Alexander French Horns

I currently play on an Alexander 103, which I have owned now for many years. However, perhaps a little background first...

I started off as a tenor horn player when I was about 11-12. I played that for a couple of years and then moved on to the french horn, playing on a Holton 177. This was a good horn to start on, but after playing for a few years I wanted more. I spent hours (and I mean hours) in Paxman's in London, trying each and ...
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All Alexander horns are hand-made in Mainz, Germany. They have several different models of single, double, triple and descant horns available. However, the two which I have played on are the 103 and the 1103 which are both full double F/B flat instruments, but with different wraps.

The 103 is the "traditional Alex" that most horn players would think of if you mentioned an Alex to them. It has a distinctive ... more

I currently play on an Alexander 103, which I have owned now for many years. However, perhaps a little background first...

I started off as a tenor horn player when I was about 11-12. I played that for a couple of years and then moved on to the french horn, playing on a Holton 177. This was a good horn to start on, but after playing for a few years I wanted more. I spent hours (and I mean hours) in Paxman's in London, trying each and every instrument they had. In the end I decided on a screw-bell Alex model 103.

I received it on trial the day before I was due to go off on a course to record a CD. I loved it the moment I played it, and have loved it ever since.

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All Alexander horns are hand-made in Mainz, Germany. They have several different models of single, double, triple and descant horns available. However, the two which I have played on are the 103 and the 1103 which are both full double F/B flat instruments, but with different wraps.

The 103 is the "traditional Alex" that most horn players would think of if you mentioned an Alex to them. It has a distinctive design with a large, front-facing thumb valve (Kruspe wrap) and a medium/large sized bore. It gives a moderate amount of back-pressure which allows you to really fell what you are playing. Some people don't like this feeling, and for them the 1103 is probably a better choice of instrument.

The 1103 has a similar bore as the 103, but is wrapped completely differently (Geyer wrap) and is a far more free-blowing instrument. In terms of playing I would say it plays far more like a Paxman 25.

Both instruments come in a choice of Yellow or Gold brass. The Gold Brass, which I have, gives the instrument a darker, richer sound, so is ideal for the player with a naturally brighter sound.

As with all double horns the instruments are relatively heavy and if that is a concern, and you have the money, perhaps one of the Paxman models with titanium valves might be for you. Alternatively you might want a single horn, but I'll leave those for someone else to review.

Another question which faces horn players when they buy a horn is fixed-bell or screw-bell. I have a screw-bell instrument which I find is far more convenient to transport and carry than my old fixed-bell horn. Some people claim that the extra weight dulls the sound of the instrument, but it is something that I have never noticed. However, whichever you pick I advise you not to have the bell transformed from a fixed-bell to a screw-bell as the instruments are not identical.

The cases that come with the Alex's are sturdy, but possibly a little heavy for what most people want. The purchase of a Marcus Bonna (rebranded with the Paxman logo if you buy it from there) would definitely be recommended, whatever instrument you play on.

Because they are hand-made it means that each and every Alexander horn is different. It is therefore important that if you order one you have it on trial before you buy it.

I was lucky that my instrument was just what I wanted, but I have played some 103s which I did not like. One thing in particular to watch out on with these instruments is the high G, which has a tendency to be flat on some insturments (I don't know why).

Overall I would not recommend that a beginner purchases one of these instruments. However, I would recommend these instruments to any advanced player who wants to take that next step.

Happy horn playing. 

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