Rusty Frets on Fender Geddy Lee Jazz?

[-Bradley-]

First of all sorry if I'm posting in the wrong part of the forum

For a while now the frets on my GL Jazz Bass have been a slightly gold-ish colour. I can't understand why fretwire (especially considering its a Japanese Fender) would oxidise or rust in the first place, no matter how old the bass is (and just for the record, I bought the bass new only about a year and a half ago).

it hasn't been kept in damp conditions and I wipe the strings with a dry cloth after playing. The condition seems to worsen toward the body of the bass.

Any ideas on what the cause could be? and also if I should use steel wool to restore them to their former silver beautiful selves even though the rust/oxidisation will surely come back

Thanks in advance!

[afireinside]

Yes I was my old bands tech and bassist. My one ryth player/singer would rust/turn brand new strings black in a week too.... Just your PH/Sweat I can play a set of guitar strings for a year or more lol

[-Bradley-]

Well that's a kick in the teeth. I guess if I used the steel wool though the rust would only come back right? -.- may have to rethink my career :P

although this has never happened on any of my other guitars/basses... I'll just have to polish the frets and come back on here if it happens again, thanks guys.

[Pilgrim]

If you use steel wool, DO NOT stand the bass up while you do it - bits of the steel wool break off under use and the bits will fall onto the pickups and stick to the magnets.

Any time you use steel wool around an electric guitar or bass, take care not to position the pickups beneath the area where the steel wool is being used.

Alternative: play more and the frets will self-polish.

[-Bradley-]

Don't worry, I'll be doing it with the bass lying down and I'll put some masking tape over the pickups just to be safe

well, every fret is a golden colour throughout, so unless I play all day and bend on every fret a ridiculous amount, that's not really an option even then the edges won't get shiny.

cheers.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

If you use steel wool, DO NOT stand the bass up while you do it - bits of the steel wool break off under use and the bits will fall onto the pickups and stick to the magnets.

Any time you use steel wool around an electric guitar or bass, take care not to position the pickups beneath the area where the steel wool is being used.

Alternative: play more and the frets will self-polish.

I just tape off the pickups. Then when I'm done, put more tape over that tape, safely trapping the steel wool shavings in the tape sandwich.

[-Bradley-]

just a quick update. I ended up using a synthetic rough pad, seems to have done the trick! frets are as silver and shiny as they were new. Just hoping they stay that way for a while, thanks guys.