POLL: Gold of Chrome Hardware for this Strat?

[partialdoctor]

Ok guys I need some help here. I am finishing up the finish on my body and cannot decide what color hardware to use. The body is pictured below. The neck is Pau Ferro on Pau Ferro as shown below with SS frets. The pickguard will be vintage pearl with parchment pup covers and knobs. THANKS for your help!  :toothy10:


EDIT: CHROME IT IS! Thanks everyone.

Edit: Added the Mockups (LOL @ Photoshop)

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Black  :headbang1:

 

[Kadmium]

I have devised a helpful flowchart to decide, for any given case, whether you should use gold hardware or an alternative.

 

[nexrex]

I voted chrome, black could also look very cool.

 

[partialdoctor]

I have devised a helpful flowchart to decide, for any given case, whether you should use gold hardware or an alternative.

ROFL. My wife thought it was funny too by the way.

 

[mrpinter]

Have you already bought your pickguard? I think a Pearl guard will be way too visually busy with that body. Black, white, or even parchment or cream would be better, and then either chrome or black hardware would look good.

edit: I didn't see one of your pictures before. But I still think it looks too busy with the pearl pickguard.

 

[mrpinter]

Here is a Photoshop mockup with a body kind of like yours, and a pau ferro neck, with black hardware and a black pickguard. What do you think?

 

[Tipperman]

I'm a mint green fan for bursts as far as pickguard goes. Go with chrome hardware, looks the coolest when you wear off the shinyness imo.

 

[partialdoctor]

Here is a Photoshop mockup with a body kind of like yours, and a pau ferro neck, with black hardware and a black pickguard. What do you think?

Thanks for the mockup. I've never liked black hardware  or pickguards on guitars. I think I'm going to go with chrome.

 

[mrpinter]

Well, since I'm already butting in, I hope you don't mind one more mockup. This one has your vintage pearl pickguard (I still think it's kind of busy but it's your guitar) and parchment knobs. I couldn't put parchment pickup covers on because of a bug in the Beta Body Builder, but I gave you some tan p'ups. Oh yeah, and it has chrome hardware as you can see. Not too bad.

 

[line6man]

I have devised a helpful flowchart to decide, for any given case, whether you should use gold hardware or an alternative.

ROTFL! :icon_biggrin: :icon_thumright:
Gold hardware only works on a couple of guitar color/wood schemes, and this, most certainly is not one of them.

I think black could work, but chrome would go well with a white pearl pickguard.

 

[kboman]

Chrome would look MUCH better on that guitar. IMO obviously...

 

[Cagey]

This isn't exactly apples-to-apples, but it gives you a sense of how gold looks against that sort of finish...

It also has gold frets, and that's a "vintage pearl" pickguard. I've since changed those switches to gold as well, but one of these days I think I'm going to replace that pickguard so I can go back to the traditional 5-way switch. Those individual pickup switches seemed like a good idea at the time, and I've even done it on another guitar, but in practice they just aren't as handy as I thought they'd be.

 

[Jeremiah]

I used to be one of the "never ever use gold hardware" crowd, but I've seen a couple of builds on here that made me think otherwise.

But only with very few woods and finishes; walnut and some black korina. It can also look OK on some dark red transparent finishes, but even then, chrome would still be better.

So on this guitar, definitely chrome.

 

[crash]

I vote chrome!  Although I think the black mockup above might look better since your neck is really dark.

Gold goes well with Koa and Mahogany.

 

[dmraco]

I voted gold because I am a huge gold hardware fan...especially after if gets worn in.  But I agree withthe others...black would look killer too.

 

[B3Guy]

I'm almost always a chrome guy, but on this one I'd have to say gold.

 

[Cagey]

Ok guys I need some help here. I am finishing up the finish on my body and cannot decide what color hardware to use.

The general consensus seems to be that the hardware should either be black, gold, or chrome. That narrows it down some. Nobody's suggested ruthenium, vintage copper or nickel, so I guess those are out.

So... aren't you glad you asked? <grin>

 

[The Norwegian Guy]

chrome. nuff said. end of discussion.

ccasion14:

 

[B3Guy]

if your'e going "chrome", might I suggest that nickel plated actually looks more awesome (or silver plated if you can afford :icon_thumright