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Hi guys ... Just wondering if you have any tips for me? I have some scratches in my bell - now I know that sounds picky lol! - but just wondering if you have any tips at all for cleaning them up and shining it up? I have the Yamaha 842S ... Thanks!

i've often wondered the same. let me add somewhat of a side question, is it possible when getting the horn "spruiced up" in the shop could you get the scratches buffed out? silver plate in my case. may it be easier said w/ laquer or not even possible?

You didn't say if your tuba bell was lacquer or silverplate.

There's no good answer for a lacquered bell--basically, one removes the lacquer, maybe burnishes (depending on their depth) and buffs the scratches, then relaquers.

For a silverplated tuba, your local repair shop can color-buff them out. It shouldn't be expensive at all. Just remember that buffing will remove a bit of the plating also. If the scratches are very minor, you might try one of the "pink" silver polishes like Hagerty's or Maas.

Otherwise, don't sweat the small stuff.

I missed the "S'--okay, it's silverplate. Ignore what I said about lacquer.

If the scratches are significant, Joe's right--it's not like the old days when silverplate was piled onto a horn. A light buffing, even if it doesn't remove the scratch may lessen the appearance of a scratch considerably.

If the scratch is deep enough that brass shows though, buffing isn't going to get it out. You might try to fill it in a bit with one of those "silver plating" polishes to get the color to match.

Thanks for the responces guys ... I play euphonium btw. The scratches aren't deep or anything like that. It it just from rubbing against things I think - like during concerts on my belt or something like that. I don't rough house with my horn. Just from everyday use.

the elephant wrote:That is the left-handed model.

And the 842D is the right-handed one?

I thought in Yamaspeak, "D" stood for Dyslexic

... now, THAT will scratch your bell!!!