Tips for buying Alphorn
How do I find the right Alphorn for me?
Building an alphorn that produces sound is relatively easy for a skilled hobbyist. Depending on the level of craftsmanship, the instrument can even look wonderful, but be musically unsatisfying: whether the individual natural tones are not in tune with each other, or it is difficult to play and thus requires too much force. Building an alphorn that is precisely tuned, easy to play, and sounds good is a very difficult task and requires professional musical experience as well as physical/acoustic knowledge.
When buying an alphorn, you should consider the following aspects:
When buying an alphorn, you should consider the following aspects:
1. Compare instruments
A musical instrument must always be a unique fit for its player. For example, instrument A may be a good fit for player X, but not at all for player Y. This means it′s essential to test several instruments from different manufacturers side by side, comparing them side by side. You don′t have to be an expert to do this! Even complete beginners can determine for themselves whether they feel more comfortable on instrument A, B, C, or D. At the Alphorn Center, you have the opportunity to compare instruments from approximately 10 different manufacturers, from entry-level models to professional instruments.
2. Tuning/intonation
The most important consideration when purchasing an Alphorn is its more or less good tuning/intonation. No matter how beautiful a musical instrument looks or sounds, it must first and foremost be in tune!The first step should therefore be to test the instrument with an electronic tuner.
The deviation of any individual note from the instrument′s zero scale should not be more than 3 cents (the small dots or dashes)!
3. Response/sound
There′s a very simple rule here: A light instrument is easy to play, a heavy one is also difficult to play! You can only play lightly and elegantly on a lightweight instrument. You can determine the lightness or heaviness of the response, i.e., how much power you need, by looking at the wall thickness of an instrument without actually playing a note. You can also determine this by looking at the thickness of the bell or feeling it with your fingers.A wall thickness of approximately 6-7 mm results in a light response and a light, agile tone. One of approximately 8 mm or more results in a heavier one. A weight of approximately 2 kg is good. Individual brands vary considerably in this regard.
Used Alphorns
Used alphorns are very rare! A good alphorn rarely sells! The reason is: The instruments don′t deteriorate with age; in fact, the wood actually improves over the years. Buying an alphorn without first subjecting it to a blowing test carries a high risk, as in extreme cases, it could be completely unsuitable for use as a wind instrument!