French Horn Maintenance
 

I think this is in the right place. If not, feel free to move it.

I am a horn player, and I have been for four years. Since I had been using a school horn, all maintenance had been done by Victor's House of Music (local music shop, does the instrument work for our school). However, I just popped the string on the thumb trigger, and did a dismal job re-stringing it. Does anyone have tips for re-stringing a horn?

In addition, I need to replace the bumper posts, does anyone know where in the Pocono Mountain area of PA that I can get cork sticks for it?

Restringing a french horn valve. (in code tags rather than a direct link because there's a shot of kids in the opening scene )



I don't live in PA so I can't help ya with the bumper posts, but pretty much any music store should either have them or be able to get them.

Well, I got it strung, thank you for your help. Now i just need to find a music shop near my school.

Hey,
Your post caught my eye, I'm 48 years old and played the french horn in high school and then quit. Please stick with it, it's a beautiful instrument and I wish I had never quit.

I concur--I'm a former horn player myself. I started out playing flute, and switched to horn, which I played for three years in high school. I really wish I'd kept up with it.

On a side note, when I talk about my days as a horn player, I usually tell people that's why I'm such a good kisser, because of the ombisure. ;) It's a great line.

I love the horn - I switched from trumpet in November of my freshman year of high school. I haven't gone back since, although I am trying out new instruments to expand my experience.

This brings me to a question... Which is proper, french horn, French horn, or French Horn?

Long time horn players will tell you "horn" or "horn in F". I minored in music with horn as my instrument, but when I went to work for a classical station, I always called it French Horn because that's what people understand. I got a call from a hornist who ragged me about that, thinking I was just some Joe the plumber.

From this comes three types, natural horn, horn in F, and double valve horn. I love double valves.

I personally use a Conn 8D that my high school band teacher was getting rid of, I had it (mostly) fixed up and it is a very good horn. I was also able to use a Holton 179, which i liked better because of the separate Bb tuning slide. However, I have always wanted to try a Vienna horn in F.

(moderators feel free to move this thread if it is in the wrong place)

I don't remember what I used in college. I couldn't afford a horn, so after graduation I went back to trumpet.

I did, however, find an old single valve somebody had used for decoration. It's very beaten up. I took it to a music shop, hoping they knew where to send it to be re-plated. I didn't get past the cashier. Which I found strange, because in high school, we had a beautiful Schilke that was all chewed up, including an actual triangular hole in the bell. Our BD sent it off and it came back, looking like new, and I got it! That made me very happy.

The one I have now has "(initials) loves (initials) 1968" scratched into the bell.

The music store, which advertises that they repair band instruments, didn't even know how to re-string it.

Reminds me of the F horn player who could only find one way to sleep with his wife.

(thank you Woody Allen)