selmer tenor series II lacquer

I don't think so, unfortunately for you (maybe). The Metal alloy is probably lighter than the by-gone era one and the lacquer has more chemical stability.....

This is the 'clear' lacquer* (actually baked-on epoxy) that they still are using on the Super Action 80 Series II. It will not 'age' at all. And it is true as stated above that the Super Action 80 and Series II have a higher zinc content in the brass which gives the raw brass a 'whiter' appearance than the 'red brass' of some vintage horns (higher copper content). Selmer Paris is now going back to the 'gold' lacquer of the earlier pre-SA80 horns on many models.

*it has a slight gold color but it's pale. The 'gold' lacquer is actually orange in color but looks gold over the red brass. I remember when I bought my first Mk VI at the age of 18 - the salesman (a well-known local guitar man) told me Selmers had gold in the brass, which I believed for many years.

interesting! Thanks.

Flyguy said:

the series II I saw has a very pale yellow lacquer (unengraved also). Does this darken over time like with the vintage Selmers? it's even lighter than my Yamaha.

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Depends on the chemistry of the lacquer - and the conditions in which the horn is kept.
Most nitro-cellulose darkens with time, and is (to some extent) oxygen permeable - so the brass itself also darkens.

Some (all??) Epoxides darken, at least to some extent, with exposure to UV....

Guess the answer might depend on what you meant by "Like".

not all vintage selmers are that dark , I've seen a Mark VII (25 odd years old) very pale indeed , a closet horn no doubt but to me it witness that if that lacquer and metal darkens it does so very slowly indeed!

Vintage Selmers can be light or dark because the lacquer used at the time had a high variability in tint. Some are more 'orange' and others are 'blondes'.