Posted by Larry Zaidan on October 15, 2000 at 21:08:55:
Hi,
I have the chance to purchase an old school owned King sousaphone, which happens to be the same instrument that I first learned on 25 years ago. I am interested in buying it, mostly for sentimental reasons, but have some questions about restoring it:
Originally, the color was a deep gold, almost orangish. Would that color have come from the brass itself , or do you think that the laquer would have had a pigment in it? Now, 25 years later, the color has darkened considerably. Can the original color be restored?
The bell is in good shape, save a crease in the top edge. The body has small to medium dents uniformly around it, and it needs a leadpipe.
Can anyone guestimate what it might cost me to restore this memory-filled horn?
Thanks for any help!
Larry Zaidan