Recommendations for cleaning string wear off pickups?

[Angus]

I'm getting ready to put a used set of Lane Poors in my Modulus Quantum, but they have a decent bit of string wear on their faces. It's superficial- no grooves or anything. Example below (of a similar pickup without the wear):



The tricky bit is how to remove the wear without turning the LP logo's clear epoxy hazy.

Thoughts?

[Angus]

Bump. Any suggestions?

[BOOCAKE4U]

careful use of a green scotchbrite pad? (maybe a nice broken-in one, less coarse)...and i would cover the logo with tape while doing so to protect it some

[Bruce Johnson]

I'd recommend hand polishing it with some automotive rubbing compound. Then you can buff it up to whatever level of gloss you like.

[mech]

Been there, done that and now I wouldn't go to the trouble. The marks will be be back before you know it. Plastic is softer than steel.

mech

[line6man]

Originally Posted by mech

The marks will be be back before you know it.

+1.

[testing1two]

Remember, they're not really marks that can be cleaned. They are burnished spots that would need to be sanded/polished along with the whole face of the pickup. And, as mentioned above they will be back soon enough. It's just part of honest play wear.

[96tbird]

It's futile. Slap them in and play that bass. A tool that performs well and is designed well never stays looking new very long.

[Angus]

For some reason, I wasn't notified of the replies to this thread, so I never saw any of the suggestions! Thanks everyone.

I ended up getting some 400 grit w/d sandpaper, putting it on a block, and knocking the pickup top down level again, then giving the surface two coats of lemon oil to restore the black color. It took less than 5-6 minutes to do both pickups, and they look brand new now.

Even if the marks will come back eventually, there is something nice about putting a new looking set of pickups into a new bass.