Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2007-04-17 00:27
<<I'm looking for people who paidd what they considered to be a bargain price and ended up with a horn they are very happy and satisfied with.>>
If my recent experience is any indication, there is no such thing as a wonderful, bargain-priced, English horn.
There are some quality instruments that are less-expensive than others, though.
After a good deal of investigating and a fair amount of dithering, I recently purchased a Fox 520 from McFarland in Atlanta.
The price was right around $4,700, which is a good price for the instrument.
This is for the all-resin ("plastic") professional instrument, which has all the keywork, including low B and left-hand F, and a third octave key. It comes with two bocals -- a #2 and a #3.
The wooden version of the same instrument costs a little less. In my opinion, the plastic made sense, because I thought I wouldn't be using it that often, and would be using it for pit work. I felt that the synthetic material would be more stable under the circumstances.
My teacher plays a fair amount of English horn in symphonic work (a Loree), and her opinion of my Fox was very, very positive. She let me test- play mine against her Loree, and, while I could tell the difference, for the price, I am very satisfied with the Fox. It handles very well, and sounds lovely. Great, great scale.
Interestingly, since I have had it, I have used it constantly, and am probably being offered jobs I wouldn't have been otherwise because I have the double. Go figure.
Susan
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