[Burning Sax]

Hello guys. I was wondering if anyone could help me with some lacquer maintenance questions. I have a seen for some reasons on Yamahas from the 70'-80s (purple label 62 altos and sopranos in mind) that they tend to end up with a multiple red rot lacquer spots some even develop black spots from the zinc..Is there any way to prevent that? I have 62's and I can already see changes in the lacquer that is going towards there. I've searches online and lots of yamaha tend to age badly like that. Ive attached photo. Look closely the alto bell in the first 3 pics you can already see light black ish spots..what is that? Also the last pic, look on the keys the tiny red spots..same question..How do I prevent and stop both condition from getting worse? Thanks!!!

 

[milandro]

what you are talking are red stains due to acid bleed under the lacquer, no that is not preventable.

every small surface turning red which is not under the lacquer may simply be cleaned with a very light abrasive, there there is a very superficial loss of zinc and the copper shows, the darker areas are “ patinated” areas of brass where the zinc is not(yet) be lost, by some parts of the engraving you may see either one.

Your horns seems to look very good to me.

 

[JayeLID]

Agree with everything above.

This is really quite common in modern lacquered horns (vintage, as well).

If the bleed is beneath the lacq (as opposed to say, 'spot staining' which has happened when moisture contacted an unlacquered area of the horn), then there is only one way to get those stains off.
You have to abrade off the lacquer to get to the rot/stain beneath it. IT can then be removed (via either a chem bath or sonic bath - which would require pad removal...or using a hardware-store purchased polish such as Brasso, Wenol Maas, etc...and good amount of elbow grease).

If the stains are 'spot stains' where, in fact, the lacq wore away...then it's an easier proposition because all you gotta do is go with the paste polish (repeated application).

For acid bleed beneath the lacq, most owners decide they do NOT wanna have the lacq abraded off to remove the spots, so they just leave it.

This is the downside of lacquer finish....it wears, and sometimes there's acid bleed....

 

[turf3]

I can't even see what you're worrying about in the photos above.

The only way you can prevent lacquer finishes from gradually degrading is to completely disassemble the horn, strip out all the pads corks and springs, strip all the lacquer off, lightly polish the entire thing and all the keys...


And have it all silver plated.

And then a complete re-pad and regulation with re-installation of all the springs.

 

[simso]

For a 50 year old instrument, I reckon it is doing great condition wise

 

[Trav1s]

As one who has played vintage Conn trombones for the past 15 years, those spots are nothing compared to several of the horns I have owned. My early 70's YTS-21 has some of those spots and I am not worried about them and the tech that overhauled it was not the least bit concerned.