Top 11 Best French Horn Brands On The Market

TheFrench horn (more often referred to simply as the “horn”) is a mainstay brass instrument of orchestral and chamber music and even sees use in jazz and other genres.

Due to its popularity, there are plenty of options for the student, intermediate and professional horn players. This isn't only true of individual instruments but also solo horn makers and larger brands.

With such a wide variety of choices, knowing the market's top brands is useful. Of course, the brand is far from the most important aspect of aFrench horn, though it's still worth considering for general knowledge and judgment. In this article, I'll share my take on the topFrench horn brands.

Though obviously subjective and prone to biases, I've done my best to list out these brands based on the following metrics (in no particular order):

• Company reputation
• Performance of the French horns
• Longevity of the French horns
• Variety of French horns available
• Accessibility of the French horns (how easy they are to find/buy)
• The company must currently be in operation

With all that being said, let's list out the brands.

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The Top 11 Best French Horn Brands Are:

1. Alexander
2. Holton
3. Paxman
4. Yamaha
5. C.G. Conn
6. Hans Hoyer
7. Schmid
8. Jupiter
9. Lanstro
10. Schiller
11. Stagg

Let's get into each of these brands in greater detail and explain why they belong in the top 11 bestFrench horn brands. I'll share their country of origin, a bit of history, an example of a notable horn, and a link to their official website.

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Alexander

Currently run by the 7^th generation of the Alexander family, this brand has been making top-notch brass instruments for centuries, not decades. Indeed, the know-how accumulation passed from one generation to the next makes each Alexander horn, leaving the Mainz factory, a piece of music history in the making.

If you want to feel what 3 centuries of heritage sound like, all you have to do is pick up an Alexander horn and hear the difference yourself.

Notable French horn: Alexander Bb Horn Model 97

Seven generations and three centuries are behind every decision made in the design of this instrument. As a result, the craftsmanship, design, and performance are top-notch.

Indeed, you can choose yellow or gold brass or nickel silver and enjoy the medium-sized bell throat to make the challenges in opera concerts effortless. Moreover, the solo players will find that this horn cuts through even the densest mixture of instruments.

If you are after a B♭ model that is built to last, sounds amazing, and performs effortlessly, you have to try this model by Alexander.

Holton

Although Frank Holton started as a second-hand instrument seller with a tiny shop in Chicago, his company grew way beyond his imagination. For starters, they are the instrument of choice for giants like Vincent Bach, Ethel Merker, and Philip Farkas, among many others.

To be the go-to option for people with such a refined ear is not an overnight phenomenon. Indeed, Holton has been manufacturing some of the best horns in the market for decades. Check one for yourself today and hear the true brass spirit beating inside every Holton creation.

Notable French horn: Holton H105 Professional French Horn

Holton's flagship horn just got a full revamp from the company, and it sounds better than ever. To begin with, the red brass used in the bell translates into dark, rich tones that can sound amazing at any volume without ever getting into brassy territory.

Moreover, to add dynamics and enhance the tonal palette of the instrument, you can even exchange the lead pipe system, making it suitable for orchestral or chamber music. Finally, the tapered rotors in the mechanism ensure long years of music joy ahead with minimal maintenance.

This horn is Holton's flagship instrument and, as such, also a benchmark of the industry.

Paxman

Although the first Paxman horns ever made started in 1945, Paxman had already been working as a brand for almost half a century when Bob's father, Harry Paxman, founded it.

The critical acclaim to which Paxman horns were received by the musical world took the company to a meteoric rise. Furthermore, teaming up with notable Australian player Richard Merewether, Paxman created the f-alto and F/f-alto horns. Although before their construction, it was considered a crazy idea, nowadays, these horns have more than 50 models in Paxman's catalogue.

If you're looking for uncanny quality, great sound, and a plethora of options to choose from, Paxman is a must-check.

Notable French horn: Paxman Model 20

This horn is the flagship model of one of the world's most renowned horn manufacturers. This makes it a benchmark for the entire industry and one of the best horns you can buy today.

For starters, this horn is unlike any other because of Paxman's exclusive Merewether system. In case you are not familiar with it, the system allows air to flow in the same direction through the valve section for both sides of the instrument: F and B♭.

From a player's perspective, this system allows unprecedented smooth slurring and great legato on both sides.

If you want to put your hands on one of the best horns ever made and your budget allows it, you have to try one of these before buying anything else.

Yamaha

Although most people associate Yamaha with state-of-the-art technology and performance, the brand's origins are very different. Indeed, it all started in the hands of a superbly gifted piano maker who created an empire out of his talents.

The brass department enlarges the company's legacy by applying the latest technology to improve the quintessential design and deliver something new to the market. Therefore, what you get from a Yamaha musical instrument is always the perfect match of centuries-old tradition and cutting-edge machinery.

If you want a great-sounding, utterly-reliable, and long-lasting horn, Yamaha is a must-check.

Notable French horn: Yamaha YHR-871

The newest addition to the rich Yamaha tradition of outstanding horns is the Yamaha YHR-871. This state-of-the-art instrument is capable of exceptional clarity while also delivering deep and rich resonance in every note.

That being said, you can also hear the solid core in every performance due to the orthodox Geyer-style wrap. Speaking of which, the instrument's lead pipe design in gold brass is unorthodox, which plays a big part in the instrument's tone throughout the entire register.

This is a great candidate for those in search of a superb, dynamic, flexible, and easy-to-play instrument.

C.G. Conn

This is one of the oldest companies making brass instruments in the USA, and although it was sold and purchased several times, the legacy of one of the biggest names in brass instruments in history is intact.

Today, after being purchased by Selmer in 2003, the healthy interrelationship between Conn and the rest of the outstanding brands owned by Selmer created an ecosystem that elevated all the brands involved. Thus, every time you pick up a Conn horn, you'll be playing centuries of combined experience, knowledge, and tradition in every blow.

Notable French horn: C.G. Conn 8DS

The 8DS is this company's best-selling French horn because it is capable of offering any player the perfect blend of projection and flexibility to conquer any stage. Moreover, for the horn players on the road, you can detach the bell and make it even more compact.

The success of the 8DS is not new, though; it has been one of the best-selling horns by Conn for decades. The dark tones with rich lows and perfectly balanced mids coming from the nickel construction and the large throat bell are still unmatched in the market.

Finally, the thin lacquer finish provides the warmth and sustain most players search for in an instrument.

Hans Hoyer

Although this company was established at the end of the 20^th century, the heritage these instruments proudly bear comes from the last years of the 18^th century. Indeed, the headquarters region is rich in musical history, with 250 years of fine instrument making.

This expertise and finesse were only augmented by state-of-the-art machinery and industrial know-how to create some of the best, most reliable, and great-sounding horns in the market today.

Notable French horn: Hans Hoyer RT91

If we were to name the credits of Richard Todd, one of the most prominent artists in the Han Hoyer catalogue, we would need a different post exclusively for it. What is important to know about him, though, is his past as a Hollywood Studio Artist and principal horn of the L.A. Chamber Orchestra.

This wide palette of sounds needed by Richard daily gave this instrument (his favourite) unheard-of dynamics, which make it excel in all situations. If you are after a do-it-all horn that plays great, sounds even better, and will last for a lifetime, check this one out.

Schmid

After a long trajectory as a horn master player, Engelbert Schmid decided to open his own shop as a master builder in 1990.

Due to the outstanding demand for his horns, he