September 3, 2010 by Bruce Hembd

Archived under: Entrepreneurship, Equipment, Performance & Playing   |   James Patterson, Repairs and Modifications, Tips, Yamaha

The Americanization of a Yamaha


When I sold my high-end custom horn I made a conscious decision. I wanted to have two different horns that suited the different gigs I was playing.  My Conn 8D was handpicked by Bob Osmun in exchange for some web services.

I purchased my Yamaha 667 off of a shelf in a music store in Indianapolis. “Huh,” I thought. “This horn plays nice.” It cost at the time about $2500.

Lucky for me that I had found a very well-tooled instrument. Patterson’s process for overhauling a stock horn is thorough, and apparently mine is like a diamond in the rough. By far, he says. Cool.

How much?

The cost of this upgrade?

I will put it in the ballpark terms of between $1000 and $1500. So in a sense, I now have a horn worth $4000. If we update the current market value of the same model, $500 more might be added to this fantasy math. $4500.

Also – kinda cool.

So what I have now is very much like the computer I have at home. A killer hybrid that can perform to my needs. With my computer at least, this formula gave me a less expensive, more powerful machine in the long run.

Pictures of the process

Slide rebuilds

  • Taking apart of slides to fix imprecision.

    1 225x300 The Americanization of a Yamaha

Sizing tubing

Sizingtubing2 225x300 The Americanization of a Yamaha

Making the leadpipe

Lining up old and new.

Makingleadpipe2 224x300 The Americanization of a Yamaha

Sizing ports

Sizingports2 300x225 The Americanization of a Yamaha

Bending the lead pipe

Bend it like Beckham.

BendingLP2 225x300 The Americanization of a Yamaha

Fitting the lead pipe

Perfect 225x300 The Americanization of a Yamaha

If you are looking for another option from customs horns – whether you can’t afford one or do not want one – a mixed-breed horn like this might fit the bill. It is something to consider.

In a few weeks I will post a more detailed evaluation of this particular conversion.

BRUCE HEMBD is a web marketing developer by day who plays French horn professionally at night.» More information about Bruce Hembd » More articles by Bruce Hembd » Contact

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The Americanization of a Yamaha
Published on September 3, 2010 by Bruce Hembd

Archived under: Entrepreneurship, Equipment, Performance & Playing   |   James Patterson, Repairs and Modifications, Tips, Yamaha
John Ericson & Bruce Hembd
on the French horn, brass related topics, and the field of classical music.