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I’m seeing this finish option pop up with newer Wessex models. Is it a transparent deeper/vintage hue (what I hope it is), or is it more like the the opaque/metallic finish used on some of the 70s-era Conn/King horns?

Thinking about putting a deposit in on a new Eb sousaphone as a special order. Torn between going raw brass vs standard clear lacquer vs gold lacquer (if the option is available).

I got plenty of time to figure this out. The ship date on this horn will coincide with when I’ll see sousa gigs again. Thanks!

I've always assumed the point of gold lacquer is to try to mimic the look of gold plating.

The point is really to make the finish look extra horrible when lacquer wears off in places, scratched etc.

Many companies, such as Yamaha, add a little color to the lacquer to make the instrument "pop" a little more. It tends to highlight the different metals used. They do it very subtly so it's hard to notice.

The two kanstul horns I have were finished with utterly clear lacquer, and compared to some other horns look quite "brassy".

Is there such thing as silver-colored lacquer? (just the thought sounds disgusting!

To even make a horn look good either vintage or newer with worn off lacquer, you will need a spray gun to apply "gold lacquer" to it if you want to do right. Simply spraying it out of a rattle can will take forever and a 1000 coats of it to get the image you like in your head.

bloke wrote:It's really difficult to match OLD (vs. "gold") lacquer.

I go over a just-polished surface with a propane torch to oxidize it, and then mix a tiny bit of green, brown, and gold (read: orange) in with clear lacquer.

I always miss the mark. It's just damned illusive...but some customers seem to think that I hit the mark, so...

If the standard is to look old, then it hits the mark. if the standard is to make the repair invisible, then maybe not. But then I never expected a repair to be invisible on an interesting old tuba. Scars provide evidence of surviving the test of time. Lots of antique furniture restorers put a clear finish over an old finish to preserve it and its appearance of age, rather than strip it to make it look like something bought last week at the furniture store.

There's value in making a complete overhaul to make an instrument look new (or better than new) for a really special old instrument, I suppose, and I know several have done it at high cost. But that is usually far out of proportion to the value of the instrument, and doesn't make it work any better.

Rick "who has received lots of praise for that multi-hued vintage finish on his Holton" Denney

"Pimp My Slide"?

Ltrain wrote:I’m seeing this finish option pop up with newer Wessex models. Is it a transparent deeper/vintage hue (what I hope it is), or is it more like the the opaque/metallic finish used on some of the 70s-era Conn/King horns?

Thinking about putting a deposit in on a new Eb sousaphone as a special order. Torn between going raw brass vs standard clear lacquer vs gold lacquer (if the option is available).

I got plenty of time to figure this out. The ship date on this horn will coincide with when I’ll see sousa gigs again. Thanks!

Gold lacquer is an extra coat of lacquer with a gold tint. Gives the brass a rich gold color as seen on our British F tuba. I think this photo pretty accurately shows the color.