Can anyone confirm what metal the chromed, pivoting part of the bridge on 2012 American Standard strats is made of and if they’ve had any experience of them wearing?

The reason I ask is I bought a Fender replacement American series trem system (099-2050-000) for my 80’s strat recently. After fitting and 5 minutes of wanging I checked and the chrome had worn away at the pivot point, revealing a brassy/coppery coloured metal (pic included). That can’t be right can it??

Thanks,

Steve

The bridgeplate is steel (you can check it with a magnet if you don't totally trust stangers on the internet).

Chrome plating on steel is usually a multi-stage process. First the steel is plated with copper, then plated with nickel, then the chrome is applied. That improves the adhesion of the chrome. As the chrome & nickel wear away the copper becomes visible -- it'll soon wear off and expose bare steel.

I don't know if it's normal for the plating to wear that quickly. (I've never had a 2-point and never will unless I win one or something like that -- there's nothing "wrong" with 2-points, I'm just a traditionalist who prefers the original 6-screw bridge.)

Did you replace the posts too, or reuse the old ones? If you reused the old ones, they might be rough/deformed and chew up the plating.

edit: duplicate post

Thanks for the info, that explains the copper colour. No, I used the new posts so maybe it's just a bad chrome job...