How laquering affects the sound?

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alberttrombone
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How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

I've recently bought a King 3B and did some modifications on it, made the bell detachable and removed the old orange laquer.

I love its sound now, more compact and centered than before.

But I have doubts about lacquering it again or not... Besides of protection of the instrument, how it affects the sound? I never knew how lacquer affects the sound exactly...

Probably I'll lacquer only the inner side of the bell, because in a time I'm gonna hate the black dots, but I'm looking for all the options...

Thanks!
tbonesullivan
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by tbonesullivan »

How exactly did you make the bell detachable? The Iconic king curved brace does not easily lend itself to the fittings usually used.
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BGuttman
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by BGuttman »

A good lacquer coat dampens the sound a little. A thick lacquer coat deadens the sound.
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alberttrombone
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

tbonesullivan wrote: Thu Feb 16, 2023 9:04 am How exactly did you make the bell detachable? The Iconic king curved brace does not easily lend itself to the fittings usually used.
My usual tech did it, with a regular detachable bell ring...
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alberttrombone
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

BGuttman wrote: Thu Feb 16, 2023 11:08 am A good lacquer coat dampens the sound a little. A thick lacquer coat deadens the sound.
Thanks!
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by GabrielRice »

alberttrombone wrote: Thu Feb 16, 2023 11:46 am
BGuttman wrote: Thu Feb 16, 2023 11:08 am A good lacquer coat dampens the sound a little. A thick lacquer coat deadens the sound.
Thanks!
Exactly. And to add to that, the original King lacquer is about as thick as lacquer comes. A good tech can do a clear spray lacquer coat that will be significantly less deadening - though also significantly less durable.
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Burgerbob
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by Burgerbob »

My 3B and 607 were much better after taking the lacquer off. Need to do my 608 too.

I haven't thought about relacquering... Too much effort.
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
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alberttrombone
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

Burgerbob wrote: Thu Feb 16, 2023 12:15 pm My 3B and 607 were much better after taking the lacquer off. Need to do my 608 too.

I haven't thought about relacquering... Too much effort.
And do you use wax or any other material to mantain the trombone in good shape?
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by Burgerbob »

alberttrombone wrote: Thu Feb 16, 2023 1:44 pm
Burgerbob wrote: Thu Feb 16, 2023 12:15 pm My 3B and 607 were much better after taking the lacquer off. Need to do my 608 too.

I haven't thought about relacquering... Too much effort.
And do you use wax or any other material to mantain the trombone in good shape?
Nope, I just polish it when it gets nasty.
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alberttrombone
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

Polish how? Sorry about my ignorance about it 😅
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by Burgerbob »

I use Hope's Brass Polish. Once you remove the lacquer, it needs to be polished anyway.
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

Thanks!
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by Slydeguy »

I used Renaissance Wax on a Bach 36B 2 years ago and haven’t had to do anything further. I waited until it had the patina I desired and applied the wax. No water spots or change in the patina.

https://restorationproduct.com/shop/renaissance-wax/

Used my museums to preserve several types of surfaces.
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by Elow »

I read that as resonance wax, thought it was edwards newest gadget
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by hornbuilder »


My usual tech did it, with a regular detachable bell ring...
So you had the bell modified to have a screw bell flare. To fit the horn in a flat case.
The entire bell isn't detachable.

It is a nomenclature detail, but can help avoid confusion.
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Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by Doubler »

I would think that altering the bell would have a more noticeable effect than lacquer removal.
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