Holton H178 French horn
Holton https://www.rosehillinstruments.co.uk/p/H178/orchestral-brass/holton/holton-h178-french-horn£ £4,350.00
Ref: H178
1 in stock
The Holton H178 is a professional double French horn and one of several models produced during the collaboration between the manufacturer and renowned horn player Philip Farkas (1914–92). It first went into production in 1964.
Manufacturer’s description: Bright, compact feel and sound with outstanding tonal beauty. Bell proportions provide a dark but singing tone with fine legato characteristics. Yellow brass produces a higher tone color with more overtones and clearer projection. Capable of playing pianissimo staccato notes sensitively, clearly and evenly. Excellent horn for chamber orchestra.
- Clear lacquer finish
- Bore size: 0.4 in. (12 mm)
- Fixed yellow brass bell
- Medium bell throat
- Kruspe wrap
- String lever action
- Adjustable thumb lever
Also available:
CH179 replacement case
Manufacturer’s website: conn-selmer.eu
French Horn FAQs
Most modern full-double French horns follow either the Kruspe or Geyer layout. They differ principally in the position of the F/B-flat change valve, which is operated by the thumb to switch the instrument between the F and B-flat sides. On a Kruspe-wrap horn, the change valve is positioned close to the first valve. On a Geyer-wrap horn, it is located after the third valve, creating a more open arrangement of the tubing.
Many players associate Kruspe-wrap horns with a broad, rich orchestral sound and Geyer-wrap horns with a more direct, free-blowing response, although bell design, materials and leadpipe also influence an instrument’s playing characteristics.
No. Kruspe- and Geyer-wrap horns use the same fingering system and are played in exactly the same way. The difference lies in the layout of the tubing and the playing characteristics of the instrument rather than its operation.
A fixed-bell horn has the bell permanently attached to the instrument, while a detachable-bell horn allows the bell flare to be removed for transport or storage. This allows the instrument to be packed into a smaller case, making it popular with players who travel frequently or prefer a more compact case.
When assembled, a detachable-bell horn is designed to offer playing characteristics comparable to those of an equivalent fixed-bell model, so the choice between the two is usually based on portability rather than performance.
