Expert: Kenton Scott - 9/27/2009

Question
My father has a Vincent Bach Mercury Trombone #1637 that we are thinking of refinishing for my 10yr old son to use in band. We are told it will cost between $500-600 to do this.The trombone is in perfect working order but does not look like new. Is this the going price for refinishing? Will it look like a new trombone? A friend told us to clean it with brasso because it will sound better without the laquer finish. Is that true?

Answer
I'd rather not get into the price of things, but suffice it to say that relacquering a horn is not cheap. Done properly, it should look nearly like it was new.  

But, that is all it does.  It will play no better.

Brasso will keep it looking shiny - after all the old lacquer is stripped off.  But that shouldn't be expensive.

It will sound no worse, a skilled player may find it sounds better.