Brass Instruments > French Horn Brass Instruments

Advantages: Beautiful sound, hand made
Disadvantages: Not ideal for beginners

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 ...
...since. -- 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 ... Read review

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: not many

I first went to the Paxman shop in London as a 10 year old horn player, having played the horn for 2 years. I just needed a new mute but I could have spent hours in that shop, just looking at all the horns they have on display. Each and every one has its own quality features, and I doubt there are any that aren't good value for money. I came back at age 12, having grown out of my Yamaha French Horn (don't even go there!!!) loaned to me by my music ...
...My horn teacher had rang Paxman about a week before I arrived to advise them that I needed a good horn, and I wasn't just some little girl playing the horn, I had serious potential. I would recommend telling Paxman that you want to try out horns, so they can make sure there are plenty in stock: They often lend them out to bands etc. As soon as I arrived to the shop, I had about 15 different horns thrust into my hands. I was so excited, and I'd never ... Read review

Advantages: Lovely tone, well-defined upper register
Disadvantages: Supply time.. And (possibly) valve slides...

...It should be noted that Yamaha have stopped making the YHR-668 - made obsolete by the 668II range. ***NB: The new french horns have "YHR-668" as their model number, but are easily distinguishable from the old 668s by the adustable "duck's foot" thumb valve, and the different tubing layout. The 668 has 4 tuning slides, the 668II has 3. *** I had a Nickel Silver fixed-bell 668N French Horn throughout my time at university (I studied Music at Huddersfield, ...
...slides, as is usual for Yamaha horns, are very tight-fitting - despite regular treatment, I still am worried about them jamming, or flying out and denting the bell. The RRP of £3999 might deter some people from investing. In this case at least, you get what you pay for - a professional-standard reliable instrument. ... Read review

Advantages: Well built, good value for money, consistency within models
Disadvantages: Bore is too wide for the traditional european sound

My life as a french horn player began on a Holton 177. It is an American full double instrument with a fairly wide bore and made in a nickel silver (not containing any silver, of course...). For those of you who don't know about the different metals the instruments are made from, the three main ones used are gold brass, yellow brass and nickel silver. I won't go into the details, but the gold brass is softer than yellow brass which is softer than ...
...physics behind it, but the net result is agreed by most people to be that the sound of the instrument becomes brighter as you start from gold brass, moving through the yellow brass to the nickel silver. The metal you choose will therefore, to a degree, determine the sound you will make on the instrument. One advantage of the nickel silver instrument for the younger player, however, is that the harder metal means that the instrument is harder to damage. ... Read review

Advantages: Build quality, appearance and tone. Excellent soft case.
Disadvantages: Very minor intonation issues in the upper register.

For the amazing price of this instrument (I paid around the £150 mark) it is an excellent horn for a player of beginner or intermediate standard. It is beautifully proportioned in the traditional saxhorn style - far more appealing to my eye than the open wrap design of many cheaper models. This horn plays with a lovely tone, perhaps with a few minor intonation issues in the higher register, but the notes can be lipped into shape. The tuning slide ...
...likely contributor to any imperfections. The corrosion-resistant rose brass leadpipe, excellent lacquer finish and robust stays make this horn a must for anyone seeking a real bargain. You can find virtually identical horns made in Taiwan/China and marketed under a number of brand names for £100 or £200 more! Additionally, the mouthpiece supplied is a good match for the horn's bore etc. The soft case provided is excellent and probably worth £60 ... Read review