Thomann AH 403 L Alto horn

An excellent instrument which provides superb value-for-money for the beginner/intermediate player alongside good potential for dep/doubling work or anyone looking for a budget horn with reliable good sound-quality.

I brought the horn for brass band playing moving over from the cornet and it hasn't failed to impress with the deep cup mouthpiece it comes with pairing well with the instrument to produce the horn's characteristic warm rich and mellow tone, harmonising and blending well with the rest of the band but also with ability to shine through for high notes - particularly when paired with a shallower cup mouthpiece.

Intonation is secure for the majority of the mid-range, although low notes below C come naturally a little sharp, and the very high notes of the instrument from E and above can begin to be harder to blend with other players. The instrument generally feels in tune with itself, and for an instrument with no trigger, these are fairly standard comments to be making for an instrument of this class, which can be easily be solved by the player 'lipping up or down'.

Build quality is pretty decent for the price, tolerances and mechanics on valves, slides and water keys are really good for an instrument of this price range, valves can be a little sluggish at times, but this is easily solved by applying high quality valve oil. I brought the lacquered finish model, and although a few small cosmetic imperfections were visible, the overall look of the instrument with the rose brass lead pipe and yellow brass piping and bell is striking! One thing to be careful of is that the lacquered finish scratches quite easily, and the metal is thinner than higher priced models so a little more care should be taken to prevent dents, although this shouldn't be too much of an issue thanks to the padded carry case it comes in!

Overall, I highly recommend this instrument and when/if you want to upgrade, it has a natural successor, the AH-704 which features a gold brass bell, larger bore and optional trigger for proper intonation!