Silver VS brass

[bigbob]

Hi ..what is the differance in sound and any other feature that creates a differance between the two or is there any differance besides personel choice?? I put in the search brass vs silver nothing came up Thanks for any info!!Bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

[TubaTodd]

That exact topic has been the topic of conversation and debate for as long as TubeNet has existed. If you didn't find any info in your search then you didn't look hard enough. This debate has been discussed as much as Mac vs PC, paper vs plastic, boxers vs briefs, conservative vs liberal, the designated hitter rule....or any other common comparison.

In short, you may get as many answers as there are people. From the repair person's side, lacquer and silver are used as ways to protect the brass underneath. It also makes the horn visually appealing.

The question that EVERYONE must answer for themselves is "how does the horn sound to ME?"

[bigbob]

Thank You I'll try a little harder..........................bigbob http://www.rgisculptures.com" target="_blank

[tubajazzo]

Obviously the question (and also your search) should not be brass vs. silver, but lacquer vs. silver (vs. raw brass). We are talking about silver plating only, because all tubas are made of brass, except those plastic tubas. Or does anyone here own a solid silver tuba? That would be interesting. I think trombones have been made with solid silver bell, was it King?

Gerd

[EdFirth]

Silver is metal, laquer is like paint.Ed

[Wyvern]

A matter of personal preference. Silver plate is usually considered more durable, while lacquer requires less work to stay looking good. Raw brass if you don't mind the smell, getting green hands; like the tuba looking aged, or love polishing.

Silver usually adds a few hundred (pounds/dollars/euros) to the price.

Silver looks great with regular polishing, but I personally prefer lacquer because I would rather spend my time playing, than polishing - but like a shiny tuba. I also just prefer the feel of lacquer against my skin.