re-laquering ideas

[Casey Tucker]

hello all,

so here's the deal. i own a nice little F tuba that is completely raw brass. i've given it some time but I'm starting to consider getting it re-finished/laquered. it sounds great but cosmetically it doesn't look great and it keeps turning me colors. suppose i wanted to get it re-laquered, where would it need to go and usually how expensive is it? I'd like a finish that isn't the ordinary shiny brass if possible. i was looking at something more like the satin brass Conn 56J's or like the Kanstul custom trumpets. thanks for the help.

[windshieldbug]

If it sounds good, why paint it!?

[greatk82]

it keeps turning me colors.

[The Big Ben]

Search back a bit- I think this was covered a few weeks ago. Refinishing is kind of expensive. Lacquering something as big as a tuba is harder than trumpets and trombones. There is so much more area to go wrong. I think the satin effect comes from media blasting the horn before the lacquer is applied.

I see that some guys have leather/vinyl covers that wrap around the parts of the tuba you touch. These would keep your hands from turning color.

[CTAYLOR]

I asked this same question about getting sousaphone bells lacquered. everybody seems to think you can't get it done, or you have to do it yourself. Contact either Borodi Music or Mr. Ed Strege in Wisconsin. you'll find his tubas on ebay. im getting my bells done at Borodi Music. The price seems right! $350 per bell

[eupher61]

get some clear Contact (TM) paper and put it wherever you make contact with the brass. It has little or no effect on the sound(you won't use that much) and it can be replaced easily. I do this with lacquered horns too. And, since it's clear...

But, you can also custom wrap your tuba with all the pretty designs they make.