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Original Lacquer or Relacquer? How to Tell on a Vintage Saxophone

One of the most common questions when looking at an older saxophone is whether the finish is original or whether the instrument has been relacquered at some point in its life.

It matters because originality can have a significant effect on value, particularly with desirable vintage models.

A saxophone with original lacquer will usually be worth more than an otherwise identical instrument that has been stripped, polished and refinished.

But identifying a relacquer is not always straightforward.

Some are obvious within seconds. Others were refinished extremely well and can be difficult to distinguish from an exceptionally clean original instrument.

The best approach is not to rely on one clue, but to look at the instrument as a whole.

What does relacquered actually mean?

A relacquered saxophone has had its original lacquer removed and a new lacquer finish applied.

Traditionally, the process often involved:

The amount of polishing involved varied enormously.

A sympathetic refinish may preserve most of the engraving and sharp details.

A heavily buffed instrument can lose engraving depth, soften edges around tone holes and posts and remove some of the crispness visible on an untouched saxophone.

Why were vintage saxophones relacquered?

Today, players often value an original finish even if it has considerable wear.

That was not always the case.

For many decades, worn lacquer was simply viewed as cosmetic deterioration.

If an otherwise good saxophone became scratched, tarnished or patchy, refinishing it could make the instrument look almost new again.

Repair shops therefore commonly offered relacquering as part of an overhaul.

A saxophone may have been refinished simply because a previous owner wanted it to look better.

Relacquering does not automatically mean that the instrument was damaged or badly repaired.

Why does original lacquer matter?

Collectors generally prefer originality.

An original finish tells us more about how the instrument left the factory and preserves details that can be lost during refinishing.

Original lacquer can therefore increase desirability and value.

That becomes especially important with highly collectible models.

A very clean original example of a sought-after Conn, King, Martin, Buescher or Selmer can be worth considerably more than an equivalent relacquered instrument.

For a player, however, the difference may be much less important.

A relacquered saxophone can still be an excellent instrument.

Look at the engraving first

Engraving is one of the most useful clues.

Factory engraving normally has crisp edges and clear depth.

When a saxophone is buffed before relacquering, the polishing wheel can soften those lines.

Look closely at:

If the engraving looks unusually shallow, rounded or blurred, the instrument may have been heavily polished.

However, this is not proof on its own.

Some factory engraving was naturally deeper than others, and a lightly polished relacquer can retain surprisingly sharp engraving.

Check whether the engraving cuts through the lacquer

On some instruments, engraving was applied after lacquering at the factory.

This can leave exposed brass visible within the engraved lines.

If a saxophone has later been relacquered without being re-engraved, lacquer may cover those previously exposed cuts.

That can provide a useful clue.

However, manufacturing methods differed between makers and periods, so this should always be interpreted in the context of the particular model.

Look for buffing around posts

The areas around key posts can be extremely revealing.

It is difficult to polish closely around a soldered post without leaving some evidence.

Look for:

If the main body looks mirror-bright but small areas around the posts appear noticeably different, the instrument may have been polished before refinishing.

On untouched instruments, the finish and ageing usually look more consistent across these areas.

Inspect the tone holes carefully

Tone holes can also show evidence of aggressive polishing.

The edges should look clean and mechanically defined.

Heavy buffing can soften the outer edges of straight tone holes.

On saxophones with rolled tone holes, such as many vintage Conn instruments, it is especially important to inspect the rolled edge carefully.

Excessive polishing around tone holes is undesirable because the pad needs a stable and even surface against which to seal.

Look at the serial number

Serial numbers are stamped into the brass and should generally appear crisp and well defined.

If the numbers look unusually shallow, soft or partially polished away, that is a strong indication that the instrument has been buffed.

The same applies to:

Deep factory stamps normally survive a light refinish, but substantial polishing can noticeably reduce their definition.

Compare the body and keywork

Sometimes the body and keys tell very different stories.

Imagine a saxophone body that looks almost factory new, while the key touches, rollers and mechanisms show obvious decades of wear.

That mismatch should make you look more closely.

Heavy key wear combined with immaculate body lacquer can suggest that the body has been refinished.

Again, it is not conclusive.

An instrument may simply have been extremely well cared for, or the keys may naturally show wear faster than the body.

But the overall ageing should make sense.

Look for lacquer in unusual places

A relacquer can sometimes leave lacquer where you would not expect to find it.

Possible clues include lacquer:

Factory finishing processes varied, so familiarity with the particular manufacturer is useful here.

Inspect the lacquer colour

Colour can provide clues, but it is one of the least reliable methods on its own.

Old lacquer can darken dramatically over time.

Some vintage finishes develop a deep golden or amber colour, while others remain surprisingly pale.

Different manufacturers also used different lacquer formulas.

A very bright modern-looking lacquer on a 90-year-old instrument may raise questions, but exceptionally well-preserved originals do exist.

Likewise, a dark finish is not proof of originality.

Some older relacquers have now aged for decades themselves.

Look for natural wear patterns

Original lacquer often wears in predictable places.

Common areas include:

Natural wear tends to have gradual, irregular edges.

If a very old instrument has no wear whatsoever in areas that normally receive constant contact, it is worth investigating further.

That said, a saxophone that spent most of its life unused in a case genuinely can survive in extraordinary condition.

Check underneath key guards

Areas underneath key guards and mechanisms can provide useful comparisons.

These parts of the body are protected from regular handling and polishing.

If the finish underneath a guard looks substantially different from the exposed body, it may indicate that the instrument has been refinished.

It can also simply reflect differences in exposure to light, moisture and handling, so once again this is only one piece of evidence.

Look for polishing residue

Old polishing compounds can sometimes remain trapped in inaccessible areas.

Look closely around:

A white, green or dark residue around these areas can suggest previous polishing.

Of course, an instrument may have been polished without being relacquered, so this clue needs to be considered alongside the finish itself.

Examine solder joints

Original solder joints can sometimes help identify whether a body has been refinished.

If lacquer clearly runs across an old solder repair, the lacquer must have been applied after that repair was carried out.

That can provide very strong evidence of a later refinish.

Likewise, repaired areas beneath otherwise immaculate lacquer should raise questions about the sequence in which the work was done.

Can a relacquer look completely original?

Yes.

A high-quality relacquer can be extremely difficult to identify from photographs alone.

If the original lacquer was stripped chemically rather than aggressively buffed, many of the normal clues may be absent.

Sharp engraving can remain intact.

Serial numbers can remain crisp.

Tone holes can retain their original shape.

After several decades of ageing, the new lacquer may even develop the appearance of an old original finish.

In these cases it may be impossible to be completely certain.

Can an original saxophone really look almost new?

Absolutely.

This is where identifying finishes becomes difficult.

Some instruments were bought, played very little and then stored carefully for decades.

Original lacquer on such a saxophone can be astonishingly well preserved.

Sharp engraving, crisp stamps, original case condition and consistent wear across the whole instrument can all help support the conclusion that the finish is genuine.

It is therefore dangerous to assume that an instrument must have been relacquered simply because it looks too good for its age.

Does relacquering affect the sound?

This is a subject that generates plenty of debate.

Some players believe that removing and replacing lacquer changes the sound of a saxophone.

Others believe the effect of the lacquer itself is negligible.

In practice, I would be much more concerned about what happened to the instrument during the refinishing process.

If a saxophone was aggressively buffed, tone holes were altered, the body was distorted or keys were poorly reassembled, those things can certainly affect how it plays.

A sympathetic refinish that preserves the instrument mechanically is a very different situation.

Is a relacquered saxophone worth less?

Usually, yes.

Collectors generally place a premium on original finish.

The size of the difference depends heavily on the model.

On a highly collectible saxophone, originality can have a substantial effect on value.

On a less collectible instrument bought mainly for playing, the price difference may be relatively small.

A beautifully playing relacquered saxophone can therefore represent very good value for somebody who cares more about performance than collectability.

Should you avoid relacquered saxophones?

No.

A relacquer should be considered part of the instrument's history, not an automatic reason to reject it.

I would rather own a well-restored, excellent-playing relacquered saxophone than an original-lacquer example with serious mechanical problems.

The important questions are:

Do not rely on one clue

This is probably the most important advice.

There is rarely a single feature that conclusively proves whether a saxophone has its original lacquer.

Instead, look at the complete picture.

Does the engraving match the apparent condition?

Do the serial numbers remain sharp?

Does the wear look natural?

Do the keys and body appear to have aged together?

Are there signs of buffing around posts and tone holes?

Does the finish make sense for that particular manufacturer and period?

The more evidence points in the same direction, the more confident you can be.

Original lacquer is desirable, but condition comes first

For collectors, original lacquer can be extremely important.

For players, it should usually be only one part of the buying decision.

A vintage saxophone exists to make music.

If it seals properly, responds easily, has sound keywork and produces the tone you want, a previous refinish does not prevent it from being an excellent instrument.

Originality affects history and value.

Mechanical condition affects whether the saxophone is enjoyable to play.

Ideally you find an instrument with both.

But if you have to choose, a great playing saxophone will usually give you far more enjoyment than perfect lacquer.

You can browse the current selection of vintage saxophones for sale at Vintage Sax Studio. Each instrument is individually assessed, including its finish, mechanical condition and any evidence of previous repairs.

You may also be interested in What to Look for When Buying a Vintage Saxophone, How Old Does a Saxophone Have to Be to Be Considered Vintage? and Why Buy a Vintage Saxophone Instead of a New One?

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