 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: mberkowski
Date: 2019-07-29 18:18
Can anyone shed light on any differences between how Loree does the plating on their Standard line vs Royal line?
I've been evaluating several used instruments and have noticed considerably more black tarnish on the Standard models than on the Royals. In one case, a Royal which is 6 or 7 years old has no tarnish while a Standard which is barely 6 *months* old already shows quite a bit. The older the Standard models get, the more tarnish shows especially where pad cups are soldered, while considerably less (or none) on Royals. Or on my own Covey, 20 years old and the plating looks new.
Is there actually a difference, or is this only a coincidence based on how the prior owners handled them? I really like one of these instruments, but I'm afraid its keywork will be be black within a couple of years based on what wear it shows now.
Thanks!
Michael
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Author: Hotboy
Date: 2019-07-29 18:25
I don't know for sure, but I would guess that one of the differentiating items on a Royal is a secondary spray coating on the nickel-silver plating that protects it from oxidation, similar to the clear coat on new car paint.
Dane
Bay Area, California
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Author: oboist2
Date: 2019-07-30 02:21
I went on Lopree website thinking the answer might be there, but it wasnt - I was wonderning of they plated with Rodium or something like that,. but it appears it is a nickel Silver. If you direct an inquiry to Loree, I am sure they would be only too happy to tell you, it may have something to do with the percentages of nickel to silver used....
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2019-07-30 09:16
Interesting. My AK has plating wear but it never turned black. What shows through on the worn keys is more of a coppery bronze color. Silver oxide is a brownish black color, but I would guess that it would only build up on the posts and sleeves, not on the keys where the fingers would tend to wear off the silver oxide.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2019-07-30 09:27
Further Web research suggests that nickel silver does not, in fact, contain any silver--it is typically an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. It is called "nickel silver" because it often has a silver-like appearance. But not always--which is probably why the nickel silver of which my Lorée keys are made looks coppery bronze. The actual plating on the keys is, I believe, real silver.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: mberkowski
Date: 2019-07-30 22:59
I checked with my instrument dealer, who believes the plating is the same on the two lines but sees varying levels of oxidation happen by the chemistry of the player's skin and also the prevailing climate it's played in (one instrument in question has been nearly tropical while my location is very cold & dry)
Michael
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