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Hello all,

I am the proud owner of an older instrument that has a lot of raw brass showing. The horn was originally silver plated (satin silver) and the brass is showing just because of wear. At some point (when funds become available) I would like to have it replated.

Here's the thing: it's a vintage York. Whatever I have done to it, I don't want to mess with the way it plays or the sound of the horn. Is this process a risky one in this regard? If the horn is plated by a reputable company (like Anderson) is there a high probability of things going "awry?"

This is not something that will happen in the immediate future, but it is something I am interested in learning more about.

Thanks!

Himes

You can have it over plated, but the finish won't be even and the plating job won't be warrantied. Over plating just involves cleaning the horn and having it plated as is.

You can have the existing silver stripped, have the brass polished and have the entire horn replated. This is the most reliable thing to do, but it is VERY EXPENSIVE.

If you want to spend the kind of money to have the entire horn over hauled, I would recommend sending your horn to a guy like Dan Oberloh. If you don't want to have your entire horn overhauled, I wouldn't replate your horn. It is just too expensive.

I would definitely have it stripped, polished, and replated. It is certainly an expensive procedure (which is why I can't do it in the immediate future), but if it has a high probability of severely altering the quality of the horn, then it is too costly (regardless of the dollars and cents).

It will effect your horn, there is just no telling how. It could be better, but I seriously doubt it will be worse. Dan Oberloh would know for sure. You should give him a call.

http://www.oberloh.com/

I can tell you right up front that I AM NOT an advocate of refinishing horns.... unless it can be done with ZERO material removal. Most (I did say 'most'... not 'all') overhaul shops usually send back less brass than was sent.

THAT IS exactly what I was waiting for someone else to say. Thank you Dan.

Remember, there is a certain charm to having a worn that shows its mileage.

BRSousa wrote:It will effect your horn, there is just no telling how. It could be better, but I seriously doubt it will be worse. Dan Oberloh would know for sure. You should give him a call.

http://www.oberloh.com/

Thanks for the mention.

This is what I can share:

Its a York and that tells me it has a lot of years on it. That and the damage/repairs it has been subject to over those years, will have an impact on its playability. Plating a tuba is a big detailed job that should only be taken on by or with the assistance of a craftsperson with a good deal of experience in such matters. The plating process itself is relatively straight forward but the plating is the backside of the job overall. The instrument needs to be carefully disassembled to facilitate the removal of not only dents, but also to insure the proper alignment and fit along with the complete re-soldering of all joints and braces. This is not a step that can be ignored. Platers insist that all work submitted for plating be water-tight. I never trust the existing solder work, NEVER!

The biggest problems often start with the condition of the brass itself. Old horns are prone to have cracks and corrosion that must be corrected. This is not always as simple as some might think. Most overhaul work is performed on later makes and models that still have parts available and that makes things simpler but still costly if all you are doing is replacing and not repairing. York, Martin, Holton...etc, most if not all of their replacement parts are no longer available. Need a replacement brace, valve cap, mouth-pipe, 4th valve branch? How are your fabrication skills? Not so good? Better be prepared for a lengthy scavenger hunt. How are the valves? Leaky? Yeah, they will need to be rebuilt in the process as well.

As for the dent work, it need not require the excessive loss of materials as long as the party performing the work is well skilled in the craft. You reshape the part to remove the dents. You don't sand and file them out. Its all in how you go about it. If the branches and bows are thinned from poor repair attempts it may require additional steps to properly correct the matter, saving parts that are not replaceable.

Lots of shops avoid refinishing large brass because it's really difficult, *** busting work. It takes time and a hell of a lot of talent to properly polish the horn without compromising the integrity of the material while delivering a nice clear finish. Plating does not cover up but amplifies the defects in the finish, making it even more imperitive that the dent-work, soldering, fit and finish be the absolute best that can be delivered (taking into account the original state of the project at the start).
Look at it this way, like a car that is going to get a first rate paint job. The prep work is where the real cost is invested in the job and that is what makes it or brakes it in the end.

Daniel C. Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works
http://www.oberloh.com" target="_blank"