Guide to Yamaha French Horns

Yamaha makes just about every musical instrument imaginable, along with electronics, motorcycles and lawnmowers. The purist might wonder: how good can their horns really be? Compared to mid-20th century stalwarts like Holton and Conn, they are relative newcomers. But Yamaha horns came at the right time. Just as traditional makers began to cut costs in the mid 1970s, Yamaha introduced horns adhering to much more exacting manufacturing standards. Popularity spiked in the 1980s-1990s, and now Yamaha horns are some of the most highly regarded horns on the market. Here is a rundown of Yamaha’s current models:

Yamaha 567: A student-level Geyer/Knopf-style horn, it is popular in schools around the country for its ease of playing and consistency of intonation. Read our review.

Yamaha 667: This semi-professional level horn is a souped up version of the 567, with greater adjust-ability and stronger projection. Many players consider it playable in professional settings. This is the horn for which Yamaha is best known today. Read our review.

Yamaha 667V: A custom made version of the 667, this horn is played by professionals around the world.

Yamaha 668II: Yamaha’s Kruspe style large bore horn, this is a direct competitor with the Conn 8D. Players argue it’s blows more effortlessly, offering greater high range stability and efficiency. Read our review.

Yamaha 671: Brand new in 2016, the 671 is a more exact Geyer-style copy compared to the Knopf-style 667. Little more is currently known about this model.

Yamaha 871: The custom version of the 671.

Yamaha 891: Yamaha’s triple French horn, the 891 shares a similar design with the 667 but adds a high F side for ease of playing above the staff.

Next, read our Holton and Conn horn guides.