Hey Dave, thanks for the plug! This horn is straight up yellow brass with silver plating. Nothing fancy at all, except for the fact that Miel sent it with the heavy valve caps and buttons with a nice textured wooden finger button inlay that looks and feels great. There’s also the “standard” light weight caps and buttons that they included, but I’ll likely leave it as is. So far at least, it is proving to be the best euphonium I have ever played by a long shot in literally every way.