Ay man thank you so much. I'm the leading french horn in my middle school band and I'm currently playing on a pretty bad french horn but it's the same model. My band director doesn't really know a lot about french horns so I found this video to be very interesting and informative. It gave me a new perspective and form a knowledge around the models of the french horns, something I usually glossed over before playing. Thank you again for this incredible video and keep up the good work👍 (P.S I'm a big fan of your videos)
@@dontquestionit5985 Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed/found it informative! My middle school BD also didn’t know much about brass so I totally get the need for outside resources. Keep on playing!
I think you’re right that can be advantageous to play a Geyer in chamber settings, though I’d prefer one with a slightly darker sound than the 567. On my Conn 8D I am realizing it is sometimes better to use a slightly smaller or shallower mouthpiece in a quintet than what I would use for orchestra playing.
Thank you. Very informative and thorough. I'm a Trumpet player that also loves FH. My daughter plays FH. She has a Holton 180 that she enjoys playing most of the time. She also likes her first Horn, a Conn 6D from the glory years of Conn. You knocked your sign down at 8:21 🙂
Thanks for your comment and kind words! The Holton 180 is a wonderful model. The 6D certainly can be-you mention the “glory years,” so I’m sure it’s a fun horn as well. I quite liked my 6D when I played it (not particularly fabulous condition or era of manufacture, just a nice cheap double to get me started), but ended up ditching it for an 8D.
Sam I was preforming for the pep rally today and I didn’t drink water and my lips got so dry I could play the last song and my embouchure completely fell apart. I started double buzzing :(
Another Yamaha gem are the 600 series tenor trombones. I'm using one rn and it's been really great to play with my Giddings T1 mouthpiece. I'm sure it'll get a much warmer sound with a brass mouthpiece, however, it's still one of my favorite horns to play
I’ll have to see if I can get my hands on one. I’ll admit I really don’t sound good on a 448G, but their 356R is an absolute sleeper. That’s one of my favorite non-large bores (step bore that averages out to a medium-ish size; small shank).
@@jean-pierredevent970 The Wick 4 or 4N would indeed likely improve your ability to play low notes with a full sound. It’s tough to say whether it might be too dramatic of a size increase compared to the Bach 7, though.
@@SamuelPlaysBrass Thank you very much Samuel. I take some comfort in the fact that you have established yourself as a fine horn player while so many insist it's extremely difficult to switch as trumpet player. I play on a plastic double horn in F. The plastic mouthpiece included is actually not bad but could break too easily. I love lyricism and while the trumpet can do that, people prefer brilliance, fireworks, jazz etc.. so not my thing. I gave up too my stubborn dream of merely finding out; exactly how our god Maurice Andre could play so easily. But the piccolo trumpet became obsolete, anachronistic so yes, time for the horn.
@@jean-pierredevent970 I appreciate the kind words-I would be inclined to agree with those many folks that say it is an incredibly difficult switch :) Nonetheless I can sympathize with where you are coming from as a trumpet player, and I too could only dream of imitating Maurice André’s lyricism.
FWIIW - I was playing 3rd on a rented Eastman horn that sounded gorgeous. My 2nd horn player had the 567 and honestly, it sounded like mud - awful sound to my ears. No soul. Then I had a chance to play one a year later and it was not that bad actually, still not as nice as the Eastman. However, I came across 2 builders of horns - Lukas (USA) and Contesanu from Edmonton Canada. Both have modified horns and both state that Yamaha 567 and 667 are favorites to modify with great success - the end result barely recognizable, esp the 567. Felix says this horn is a diamond in the rough - but both men said these are great horns to modify and YES, there is nothing to write home about for sound tone, good tuning mind you and good construction - just no soul. 2 Pros said the same thing. Gotta be true. What they both do is replace the lead pipe and remove the clear coat (not easy) plus a few other tweaks. On his word, I got a 567 cheap and a risk and went for it - $1,100 cdn. The end result was a mud horn turned into a horn of beauty, far better than any other horn I have heard with the Eastman close by. However, the 567 was almost bang on in tune throughout and enormous range from the deep cellar to high C although high notes require a lot of effort. Compared to Conn 8D, Alex and others, better overall - it has soul now - lots of it. I asked Felix about the trick. Clear coat MUST come off - night and day difference. And yes, that was true. He tested it with his peers in the symphony and they thought he had a different horn - clear coat alone! But the real magic was the lead pipe of his own design. As a builder of horns using parts from the best all around the world, (Yamaha valve bodies clusters are amongst the best), no one had a good lead pipe, so he designed his own. Apparantly evern a change of even .010" makes a difference - the taper is critical, the diameters are critical. Lukas says the same thing. Between both companies, i think I heard them say about 160 horns modified each 4 years ago. And no matter whatr brand, or expensive kind out there, the end result is always better - even a $20,000 horn was better! But the 567 has the most improvement. The best of the best would be a 667 - series, but still this 567 still bests the others out there. A final step but costly would be to put on a hammered bell, but the improvement would be minimal. The only one that had an almost equal quality sound was a 34 year old King Eroica - sweet witthe Yamaha a wee bit brighter and clearer. Many have complimented me on the sound of this modified 567 and are awed by it. I agree. Of course, nothing beats consistent practice and developing skills - at the end of the day, it is the player, and his tools.
Thank you for your insights. I don't doubt the leadpipe geometry is what makes the 567's tone and intonation suboptimal. Yamaha has unfortunately had some leadpipe designs in the past that don't fare well (e.g. the original model 642 euphonium which almost sounds like a baritone if you play above a mezzo-forte). I also don't doubt that the 567 could be a really superb horn with the proper custom leadpipe and no lacquer. I was really impressed with the stock horn's response and range, both high and low. It's just a shame that it needs such an extensive mod job to reach its fullest potential when models like the 671 play amazingly straight out of the factory.
Hi sam I need some help choosing a horn. In an orchestra filled with trumpets and trombones, I'm the only who plays horn and it's kinda hard to get heard. So I'm looking for a horn that can play really loud with minimal effort while still keeping a good tone
I can definitely empathize with that struggle. That’s a really annoying position to be in. I do think a Geyer-style horn is in order for the work you do, though there are many options to go with from there. I’d be inclined person to recommend a Yamaha 6 or 8 series, such as the 671/871. The Jupiter XO 1650 is another strong choice that might be slightly less expensive.
I’ve only briefly gotten to play the 667, and my impression was that it was a very strong choice, but still had that bizarre issue, like the 567, of being extremely sharp on the F side. The 671, on the other hand, is probably the best Geyer I’ve ever played and incredibly even from top to bottom, loud to soft, Bb to F, etc.
Is the 667V different from a 667? I thought that's what I was talking about but I only briefly played it a long time ago so I could be mixing things up. I know for sure that I've never played an 800 series, though.
They must be old school, but for a young guy, so am I :) Jokes aside, the 2023 redesign of the 8D gives me hope that we just might see a slight resurgence in the future!
New subscriber here. Have you played a 668D? I see 668II (668DII for detachable bell) on a few sites, but no longer the 668D. Did Yamaha phase out the 668 and replaced it with the 668II? Lastly what about the 671? You plan to do a review? Great video!!!
Thanks for your support! I’ve never played a 668. My main horn is the Conn 8D that the 668 was based on, though. It does seem that Yamaha has phased out certain designs in favor of a Mark II replacement. For instance, their YCR-2330 cornet has been modernized as the YCR-2330II. And yes, I’ll be reviewing the 671 at some point.
@@SamuelPlaysBrass I look forward to the review of a 671. For those with deeper pockets, Yamaha also makes the 871, a custom version of the 671 (the fourth rotor is hollow, inner tubes made from gold brass, and greater attention to the manufacturing process).
I have a beat-up YHR-664, and it's a good student horn, not being so Jekyll and Hyde as the 567. It's got definite limits, but they're beyond mine, so it works for me, especially since I bought it for $400.
Thanks for tuning in, everyone! Make sure to leave a like on this video if you want to see a review on a professional Yamaha horn like a YHR-671!
Ay man thank you so much. I'm the leading french horn in my middle school band and I'm currently playing on a pretty bad french horn but it's the same model. My band director doesn't really know a lot about french horns so I found this video to be very interesting and informative. It gave me a new perspective and form a knowledge around the models of the french horns, something I usually glossed over before playing. Thank you again for this incredible video and keep up the good work👍 (P.S I'm a big fan of your videos)
@@dontquestionit5985 Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed/found it informative! My middle school BD also didn’t know much about brass so I totally get the need for outside resources. Keep on playing!
As someone who owns this horn, i can honestly say i prefer as a Kruspe wrap unless i play in a brass quintet.
I think you’re right that can be advantageous to play a Geyer in chamber settings, though I’d prefer one with a slightly darker sound than the 567. On my Conn 8D I am realizing it is sometimes better to use a slightly smaller or shallower mouthpiece in a quintet than what I would use for orchestra playing.
Thank you. Very informative and thorough. I'm a Trumpet player that also loves FH. My daughter plays FH. She has a Holton 180 that she enjoys playing most of the time. She also likes her first Horn, a Conn 6D from the glory years of Conn. You knocked your sign down at 8:21 🙂
Thanks for your comment and kind words! The Holton 180 is a wonderful model. The 6D certainly can be-you mention the “glory years,” so I’m sure it’s a fun horn as well. I quite liked my 6D when I played it (not particularly fabulous condition or era of manufacture, just a nice cheap double to get me started), but ended up ditching it for an 8D.
Another fantastic, thorough review. Excellent work as always 😊
Thanks so much, David! :)
Sam I was preforming for the pep rally today and I didn’t drink water and my lips got so dry I could play the last song and my embouchure completely fell apart. I started double buzzing :(
That’s a valuable lesson learned. Been there, done that.
Another Yamaha gem are the 600 series tenor trombones. I'm using one rn and it's been really great to play with my Giddings T1 mouthpiece. I'm sure it'll get a much warmer sound with a brass mouthpiece, however, it's still one of my favorite horns to play
I’ll have to see if I can get my hands on one. I’ll admit I really don’t sound good on a 448G, but their 356R is an absolute sleeper. That’s one of my favorite non-large bores (step bore that averages out to a medium-ish size; small shank).
I play now a Bach 7 but I struggle with the low notes and perhaps with the DW 4N, they might come out better??
@@jean-pierredevent970 The Wick 4 or 4N would indeed likely improve your ability to play low notes with a full sound. It’s tough to say whether it might be too dramatic of a size increase compared to the Bach 7, though.
@@SamuelPlaysBrass Thank you very much Samuel. I take some comfort in the fact that you have established yourself as a fine horn player while so many insist it's extremely difficult to switch as trumpet player. I play on a plastic double horn in F. The plastic mouthpiece included is actually not bad but could break too easily. I love lyricism and while the trumpet can do that, people prefer brilliance, fireworks, jazz etc.. so not my thing. I gave up too my stubborn dream of merely finding out; exactly how our god Maurice Andre could play so easily. But the piccolo trumpet became obsolete, anachronistic so yes, time for the horn.
@@jean-pierredevent970 I appreciate the kind words-I would be inclined to agree with those many folks that say it is an incredibly difficult switch :)
Nonetheless I can sympathize with where you are coming from as a trumpet player, and I too could only dream of imitating Maurice André’s lyricism.
Someday, maybe you will get the opportunity to review a Vienna horn.
Unless someone here in Spokane, WA has one, not likely. LOL. Tough to find those anywhere nowadays!
@@SamuelPlaysBrass Maybe your friend Clinton Webb has one. haha 🙃
FWIIW - I was playing 3rd on a rented Eastman horn that sounded gorgeous. My 2nd horn player had the 567 and honestly, it sounded like mud - awful sound to my ears. No soul. Then I had a chance to play one a year later and it was not that bad actually, still not as nice as the Eastman. However, I came across 2 builders of horns - Lukas (USA) and Contesanu from Edmonton Canada. Both have modified horns and both state that Yamaha 567 and 667 are favorites to modify with great success - the end result barely recognizable, esp the 567. Felix says this horn is a diamond in the rough - but both men said these are great horns to modify and YES, there is nothing to write home about for sound tone, good tuning mind you and good construction - just no soul. 2 Pros said the same thing. Gotta be true.
What they both do is replace the lead pipe and remove the clear coat (not easy) plus a few other tweaks. On his word, I got a 567 cheap and a risk and went for it - $1,100 cdn. The end result was a mud horn turned into a horn of beauty, far better than any other horn I have heard with the Eastman close by. However, the 567 was almost bang on in tune throughout and enormous range from the deep cellar to high C although high notes require a lot of effort. Compared to Conn 8D, Alex and others, better overall - it has soul now - lots of it.
I asked Felix about the trick. Clear coat MUST come off - night and day difference. And yes, that was true. He tested it with his peers in the symphony and they thought he had a different horn - clear coat alone! But the real magic was the lead pipe of his own design. As a builder of horns using parts from the best all around the world, (Yamaha valve bodies clusters are amongst the best), no one had a good lead pipe, so he designed his own. Apparantly evern a change of even .010" makes a difference - the taper is critical, the diameters are critical. Lukas says the same thing. Between both companies, i think I heard them say about 160 horns modified each 4 years ago. And no matter whatr brand, or expensive kind out there, the end result is always better - even a $20,000 horn was better! But the 567 has the most improvement. The best of the best would be a 667 - series, but still this 567 still bests the others out there. A final step but costly would be to put on a hammered bell, but the improvement would be minimal. The only one that had an almost equal quality sound was a 34 year old King Eroica - sweet witthe Yamaha a wee bit brighter and clearer.
Many have complimented me on the sound of this modified 567 and are awed by it. I agree. Of course, nothing beats consistent practice and developing skills - at the end of the day, it is the player, and his tools.
Thank you for your insights. I don't doubt the leadpipe geometry is what makes the 567's tone and intonation suboptimal. Yamaha has unfortunately had some leadpipe designs in the past that don't fare well (e.g. the original model 642 euphonium which almost sounds like a baritone if you play above a mezzo-forte). I also don't doubt that the 567 could be a really superb horn with the proper custom leadpipe and no lacquer. I was really impressed with the stock horn's response and range, both high and low. It's just a shame that it needs such an extensive mod job to reach its fullest potential when models like the 671 play amazingly straight out of the factory.
Really interesting video Samuel!😁👍👏👏
Glad you enjoyed!
Absolutely! I really did!😁👍
Hi sam I need some help choosing a horn. In an orchestra filled with trumpets and trombones, I'm the only who plays horn and it's kinda hard to get heard. So I'm looking for a horn that can play really loud with minimal effort while still keeping a good tone
I can definitely empathize with that struggle. That’s a really annoying position to be in. I do think a Geyer-style horn is in order for the work you do, though there are many options to go with from there. I’d be inclined person to recommend a Yamaha 6 or 8 series, such as the 671/871. The Jupiter XO 1650 is another strong choice that might be slightly less expensive.
@@SamuelPlaysBrassThanks I'll check them out. But I doubt if you've ever made a video of them have you?
@@SamuelPlaysBrassIs there any other horn that is not expensive enough to make me poor
@@johnkjr7063 Not really. Horns are ridiculously expensive if they’re worth playing in a serious ensemble…
@@SamuelPlaysBrass Now I'm reconsidering moving to oboe
Any thoughts about the Yamaha 667V and 867 Geyer models?
I’ve only briefly gotten to play the 667, and my impression was that it was a very strong choice, but still had that bizarre issue, like the 567, of being extremely sharp on the F side. The 671, on the other hand, is probably the best Geyer I’ve ever played and incredibly even from top to bottom, loud to soft, Bb to F, etc.
@@SamuelPlaysBrass No experience with 667V or 867?
Is the 667V different from a 667? I thought that's what I was talking about but I only briefly played it a long time ago so I could be mixing things up. I know for sure that I've never played an 800 series, though.
@@SamuelPlaysBrass Yeah, they're different animals.
All my hornsome friends play the 8D. ;)
They must be old school, but for a young guy, so am I :)
Jokes aside, the 2023 redesign of the 8D gives me hope that we just might see a slight resurgence in the future!
New subscriber here. Have you played a 668D? I see 668II (668DII for detachable bell) on a few sites, but no longer the 668D. Did Yamaha phase out the 668 and replaced it with the 668II? Lastly what about the 671? You plan to do a review? Great video!!!
Thanks for your support! I’ve never played a 668. My main horn is the Conn 8D that the 668 was based on, though. It does seem that Yamaha has phased out certain designs in favor of a Mark II replacement. For instance, their YCR-2330 cornet has been modernized as the YCR-2330II. And yes, I’ll be reviewing the 671 at some point.
@@SamuelPlaysBrass I look forward to the review of a 671. For those with deeper pockets, Yamaha also makes the 871, a custom version of the 671 (the fourth rotor is hollow, inner tubes made from gold brass, and greater attention to the manufacturing process).
@@Adair9800 I met Chris Castellanos of the Boston Brass earlier this year and it turns out he spends most of his time playing an 871!
@@SamuelPlaysBrass Formerly of Las Vegas, IIRC. Never met him.
That's right, I couldn't recall where he'd played prior. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Samuel, don't raise your eyebrows when you play higher.
You gotta let the audience know you're as surprised you hit that note as they are.
This Yamaha horn is easy to play, however it really doesn't project very well.
The one I tried did project well, but if I played any louder than a mezzo piano the tone immediately got harsh. It’s a shame.
I have a beat-up YHR-664, and it's a good student horn, not being so Jekyll and Hyde as the 567. It's got definite limits, but they're beyond mine, so it works for me, especially since I bought it for $400.