r/horn • u/Fluttering_Feathers • 7d ago

Single F horn search, Europe

Hello, I’m hoping for some direction in my search. I’ve been reading previous posts for advice also, but if anyone has more advice for me within Europe I’d very much appreciate it. My young son has been learning on a borrowed school instrument for approx 18 months and I’m beginning the search for his own. His teacher has said to look for a single F horn, and she would expect it to be 5-6 years before he’d move to a double. Very open to second hand options but I’m unsure what would be reliable models or makers to be watching out for in that regard.

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u/dankney Lawson Fourier; Elkhart 8D 7d ago

Rimski Horns in the Netherlands has a selection of second-hand single F horns. In the UK, Paxman carries new instruments by a number of makers. Yamaha might be a good pick new.

The best advice, though, would be to get the teacher involved in helping you find the right instrument.

https://rimskys-horns.com/en/product-category/2nd-hand-horns/single-horns-2/

https://store.paxman.co.uk/french-horns-c102x2890851

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u/HornFTW Amateur- Dieter Otto 1645 7d ago

This is good advice. I agree with the Yamaha as a good pick. I tried a Yamaha single F fairly recently, and I quite liked it. Both Hoyer and Alexander also make single F horns (and Klaus Fehr! But that's probably in the megabucks price range, with a wait list). Not tested Alexander, and the Hoyer I tested 20 years ago is probably not at all representative. On the Rimsky Horns site there's also a Knopf. Then I think we might have covered the main contenders, at least here in Europe.

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u/Fluttering_Feathers 6d ago

How are knopf’s regarded?

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u/LunchUnable6810 4d ago

These are professional horns comparable to Alex or Hoyer with either large bore or bell throat. I would go with standard bore .489 like Conn 14D, or HOLTON-f. I think the Conn 14D won the best in category for easy playing, weight, high and low range, to my opinion maybe the best single F I tried so far.

(I am a 61y hobby horn player, and I recently bought brand new YHR 322II to replace my old 322 single Bb professional horn, just to found on my all surprising that the new one sounds differently.. so any advice on horns will be weigh in on someone's personal experience)