I noticed that some Bachs have silver on about 1 inch of the tuning slide that goes inside the leadpipe. Others do not. Does this mean the horn was replated?

Thanks,

Steve

No - I know of several guys who bought their Strads new [in the late 80's and early 90's] and their slides were that way from the factory.

I think it's a certain vintage. One I used to have had that and it was in the 89XXX serial number range. Don't know right offhand when that would've been made.

My mid-eighties, bought new at the time, Strad 37 has about 1/8" to 1/4" silver where the plater "colored outside the lines". Not a whole inch though! Silver isn't exactly free, so I don't know why one would see that much whether original or a replate.

I also noticed on my Strad that some of the silver slopped over the edge and is on the *inside* of some of the tubing. I guess that is inevitable if one wants to guarantee a good coat over the entire visible horn. I wonder just how far back they coat the inside of the bells...