I didn't think that it would be possible to recommend Lindsey and Brandi J. more highly, but here goes. . .
Our son had outgrown the Conn 6D that we bought from them in 2018. He's now playing Principal in the San Jose Youth Symphony and needs something more than the student/chamber model that has served him well these past 4 years. We planned a visit during ski week to see what Silver and Brass might have in stock, and were almost overwhelmed by the supply of instruments to try. I think he actually played about a dozen mid-to-pro instruments, including two Conn 8Ds, Holton 179 and 281, Alexander, Knopf instruments and a Yamaha. All were in shiny like-new condition, and frankly priced to compete with eBay, at a quality that most online sales can't touch.
We ended up selecting a truly one-of-a-kind instrument though, a custom, built by Lindsey around a DRGM 8242 Tandem change valves. The lead pipe and bell flare are from a Conn 8D, though the main valve group is from a smaller bore (.480") instrument. It is the most amazingly smooth-playing horn we've ever encountered, based in the original double-horn design that was abandoned in the early-20th century because the original manufacturer couldn't get it right. Simply put, Lindsey got it. The only thing comparable today is the Paxman Merewether. The basic idea is that the usual Bb to F change valve is split into two (3 tubes each), corresponding to the 3 main valves), so that the sides are separated until they come together at the valves. The benefit is that the airstream always goes through the main valves in the same direction. That is, with all other horns, the airstream from the Bb and F sides go through in opposite directions. The result is less turbulence, and a *much* more responsive instrument.
It's worth mentioning too that even this description just begins to scratch the surface of what this shop is capable of. They have almost 100 French horns in stock in various states of repair and refurbishment. They can literally build anything you'd want. We benefited hugely from their encyclopedic knowledge of each instrument we tried, and are proud to have made some new friends in the process. Silver and Brass Music is a truly unique treasure. http://silverandbrassmusic.com/index.html read more