Hi:

I am a bassoon player but I am looking at a used Yamaha 667 horn for my daughter. I haven’t been able to find any information online about serial numbers and the age of these horns. Does anyone know how old a 667 with a serial # of about 3000 would be. How long has this model been in production. Does age matter for brass instruments as long as it is in fine condition and has been well cared for. Does Yamaha make changes to the same model over years or would all 667's be the same regardless of age. Thanks for your help, Kent

Yamaha 667's are VERY similar to the old Yamaha 664's.There is a small design change to them. I like older instruments, that have been played well by others. I firmly believe the metal reacts over the years to the way it is played. And there are therories that playing specific pitches over time will get teh brass to respond to those frequencies easier.

Older instruments may need some work; after lots of playing valve work may be needed; but then they're often not the price of new instruments.But no horn is bad just because it is old.

Regarding serial number information: Good luck. I've never seen a good reference list. Yamaha used to have a link on their site; but after their last upgrade it is no longer there. Some people have written directly to Yamaha. But they response is slow and sometimes very inaccurate. I know someone who purchased an instrument in 1977 and when they asked for information from Yamaha they were told the instrument was made sometime after 1988.

Thanks very much for the information. I feel better about buying a used horn now and one that may be quite old.

I personally will NEVER buy a new horn again. it's not worth the money considering that one can buy a used one that plays just as well for much less. There are many good used horns floating around out there!

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

Thanks Valerie. As it turned out I believe I got an amazing deal on a like new horn that was $1500 less than a new one. That is a lot of money saved. Kent

Congrats! You have gotten a good deal. Is it risky purchasing a used bassoon?

Val

Buying a used bassoon can be risky, especially if it is old and was used in a school system where it may not have been cleaned out after every use. The first thing we look for is called boot rot where the wood at the bottom of the boot joint has rotted because the player did not swab out the water. It can be fixed but it is very expensive. Boot rot can not be seen unless you take off the bottom cap and U tube. Other than that you just have to try the bassoon or get a pro to try if you are a student because there is some variety even among the same brand and model.

Kent

Thanks, Kent, I know next to nothing about bassoons except that they are, like horn, a devil to play, but the glorious sound of a well played horn or bassoon is worth the hours & years it takes to achieve. Your family seems to have an afinity for challenges!

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