[clarnibass]

Hi

Is there a way to tell between black lacquer and black nickel plating? What about for a sax you can't see (i.e. how would you tell anyone to check if it's nickel of lacquer)?

On new Chinese saxophones, is it more likely to be black nickel or black lacquer?

Thanks!

 

[zxcvbnm]

I'm not sure about this, but I think only Keilwerth does black nickel.

 

[Jorns Bergenson]

I have two asian-made black nickel plated saxes and have seen many others. From what I've experienced, black nickel plate varies quite a bit, from a smoky gray to bluish gray to a deeper black. In all cases I've seen, it has a underlying metalic-silver color to it.

 

[Joe Jazz]

It's usually pretty easy to tell the difference in person. In photos not as easy. Selmer, Yanagisawa, and Yamaha use black lacquer. Keilwerth and Paul Mauriat's use black nickel. Previously the VMI/B&S/Chicago Jazz Series had black nickel versions too. The many different Chinese horns could be either.....

 

[Agent27]

Black lacquer is just a solid dark black color. Black Nickel is grayish and kind of has a ghost/see through quality to it. Also, under some flourecent lights, the black nickel will get this rainbow effect in squiggles and circles.

 

[Ruediger Kramer]

Black lacquer is just a solid dark black color. Black Nickel is grayish and kind of has a ghost/see through quality to it. Also, under some flourecent lights, the black nickel will get this rainbow effect in squiggles and circles.

yes, and black nickel is more resistant than laquer and will last longer.


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[Grumps]

On new Chinese saxophones, is it more likely to be black nickel or black lacquer?

Or lead paint?
Just kidding, of course...