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A type of finish that has been showing up on some of the used horn postings you see is what they call a “brushed finish.” It is a potential “hot button” topic that I don’t believe has been much commented upon in the horn press.
What makes a horn shine?
The typical finish desired of a new horn is achieved by cleaning, buffing, and polishing the horn completely in the final stages of construction. It may then be lacquered to preserve that look, or it may be left to develop a natural patina over time.
What is being done on some used horns is an alternate finish, the brushed finish. This finish is accomplished by working the surface with steel wool or similar, aiming for an attractive pattern.
What do I think of it?
The first time I saw this finish on a horn I was not impressed. I can see the advantage of this type of finish in a complete rebuild situation, but I am certainly biased toward a conventional finish. [For more on “why” see the update at the end.]
Which led me to pose a question on Twitter. Only 25 responses, but I think maybe a fair sample:
As you can see, about half were “meh” and almost 1/3 were not fans.
But some love it
I was interested to see though that some do actually love the finish, so maybe it has some room for growth in the market. Time will tell! But I’m not a big fan personally at this point.
UPDATE: Comments on Facebook line up with why I’m not a fan. My perception is generally this finish is applied to hide or disguise issues with an instrument. Also, it is destructive, it takes material off the horn and, in the process, probably creates new problems. And if there are more repairs done later it can be difficult match the brushed finish in the newly repaired area. I prefer a traditional finish, there is a reason why it became the standard.
