Silver/Black finishes worth it?

[Mikes87]

Hey all. I'm pretty close to purchasing a 590 soprano, but I'm debating which of the 3 finishes to get. Is there a noticeable difference in tone or is this purely for looks? Also, does one hold up over time better than the others?

The only real reason I'm considering getting the Black chrome or Silver plated is because theses saxes are so dang cheap (So why not get the "prettier" one?)! Keep in mind, if there's no overall difference between the three, I'll most likely get the laquer.

Thanks,
Mike

[bradshawm]

Mike,

When I bought my black nickel plated one, Dave Kessler informed me that they actually have a thin coat of lacquer on them. While I know it is controversial, I have always found the black nickel and the silver plated horns to be brighter than the gold lacquer, but in the case of my Antigua soprano, I did not compare. I love the silver, but am so tired of tarnish, that I went with the black. It is a gorgeous instrument. The black on some black horns, is so black it looks like paint. One of the things I like about the Antigua is that it is more of a metallic looking chacoal. The black also really brings out the engraving. I get loads of compliments on it.

Hope this helps, Marshall

[mayho]

I think a sax sounds like it sounds, and my black nickel sounds great. I get a lot of compliments on how it looks. Now if only I could play better.

[Russ]

If I were purchasing a 590 again, I'd go for the standard LQ finish. Less housekeeping, shows less wear, and looks the bizz. It really is as simple as that for me.

[Mikes87]

Thanks a bunch! I think I am just going to go with the standard lacquer finish...that way I can save a bit of money for a mouthpiece etc.

Now all I need to do is get out to the store and try it out!

[Dave Dolson]

Mikes87: I've told this story several times, but I think you need to read it again (if you haven't read the whole site as I suspect). I bought my 590LQ at Kessler's store in Las Vegas. In addition to Dave Kessler being there, Vegaschris was with me.

I tested four Antigua sopranos (three 590's and a fixed-neck lacquered brass model . . . 582?). Of the the three 590's, I picked the lacquered brass model because it sounded the best. Dave and Vegaschris agreed. I did not like the fixed-neck model because the neck cork was too fat and I could not push my mouthpieces on far enough for it to come to pitch, thus it could not be properly evaluated.

A while back, Tom Mayho and I got together a couple of times to practice. He brought along his black-nickel Antigua (586?) soprano and I played it. Contrary to the BN model I tried at Kessler's, Tom's BN soprano sounded every bit as good as my LQ model.

This just proved my continuing point - finishes matter not. It is the individual horn that matters - how it was made, how it was set up, and probably many other factors OTHER than finish.

I agee that the BN horn is a looker. Tom's was gorgeous - and played very nicely. And, I agree that many silver-plated horns can tarnish quickly or slowly, depending on a bunch of factors, too. I went for the LQ because it was the best of three AND for my uses, it is more authentic than BN. But the finish-choice is much about appearance and not tone. DAVE

[MikeCa]

I really like the black nickel finishes myself based purely on looks. I especially like them with engraving that shows through the finish. As to it affecting the sound I've tried tons of these black nickel horns (Not just Antigua's) and I can't tell much if any difference other than the normal differences between any two horns of the same model (and on sopranos I've found they do tend to vary quite a bit, especially on the Asian ones).

So my advice is go with the one that you think looks the best. If it looks really cool chances are it may inspire you to practice more and thus you will sound and platy better.

Hope that helps!

Mike

[themacintrasher]

Hmm, never seen porn ads on SOTW........

[Harri Rautiainen]

Hmm, never seen porn ads on SOTW........And hopefully you won't in the future.
The filter was turned off after some trouble a week ago. I will set it again.

[VinnieSax]

I totally agree with Dave Dolson on finish and have for some time. Finish makes no damn difference. The finish is on the outside of the horn. The sound comes from the inside, and the player, and his moutpiece, and neck, and reed, and embouchure, ad nauseum.

I, too, was looking at the Antigua Winds laquered, black nickel and silver. I LOVED the silver and was going to go with this. After talking with Dave Kessler (who talked me out of it), I went witht he black nickel. Dave Kessler told me the silver tarnished too easily.

The AW black nickel is basically the same finish as a Keilwerth Shadow model. Not the "deep black" but, like AW states, a "black chrome". I did not like the photos of it on AW's web site, but, again, after talking with Dave Kessler, and then getting the horn, what a beautiful finish. I, too, have got nothing but compliments on the look and sound.

Here's another point. I am not a great sop player. Just tonight, actually, I had my cousin over who is probably the best sax player and muscian I have heard (Berklee School of Music trained, child prodigy, all that stuff). He played this with a Bari 0.68 opening and Hemke 2 1/2. And played it, and played it, and played it. Frowned a few times, but keep playing it. He didn't put this down for a goo 20 minutes. He could not believe the sound for the price. I thought he was going to take it home with him. Worth every penny, he said, and loved the finish.

My 2 cents.

[VinnieSax]

Oh, yeah. This was the 586 AW. If you don't that high wahtever the hell it is key, then go with the 586 and save yourself some money. Dave Kessler the 590 adn 586 are the same horn except for this one high key...which escapes me at the moment.

[DaveKessler]

Oh, yeah. This was the 586 AW. If you don't that high wahtever the hell it is key, then go with the 586 and save yourself some money. Dave Kessler the 590 adn 586 are the same horn except for this one high key...which escapes me at the moment.

High G. The 590 has the High G, the 586 does not. Everything else is identical.

[Wisco99]

I have a Yamaha Custom silver plated tenor and an Antiqua silver plated soprano. The secret to keep them from tarnishing is to get some TARNISHIELD. Accept no substitutes. You might find some in a jewelry store. It contains a wax which seems to help. It will last for years with no tarnish problems. You can always add some 3M tarnish strips inside the case for added protection.

If you coat silver with lacquer you ruin the sound. Lacquer kills the natural sound of the horn. My Selmer Mark VI has the lacquer removed with a gold plated neck. Getting the lacquer off made a big difference in the sound. Lacquer just makes the horn look pretty but does nothing to improve the sound. That is not just my opinion but is backed up by testing the great trumpet maker Reynold Schilke did years ago. Gold, silver, and no lacquer sounded better and were all close in sound quality. Lacquet sounded worse.

Wisco