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Despite my best efforts to "baby" my new horn I have found some fine scratches in the lacquer -- hopefully not a function of my own efforts to wipe down and polish it!

I am careful to use soft cloths so don't know what's happening.

Any advice on dealing with fine scratches? Some of the experts here might have some tips.

Thanks much!

Frank

A scratch is a scratch. Events eventuate. And everybody decries getting a scratch and wants to fix it.

But a whole bunch of scratches over time is "patina," and everybody wants to preserve it. Go figure.

If you want to obsess over something, consider that a scratch through the lacquer will darken faster than the brass around it--it will become more noticeable with time.

Consider the scratches to be a mark of character, like the lines and wrinkles on the faces of sweet little old ladies.

If there aren't any scratches you aren't playing the instrument.

Scratches in the right places are ok...

Scratches in the wrong places, like where you put it down on the concrete floor, are something else.