Holton French Horn-Double, Silver (H179)

This arrived more quickly than expected, and extremely carefully packed for shipping. It is beautiful, and the sound is amazing.

This Horn plays well in all registers, but tends to favor more of the lower side. I been playing this horn for three years and it doesn't have that true horn sound. The sound is powerful and clear but not resonant and can sound dull. It's pretty heavy too which can affect a player who is used to holding it the European style. For a very serious player, I recommend Alexander or Paxman if you have the money. But overall its good enough if you prefer a thick horn sound.

The H179 is definitely one of the best Holtons out there (my other favorite is the 175.)This horn is perfect for a high school or even college student (my private horn professor was always impressed at how good this horn was for being factory made unlike her Alexander) and I played it in a community ensemble for a while. It has a fantastic mid and low range, and a pretty decent high range (although that isn't my strong point so it may be me, not the horn.)Overall, this horn paired with a good quality mouthpiece (I play on a Shilke) is more than enough for a student or freelance musician. Sure, it's no Alexander, but for less than 4000 dollars, it's been worth every penny.

A beautiful work of art

I've been playing horn for nearly 15 years now and my 179 has served me very well in this time. It has had far better sound than any of the horns I've player personally, and is equal to or exceed those I've played along with through high school and beyond. The horn handles well and provides a solid tone. Handles high, mid, and low register ranges very well. The wider bore gives it a really nice, rich sound particularly so in the lower register. Is not too "tinny" on the upper.Re: a few points I saw in other reviews:Weight: It's a double horn, so it does have some weight, but nothing that is abnormal to this instruments. It's a solid instrument.Sound: the comment about the "true horn" sound is an interesting analysis. I can assure you, it is a french horn, and it sounds like one. An important thing to remember, much like many wind instruments, sound quality is also contingent on mouth piece and player. Keep your chops up, work on your intonation, you'll be pleased with what you get.