Very interested on any views or opinions of these models. I would like to know how they play, and how well they are built. They also look like they could weight a bit due to the heavy rotor caps. Please only comment on the Merker Matic series. I have plenty of info on the other Holtons, and Conn horns. Also another question is how do Rose brass bells play. Thanks!!

Merker-Matic - I think Valerie plays a Merkurmatic. She should be checking in soon and will tell you. I think she loves hers.

Rose Bells - The rose brass bell supposedly 'softens' the sound. What it does actually do is lower the 2nd and 4th harmonic phases and raises the 3rd and 5th harmonic phases. I find it rather 'dulling' not softening and I think your articulations will be dragging a little. You can certainly compensate for the late articulation response. I think the Rose Bell is going to end up being a fad and you are not going to see it in professional groups as the sound is coming back to a brighter aggresive sound in many orchestras. The 'big horn sound' is going to be reserved for the movies; and you're going to see more and more orchestras moving back to the sound color of the 50's and early 60's.

Yes, I play a Holton 276, the Merker, and I love it for it's very, VERY quick response in all the registers. John, I don't know who told you that stuff about a slow response, but it certainly isn't the case for this horn. And, BTW, only the bell branch is rose bronze, the lead pipe and valve sections are all nickle silver. Maybe that makes a difference. I dunno, but I sure love my horn.

I have had opportunity to compare it to dozens of other horns (including the uber expensive custom horns) since I got mine and I haven't found a single one with a quicker response. I also love the tone and have had many compliments on my sound. So . . . That's my 2 cents for the Merker 276.

Another thing, the 276 is the most popular Merker, but they also come in yellow brass, nickle silver with a larger bell throat, and there used to be a Geyer wrap. But, I don't know if these are being made since Steinway bought out Conn-Selmer.

About trendy fads in horns, there's always another trend right around the corner. I say buy what you like to play and forget about the fads.

Valerie Wells
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/

I second Valerie's statements about gold brass. In fact, gold brass is a softer metal. Therefore, attacks with gold brass are often felt as "quicker." Also, I don't know if I'd call it a fad. Gold brass has been a choice on horns for quite some time. I've seen some horns dating into the mid 1800s made from gold brass.

Another issue to consider with gold brass (rose brass is gold brass as is red brass) is that it does sound "warmer" and "fuller" when played up to a certain point. Past that point, it breaks up VERY quickly. It goes from full to bright as heck in an instant. Holtons use a slightly thicker gold brass than many "custom" horns do which helps to mitigate this. However, it can still be an issue.

The Merker is no heavier due to its valve caps. They are roughly the same weight as any other Conn/Holton/Yamaha. The Holton horns in general have a compact, centered weight to them that some people love, others hate. I don't know too many people that are on the fence about Holtons.

Regarding the Merker series - it's a great horn if it suits you well. Perhaps the most important thing is to consider talking with a teacher in your area. Many areas are dominated by certain brands or types of instruments (eg. Southern California - Conn 8D and similar; Chicago - Geyer; New York - mix between 8D and Schmid).

Another thing to think about - don't go into a horn-purchasing situaion with any preconceived notions. I've had the pleasure of playing absolute gems that some people won't even touch due to their brand...

Cheers-
Jeremy Cucco

I should add...
I personally prefer yellow brass by far. The sound color variability for yellow brass is far greater (in my experience) than any other metal. However, if gold brass floats your boat, don't worry about it...
If you do find that your sound "breaks up" too early, you can always get a bell with a garland or kranz on it. This would most definitely solve the problem.

Cheers-
Jeremy

JEREMY! So nice to have your input in here!

Valerie Wells
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/

Regarding the "breaking up" idea that's reported to be a characteristic of rose bronze: I really have no idea what this means. I love the way my Merker plays, be it loud, soft or in between. But I thought, well... maybe I've learned how to finesse it to make it respond the way I want it to. (???) Or perhaps my limited experience as an amatuer leaves me lacking in the ability to discern this characteristic.

Yesterday I met with a local professional horn player for over two hours so I could demo BE exercises. After the demo, we took turns playing on one another's instruments and enjoyed playing duets together. I told her that I'd heard the rose bronze was supposed to "break up" easily. She put my Merker through the paces, playing mf, FF, pp, doing creasendos, decrescendos, etc. She said she couldn't detect any "breaking up" or difference in the way my horn responded than any other horn she's played. She said everything felt "normal." She also commented that the upper register speaks more easily on the Merker than on her horn, while the low register is not as strong. I noticed the same thing. (She plays a "Franken horn" made of components from three manufacturers.) She also commented on how swift & quick the Merker's valves move compared to hers.

Holton describes the 279 as being rose BRONZE rather than rose BRASS. The rose bronze on my Merker is not the same as the rose brass on the Holton 104/105. Rose bronze is much harder. I know because one of my quartet members (my mentor) plays a H104, the Barry Tuckwell horn, and he has to be very careful with the soft bell. And, BTW, he's an incredible player, semi-retired professional with a HUGE gorgeous sound and no evidence of "breaking up" that I can detect or that he complains of. He loves his Holton Tuckwell.

I'm curious to know what Jeremy's experience is with rose brass and rose bronze horns.

Valerie Wells
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/

I would like to add here that I know what John is talking about when he says the tone of a rose brass is supposed to be "soft" maybe even "dull". Her horn with yellow brass branch and bell had a very bright tone by comparison. I don't know, however, how this translates in a large hall. We were in a tiny music studio room.

Several years ago some friends and I got together & did a "blind" horn tone comparison. WE compared a yellow brass Holton 178, Yamaha 668 (rare in yellow brass), a nickle silver Holton 179, and a Holton 104 (Tuckwell rose brass). We each took turns playing each horn behind a screen in a large church sanctuary. The horn that won every time no matter who played it was the yellow brass Holton 178, in second place was the yellow brass Yamaha 668, third place was the rose bell Tuckwell and last place was the nickle silver H179. The yellow brass H168 had the sweetest singing tone of all. I almost bought that horn, but it was very old and needed more work than I was willing to pay for.

Valerie Wells
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/

Do you know if the Merker's nice valve caps can fit on a Holton H104 Tuckwell model? Also, wonder if you know whether I could buy just the valve caps from Merker model. Thanks!

Perhaps you could order some Merker valve caps through a music store? I dunno. It wouldn't hurt to ask.

Well... about those Merkers...

I was soooooo curious about the difference between yellow brass and rose bronze, I bought a yellow brass Merker from one of Jeremy's students so I could compare it to my rose bronze Merker. I find the yellow brass responds exactly like my rose bronze Merker. Honest to Pete, if I were to play either with my eyes closed, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

About the only significant difference I find between these two horns is the rose bronze is prettier! ha ha ha! I play my rose bronze horn more often, however, only because the valves are in a little better condition. (The rose bronze Merker has been better cared for in general.)

I really don't need two such similar horns, but I love them both so much, I can't part with either! I guess I'm a just a tad bit eccentric.

Valerie Wells
The Balanced Embouchure Method
http://bebabe.wordpress.com/
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/

I have read thru their website and couldn't find an email address to contact. I m interested to buy the valve caps from merker model