Horns

Buying a horn (commonly referred to as a French Horn ) can be a bit of a struggle, as most find it hard to get past the hefty price tag of the instrument of their choice. Remember there are ways to find the horn of your dreams for less than full price, whether it be new or used. Keep in mind that the horn you buy, especially if it's for your child, will last for years. Most beginner /intermediate horns  get students through their first and second years of college.

The parts that make a horn tick

The mouthpiece  of the horn is thin and cone shaped. If a player needs to high notes in the higher register, he/she will need a narrower mouthpiece. If he/she needs to play notes in the lower register, a wider mouthpiece will be required.

When presed, the valve levers open or close the valve tubes to change the pitch of the instrument. Pressing combinations of the levers producec different notes.

The bell is the widest part of the instrument (top), and is where the sound comes from. A horn player usually puts his/her hand in the bell to support the instrument, but it can also go towards muffling the sound.

Some Suggestions

Here are a few suggested makes and models that are typically bought by/for first time horn players.

The Conn 8D  is a solid instrument that is preferred by most young players.

  • Tends to take a lot of air to fill up.
  • Used by some professionals.

The Holton H275  is a new model from Holton.

  • The price tag on this is questionable, as some have complained about its quality.

Similar to the H275, is the Holton H175. 

  • Good student instrument.
  • Typically lasts until the first or second year of college.
  • Valves can be creeky, and horn can be overblown with effort.

The Yamaha YHR667  is Yamaha's answer to the Conn 8D.

  • Geyer wrap; tone a bit brighter than other (nickel) instruments.
  • Metal can be a bit soft for high school students.

Enough background - time to shop!

Shopping for a horn may be a bit tricky. Music stores encourage customers to come in and try their instruments for themselves, which is something that should be taken advantage of. To find a horn that fit your needs, and those that don't, you can do no better than to actually play and see them up-close. However, even though you may find something in a store that suits you, the sales person/shop owner may not be willing to budge on the sticker price. Don't panic -- there are a handful of ways to get the right price for the right horn. Below are a few suggestions.

  • Check out different stores to compare prices. You may get lucky and find that one store is selling your horn at a price you're willing to pay, but at the very least, you'll be equipped with some leverage when you try to bargain with a salesperson.
  • Do some research online. Reputable Web sites like Woodwind & Brasswind and Musician's Friend tend to have lower prices than those you'll see in music stores, so it's worth taking a look before doing any physical shopping. Having these prices in mind can also help you bargain with an otherwise stubborn store owner or sales person.
  • Buy used!

Buying Used

Buying used  can be a bit of an adventure, and may lead to some initial frustration. Give it some time. People are always finding great deals on quality, used instruments. Like any used instruments,  though, there are a few things to look for in a used horn. Below are some suggestions.

  • Make sure the slides are easily removable and parallel with each other.
  • Check to see if the valve caps can be removed easily.
  • Small dents on any brass instrument won't affect the sound or the player's ability to use it, but look out for dents larger than a nickel.
  • Check the spit valve to see that it doesn't leak and is functional.
  • Rust on any brass instrument is impossible to fix, and can make it unusable. Take a good look at the horn to make sure there's no rust present.

When shopping for a used instrument, it's a good idea to bring your teacher along for a second opinion, especially if you're a beginner. Shoppers may be swayed by many factors, including irrelevant aesthetic features, a price too good to believe and a pushy salesperson looking to make a sale. Teachers have dealt with similar situations for years, so their eyes are trained to pick up even the most insignificant flaws. Use them to your advantage.

Things to avoid

One of the most important things to look for in a horn is it's key. Most beginners use horns pitched in F. However, it's typical to find sellers (especially on auction sites) that will tell you that a given horn is pitched in F, when in reality it's what's known as a Single B-flat horn.  Though there isn't anything wrong with a Single B-flat, most students learn on a horn in F. So if your child shows up to his/her first lesson with a Single B-flat, both the child and the teacher will be confused, and the entire lesson will be a waste of time.

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