Considering ‘black beauty’ project

[Gregsaab]

I’ve been considering adding gold hardware to my black Deluxe for some time now. At a minimum, that would be the tuners and pole pieces (though, I would quite like to anodize the saddles, if possible). The Sperzels are obviously the easiest bit - I reached out to DiMarzio about the pole pieces, I believe they offer them in gold.

Does anyone here have (or have seen) a similarly appointed Fly?

[vjmanzo]

Hi @Gregsaab—yes, the Fly Jazz had gold hardware and pickups with gold pole pieces. You can check the 2001 catalog for pictures.

@Ken Parker and his team didn’t anodize the pole pieces—I don’t recall the process they used, but it wasn’t anodizing and DiMarzio had nothing to do with it other than using the pole pieces that Parker Guitars prepared.

There was also 10-year anniversary limited run model of the Fly Jazz that Ken and company did that looked like this…

[Gregsaab]

I forgot that the Jazz had gold hardware, I so rarely see them. This one even has gold anodized frets: https://reverb.com/item/43516637-2000-p ... t=43516637

There is too much gold at the bridge for my liking, I wonder how all gold hardware with Ghost saddles would look. Do they fit on a prerefined?

[jb63]

use the RMC saddles. they are gold and both look and operate fantastic.

[vjmanzo]

Ghost saddles…Do they fit on a prerefined?

They do. Do you use your piezo much? The different saddles and corresponding preamps don’t all sound the exactly same

[Gregsaab]

I always have them on to some degree. It seems that there are mixed opinions about the pairing of the ghosts with the original Fishman pre-amp.

[vjmanzo]

It seems that there are mixed opinions about the pairing of the ghosts with the original Fishman pre-amp.

Yes, you’re right; I don’t think anyone has described any of the pairings as sounding bad—a little added noise here and there—but they may sound a little different than you’re used to, which is why I mentioned it.

Black saddles would certainly look good for what you’re going for—are there no Sharpie markers in your kitchen drawer?

[Gregsaab]

Haha that would be more straightforward

[Gregsaab]

use the RMC saddles. they are gold and both look and operate fantastic.

I am not familiar with these, can you share more info?

Edit: RMC PowerBridge PF, these were used on the Belew sig. Where could one procure these?

[vjmanzo]

Where could one procure these?

You’d have your tech order them from RMC directly