Silver plating and gold plating of mouthpieces

Anyone who plays a brass instrument knows how important the mouthpiece is. It has a great influence on sound, response and technical handling. One way to influence these properties is by electroplating with silver and gold. Even used mouthpieces can be preserved, restored or optimized by re-coating or re-plating.

Whether for trumpet, trombone, horn or tuba - in our workshop all mouthpieces for brass instruments can be silver or gold plated. We have an in-house electroplating shop, which enables the highest quality and fast delivery times. We can also respond flexibly to special requests such as partial gold plating.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between silver plating and gold plating on mouthpieces?

Silver plating, as a standard on today's mouthpieces, is usually less expensive than gold plating. However, silver-plated surfaces can react with the sulfur content in the air and tarnish black. This patina can cause an allergic reaction in some musicians. Silver plated surfaces are slightly "rougher" and provide more "grip" or a firmer hold to the musician's lips. For this reason, silver platings are preferred by brass players with a dry embouchure.

Gold platings, on the other hand, are more expensive, but gold does not tarnish and is a very good option if musicians are allergic to other coatings or their patinas. Gold plated surfaces are very smooth and are preferred by brass players with a wet embouchure. They provide a smooth surface for the lips and allow for an easier "glide" on the mouthpiece.

Of course, you can also opt for silver plating or gold plating for purely aesthetic reasons :-)

How does silver plating or gold plating of mouthpieces work?

Mouthpieces are coated by means of so-called bath electroplating. This is an electrochemical method used to apply a thin metal layer (3 -25 µm = 0.003 to 0.025 mm). In this process, the mouthpiece is immersed as the cathode (negative pole) in an electrolytic solution containing metal salts. By applying a voltage between the mouthpiece and an anode (positive pole) made of the coating metal (e.g. copper, silver or gold), the metal ions are attracted from the solution and deposited on the mouthpiece, where they form a uniform coating.

What is hard gold plating?

Compared to normal gold plating, hard gold plating produces a particularly hard, abrasion-resistant and durable coating. This is achieved by adding cobalt. For this reason, hard gold plating is particularly suitable for objects that are subject to heavy wear, such as jewelry, technical components and also mouthpieces of brass instruments.

For all our gold platings, we rely exclusively on the process of hard gold plating.