Re: Re: lacquer vs. not


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Posted by David on December 20, 2001 at 11:37:56:

In Reply to: Re: lacquer vs. not posted by Matt Walters on December 20, 2001 at 09:17:18:

You can create the same effect with different mouthpieces and not alter the instrument in any way.

For instance: a shallow cup - brighter and sharper; a funnel shape, ala Helleberg - darker and flatter; a deep bowl shape - even darker which sounds flatter.

By removing the lacquer one would make an assumption that extra material would be removed thus allowing the entire instrument to vibrate more freely, or does it? Why then do so many players think that a silver plated horn plays darker, or is that brighter? I get confused.

I truly believe the only difference is what the player thinks. If you think lacqer deadens the sound, then it does. Conversely, if you think the horn sounds great with the lacqer on, then it does that too. Silver plate - brighter? darker? raw brass - brighter? darker?

Who really cares anyway? When you pick out an instrument, do you pick it out to change it? or do you pick it out because you like the way it plays?

All of us do some experimenting when we get a "new" horn (new or used). Most of us let it go with just finding the mouthpiece that works the best by creating the tone quality, pitch, and projection. If you have unlimited funds (in case you ruin the horn in the alteration process) then strip, lacquer, plate, whatever the horn and see if you can make a difference.

Just an opinion.


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