Re: saxophone paint job
Jim is correct. A relacquer is about the biggest job that can be done to a saxophone considering all the work that must go into it. All soft materials must be removed, the old lacquer stripped by chemicals and or physical buffing and dents worked out as part of the prepwork. New lacquer can be applied to your taste according to the selection available from the tech doing it. After that, all pads, felts, corks, springs must be replaced. This is very, very expensive and doesn't come close to justifying itself with respect to the value of the horn, if that's one of your motivations.
Also keep in mind:
There is some debate as to a saxophone's finish effects it's sound sound. Some are absolutely certain that certain finishes have certain effects on tone. I've seen many debates on the subject. It always comes down to one side (the side who thinks finish does matter) giving subjective experience as to what happened when they did this or that to their horn, or they tried several horns with different finishes and they sounded a certain way....
The other side (who say finish matters little to nothing) giving other subjective experience, plus scientific evidence found in double-blind testing of instruments in an experiment, plus accoustical theory that illustrates that finish doesn't matter. They also claim the power of subjective thought (if you think it ought to play brighter/darker/richer/pinker) will make it play how the player expects. A likely theory given that the player is where the tone quality largely comes from.
Tone and response can be largely effected by the state of the horn. A horn with no leaks will blow freer and easier than an old seive in need of much work. It'll likely sound better too. Given that refinished horns are given an overhaul, could that be the difference? To me, a horn sounds like it sounds, and changing finish to try and alter your tone the way you expect it to is a wild goose-chase.
If you want a different coloured sax, it might be just as cheap to see if any competent saxophone is allready made in the colour you like. If your goal is a darker/brighter/fuller/richer/more vibrant sound, it's probably better to find a horn reguardless of finish that's better to your liking.
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