| Gold is quite soft. "Jamming" a mouthpiece shank into a receiver is guaranteed to "grind" the gold plating off. Handling a horn gently, not letting mutes rattle around in the case, etc. and gold plating should last as well as any other finish....longer if you have acidic perspiration or live in a corrosive environment (salt-water coastline, high humidity, etc.).
Since fingerprints, etc. "wipe off" of gold much more easily than they do off of silver or lacquer, there should be a greatly reduced amount of "elbow grease" needed to clean it too!
I'm considering getting my Getzen cornet gold plated as my next major "purchase". |