First the question, then the back story:
Generally speaking, are unplated brass parts on a drum clear coated in any way?
I have a 4 x 14 Ludwig & Ludwig wood (mahogany?) 6-tube lug Pioneer I'm restoring. I started out with just a shell and badge - which I've managed to somehow prevent from getting tossed for countless decades. Jack Lawton did a ring repair and refinished.
I got brass tube lugs from Corder (Don?). Unplated (bronze?) collar hooks and chrome plated butt from John Aldridge, chrome single flange hoops from Pearl (it's true!), a nickel-plated 338 throw-off from eBay. Tension rods are generic chrome.
I was thinking about leaving the tube lugs and collar hooks unplated, and get brass hoops and tension rods instead. Which brings us to the question above. Should I lacquer (or something) the unplated parts?
Thanks a bunch!