I agree with your opinion regarding lacquered instruments. I have a relacquered Conn 26M Constellation alto that plays awesome. In my collection list, I prefer original lacquer.
Until recent years, when it became unfashionable, it was quite commonplace to re-lacquer when an instrument went in for an overhaul. It was considered to be giving the customer a thorough job, all part of the service Sir. Therefore the horns that have never been re-lacquered are very few. My 1938 Selmer Balanced Action was re-finished at some time in its long life and is the best alto I've ever played, and there have been plenty. The buffing must have been done with great care, and quite possibly only hand prepared! An important issue is that you know what you're buying and it's priced accordingly. Or you could play safe and go for a plated horn. How many silver or nickel plated instruments do you see that have been re-finished? Cheers!
I had a lacquered Martin alto saxophone when I started playing in high school. It was a vintage alto and it played nice. It was also heavy. I had work done on the neck(to replace the cork), pads because they were sticking, and some of the springs. I had the horn looked at again and it was polished. Years later, I was in junior college taking up the tenor and I put my alto away. I showed my instructor my alto and he offered to have it worked on again. He told me that the alto had be relacquered a couple of times. It was originally a silver plated alto. He bought it from me for $75.00. Silver instruments weren’t high in value in the mid-90’s. What is your opinion on the P. Mauriat System 76 2nd Edition tenors and altos? Honestly, I like the dark lacquer finish on those horns, if I could afford to buy one.😎🎷
Those Martins are great saxophones. I've owned quite a few of them. I actually did a review on the P. Mauriat System 76. Please check it out. ua-cam.com/video/C1UJgxmTZR8/v-deo.html
Don’t re-lacquer ..usually. But sometimes on some horns an intelligently and professionally done re-lacquer can actually improve the resonance and sound in a positive way. On thick walled ‘heavy ‘ horns, sometimes it can actually be a positive move. Some Late MK VI altos and even some 5 digit VI altos were thick walled heavy ‘gauged’ horns where some examples were re-finished imo it actually improved the sound. And we’ve all seen re-lacquered ‘disasters.’ Great youtube post here thank you ! ☀️
Interesting observation. I’ve always thought a dull sounding sax could be mistaken for a dark sounding sax and a thicker brass could definitely cause that. Thanks for watching, Scott
Thanks for the great video, I needed the info as I just got a relacquered 1954 at a garage sale. You stated 30% reduction in value. Considering mine has a replacement neck, how much would that effect the value?
Like we talked via email. That might be the original neck. If it was the wrong neck but still a Mark 6 neck it wouldn’t get hurt as bad as no neck or a different brand neck. If it was original finish that would hurt it more but considering a relacquer maybe $500 in your case. That’s just my opinion. Some people will pay a premium for a mk6 no matter what so good luck with the sale! Thanks for watching
Back in the heyday of the big bands it was really common. They were very proud of their visual appearance and very worn instruments wouldn’t pass muster. The big manufacturers eg Selmer, Conn etc would do it at the factory and the factory techs would reassemble it and put right any faults. It’s a bit different now since it’s done by independent artisans - it depends on the techs skills at reassembly and balancing. It shouldn’t put anyone off - if it plays good it is good.
Thanks for the question. Usually try hot water first. If the lacquer is nitrocellulose sometimes I get lucky and it comes right off. I’ve been using Orange Strip in the aerosol spray can. I remove all the springs if they’re blued. Because the orange strip can take off the bluing of the springs. The orange trip isn’t exactly gentle since it’s a harsh chemical, but it gets the job done.
Cool video, good luck with the channel.
Thanks so much! I enjoy your channel. Thanks for watching! Scott
I agree with your opinion regarding lacquered instruments. I have a relacquered Conn 26M Constellation alto that plays awesome. In my collection list, I prefer original lacquer.
Nice sax and thanks for watching!
..and agreed. Highly skilled re-lacquers sometimes have almost no noticeable change in tone and sound.
Exactly!
Until recent years, when it became unfashionable, it was quite commonplace to re-lacquer when an instrument went in for an overhaul. It was considered to be giving the customer a thorough job, all part of the service Sir.
Therefore the horns that have never been re-lacquered are very few.
My 1938 Selmer Balanced Action was re-finished at some time in its long life and is the best alto I've ever played, and there have been plenty. The buffing must have been done with great care, and quite possibly only hand prepared!
An important issue is that you know what you're buying and it's priced accordingly.
Or you could play safe and go for a plated horn. How many silver or nickel plated instruments do you see that have been re-finished?
Cheers!
Those are great points and a great point on why there are so many relacquered instruments out there.
Thanks for watching! Scott
I had a lacquered Martin alto saxophone when I started playing in high school. It was a vintage alto and it played nice. It was also heavy. I had work done on the neck(to replace the cork), pads because they were sticking, and some of the springs. I had the horn looked at again and it was polished. Years later, I was in junior college taking up the tenor and I put my alto away. I showed my instructor my alto and he offered to have it worked on again. He told me that the alto had be relacquered a couple of times. It was originally a silver plated alto. He bought it from me for $75.00. Silver instruments weren’t high in value in the mid-90’s.
What is your opinion on the P. Mauriat System 76 2nd Edition tenors and altos? Honestly, I like the dark lacquer finish on those horns, if I could afford to buy one.😎🎷
Those Martins are great saxophones. I've owned quite a few of them.
I actually did a review on the P. Mauriat System 76. Please check it out.
ua-cam.com/video/C1UJgxmTZR8/v-deo.html
Don’t re-lacquer ..usually. But sometimes on some horns an intelligently and professionally done re-lacquer can actually improve the resonance and sound in a positive way. On thick walled ‘heavy ‘ horns, sometimes it can actually be a positive move. Some Late MK VI altos and even some 5 digit VI altos were thick walled heavy ‘gauged’ horns where some examples were re-finished imo it actually improved the sound. And we’ve all seen re-lacquered ‘disasters.’ Great youtube post here thank you ! ☀️
Interesting observation. I’ve always thought a dull sounding sax could be mistaken for a dark sounding sax and a thicker brass could definitely cause that. Thanks for watching, Scott
nah. the metal thickness doesnt affect out sound of saxophone.
Thanks for the great video, I needed the info as I just got a relacquered 1954 at a garage sale. You stated 30% reduction in value. Considering mine has a replacement neck, how much would that effect the value?
Like we talked via email. That might be the original neck. If it was the wrong neck but still a Mark 6 neck it wouldn’t get hurt as bad as no neck or a different brand neck. If it was original finish that would hurt it more but considering a relacquer maybe $500 in your case. That’s just my opinion. Some people will pay a premium for a mk6 no matter what so good luck with the sale! Thanks for watching
Back in the heyday of the big bands it was really common. They were very proud of their visual appearance and very worn instruments wouldn’t pass muster. The big manufacturers eg Selmer, Conn etc would do it at the factory and the factory techs would reassemble it and put right any faults.
It’s a bit different now since it’s done by independent artisans - it depends on the techs skills at reassembly and balancing.
It shouldn’t put anyone off - if it plays good it is good.
Agreed and thanks for the comment. Something a lot of people don’t know.
Thanks for watching! Scott
Do you have any advice for how to gently remove old lacquer?
Thanks for the question. Usually try hot water first. If the lacquer is nitrocellulose sometimes I get lucky and it comes right off. I’ve been using Orange Strip in the aerosol spray can. I remove all the springs if they’re blued. Because the orange strip can take off the bluing of the springs. The orange trip isn’t exactly gentle since it’s a harsh chemical, but it gets the job done.
The most common belief among sax players, is to leave lacquer and engraving alone. Let it wear naturally.
True. Too bad they didn’t feel that way 50 years ago.
Are the tenors for sale?
I do sell from time to time. I try to keep it local in the Kansas City area.
sound is just different on original lacquered horns. you can tell.
Thanks for watching!