Q: I recently bought a Les Paul Custom Reissue from Sweetwater which I love. Typically when playing, I rest my hand on the stop tailpiece because I tend to pick close to the bridge. I just noticed that it’s starting to tarnish. Is there a way to restore the original shine and what can I do to keep this from becoming a problem in the future?
A: The tarnish you notice is very likely caused by acids and one or more enzymes (protein-based molecules) secreted by the body when you sweat. Enzymes are well known as catalysts for specific chemical reactions. Since you rest your hand on the stop tailpiece, that’s where most of the effect will be noticed. Many manufacturers, such as Fender and Gibson, have commercially available care kits that include compounds that can help restore the shine to your tailpiece. You could also use jeweler’s rouge, particularly if your metal parts are gold-plated. You can probably minimize further deterioration by thoroughly rubbing down the tailpiece – along with all the metal parts and strings – with a clean, dry cloth after every set or session. An old t-shirt with high cotton content will work, as will commercially available polishing cloths. Many guitars today actually ship with one, but it’s a good idea to have several on hand, as they always seem to mysteriously vanish. If your problem persists, your sweat probably is very acidic. You could try putting a piece of clear shipping tape over your tailpiece, which won’t detract from your guitar’s overall look, but you should remove it immediately after each gig.