TromboneChat

Hello everyone!

I have this King 2B Jiggs Whigham model, which I bought about twelve years ago...
The lacquer on the bell started peeling off in several areas quite some time ago, and I’m not sure what to do about it.

Right now, I really love the sound it has and don’t want it to change, so removing all the lacquer or relacquering it seems like too "traumatic" a process for the instrument.
But I’m worried that the metal might already be in poor condition (in a zone near the bell rim that is darker) or could deteriorate further… How can I keep it in the better shape possible right now?

And to to even out certain areas is it possible to remove small areas of lacquer manually in a "zero-trauma" way?

What would you recommend I do? Thanks a lot!

If you love how it plays now just leave it alone.

It's not "deteriorating". Raw brass turns dark in color over time. An unlacquered bell could easily last 100 years. If the appearance bothers you, you can shine up those areas with brass polish. It's also possible you have some acid bleed, where acid leaches out from inside the bell bead. It presents as dark brown or black stains that emanate from the rim. Hard to tell from your photos. That's really nothing to worry about either. You might be able to polish that off as well.

Oh thanks! It seems to be that dark stain near the rim.

Which brass polish product do you recommend? Not sure I can find here at Barcelona/Europe all brands available at the US

brassmedic wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:52 pm It's not "deteriorating". Raw brass turns dark in color over time. An unlacquered bell could easily last 100 years. If the appearance bothers you, you can shine up those areas with brass polish. It's also possible you have some acid bleed, where acid leaches out from inside the bell bead. It presents as dark brown or black stains that emanate from the rim. Hard to tell from your photos. That's really nothing to worry about either. You might be able to polish that off as well.

Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.

I've used a wadding material called Nevr-Dull (may have other names -- I have a 50 year old can of the stuff from my father-in-law that was called Maserati). It shines up the exposed brass nicely. A friend shined up an old tuba with the stuff and it was still shiny a year later. Also seems to leave lacquer alone.

BGuttman wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 5:43 pm I've used a wadding material called Nevr-Dull (may have other names -- I have a 50 year old can of the stuff from my father-in-law that was called Maserati). It shines up the exposed brass nicely. A friend shined up an old tuba with the stuff and it was still shiny a year later. Also seems to leave lacquer alone.

Unless it has abrasives, a "polish" most likely will not affect the existing lacquer unless it's already loose near the edges.

After polishing, a car wax containing carnauba will protect the brass.
Meguires is a popular wax that doesn't have abrasives, used by guitar players & luthiers.

Do you mean “Yamaha Laquer Polish”?

UATrombone wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:39 pm Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.

Do you mean this?

Bonearzt wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:19 pm

BGuttman wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 5:43 pm I've used a wadding material called Nevr-Dull (may have other names -- I have a 50 year old can of the stuff from my father-in-law that was called Maserati). It shines up the exposed brass nicely. A friend shined up an old tuba with the stuff and it was still shiny a year later. Also seems to leave lacquer alone.

Unless it has abrasives, a "polish" most likely will not affect the existing lacquer unless it's already loose near the edges.

After polishing, a car wax containing carnauba will protect the brass.
Meguires is a popular wax that doesn't have abrasives, used by guitar players & luthiers.

When applying this kind of products, the areas with lacquer suffer any kind of change?

UATrombone wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:39 pm Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.

alberttrombone wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 12:33 am Do you mean “Yamaha Laquer Polish”?

UATrombone wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:39 pm Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.

No, I meant this:
https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/m ... index.html

They have 3 different "Polish" products: Laquer, Metal and Silver, for different types of surfaces.

alberttrombone wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 2:28 am When applying this kind of products, the areas with lacquer suffer any kind of change?

UATrombone wrote: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:39 pm Check your stores for Yamaha metal polish, it's available almost everywhere.

I can't say because I use it on unlaquered instruments.

Thank you!

UATrombone wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 2:38 am

alberttrombone wrote: Sat Feb 15, 2025 2:28 am When applying this kind of products, the areas with lacquer suffer any kind of change?

I can't say because I use it on unlaquered instruments.

Or you could perhaps buff off all the peeling lacquer?