Justin Higgins wrote: > I came across a classified ad for a YHR-576 for sale for > $1000, which seemed like a really good price to me. The > owner says they are the only owner, and that it has been > barely played, since they moved to another horn, which is > why they are looking to sell this one. > > I just wanted to see what the opinions were on this horn. My > horn teacher had a Geyer-wrap Yamaha (I believe a 667, but > I'm not sure), and I actually enjoyed that quite a bit. My > previous horn was a Holton H179, but I no longer own it. > > Does this seem like a good horn to get? I'm not a > professional, and am mainly looking to get back into horn > playing for my own personal enjoyment, although I'd love to > try and play in some chamber music groups again.
My son has played a YHR-567 for about two years now. We bought ours used for about the same price - I think we paid $1100 for it in good used condition from Dillon Music, where it had been given a thorough mechanical checking. It has no mechanical problems - all the notes play, the valves work, etc. My son tends not to take good care of it in terms of keeping the horn free of spit and well-lubed (which is to say he does neither) but it still plays well mechanically. My son also manages to get a nice horn tone from it, and has no trouble playing from very low to very high on it. I think it's a fine horn for an advanced student, but I don't know that I'd recommend it for more than that. The horn has its intonation problems, and my son's teacher has observed that he's seen several of these horns and they all exhibit the same oddities. I don't recall the specifics here, and whenever I accompany my son, he manages to lip everything pretty well into tune, but I hear it when he practices by himself. The 567 is classified as an intermediate horn, and I think that's right - it's certainly better than what's usually called a student horn, and almost but not quite good enough to be played professionally. That's a broad generalization, and I fully expect someone to post that they play a 567 in the New York Philharmonic in response to my message here :) but that's my opinion, and just my opinion. The 667 is a significantly nicer horn (some of my sectionmates in the local community orchestra play 667's) that can be had used for not a lot of money, although probably closer to $2k than $1k. I think you'd be happy with either, but I think you might be happier for longer with the 667. The good news about ther 567 is that you can probably buy it now and sell it for the same amount you paid for it in a year or two should you decide you want a better horn. Again, just my opinions, worth what you paid for them. :) -S- _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
