What makes you write that your saxophone is "brass plated?" What exactly IS that? Most saxophones are brass - period. Occasionally you'll find them in bronze and solid-silver. And most times with new horns regardless of the finish (bare-brass or some sort of plating - silver or gold) the horn will have a clear-coat of lacquer over the finish to protect it from wear and the elements. Yes, there are exceptions.
Your issue is lacquer wearing off some surfaces, that's all. You didn't mention the brand or model of your saxophone, but on several of my Yanagisawas, especially sopranos, I've experienced some lacquer-wear on various parts of the horns, including the most-used touches, the long rods where one's hands touch the rods consistently, and even on the tube itself. It happens . . . when the wear creates a rough feel, I use a polishing cloth to clean up the places where I feel that roughness (key touches), which means that a once-lacquered touch is now bare-brass but at least it doesn't feel rough to the fingers. DAVE
