Meinl Weston 451 gold trim

[coolguy684]

I recently bought a MW 451 on ebay. I noticed the 551 was practically the same, just with gold trim (am i wrong?)

I was wondering if the Besson Prestige parts of windcraft, such as the onyx gold buttons and the valve caps and bottums would fit on the Meinl. cheaper than gettign the originals gold plated ya know?

lastly the euphonium has some silver oxidation. can i just use the baking soda method + toothbrush to get it off? or use any conventional silver polish?



EDIT: or maybe if there was some place to get MW 551 spare caps and buttons and just screw those on?

[daruby]

#1. Do NOT use baking soda on a polished silver horn like the MW 451. The baking soda works fine on older satin silver, but it would scratch a polished horn like yours. I use Hagerty's spray polish on my Sterling and my Besson.

#2. The Windcraft parts for the Besson will likely NOT work on your MW. Certainly I would not expect the bottom and top caps to work. I know that the caps for my Besson do NOT fit my Sterling. While the finger buttons have the same thread and the Besson buttons will work on the Sterling, the reverse is NOT true. The Sterling buttons were too large to work on the Besson.

#3. I expect that it will be next to impossible to get a set of MW 551 buttons unless you have a contact at the Melton factory. However, you could contact Gold Chops in Maine and see if he will plate your parts for a reasonable price. I had him replate my top caps on my Besson after they got worn.

Doug

[pam]

The 551 has a different bell flare and leadpipe taper, SIGNIFICANTLY better intonation (but still only acceptable) than the 451, is noticeably more open in the compensating register, is easier on the top end. The gold trim is just visual candy.

Meinl Weston makes some great TUBAS and some pretty darn good FLUGELS.

[coolguy684]

this hagerty's?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

is it also necessary to get a polishing cloth like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Jewelry-Polish...W6/ref=lh_ni_t

[davewerden]

That's the polish I have used for decades. Highly recommended. You can find it on this site, which helps suppose this forum:

http://astore.amazon.com/davidwerden...node=35&page=2

On page 4 of that node you can find the cloth you linked as well.

HOWEVER, the two don't work together. Apply the liquid to the horn with soft, lint-free cloths. Polish gently with the liquid, let it dry a bit, then buff with a clean cloth.

The polishing cloth already has a little polish in the one surface, so you can use that for touch-up work between major polishings. I have used that to touch up the areas where my hands hold the horn.

[coolguy684]

oh i see. the two dont work together. wat kind of clothe do i use? i know soft and lint free, but i dont know. how about those cloths that come with glasses?

[davewerden]

Anything that feels soft and is 100% cotton is a good start. Old undershirts are good. I used to buy cotton flannel in remnant bins really cheap, and that was also fine.

[coolguy684]

oh alright i see. i sent it out with my high school's usual isntrument repair shop, City Music in north NJ. should i ask them to do a cleaning as well? ive heard acid baths are bad for brass instruments... also, do repair shops overcharge schools because they know its a captive market? just asking because i might have to pay for this since its not my school's instrument.