Sax on the Web Forum

Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Selmer saxes / Silver Plate My VI tenor?

larrys
User ID: 0568574 Jan 3rd 12:41 PM
Any thoughts about having a VI tenor whose lacquer is gone silver plated?

rollen
User ID: 6465883 Jan 3rd 1:11 PM
DON'T DO IT!

jud
User ID: 0011434 Jan 3rd 1:34 PM
it would look nice.. many different opinions on this... its up to you, defitnely wouldy affect resale value, but if you never sale it...

Dr G
User ID: 7468553 Jan 3rd 2:16 PM
You gonna play it or admire it?

MikeH
User ID: 1473814 Jan 4th 9:43 AM
Have a friend that did it and regretted it.

brucesax
User ID: 9231093 Jan 4th 10:41 AM
I am also considering plating & re-engraving a Selmer SS tenor, 186xx that I acquired recently. It has already been relacquered once. I wouldn't consider it if it were original.

I have spoken to Anderson about it. They did indicate that on some saxophones that were built to be specifically lacquered sometimes have dirty (or less fine) soldier used which could possibly cause a problem when plating.

IMHO, I consider a silver plating to be a more durable finish & a nice look.

MikeH, why did your friend regret getting his horn plated?

Son Of Zorn
User ID: 0694274 Jan 4th 8:47 PM
I had my Couf Superba one silverplated (w/gold in the bell) at Anderson. I don't regret it one bit. the horn plays great and has the exact sound it had before plating.

larrys
User ID: 0770504 Jan 5th 12:11 PM
Thanks for the responses. It's a great horn I bought new in 66 so I'll probably leave it alone unless plating is a no risk deal.

Son Of Zorn
User ID: 0694274 Jan 5th 3:06 PM
Nothing with horn is no risk. even a simple repad can dramaticaly change how a horn plays.

I did not fear the overhaul with plate job because i had a lot of faith in my tech. It's beem about 6 months now and still feel/souds great. It was like getting a new horn.

Brucesax
User ID: 9231093 Jan 5th 3:17 PM
Son of Zorn,

Got a pic?

brucesax@earthlink.net

Son Of Zorn
User ID: 0694274 Jan 5th 3:19 PM
not this week. But i'll try to get one up on my site next week.

rollen
User ID: 6465883 Jan 6th 3:55 PM
Larry,
If it's all original and you like the way it plays/sounds leave it as is. Please!.

If you don't like it, sell it and get a silverplated VI or have a VI (that has already been modified in some way) plated. Let's keep the original ones original. I think once the novelty of a silver plated horn is gone, you'll end up regretting having done it.

Randall
User ID: 8722703 Jan 6th 5:30 PM
I honestly don't know where you guys are coming from on NOT silver plating a horn that the laq is gone on.
As long as you chem strip the remaining laq and do only the light buffing/cleaning and then plate, then your sax will have MORE metal on it than when it had laq, which will not degrade your sound at all. It should enhance it!
further, if you are worried about value because the egraving is obviously thinner, you can have the horns re-engraved before you plate.
If you go to a bad repaiman who buffs like crazy, you may have a bad experience, however.
Send you horn to someone like Steve at World Wide Sax and he will have it set to Anderson's for plating and they will do a SUPERB job on your horn and you WILL love it.
I have two laq horns that I got Steve to do and they are complete monsters-with BETTER sound than before (laq and in top playing condition).
Look at Steve's homepage and look at the "finest" section and you'll see my Buescher 400 tenor and JK straight alto.
They play and sound better than they look.
I wouldn't hesitate to send ANY horn, no matter how valuable, to have it plated.

paulwl
User ID: 9418933 Jan 9th 3:28 PM
>> I honestly don't know where you guys are coming from on NOT silver plating a horn that the laq is gone on. <<

True on another make of horn, but there is an established market for no-lacquer Mark VIs. They're cool-looking and bespeak a real player's horn.

Randall
User ID: 0178794 Jan 9th 4:53 PM
No doubt about the market, but then again, your garden variety "mad Meg" would "bespeak" a "real player's horn" then wouldn't it?
By the way, I have had two Selmer laq horns silver plated in the past. When I sold them, I got beyond the going price in Japan for the no laq "player's horns".
And, they roared.

Dr G
User ID: 8659853 Jan 9th 6:09 PM
(after a visit to the aforementioned gallery)

Oh my... <wow> Those horns are gorgeous...

I'm stunned...

Nice work to be sure but I'm also impressed by your choice of engraving and touches. Very nice...

smitch
User ID: 0805074 Jan 9th 8:40 PM
A friend goldplated a BA and it is absolutely beautiful and it plays like a charm. He was very careful about having it done and he did have it done at Anderson plating. If you want to pay for it and think it will enhance your horn, I would go for it.

Randall
User ID: 0178794 Jan 10th 4:21 AM
Dr.G....many thanks for the kind words! I am happy as anyone could possibly be about these two horns.
One thing you won't see on the straight alto pix at the WWS website is that the pearls are now abalone pearls instead of the stock white Keilwerth pearls. It is pretty neat, me thinks.

larrys User ID: 0568574	Jan 3rd 12:41 PM Any thoughts about having a VI tenor whose lacquer is gone silver plated?
rollen User ID: 6465883	Jan 3rd 1:11 PM DON'T DO IT!
jud User ID: 0011434	Jan 3rd 1:34 PM it would look nice.. many different opinions on this... its up to you, defitnely wouldy affect resale value, but if you never sale it...
Dr G User ID: 7468553	Jan 3rd 2:16 PM You gonna play it or admire it?
MikeH User ID: 1473814	Jan 4th 9:43 AM Have a friend that did it and regretted it.
brucesax User ID: 9231093	Jan 4th 10:41 AM I am also considering plating & re-engraving a Selmer SS tenor, 186xx that I acquired recently. It has already been relacquered once. I wouldn't consider it if it were original. I have spoken to Anderson about it. They did indicate that on some saxophones that were built to be specifically lacquered sometimes have dirty (or less fine) soldier used which could possibly cause a problem when plating. IMHO, I consider a silver plating to be a more durable finish & a nice look. MikeH, why did your friend regret getting his horn plated?
Son Of Zorn User ID: 0694274	Jan 4th 8:47 PM I had my Couf Superba one silverplated (w/gold in the bell) at Anderson. I don't regret it one bit. the horn plays great and has the exact sound it had before plating.
larrys User ID: 0770504	Jan 5th 12:11 PM Thanks for the responses. It's a great horn I bought new in 66 so I'll probably leave it alone unless plating is a no risk deal.
Son Of Zorn User ID: 0694274	Jan 5th 3:06 PM Nothing with horn is no risk. even a simple repad can dramaticaly change how a horn plays. I did not fear the overhaul with plate job because i had a lot of faith in my tech. It's beem about 6 months now and still feel/souds great. It was like getting a new horn.
Brucesax User ID: 9231093	Jan 5th 3:17 PM Son of Zorn, Got a pic? brucesax@earthlink.net
Son Of Zorn User ID: 0694274	Jan 5th 3:19 PM not this week. But i'll try to get one up on my site next week.
rollen User ID: 6465883	Jan 6th 3:55 PM Larry, If it's all original and you like the way it plays/sounds leave it as is. Please!. If you don't like it, sell it and get a silverplated VI or have a VI (that has already been modified in some way) plated. Let's keep the original ones original. I think once the novelty of a silver plated horn is gone, you'll end up regretting having done it.
Randall User ID: 8722703	Jan 6th 5:30 PM I honestly don't know where you guys are coming from on NOT silver plating a horn that the laq is gone on. As long as you chem strip the remaining laq and do only the light buffing/cleaning and then plate, then your sax will have MORE metal on it than when it had laq, which will not degrade your sound at all. It should enhance it! further, if you are worried about value because the egraving is obviously thinner, you can have the horns re-engraved before you plate. If you go to a bad repaiman who buffs like crazy, you may have a bad experience, however. Send you horn to someone like Steve at World Wide Sax and he will have it set to Anderson's for plating and they will do a SUPERB job on your horn and you WILL love it. I have two laq horns that I got Steve to do and they are complete monsters-with BETTER sound than before (laq and in top playing condition). Look at Steve's homepage and look at the "finest" section and you'll see my Buescher 400 tenor and JK straight alto. They play and sound better than they look. I wouldn't hesitate to send ANY horn, no matter how valuable, to have it plated.
paulwl User ID: 9418933	Jan 9th 3:28 PM >> I honestly don't know where you guys are coming from on NOT silver plating a horn that the laq is gone on. << True on another make of horn, but there is an established market for no-lacquer Mark VIs. They're cool-looking and bespeak a real player's horn.
Randall User ID: 0178794	Jan 9th 4:53 PM No doubt about the market, but then again, your garden variety "mad Meg" would "bespeak" a "real player's horn" then wouldn't it? By the way, I have had two Selmer laq horns silver plated in the past. When I sold them, I got beyond the going price in Japan for the no laq "player's horns". And, they roared.
Dr G User ID: 8659853	Jan 9th 6:09 PM (after a visit to the aforementioned gallery) Oh my... <wow> Those horns are gorgeous... I'm stunned... Nice work to be sure but I'm also impressed by your choice of engraving and touches. Very nice...
smitch User ID: 0805074	Jan 9th 8:40 PM A friend goldplated a BA and it is absolutely beautiful and it plays like a charm. He was very careful about having it done and he did have it done at Anderson plating. If you want to pay for it and think it will enhance your horn, I would go for it.
Randall User ID: 0178794	Jan 10th 4:21 AM Dr.G....many thanks for the kind words! I am happy as anyone could possibly be about these two horns. One thing you won't see on the straight alto pix at the WWS website is that the pearls are now abalone pearls instead of the stock white Keilwerth pearls. It is pretty neat, me thinks.