Klarinet Archive - Posting 000550.txt from 2003/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] anyone interested in saxophone
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2003 08:33:09 -0400

At 04:26 PM 7/19/2003 +1000, Mitch wrote:
>I think with the whole lacquer thing its just a matter of personal
>preference. Some people (i think bill said it) think that stripping the
>lacquer makes no difference. A balck lacquer sax has 5x as much lacquer on
>it as a gold lacquer and a white has 8x. A black lacquer sounds heaps
>darker and the white just sounds dead. This is why selmer discontinued
>their white lacquer. Lacquer is a plastic product that is used to seal
>wood. I can fully understand why it would dull the vibrations and the sound.

That would be an oversimplification of my position. The lacquer is put on
to protect the metal. The brass, left unprotected, will develop green
corrosion, or require regular polishing. (A car will go faster if you strip
off the paint, since it will be lighter, but I don't think it will last as
long!) A thin lacquer coating will prevent that without having that
significant an effect on the sound, especially figuring that the horn is
designed ASSUMING it will have a lacquer coating. Some people feel that
silver plate is a superior protective coating, since silver vibrates better
than lacquer, and that may be true. It is also a longer lasting finish
than lacquer. I tend to agree that the heavier, colored lacquer coatings
deaden the sound somewhat. The black lacquer sure LOOKS nice, though!

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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