Yamaha YHR-668DII French horn
Yamaha https://www.rosehillinstruments.co.uk/p/YHR668DII/french-horns/yamaha/yamaha-yhr-668dii-french-horn£ £5,850.00
Ref: YHR668DII
1 in stock
F/B-flat full double (detachable bell)
The original Yamaha YHR-668D launched in 1989 was built to emulate the beautiful rich tone and commanding presence of the great vintage Kruspe-style horns like the Conn 8D, adding state-of-the-art intonation and playability to produce an instrument equally capable of projecting during solos or blending with a section.
The upgraded YHR-668DII, introduced in the early 2000s, features a redesigned bell taper and a new leadpipe shape that significantly improves tonal projection, response speed, and low-register resonance. Its structural design was also refined to incorporate a more compact layout of the tuning slides and rotors, and to provide a well-balanced airflow resistance and greater projection in large performance spaces.
- Clear lacquer finish
- Bore size: 0.472 in. (12 mm)
- Detachable yellow brass bell
- Gold brass leadpipe
- Kruspe-style wrap
- String lever action
- Case included
Scan QR code on product image to register for Yamaha 5-year extended warranty.
Manufacturer’s website: uk.yamaha.com
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.
