Custom Natural Horn -- Detachable Bell

Contact me if you are interested in one of these horns.  I will discuss the options, your preferences for a final horn configuration and its cost with you.  Natural horns have a 30 day trial period. 

This cut bell natural horn is created from a vintage horn or mellophone bell (you may specify your preference) and sometimes the vintage bell branch is also used.  I make all the interior tapered tubes and crooks from new yellow brass tubing.

The cut-bell option gives you the possibility of creating multiple visual appearances for your horn and subtlety different sounds.  For example, the pictured horn has a broad, full, exciting sound with the vintage brass bell, and a gentler, softer sound with the custom silver plated bell with cut-outs.  The base option for cut bells is one standard bell and one custom bell (all use Alexander ring sets).  You may select how to customize your bell with paint or cut-outs or engravings, or some combination.  

These horns will play and respond similar to horns by Stohr, which were popular in the 19th century and used for performances of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.  Using a vintage F-horn bell, yields a full broad horn sound and using a smaller vintage mellophone bell yields a quieter softer sound.  All horns will have a small bore with long slow tapers in the master crooks; the resulting horns are easy to play and pleasing to hear.  Hand stopping is easily accomplished, with a quick response, broad range of tone colors, and good intonation.  The crook inlet is sized to accept a modern mouthpiece, but can be made for period mouthpieces.  Bell diameter is 11 7/8 inches and bore through the slide is .439 inches.

Horns can be made to play from C-alto to C-basso in half steps.  You select whether you want to use a coupler system (cheaper) or individual crook for each key (more costly).

Another important personal option is the vintage bell used and whether to retain as much of the instruments original visible characteristics (mainly engravings and patina, but sometimes other ornamental features), or to sanitize the bell and make it appear clean and unmarked.  The bells will be handsome, straightened and clean, but will show evidence of their prior life.  I will share pictures of the bell with you when I begin working on your horn to get your feedback.

An instrument case is not included, but can be provided for an additional cost.  Bell art and decorations on the bell flares can also be performed at additional cost.

Price for standard configuration ($3160):

Corpus (A = 440) with two detachable bells (both undecorated):  $2,550

1/2-step coupler:  $100

1-step coupler:  $120

2-step coupler:  $200

A-crook:  $190

Note:  This configuration enables A-horn to D-horn in 1/2 steps.

A la carte pricing is here (select the components you want):

Corpus (A = 440) with two detachable bells:  $2,550

1/2-step coupler:  $100

1-step coupler:  $120

2-step coupler:  $200

C-alto crook:  $150

Bb-alto crook:  $120

A-crook:  $190

G-crook:  $225

F-crook:  $275

E-crook:  $300

Eb-crook:  $340

D-crook:  $350

C-crook:  $375

Bb-basso crook:  $375

Decorative art applied to the bell flare:  priced on request