Plating Gold over Brass

[mojobari]

I have always heard that one needs to plate silver over brass first before plating with gold. I noticed your Pick-a-kit said any of your kits can plate over brass. What is the story on gold over brass?

[mcaswell]

If you plate gold directly over brass, you will get a very deep, rich gold color.

If you plate silver or nickel onto the brass, then plate gold over that, you will get a very bright gold color.

[mojobari]

Thanks. Gold plated brass saxophones and mouthpieces always have silver under gold. It is commonly thought that this is needed to get the gold to stick. The color consideration makes more sense to me.