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Estimate price for silver plating tuba?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:13 pm
by Tim_Loehr
Recently acquired King 1241 two-piece bell-front BBb is
bare brass and dent free.
Any advice on what it may cost to silver plate this horn,
located in South Texas?
Thanks,

Re: Estimate price for silver plating tuba?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 3:32 pm
by joh_tuba
bloke wrote:Without pricing out someone else's job...
- Probably you would have more in it than it would be worth in resale, so it would need to be "worth it" to *you*.
- Virtually all "completely dent-free" brown/un-lacquered brass instruments that I have encountered (once polished) display a great number of (nice and shiny) dents.
Bloke nailed it. Many people are shocked how many dents their horns have once shiny.
You won't like the price.
Re: Estimate price for silver plating tuba?
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:19 pm
by Dan Schultz
Your King is in good shape but in order to silver plate it.... EVERY miniscule scratch would have to be removed. That would involve hours of buffing and some serious metal removal. I'm sure the cost for Anderson or Phillips to do the work would exceed what you paid for the horn and could approach as much as $3,000.
Having the horn lacquered would involve the same type of preparation but would be slightly less expensive.
Raw brass is good. Shine 'er up and apply a good grade of automotive wax.
Re: Estimate price for silver plating tuba?
Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:33 pm
by Tim_Loehr
Thanks to all for the replies and good advice.
__________________________________________
Hey Dan S.,
So far have cleaned off the patina from the body section,
someone took very good care of this 40 year-old horn.
Makes for a fine companion with my smaller CC.
