A Guide To Brass Finishes (Tuba/Low Brass)

Arguments about finishes for brass instruments never end. My friends and I have been debating the merits of their effects on tonal properties ever since we were in Jr. High.

This guide will introduce the three most common types of finishes, help separate the facts from fiction and list the pros and cons.

Three primary types of finish are used. These are Clear Lacquer, Silver Plate and Raw Brass.

Silver Plate

Pros:

* Longest lasting of all the finishes
* Makes for easy repairs
* Rumored to be louder
* Warm Sound

Cons:

* More expensive than Lacquer
* Corrosion can be pretty nasty
* Requires polishing often

Silver plated tubas are very common, though not as popular as clear lacquer due to price. A common, yet unanswered question concerning this finish regards volume. It is rumored that silver sousaphones are louder. Just know that silver plated tubas are generally known for a warmer sound than other types of finish. The upkeep is more difficult than clear lacquer as it requires regular polishing to prevent nasty black corrosion.

Silver Plate has durability issues too. Too much polishing or handling can wear through the silver in places, making the instrument look a lot worse than it really is. Repairs will be easier and look better though, as heat can damage a lacquer finish. The finish is bonded to the metal through electroplating, rather than sprayed on.

Clear Lacquer

Pros:

* Brilliant Gold Shine
* Easy To Clean
* Cheap to Re-coat
* Dark, low sound

Cons:

* Slight muffling of the sound
* Will wear through in places

The most popular finish of choice for many school bands is clear lacquer, but it was not all ways this way. Earlier lacquer finishes were solvent based and sprayed on. To get good coverage, it was very thick. This was similar to "throwing a blanket over the whole thing", muffling the sound. Improvement in lacquer finishes have reduced this dramatically, but even now lacquered tubas have a slightly quieter sound than a similar silver plated one.

The lacquer is just a coating like the clear coat on your car, over the brass on the tuba. This finish can have a brilliant gold shine and is the most durable of the common finishes. This finish characterized by its deep, dark sound in the lower sounds. The lacquer also has the easiest upkeep of the standard finishes and is most durable.

Raw Brass

Pros:

* Unmatched sound - for some
* Better response

Cons:

* Prone to corrosion
* WILL turn your hands green
* Looks uneven in finish
* Cheaper - No finish

From what I have read, raw brass not a good option for most players. This lack of finish removes all protective qualities that the other finishes have. Raw brass instruments will tarnish, but this is actually a good thing; the tarnish will provide a little protection for the metal underneath. Sweaty hands are another thing to watch out for with this finish. Contact should be kept to the minimum, unless you want to leave permanent hand prints. The acidity from your hands can eat accelerate oxidation, continuing to the metal below.

Also, holding on of these will turn your hands green.

Raw Brass does however have an advantage. They are said to have a better response and brighter sound than other finishes.

Of course these are not the only types of finishes available. There are many more, all with different tonal properties. However; these are likely all that you will run across.