Buying a French Horn

binx
Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:21:58 +0000

Astrophysics - see my post #4 - do NOT buy an ebay horn. You might want to look up the yahoo horn blog (I’d post the link, but it’s against CC terms) and see what folks say there about ebay. (But I can tell you now - they will say don’t.)

It is very common for horn players to buy horns via the Internet - hornplayer.net and the IHS website are two common places. It generally works that you find a horn you like, exchange contact info, and agree on terms. The terms are usually that you send a check that covers the cost. Seller ships horn to you for trial. Seller cashes check, and writes one back to you if you return the horn. You pay return shipping (pack it well and insure it!)

It is a scary process - writing a check to someone you don’t know. Them sending a horn to someone they don’t know. Which is why folks prefer to buy/sell to names they recognize - and have lots of contact in advance.

We have done this several times, and it was hard the first time. We actually drove to Florida to pick up the horn the first time (the Lawson) to avoid shipping mishaps and to meet the seller in person and establish legitimacy. Other times, it has been with people who’s names we knew (but they were taking a risk). The key is to do it through the established websites, or with reputable horn stores (like Osmun). It is normal to try a horn for a few weeks. (But at regular online stores - like woodwindbrasswind - they expect you to buy it outright.)

Momof3Stars - S2 considered Hans Hoyer for awhile. We’ve heard lots of good things about them. S2’s first teacher is planning to buy one. And S2’s Juilliard teacher (the one who died) helped design one of them. When we lived in Germany, we took S2 to tour the factory. We were treated like royalty. Then he went to Munich and spent the day testing them, but ultimately couldn’t find one he was thrilled with.