Posted by Ian Easton on August 06, 2001 at 09:06:35:
I've heard all the arguments for silver plate versus laquered: (durability, maintenance, cost, even tone!!), but what I'm interested in is whether from a repairer's point of view, silver plating is easier/harder to weld to, and causes a stronger/weaker weld. I imagine laquer burns and relaquering are issues. Also, I've always thought the silver plating makes the instrument slightly harder to dent. Is this correct? And in repairing the dents, which finish is easier to work with and yields the best results?
For a final question (hopefully not a silly one!): with 2 otherwise identical tubas, what would be the difference in weight between a silver and laquered instrument?
Ian (enquiring minds want to know, as they say) Easton