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Re: Silver Or Nickel Keys?

Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2022-05-20 17:16

In theory Nickel is harder and should be more durable. In practice Buffet and other manufacturers seems to make their silver plating much more durable (thicker?) and it generally holds up better over time. Silver tarnishes easier but it can always be brought back up to a bright shine. Nickel looks great when new and holds up well for the first few years. After a while nickel can develop a cloudiness that can be almost impossible to polish away without removing an excessive amount of material. This isn’t as obvious when looking at an older nickel plated clarinet on its own, but comparing a 50 year old Buffet with freshly polished keys vs a freshly plated instrument you can see a difference. Meanwhile my 1967 Buffet with silver plating from the factory looks fantastic after a polish. It’s also worth noting that silver is much lower on the activity series so while it is not as durable it is more resistant to the acids in your sweat. Lastly many people have a nickel allergy.

-JDbassplayer

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