What to clean a lacquered tuba with ?

[pgym]

Almost three pages and no one has suggested tuba toot paste yet???

[Waltski]

Lee, would you use a microfiber cloth with that with Meguiar's auto cleaner wax or simply an old white cotton tee? I have some very fine scratches inside the bell from the previous owner of my Miraphone 191 and don't want to make them worse...

[BlueGrassBrass]

Be careful using the shower method. Hot water (esp. on certain old lacquers, or if your lacquer is peeling and flaking off) will melt that lacquer off right before your eyes.

Really...I've never had an issue with that with my different brass instruments. I'll keep that in mind though, with my older horns.

Yes sir, older lacquers, espically if the lacquer is "spotty" (got some here and there, and none here and there). If that water is really hot...probally like 150+ degrees it can literally melt it right off. I have the water heater at my shop turned up pretty high (your typical household water heater is usally around 120-130 degrees) because of the high volume of student level rental horns I do, that hot water really really helps to remove all the crap that builds up in a 5th graders trumpet hahahaha. They all have good new lacquer and you don't have to worry about it. But if I get an older horn in, or one that has "distressed" lacquer I only run lukewarm water on it. I have actually used really hot water to strip an old King 3B trombone that had the forementioned "spotty" laquer. Melted it right off. I just always try to be better safe than sorry.

[iiipopes]

OK, so I'm late getting here. I agree with all the above: Pledge or a reasonable inexpensive generic equivalent (no silicone) for a light polish, a little warm (not hot) soapy water & rinse for grungy spots, and a careful dry.

I disagree with microfiber, however. It is synthetic. On a microscopic level, it is abrasive. Over time, you will lose the nice sheen of the bright lacquer and turn the finish into matte. I recommend a soft lint-free 100% cotton cloth.

[iiipopes]

Spray guitar polish, such as Martin, Dunlop, etc., works great for cleaning dirty lacquer finishes, puts a shine on 'em, and leaves no slippery residue. Use a microfiber cloth or one of the fake "shammy" type.

Yes, some guitar polishes, like Martin, are good, because Martin knows better, and they know the polish will be used on pre-war dreadnaughts that can't afford to be mistreated. But a lot of brands of guitar polish have the dreaded silicone in them, so be careful.