish hardware.

Don't get me started on button color.

[Jill McAuley]

Yeah, for me it depends on the finish of the instrument too - I like gold hardware on natural/blonde and sunburst finishes and like nickel hardware on black top or sheraton brown finishes.

[maxr]

Gold, silver, nickel, chrome, anodising, paint...I really don't care what an instrument looks like - the question for me is usually 'can I get more sound by buying plain looks?' The answer is often Yes provided you can't afford top line, which is certainly the case with me

[tiltman]

Gold vs Silver? Probably what I pay the least amount of attention to when looking at mandolins...

YMMV.

Kirk

[Greg Connor]

Nothing Better Than Gold

[SWS]

Yeah, for me it depends on the finish of the instrument too - I like gold hardware on natural/blonde and sunburst finishes and like nickel hardware on black top or sheraton brown finishes.

I 100% agree.

[withfoam]

Same as above. It really depends on the finish of the instrument. I'm typically one for silver, but for a lovely mando with rich brown and orange/yellow tones, I prefer gold.

[Louise NM]

What Jill said. Depends on the wood, the finish, and the inlay.

[John Soper]

I agree that a mandolin is a whole package, and many times nickel works visually better than gold. However, as somebody with a serious nickel allergy (looks like a bad case of poison ivy), I prefer gold-plated tailpieces. Even wearing long sleeves, I can get a major rash that weeps on my forearm.

[dan in va]

Silver can go better with some wood colors than gold and vice versa. Generally tho, gold seems less flashy than silver.

[JEStanek]

Depends on the instrument finish. I've had both. You need an option for either or both.

Jamie

[J Mangio]

Gold, gotta love the bling.

[mandroid]

Silver tarnishes Gold does not, both are soft and being precious metals, the plating thickness is just a couple microns..

So Brass is as good as needed for yellow .

Nickel is good enough for Gibson, It's good enough for Me.

I have mandolins with hardware in both Ag & Au ..

[ivancook]

Almost 50/50!

[Hudmister]

43% gold, 57% silver.