sachmo

What are the advantages of have a horn (flugelhorn) with a raw brass finish? I'm thinking of buying a flugelhorn used, but it has been stripped to a raw brass finish. Will I be wasting my money? I've heard the newer lacquer used now is not as heavy as it was in the past, and that lacquered horns now play just like the raw brass finish horns. Is this true?

veery715

I hope you will be able to play it before you buy it. That should be your main consideration, for if you don't like how it plays don't buy it. Raw brass sounds fine and has no real advantage over lacquer. Lacquer is easier to maintain. Horns that have been stripped usually were because the lacquer was coming off anyway, and that is cheaper than a new lacquer job. There are different kinds of lacquer, and some are heavier than others. You can't really make a generalization about the playing qualities but there is often very little difference.

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rowuk

Raw brass means green hands. I think if the laquer makes that big of a deal, it says more about a players chops being weaker and not the horns playability. There is a chance that an instrument COULD be somewhat more vibrant if it were raw, but the differences in my day to day consistency are FAR greater. The pro instruments use laquer that does NOT destroy the sound or playing characteristics. Student and intermediate horns have a tougher laquer because PROTECTION is the desired thing for that level of player.

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Solar Bell

Green hands and possible allergic reaction to the bare metal. ( I have that problem)

My Eclipse flugelhorn is brushed red and yellow brass with CLEAR LACQUER and it looks great and plays great.

I could tell no difference in the play of the silver plate, gold plate and lacquered finish on the Eclipse flugelhorns.


-cw-

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MJ

I had a raw brass horn for a while and it was a pain in the ass IMHO.

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Dale Proctor

When weighing the pros and cons of an instrument purchase, raw brass is a definite con, at least to me. If the horn plays well and I'm interested, the price needs to reflect the need for a lacquer job.

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Bonasa

Beyond the inconvenience of having your hands turn green is the far more serious concern with brass poisoning. That green-colored stain is oxides of copper and zinc interacting with your skin and sweat. You are probably absorbing those compounds through your skin and into your bloodstream.

Is it really worth it?

Given that so many seasoned players will admit they can tell no difference in tone between a raw and a lacquered brass horn, why jeopardize your health? Or the structural integrity of your horn, for that matter? Every time you polish the oxidation off a raw brass horn, you thin the brass ever so slightly. Where your hands brighten the luster of the metal slightly, you have removed the oxidation, and when it reforms, it will be attacking the next layer of metal. Even if you leave the oxidation intact, you are allowing the oxidants in the atmosphere to continue to attack the brass.

For your own health and that of your horn, get it lacquered or plated. Your liver and your horn will both appreciate it.

sachmo

OK thanks for the quick responses, I'll wait and get a nice lacquered horn. It seems a raw brass finish is not only going to be a pain in the ass to maintain, but I may end up slowing watching my horn and my health disappear. Plus it seems the sound won't be much different anyway. I guess this is one instance where going "green" is not such a good think. Thanks to everyone for their input. Now I have to decide on which flugelhorn to get...but that's for another posting...

Walter

Well just to present another view.....I have a Hub Van Laar Flugel in raw brass...it has been easy to maintain...just give it a bath like any other horn.... bring up the lustre with a non scratch scotchbrite pad and dry. I have never had green hands and the sound is always vibrant and beautiful.....would lacquer change the sound..I would guess yes because everything affects everything.....would you hear the difference......who knows. If health were an issue I don't think horn makers like Monette would sell raw brass horns and risk suit if there was a well know documented issue.

Wynton has played his raw brass Monettes for years...I would imagine he is pretty informed on this stuff....

I suppose if you sweat lots then maybe raw brass is not great......


Walter

Brekelefuw

YOu would have to eat your horn for the brass to poison you. Think of the thousands of people who play raw brass instruments, not just in trumpet, but all brass. How many cases of brass related death have you heard about?