Use caution using Brasso and steel wool. You will remove metal from the instrument and this can change the sound and playing characteristics. Wright’s Brass Polish and a soft cloth is a better option. It will remove the remaining lacquer and tarnish without affecting the brass.
Thank you so much for this! I followed your steps on a Cornet from the 40's that I purchased. I do have one question though, how has the clear coat on your trombone stood against the oils from your hand? I've found that the clearcoat on the areas where I grip the horn have diminished down to the raw brass.
I don't play much (I'm an oboist) so it's more just for show. The area where I grip was already super worn down before this whole process and I haven't noticed a difference.
$25 for an 88h. Wow! In the Detroit area, people list straight tenors for $300 and they are POS'. Nice job. Did you do this on a simpler horn previously?
i know i'm late- but i'm a trombone buyer, fixer, and reseller in the detroit area. you're still 100% right about EVERYTHING being extremely expensive and being complete pos. i'm seeing some worse than student models going for double what i would pay for an intermediate level horn. absolutely wild.
I played an 88H in high school, and gosh, I'm glad to see this horn get dolled up and used. I may be doing this recipe to a King 1130 Flugabone soon. Thanks for posting this!!
Hello, I write from Italy, I have the exact same trombone as yours. On the bell there is written Made in usa and not elkarth. You know what year it is, the serial on the slide has been deleted. I can't figure out how old he is, and if they're elkarth
Is a Conn Elkhart 88H and is almost 50 years old and says Elkhart because Conn Factory was in Elkhart, Indiana but the factory closed in 1970 because a fire destroyed all the place and then Conn moved to Abelene, Texas Now the Conn trombones are produced in Elkhart again but in the Bach Factory and the new ones are not exactly what were the old ones produced in Elkhart
it will. it just might take a bit more work and effort. sometimes really hot water will take it off, unless its a king with the yellow laquer then your better off going and getting it done by a professinal, that stuff is hard to shift!
using brass o isnt such a good plan apparantly. ive done this and with my reaserch on the trombone forum i found out this 1. brasso works by taking a samll layer of metirial off (brass) so you can make the thickness of the brass uneven chnging how it plays, almost always worse apparantly. 2. using a clear coat isnt ideal too, its thick and again it will be uneven thickness. it will kill the trombones responsivnes and how it plays, especially a conn 8H! 3.if you want to get the lacquer off ones you have used to striper you can sue a green scotch pad, this will leve some scratch marks but it will not eat away at the brass nearly as much as bass o. 4. steel wool is a bit hit and miss, it will make you horn shine but small bit of wool are left in the horn as you polish and if they are not cleard up thye will rust and and cause red rot or worse! then its game over for that trombone. striping the lacquer is quite common but is you want to protect it again then car wax is the way to go, you will have to keep applying it but thats why its good. its easy to take it off, all you need to do it wash it with luke-warm soapy water. it looks good though, have fum playing such a beautiful horn!
Thanks for the input! I'm an oboist (12 years) and got this trombone for only $25 so it's not much of a risk to me. If I was a professional trombone player I probably wouldn't use my DIY process haha
@@clairebogdan As a trombone player myself who studied under an awesome player, I was taught that I should do whatever I want to my instrument to make it sound better to me. In my case that involved using plenty of brasso, scotchbright, and steel wool. If it rots it rots, get a new cheap horn and make it your own. I enjoyed seeing your process.
Use caution using Brasso and steel wool. You will remove metal from the instrument and this can change the sound and playing characteristics. Wright’s Brass Polish and a soft cloth is a better option. It will remove the remaining lacquer and tarnish without affecting the brass.
I just did this with my saxophone and it looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for posting!
A lot of work but a wonderful looking result.
Thank you so much for this! I followed your steps on a Cornet from the 40's that I purchased.
I do have one question though, how has the clear coat on your trombone stood against the oils from your hand? I've found that the clearcoat on the areas where I grip the horn have diminished down to the raw brass.
I don't play much (I'm an oboist) so it's more just for show. The area where I grip was already super worn down before this whole process and I haven't noticed a difference.
Amazing ty! I have a sax i want to de-laquer, this will work great
$25 for an 88h. Wow! In the Detroit area, people list straight tenors for $300 and they are POS'. Nice job. Did you do this on a simpler horn previously?
i know i'm late- but i'm a trombone buyer, fixer, and reseller in the detroit area. you're still 100% right about EVERYTHING being extremely expensive and being complete pos. i'm seeing some worse than student models going for double what i would pay for an intermediate level horn. absolutely wild.
Is the Matt Clear Coat Enamel expected to be long lasting? Would you ever have to re-apply?
I played an 88H in high school, and gosh, I'm glad to see this horn get dolled up and used. I may be doing this recipe to a King 1130 Flugabone soon. Thanks for posting this!!
Would you sell this horn now? Thanks :-)
I would have just used barkeepers friend after removing the lacquer this is poormans polish and it works great
I have that exact trombone :)
This looks fantastic. Any difference in how it plays? Considering doing a limited version of this on the bell/outer slide of my horn.
I'm an oboist (casual trombone player just for fun) so I don't really have the ear for the difference in the trombone sound. Sounds the same to me.
There shouldn't really be any perceivable difference in sound yes
Hello, I write from Italy,
I have the exact same trombone as yours.
On the bell there is written Made in usa and not elkarth.
You know what year it is, the serial on the slide has been deleted.
I can't figure out how old he is, and if they're elkarth
Is a Conn Elkhart 88H and is almost 50 years old and says Elkhart because Conn Factory was in Elkhart, Indiana but the factory closed in 1970 because a fire destroyed all the place and then Conn moved to Abelene, Texas
Now the Conn trombones are produced in Elkhart again but in the Bach Factory and the new ones are not exactly what were the old ones produced in Elkhart
Could a paint and varnish remover work in place of the aircraft stripper?
it will. it just might take a bit more work and effort. sometimes really hot water will take it off, unless its a king with the yellow laquer then your better off going and getting it done by a professinal, that stuff is hard to shift!
using brass o isnt such a good plan apparantly. ive done this and with my reaserch on the trombone forum i found out this
1. brasso works by taking a samll layer of metirial off (brass) so you can make the thickness of the brass uneven chnging how it plays, almost always worse apparantly.
2. using a clear coat isnt ideal too, its thick and again it will be uneven thickness. it will kill the trombones responsivnes and how it plays, especially a conn 8H!
3.if you want to get the lacquer off ones you have used to striper you can sue a green scotch pad, this will leve some scratch marks but it will not eat away at the brass nearly as much as bass o.
4. steel wool is a bit hit and miss, it will make you horn shine but small bit of wool are left in the horn as you polish and if they are not cleard up thye will rust and and cause red rot or worse! then its game over for that trombone.
striping the lacquer is quite common but is you want to protect it again then car wax is the way to go, you will have to keep applying it but thats why its good. its easy to take it off, all you need to do it wash it with luke-warm soapy water.
it looks good though, have fum playing such a beautiful horn!
Thanks for the input! I'm an oboist (12 years) and got this trombone for only $25 so it's not much of a risk to me. If I was a professional trombone player I probably wouldn't use my DIY process haha
@@clairebogdan As a trombone player myself who studied under an awesome player, I was taught that I should do whatever I want to my instrument to make it sound better to me. In my case that involved using plenty of brasso, scotchbright, and steel wool. If it rots it rots, get a new cheap horn and make it your own. I enjoyed seeing your process.
What kind of clear coat did you use?
Conn 88h?
Is it an Elkhart?
How long did it take with the brasso and steel wool to remove the lacquer?
Probably 30 minutes and I had someone else helping me too.
I've been looking for an 88h on marketplace forever. Would you consider selling it?
No, sorry! This one's a keeper
Nice