How laquering affects the sound?

Post Reply
User avatar
alberttrombone
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:23 am
Location: Barcelona
Contact:

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
Posts: 1610
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2019 9:06 am
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

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.
David S. - daveyboy37 from TTF
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
User avatar
BGuttman
Posts: 6295
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2018 7:19 am
Location: Cow Hampshire

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.
Bruce Guttman
Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra
"Almost Professional"
User avatar
alberttrombone
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:23 am
Location: Barcelona
Contact:

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...
User avatar
alberttrombone
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:23 am
Location: Barcelona
Contact:

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!
GabrielRice
Posts: 1098
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:20 am
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

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.
User avatar
Burgerbob
Posts: 5068
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:10 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

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
User avatar
alberttrombone
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:23 am
Location: Barcelona
Contact:

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?
User avatar
Burgerbob
Posts: 5068
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:10 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

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.
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
User avatar
alberttrombone
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:23 am
Location: Barcelona
Contact:

Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

Polish how? Sorry about my ignorance about it 😅
User avatar
Burgerbob
Posts: 5068
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:10 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

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.
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
User avatar
alberttrombone
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:23 am
Location: Barcelona
Contact:

Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by alberttrombone »

Thanks!
Slydeguy
Posts: 53
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:18 am
Location: Raleigh, NC

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.
Elow
Posts: 1865
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:18 am

Re: How laquering affects the sound?

Post by Elow »

I read that as resonance wax, thought it was edwards newest gadget
hornbuilder
Posts: 1015
Joined: Wed May 02, 2018 9:20 pm

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.
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
Doubler
Posts: 393
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:56 pm

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.
Current instruments:
Olds Studio trombone, 3 trumpets, 1 flugelhorn, 1 cornet, 1 shofar, 1 keyboard

Previous trombones:
Selmer Bundy, Marceau
Post Reply

Return to “Modification & Repair”