TromboneChat

Hello community,

I am facing a desire to hand my King 5b from 1976 over to my professional brass instrument Workshop to get the 5b into a complete new lacquer dress. As original, of course ... gold laquer and the slide silver/clear ... as it was first sold in 1976. My eyes will be happy and the metal is fully protected again.
My only concern: hopefully the original beautiful warm sound will not be traded in.
Do you guys have experience with what I am planing? Do or don't do it?

Nobbi

There are some relacquer guys who can do a good job and others who can ruin a perfectly good instrument.

I hope there are some here who can give suggestions. Approximately where are you? US? UK? Australia? EU?

Germany.
The brass workshop I am talking about is an absolute pro for decades. Master of building brass instruments.

There are a number of master builders who don't (or can't) do lacquer. Not being in EU I can't comment on any shop. I hope some of our EU members can make recommendations.

Note that the orange lacquer that King used back in the 1970s may not be available. Your new lacquer coating will be much lighter in color.

Pleischl in Atting do a great job, and they can apply different color tones to their lacquers.

To answer your question..................
No, refinishing the horn will not alter the beautiful, warm sound of the horn.
In skilled hands, the abrasive buffing process will remove only a very minute amount of metal.
You will have some loss of definition to any engravings on the bell.
A properly applied coat of new lacquer will not be so thick as to alter the sound of the horn.
So yes, find a good TROMBONE technician and go for it.
TROMBONE is important, as the outer slide tubes are subject to bending in inexperienced hands at the buffing wheel.

Leopold Mueller in Baiersdorf is specialized in lacquering horns. www. mueller-lack.com