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Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Do I replate or lacquer a trumpet?

November 15, 2009

I found a place on eBay that offers replating or lacquer, dent removal...pretty much an overhaul of brass instruments for $300. What is the difference of replating and lacquering? Every place I have checked for prices has been more than I can afford but this is certainly something I can but want to make sure I make the right choice so the horn is not compromised. Could someone explain this to me? We have a Bach Stradivarius trumpet that is "very used", with some dents and scratches. It is gold in color.

Thank you so much for any information!

Kris Thomas
- Imperial, Missouri, USA

Hi, Kris. Without saying anything bad about eBay , I think this is a project for a local music shop where you can bring the instrument in and discuss it.

Replating means to apply a layer of metal onto an item that was previously plated and the plating has peeled or worn off. I am not a music instrument expert, but I imagine the instrument is made of solid brass and has never been plated.

Brass (like many other metals) tarnishes rather quickly with exposure to the air, going from the bright brass look to a brownish antique look. brass lacquer ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] is a transparent organic coating that keeps brass bright.

From your pictures and my limited knowledge of musical instruments, I think that after the dents are removed, the lacquer will be removed, the brass will be buffed back to brightness, and then re-lacquered to keep it bright.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 16, 2009

A Bach Strat is a very fine instrument. There is a place in the Saint Charles Mo area that has been doing repair on musical instruments for many years. They did my Strat with excellent results. They are called "Band Instrument Co"
They aren't cheap but then neither is a Bach Strat.

Frank DeGuire
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA
December 1, 2009

adv.

"Clearcoats/Lacquers for Brass from G.J. Nikolas"

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