This is a spectacular example of Paxman's art:  a virtually as-new Model 25 dual bore full F/Bb double horn in lacquered nickel-silver with a 'New World' (also called 'American') bell which has a detachable flare.  (Please contact Alan Wiltshire for an explanation of Paxman's dual bore system if you don't understand what this means: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .)

There is some very slight creasing in the detachable flare (and I do mean VERY SLIGHT) which cannot be seen in the pic.  This in no way detracts from how wonderfully the horn plays and sounds, and in truth is hardly noticeable.  Apart from this, the horn is as-new in all respects.  Even the lacquer is virtually all intact - it's very hard to find a flaw.

This horn has a BIG bell, so makes that 'Hollywood' sound - as heard in any Hollywood blockbuster movie (Lord of the Rings, etc) or LPO concert or recording.  Nickel-silver is the most expensive, hardest and longest-lasting of all the 3 metals from which horns are made, and this horn flourishes a beautiful, virtually flawless, mirror finish.  It's truly one of the loveliest horns I've ever seen or played.  It comes in its original hard, black, flat 'attache case' style Paxman case.

If this looks appealing (and how can it not look appealing?!), don't hesitate:  handmade Paxmans like this don't come along very often and it won't be here long...

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Holton are renowned for their comparatively inexpensive professional horns in many styles.  This is a particularly lovely Kruspe-style full F/Bb double with a BIG, ambronze bell.  Ambronze is 'American' for gold brass - so it's an otherwise orthodox Kruspe wrap horn with a yellow brass and nickel-silver engine, but with the complete bell in gold brass (or 'ambronze'!).

It makes that BIG, 'Hollywood' sound which you either love or hate - as we all do with all horn sounds, I suppose.

Apart from just looking absolutely beautiful, there are those who will claim that the gold brass bell procudes a warmer sound than yellow brass or nickel-silver and this fine instrument certainly does not disappoint in any respect:  it plays beautifully, it sounds awesome and it looks a million dollars!

This is an inexpensive professional-quality instrument for someone who wants to make the Hollywood sound but doesn't want to spend a fortune.

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Newly arrived is this Alexander 1103 - their Geyer style alternative to the 103.  Many players prefer these fine horns to the omnipresent 103, often commenting that the 1103 is more free-blowing and smoother and more forgiving to play.  Of course, it has virtually the same bell as a 103 and so makes an almost identical sound.

This superb instrument is built in lacquered yellow brass (with the lacquer being approximately 90% intact) and has a screw bell.  It's in very good condition, with just the odd, superficial cosmetic blemish.  It comes in a hard, flat case which is also in good condition.

It's smooth and responsive to play, and makes an exciting, heroic sound.

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Here we have another 667 - Yamaha's fine-playing Geyer derivative.  It's a fixed bell horn in lacquered yellow brass.  The lacquer is pretty good except around the bell tail and spout, where some dents have been removed.  There are also a couple of other cosmetic blemishes elsewhere but none of this in any way detracts from the horn's playability - in all playing senses, its condition is perfect.  Valve compression is awesome, all slides are tight and smooth and the horn plays like new.  In fact, it's not been used much at all. It comes in its original black, hard case which is also in very good condition.

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This 103 has undergone extensive restoration including a full valve rebuild and the fitting of a complete new bell (not just the detachable flare).  As such, it is virtually a 'new' instrument.  Of course, it plays perfectly - like new - and therefore represents excellent value for money. The horn is built in unlacquered yellow brass with a screw bell.  It comes with a high quality, as-new 'backpack' style case.

This is a fine-playing 103 and will be a bargain for someone...

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A fine example of Alexander's famous and well-established full double descant.  This horn is in very good condition - just the odd, superficial cosmetic blemish - and is made in lacquered gold brass with a screw bell.  It comes with its original hard, flat crocodile case which is also in very good condition.

If you're looking at this you'll know all about these so I won't say more:  a very fine horn for a discerning player.

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We have two of these beautiful instruments for sale currently.   In the classic Geyer style, they play superbly - very like an Engelbert Schmid F/Bb double in many ways but even more lightweight.

They're made in lacquered yellow brass and come with a screw bell and adjustable pinky hook and thumb lever - so you can get that all-important left hand set-up exactly correct.  They both have mechanical actions.

These are ex-demonstrators and they have tiny blemishes (a very small pin dent on the bell spout of one, a re-soldered stay on the rear of the other).  Apart from these minor flaws, the horns are as-new but are available at knock-down prices.  

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Thought by many to be the finest triple on the planet, Schmid's wonderful horn is incredibly lightweight and plays stunningly well.  If you're looking at this you'll know all about them, so I won't bother with a detailed explanation.

This fine horn is in excellent condition with just a very few tiny areas of missing lacquer.  It's a full triple in F/Bb/F alto and comes in yellow brass with a screw bell and a coffin case, also in excellent condition.

They don't use these in the NY Phil for nothing...

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A later instrument than the 1970s/80s gold brass 20M newly listed below, this is also a very fine horn.  It's in lacquered yellow brass with a medium screw bell.  It also has some minor cosmetic blemishes (mostly on the detachable flare) and, somewhat unusually, comes in a fixed bell case (although a new screw bell case can be supplied at cost).

This is a more lightweight horn than the gold brass 20M mentioned above, and typical of Paxman's current, very fine instruments.  This is THE classic Paxman - a Model 20 with a medium bell, in yellow brass.

This wonderful horn will make someone very happy...

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This is a very nice Paxman 20M from the late 1970s or early 1980s.  It's a lacquered gold brass instrument with a fixed bell and, apart from a few superficial cosmetic belmishes, it's in very good condition and has clearly seen little use.  It plays beautifully, of course and has a full, warm yet bright sound and a stellar high register - it's really notchy and secure up there!

A fine instrument for a discerning player.

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We don't normally display our student horns on the website but this instrument is exceptional:  it's in absolutely pristine, as-new condition - I cannot see a blemish on it (or on the case!) - and it does play very well indeed.  In lacquered yellow brass and with a fixed bell and mechanical action on all 4 valves, it has a medium, Geyer style bell and is in the Geyer wrap.  It's very similar in virtualy all respects to Yamaha's marvellous Model 567 student horn.

This is a lovely, inexpensive instrument which will make an excellent choice for a keen amateur or student.  It comes with our usual package of full 3-year guarantee, full reconditioning (although there's virtually nothing to do to it) and a hard case.

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Newly arrived and currently undergoing preparation is this lovely old 103.  It's in great condition for its age - even the lacquer is pretty good - and as soon as one plays it you can see why people go crazy for these early 103s.  It's much more friendly to play than the later horns - fine though they undoubtedly are - and it does make a warmer, silkier sound.  It's a yellow brass horn with a fixed bell and mechanical action on all valves.  It comes with a non-original but very sturdy and high quality case.

This is gonna make someone very happy indeed...

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We don't usually sell single F horns because of their limited applications.  However, very occasionally a really nice example comes along which plays very well indeed and here is such an instrument, in unlacquered yellow brass.  It would suit someone who wants a single F horn to practice arpeggios and flexibilities on (at the office, or something...?) or a beginner who wants an inexpensive lightweight instrument which does play and sound like a French horn should.  This is very definitely not a cheap student instrument.  That said, it bears no maker's name although the remnants of a sticker on which it says 'Made in Italy' are present. Whatever it may be, it plays really well, is in superb condition and is priced to sell.  It comes in a 'boat' case which, although functional, has a faulty catch (which a bit of DIY will fix).

The picture shows the horn before we've reconditioned it, so it will look a little brighter once it's been through our workshop.  It will come fully reconditioned and with our usual full 3-year guarantee and a high quality mouthpiece (if you want one).

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These very fine, handmade horns rarely find their way onto the used market - people just don't tend to sell them once they've actually got one and have seen what all the fuss is about.  (This example comes from a professional player who has embarked upon a second, alternative career.)

Schmid horns are wonderfully lightweight, and play just superbly.  If you're reading this, you'll already know all about them so I won't belabour their excellence here.  This descant is in very nice cosmetic condition - just a few, superficial blemishes and the odd, tiny area of missing lacquer - and, in playng terms, it's in perfect condition.  It plays wonderfully, as you would expect.  The valves are silky smooth, silent, incredibly fast and incredibly airtight. And everything works exactly as it should.  A detachable F extension is included in this sale.

This is a very fine horn for a discerning player...

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Newly arrived (and newly reconditioned) is this superb Yamaha Custom 668VS.  This is a screw bell Kruspe style F/Bb full double horn in unlacquered yellow brass.  It's got an extra-large bell - so sounds like a Conn 8D - but has highly airtight valves, so has a high register like a Paxman. These are handmade horns and nothing like Yamaha's still very fine, but lesser quality, 'professional' horns - the 668 (and their Geyer variant, the 667).

This instrument is in superb, virtually as-new condition and has hardly been used.  It comes with its original brown luxury case, which is also in excellent condition.

As one would imagine, the horns plays just superbly.  They don't use these in the London Philharmonic Orchestra for nothing...

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