The Truth About Silver

[circusboy]

I believe that silver plating on a tuba makes negligible, if any, difference to the sound. (That's not what this is about, so please don't go there yet again.)

I believe that silver plating on a tuba does make a difference in aesthetics. I prefer it. (Not to mention how nicely it goes with my blue eyes and silver whiskers. )

I believe that silver plating on a tuba is a lot more work to maintain than either lacquer or raw brass. And this is the nut of my question.

I've owned tubas with all three types of finish. I currently have a lacquer horn that is wonderfully low maintenance. The silver one I had was a 1920's York Monster with the satin finish. It seemed that breathing anywhere near it caused tarnish. I didn't have a case for it, which probably didn't help, but it seemed that I was spending as much time polishing it as I was playing it. Was that just that horn? Does a case make all the difference in the world? (I live in a dry climate in a house with natural gas heat.)

I want to hear from silver horn owners about how much effort they need to put into keeping that pretty shine. Is it worth it? I'd like my next horn to be silver, but truly worry that I'll be maddened by the work needed. Thanks.

[Bob Kolada]

I own 2 silver horns, and spend absolutely no time polishing them. I think silver holds up better in the long run (pre-1915 King still looks great, 1916 Conn is darker but still very consistent over the horn), but I did not buy those 2 specifically because they are silver.

The only problem I have with silver horns is that when I gave me King a good bath, my hands got dirty playing it for about a week or 2 after. That doesn't happen anymore and never happened with the Conn. My bare brass euphonium doesn't make my hands green like they are apparently "supposed" to do.



I don't understand why people polish horns...

[Dan Schultz]

A case or bag will make all the difference in The World how long a silver plated horn stays looking good with minimal maintenance. Sulfur is the silver tarnish culprit... found to some degree in all air but more prevalent where gas is used for heating or cooking. If you have a vent-free gas fireplace... better keep that silver horn in a plastic bag!

[tubacdk]

Both of my tubas are silver plated and they both live in Cronkhite gig bags (thanks again for your great work, Glenn!). I have to polish them very little, and usually I'm cleaning off more water spotting and fingerprints than tarnish. The inside lining of Cronkhite bags is very similar to my polishing rags, so any contact inside the bag actually helps to keep them clean.

[sloan]

I have three silver horns. I spend ZERO time on polishing. The only time I've ever had any trouble with tarnish is when I stored one in a new leather gig bag for a long time. I suspect there was some residual sulphur lurking somewhere in the leather. Now, that horn lives in it's case most of the time and only goes in that bag when travelling. The rest of the time the bag is left open to the air (hopin that it will eventually air out.

On the other hand, all of my horns go into the shop at least every 2 years for a complete CL&A. After one bad result, I now strongly discourage aggressive polishing - and my horns always come back as clean and shiny as I need them to be. One of these days I really need to dig out the spot-replating kit and fix the credit-card sized raw brass patch on one silver bell.

I also have several lacquered (or, with a "hint of lacquer") horns. With these, my primary goal is to se them enough so that they become raw brass. All of them have well established patinas and I have ZERO problems with green grunge.

If any of my lacquered horns every became *completely* free (or close to it) of lacquer, I suspect I would be more likely to silver plate it than to re-lacquer it.

Unless, of course, I could get the new Patrick Sheridan tri-color lacquer job. That looks tres cool when new...but I wonder how well it wears.

Clean and smooth is NOT the same as "highly polished". Often "highly polished" simply means that the surface is now vulnerable. And...every polishing removes some of the surface. Why do you want to do that?

[Bob Mosso]

My experience, almost no tarnish when in the case, noticable tarnish after just 3 weeks without the case.

Toss some "silver saver" paper in your case with the horn for even less tarnish. The least tarnish is in a bag with silver saver.

Bob

[MichaelDenney]

When we lived in a gas heated house in Texas I had to polish my silver B&H 967 with a silver cloth from time to time even though it was stored in a case. On the other hand we have lived in a steam heated house (gas-fired furnace in the basement) in NE Pennsylvania for the past 20 months and I haven't had to polish it yet.

[bigbob]

What part of Pa.do you live Michael??................bigbob

[Mike-ICR]

I used to keep one of my silver horns out on a stand for 'spontaneous practicing' but I swapped it for another when I got tired of constantly polishing it. I think I've only touched up the finish once or twice since it's been back in the case (2 years).

[bigboymusic]

Is it true Bloke and Bloke wannabes that silver plating will help in the long run against braces and any other contact points from loosening?