Why do serious french horns are so expensive?

I've been looking for a serious horn to keep walkin' in my studies (and my pleasure to play better). But I'm afraid to find horns at more than 6.000,00 US$... (and they look so fine) I'm lost in the horn's jungle... help!!!

Why do serious french horns are so expensive?
this depends on how far you are with your studies. i'm not a horn player im a pro violinist, but you'll find that only the best instruments are expensive. my violin is fairly mid range in price at about £37,500 but as an idea, our leader's instrument costs about £1million (mind you it is a strad!!!!!)





sorry i could'nt be any more help
Reply:If you go to some stores, you may be able to ask for used professional horns. Many music stores fix their used instruments well. This way, you can get a good professional horn and still have it be not THAT expensive. Another thing you could do is...bargin! But I dunno how well that'll go depending on where you are shopping.
Reply:I had the same problem while buying a horn. I know you are not supposed to do this, but look on ebay.com. That's where I got my horn. It was only $1,000. Also, go to www.wwbw.com (woodwind/ brasswind) They ship out of country and their top priced horn is only $3,000. When I purchased my horn last year, I looked at both of these websites for prices, etc.
Reply:All good quality instruments are expensive : violins, guitars, pianos, trumpets, flutes etc.





$ 6,000 is quite cheap compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars some people pay for top quality instruments. Don't even mention the millions of dollars paid for old violins !


I live in Australia and all our instruments are imported too.





You have to pay for quality.
Reply:Most professional instruments will be expensive brand-new. My bass clarinet was $12K retail and I was able to get it for $9K. You're not alone!





I think you got your numeric values backwards...you mean $6,000.00?





Many stores will let you finance the instrument, meaning you can make monthly payments. It's like rent-to-own, except you can't give it back if you change your mind!





Secondly, if you know exactly what you want in a professional horn, you can find a good used one for a lower price. Many professional players will sell their horns after it depreciates in value (insurance reasons), even when it's in great shape. My professor sells his clarinets every 6 years for insurance reasons. You just have to know where to look!


I suggest, though, you ALWAYS test out the horn before you buy it. If not, know EXACTLY what you want in the horn and make sure the seller sends detailed pictures of the horn and gives you every specification about the horn. Don't buy it without those two things. It's a risky move but if you know how to do it, can save you thousands of dollars.





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To be honest with you, the majority of us in the US play imported instruments as well. The dominating companies of instrument makers have taken to instrument manufacturing overseas because it's cheaper for them. There are still factories in the US, but not as many as in China, Japan, or Indonesia. Why? Parts are cheaper, labor is cheaper, and the workers' factories here demand a lot more from their employers than their overseas counterparts.


Sometimes parts are made overseas and assembled here in the US as well.





It just depends on the company from which you purchase your instrument from.
Reply:Maybe rent one with the option to buy





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Reply:Wow, $6000 is for a VERY serious horn. You can get a Conn 8D for less than half of that new here... don't know how much importing one would be. I said the Conn 8D only because it is an instrument everyone knows. Holton also makes some very cool horns. Oddly, I hear the King Fidelio model was very popular in south America. I don't know if they make those any more but they were in the $2,000 area or less.



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