Rusty Floyd

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SkyhighRocks

SkyhighRocks

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I have an EB Van Halen guitar from '91. I don't really use it live anymore and it's pretty ,uh sat in its hard case for over a year now. It's got some pretty good rust on the tremolo arm and bridge saddles. It's a gotoh Floyd. Is there a safe way to clean it up without going crazy with re-chroming,etc?

EDIT: I've added a pic of what the bridge/arm looks like. I tried the WD-40 but it basically did nothing. It's looking like the chrome is gone...not under the rust.
 

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try some WD-40, let it set for a bit to soak in and wipe clean.
 
Sell it on eBay as "naturally relic'd, vintage spec, golden era, made in Germany" and buy a brand new one. :D
 
You might try some Nev'r Dull (wadding polish), mixed with some light rubbing with 0000 steel wool, and then wipe clean with a clean rag.
 
OUTLAW1969":1a40ba5v said:
You might try some Nev'r Dull (wadding polish), mixed with some light rubbing with 0000 steel wool, and then wipe clean with a clean rag.
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The wool will rip the plating off more than you have to, what Shawn said is the first step I would do.
 
Is a Rusty Floyd kinda like a Hot Carl, or a Dirty Sanchez?
 
Find yourself some Oxalic Acid powder. Mix up a batch in a bucket. De-grease the Floyd, then plop it into the acid bath. You will be shocked at how clean and rust-free it will become after about an hour! Oxalic acid eats rust, doesn't hurt the steel! I've dunked bike frames into a pool of the stuff with great results! :rock:
 
Thanks for the tips. I may take it to my luthier because I can't tell if the rust has eaten away some of the chrome or if the rust is sitting on top. Also, there's a bit of oxidation around the frets between the fret wires and the neck wood.
 
Code001":3oix9jtv said:
Sell it on eBay as "naturally relic'd, vintage spec, golden era, made in Germany" and buy a brand new one. :D
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Can't recall exactly but wasn't there something about the saddles on the EBMM EVH guitar that made the regular Gotoh not quite a perfect fit/alignment ?
 
Soak it in CLR. WD-40 isn't a rust remover but rather penetrates and lubticates rusted parts. The CLR is calcium lime rust remover. I've cleaned up Floyd rose trems with it but you might want to just replace it depending on your results.

You looking to get rid of the guitar?
 
bsp01":p3inzn9k said:
Can't recall exactly but wasn't there something about the saddles on the EBMM EVH guitar that made the regular Gotoh not quite a perfect fit/alignment ?
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I contacted EB but they want me to buy a new floyd for $250 and send them the old one back. Uh, let me think about that......no.
 
Talk about 'used hard and put away wet'! Let's see a whole guitar shot!

Give the Oxalic Acid a try! Or, replace the saddles only?? These are shot, I think.
 
If parts are available I would just replace the saddles, and bar. The baseplate looks OK...
 
rcm78":vgy9frd0 said:
If parts are available I would just replace the saddles, and bar. The baseplate looks OK...
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That's what I'm thinking. Now to find those parts...
 
Check Peavey - I bet their Wolfgang trem parts will fit!

Edit: Unless the Peavey saddle radius is wrong. EBMM's have 10" radius necks, right? In that case, you should check Stu Mac for the right radius saddles.
 
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