Paxman 20 Review

One of Paxman's most popular models, the 20 is a medium bore horn used widely among professionals in the UK. While many horn makers today produce nearly identical copies of the famous Geyer or Kruspe horn layout, the Paxman 20 is more unique, featuring the "Merewether System" which keeps the air flowing in the same direction on both the F and Bb sides of the horn. This helps to reduce the amount of disruption from the rotors.

The bore sizes on the F and Bb sides of the model 20 are both the same size, available in in medium or large. Some players may find the transition from F to Bb sides of the horn bumpy and the mid-low register a tad stuffy, issues Paxman's model 25 aims to solve. The 25 model uses a dual bore approach: a larger F bore opens the mid-lower range and matches the Bb side's resistance for a smoother transition. If you're a higher horn player, you may prefer the model 20 due to its ease and clear tone in the upper registers - on a level that most horns cannot match. If you're a 2 or 4th horn player, you may find the more balanced 25 model better meets your needs. To get a sense for the Paxman sound, listen to this recording of Radovan Vlatkovik playing Hayden's horn concerto on the model 20. Players seeking a more free blowing horn and compact tone may also be interested in Paxman's model 23, which is closer to a Geyer-style design but still retains the unique Merewether System.