A message from Ian StJohn White about VML Easy Mutes

[Established1958]

Ian has asked me to post this on his behalf - Howard ( The Oasis Music one)

Many guitarists may have wondered why VML 'Easy-Mute' has discontinued all of its gold-plated tremolo arms, so I will explain.

In 1998, with Hank's permission to use his name, we launched the 'Easy-Mute' Hank Marvin System Guitar Tremolo Arm in both polished Stainless Steel & gold-plated versions, fitted, as standard, with the anodised aluminium De-Luxe knob. We consulted with a major gold-plating firm for advice about what thickness of gold-plating should be used. We use EN303 stainless steel, the hardest and most difficult to work with. A normal tremolo arm has one major bend, usually at about 90 degrees, so any additional bending is at this point. On the 'Easy-Mute', the arm rises and then bends initially at 65 degrees, goes sideways for 25mm, before the final 110 degree bend, so any additional bending is rotational along the short 25mm section, and that requires the hardest version of stainless steel, in this case EN303 to do this.

In the early days, you could not gold-plate EN303 directly; it required a 1/4 micron nickel flash first before gold plating. We were advised, that since this is a commercial product, that we should use 2 micron, as used on bathroom fittings, to ensure longevity in use (sweaty hands etc) Most commercial guitar makers only use 1/4 micron which wears away very quickly (just look at a Fender gold-plated bridge that has been palm-muted a lot) In 1998, the cost was £1:00p/micron/square inch + VAT, so a 130mm Easy-Mute, which has 4 square inches between the 2 threaded end, cost just under £10:00p to be gold plated. Yesterdays price, from the same company, is now, because of the high price of gold and energy costs, £3:50p/micron/square inch + VAT or £33.60p trade cost. We would have to ask for about £90:00p for a gold-plated 'Easy-Mute', which would upset everyone; so we decided to discontinue the whole of the gold-plated range.

About 18 years ago, a German company invented a gold-plating method of gold-plating stainless steel directly, without the nickel flash. There were certain criteria required to do it. We using cold-rolled EN303, but because the process hardens the outer surface, it does not give a ripple-free finish. So 18 years ago we changed to only Ensiles-made Bright-cut Precision-ground EN303, which is about twice the price, but comes fully certified with the contents of the metal & its finished diameter, usually about 4.995 mm. This gives a really good finish when perfect, has a breakage at the 110 degree bend, when bending it, record of about 1% (the cold-rolled EN303 was nearer to 20%) and , if double polished, (these are all done by hand on a polishing wheel, so a real double extra cost) gives an excellent gold-plated finish.

While we used 2 micron, to be commercially safe, the owner of a polished stainless steel 'Easy-Mute' could use .75 micron or, preferably, 1 micron, without any problem and get it done locally to where they live for under £20:00p.

So, in order to help facilitate those guitarists who are willing to get a normal Hank Marvin System in the polished stainless steel version, and then get it gold-plated themselves, VML will supply any customer, who asks, with a double polished stainless steel Hank Marvin System, fitted with a Bright-gold anodised aluminium De-Luxe knob at the same £40:00p + £4:00p for P&P (UK postage; overseas ask for a quote) that the current HM version costs.

Best regards, Ian @ VML