You may find the Alex a bit uncomfortable at first. I did when I was switching from my Hoyer 801but I found that you had to play it for a week or two for you to really get used to it. The longer I play the Alex, the more I love it and the better it sounds.
Your sound is so much better on the Alex! From time to time I think about selling my 103 for a more 'flashy', more modern horn. But every time I try - there is no better sound than my Alex (Gold brass, no laquer, from the early nineties). You confirm my impression. And save me an awful lot of money.. Thank you very much for doing this comparison!
I think the Alex 103 sounds by far the best of all these horns. The Yamaha sounds quite open and less refined; whereas the pressure caused by the Alex 103 (I am curious to hear you say it has a lower resistance) creates that iconic horn sound. At the end of the day, I think it may be personal preference - and European . US audiences perhaps have a different vision if what they like form their horns!
I was gifted an Alex 103 many years ago (pre-Internet boom) and it's all I've ever played on so I don't know any other way! I admit I haven't done much research over the years about how truly unique it is and seem to always have questions. For example, where would you suggest I get a serial # engraved (for insurance)?
What surprised me is that you said you felt more confortable on the Yahama horn, but in the 4th Mozart horn concerto excerpt that you played, you skidded two notes on the Yamaha horn while on the Alexander horn they were perfectly fine. For the rest you are absolutely right. The Alexander 103 is (by far) one of the most popular horns for professional horn players in continental Europe.
I;ve played a Ricco Kuhn W293XS for over 10 years and 1.5 years ago i switched to an Alexander 103 (borrow from my orchestra) It's an amazing horn, my sound improved, granted it is not the most easy horn to play but it sure makes up for it interms of sound. I always got lost in the orchestra with my Kuhn and with the Alex I have no trouble at all. I also find the Alexander compact wrap to be really comfortable , the Kuhn would often give me muscle pain and i would have to rest it on my leg more. The alex is more compact and i love it, it feels amazing int he hand, yes the F horn on it is slightly tough to play but with the right airflow you can make it sound nice and crisp Sorry that I say this but I cannot stand the sound of Geyer style horns, they sound so woofy and heavy. I much prefer a kruspe style or Alex 103 also you sound way better on the alex then on the Yamaha
For what I know from it, the Alexander and other ‘European’ style horns have the typical classical music sound, the Conn and other ‘American’ style horns have the typical movies soundtrack sound.
Olá meu irmão, eu gosto muito de suas demonstrações desses belos instrumentos, esse ano de 2024 estou concluindo o curso técnico em horns, haveria uma possibilidade de você me fazer uma doação de um desses instrumento que você fez demonstração..sou músico na igreja CCB e no momento não estou em condições de comprar. Eu sou fascinado por esse belo instrumento. Na verdade, tenho uma Júpiter mas está bastante estragada, seus vídeos são muito bons, valeu tudo de bom pra você e sua família.
I say this as an American who plays on a Yamaha 671 I bought from your shop - there was no comparison for me. Hands down the sound of the Alex was better. No contest.
There are quite better horns than Alex, don't take me wrong they're very good but not top... Berliner use them because they're paid for it. As Nike or Adidas for the athletes, Alexander has a commercial agreement with Berliner.
@@TheDarkenLP just got one for my nephew for 9000+ Euros, simply amazing instrument, the guy was crying while first playing it... They are very helpful at the Gebr Alexander
I was not impressed with the Yamaha horn sound 567 and set it aside in favor of a cheap Eastman, whose sound was gorgeous. However the intonation was dreadful. oh well. Then i heard that Lukas and Contesanu modified these 567 and 667 with a new lead pipe, stripped the clear coat and ultra sonic cleaned. So i did that. Wow. completely different animal as they said it would be. They preferred the Yamaha build as world class. intonation bang on. valves as the best. Now when i play in my section, that horn shines above the others. No comparison. I have 2 Farkss mouthoieces and a Yamaha. They all have different sounds, the Yamaha is brighter and a bit easier to play. No natter, the $1,000 modification was worth every penny.
You may find the Alex a bit uncomfortable at first. I did when I was switching from my Hoyer 801but I found that you had to play it for a week or two for you to really get used to it. The longer I play the Alex, the more I love it and the better it sounds.
Your sound is so much better on the Alex!
From time to time I think about selling my 103 for a more 'flashy', more modern horn. But every time I try - there is no better sound than my Alex (Gold brass, no laquer, from the early nineties). You confirm my impression. And save me an awful lot of money..
Thank you very much for doing this comparison!
You may be uncomfortable with 103 but it sounds beautiful!
I think the Alex 103 sounds by far the best of all these horns. The Yamaha sounds quite open and less refined; whereas the pressure caused by the Alex 103 (I am curious to hear you say it has a lower resistance) creates that iconic horn sound. At the end of the day, I think it may be personal preference - and European . US audiences perhaps have a different vision if what they like form their horns!
I was gifted an Alex 103 many years ago (pre-Internet boom) and it's all I've ever played on so I don't know any other way! I admit I haven't done much research over the years about how truly unique it is and seem to always have questions. For example, where would you suggest I get a serial # engraved (for insurance)?
What surprised me is that you said you felt more confortable on the Yahama horn, but in the 4th Mozart horn concerto excerpt that you played, you skidded two notes on the Yamaha horn while on the Alexander horn they were perfectly fine.
For the rest you are absolutely right. The Alexander 103 is (by far) one of the most popular horns for professional horn players in continental Europe.
I;ve played a Ricco Kuhn W293XS for over 10 years and 1.5 years ago i switched to an Alexander 103 (borrow from my orchestra)
It's an amazing horn, my sound improved, granted it is not the most easy horn to play but it sure makes up for it interms of sound.
I always got lost in the orchestra with my Kuhn and with the Alex I have no trouble at all.
I also find the Alexander compact wrap to be really comfortable , the Kuhn would often give me muscle pain and i would have to rest it on my leg more.
The alex is more compact and i love it, it feels amazing int he hand, yes the F horn on it is slightly tough to play but with the right airflow you can make it sound nice and crisp
Sorry that I say this but I cannot stand the sound of Geyer style horns, they sound so woofy and heavy. I much prefer a kruspe style or Alex 103
also you sound way better on the alex then on the Yamaha
For what I know from it, the Alexander and other ‘European’ style horns have the typical classical music sound, the Conn and other ‘American’ style horns have the typical movies soundtrack sound.
Olá meu irmão, eu gosto muito de suas demonstrações desses belos instrumentos, esse ano de 2024 estou concluindo o curso técnico em horns, haveria uma possibilidade de você me fazer uma doação de um desses instrumento que você fez demonstração..sou músico na igreja CCB e no momento não estou em condições de comprar. Eu sou fascinado por esse belo instrumento. Na verdade, tenho uma Júpiter mas está bastante estragada, seus vídeos são muito bons, valeu tudo de bom pra você e sua família.
In Europe there´s no an other horn, everybody uses Alex 103
I say this as an American who plays on a Yamaha 671 I bought from your shop - there was no comparison for me. Hands down the sound of the Alex was better. No contest.
I can only agree with what's been said already, you sound great on that 103, much much better than this Yamaha.
The 671 is a great horn but the leadpipe isnt meant for an american mouthpeice shank. Is the 871 different or does it have the same issue?
The 671 has an American lead pipe option as well. Mine came with the American size receiver.
Alexander 103 is the best.
will you guys be doing region etudes this year ?
Sorry - I do have to say The Alex sounds like a French Horn and sounds really good - sorry but the Yamaha just does not have a Horn sound.
The alexander are top, used by alot of people including berliner sym orquestra.
There are quite better horns than Alex, don't take me wrong they're very good but not top... Berliner use them because they're paid for it. As Nike or Adidas for the athletes, Alexander has a commercial agreement with Berliner.
What would be the cost of the 103 with a hand hammered bell?
The pre-owned Alex 103 shown in the video has already sold. We do not sell new Alexander French horns.
Ah new one unlaquered is around 8000 euro
@@TheDarkenLP just got one for my nephew for 9000+ Euros, simply amazing instrument, the guy was crying while first playing it... They are very helpful at the Gebr Alexander
I purchased my Alex 103 in 1959, it cost 160£.
I was not impressed with the Yamaha horn sound 567 and set it aside in favor of a cheap Eastman, whose sound was gorgeous. However the intonation was dreadful. oh well.
Then i heard that Lukas and Contesanu modified these 567 and 667 with a new lead pipe, stripped the clear coat and ultra sonic cleaned.
So i did that. Wow. completely different animal as they said it would be. They preferred the Yamaha build as world class. intonation bang on. valves as the best.
Now when i play in my section, that horn shines above the others. No comparison. I have 2 Farkss mouthoieces and a Yamaha. They all have different sounds, the Yamaha is brighter and a bit easier to play. No natter, the $1,000 modification was worth every penny.
❤️❤️❤️❤️📯📯❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🎼🎶🎶🎶👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻