Silver plating

[joshealejo]

Greetings!

I have a question about silver plating an instrument. How thick is the current silver plating average? I understand that if a too thin plating may dissapear faster, but If too thick, appart for beign more durable,does It may change the feeling, response, sound etc?

Thank you for taking your time to discuss!

Be very well!
Jose

[Jonathantuba]

I have done some testing of silver-plating thickness. On ‘cheap’ Chinese horns it can be as thin as 5 microns, while on the vintage horns I have come across as thick as 30 microns. Most ‘quality’ horns today have silver about 15 microns. That is what I have applied to Wessex and I know that is much the same as Yamaha.

[joshealejo]

I have done some testing of silver-plating thickness. On ‘cheap’ Chinese horns it can be as thin as 5 microns, while on the vintage horns I have come across as thick as 30 microns. Most ‘quality’ horns today have silver about 15 microns. That is what I have applied to Wessex and I know that is much the same as Yamaha.

Very interesting! And does the thickness affect response, sound etc? What about the satin sandblasted or brushed finishes?

[daruby]

Satin silver with polished silver or gold trim (slide bows, valve caps and buttons, etc.) sounds MUCH better due to the coolness factor. Anyone playing such an instrument (check out Dennis "highpitch" from AZ) in good nick will just obviously sound great!

[highpitch]

Doug is too kind, but the horn does play better than I do!

A really good player friend said "It is prettier than a Prestige, with tone straight from the gods". "Wanna trade?"

DG

[Jonathantuba]

A really good player friend said "It is prettier than a Prestige, with tone straight from the gods". "Wanna trade?"

DG

Watch it, you are giving me ideas for a new Wessex euphonium!

[highpitch]

A faithful recreation of the New Standard with your talents on intonation would be a nice addition to the euph world for those without monster lungs.

Dennis

[joshealejo]

Doug is too kind, but the horn does play better than I do!

A really good player friend said "It is prettier than a Prestige, with tone straight from the gods". "Wanna trade?"

DG

Pretty pretty pretty!!!

[davewerden]

I hadn't noticed until now, but I'm thinking the gold trim works better on satin silver than bright silver. Pretty horn!

[joshealejo]

I second this, Sir!

[daruby]

Watch it, you are giving me ideas for a new Wessex euphonium!

Jonathan,

Should you decide to do that, I just might need to "evaluate" a prototype and review it for you!!

Doug