Removing rust from a guitar pickup ?

[Alan]

How can you remove rust from the poles on a humbucker pickup ? I bought a Stratocaster from a guy that lived next to a river. He claimed the humidity was high in the house. Several of the pickguard screws and some of the poles on the pickups have discolored and have some surface rust. Replacing the screws, no problem but I do not want to replace the pickup unless I have to.

And suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

In a word, maybe.

If this were a Gibson style and the adjustable pole pieces needed cleaning, I'd unscrew them and use something like Simichrome and a toothbrush. I'd avoid an abrasive just because there's not much plating on these things. You can always buy new polepieces. But if you're trying to clean the non adjustable poles, I'd try the simichrome on a q tip, and be very careful. I am always worried about something getting into the coils. I've done this, but proceed at your own risk.

That being said, some people pay extra to have their pole pieces corroded. There are many things I don't understand, and that's one of them.