.: Full Custom Double Horns

The 804: Our Custom Full Double

We offer the 804 Model in two variants: The Fourier and the Classical.

Above: Our 804 Nickel Silver Fourier with a Nickel Silver Bell Flare

Above: Our 804 Ambronze Classical with an Ambronze Lite Bell Flare

Before investing in a Lawson double horn, there are 3 important choices to consider: The Taper, Thickness and Alloy.

Tapers

Our choices for taper on the 804 Models are the Fourier, our large orchestral bore horn, and the Classical, which is 5% smaller and favored for chamber music and solos. There is no additional charge for either taper, but please specify at the time of order.

Thickness

Lawson offers two thicknesses of bell tails and bell flairs for horns, our Standard .020" and our "Lite" horns at .016". Again, there is no additional charge for either thickness.

Alloy

Lawson offers five metals for our horns.

CDA 230 Yellow Brass
CDA 260 Rose Brass
CDA 752 Nickel Silver
CDA 425 Ambronze
CDA 725 Nickel Bronze

In addition, the bell flares can be in the same alloy as the horn, or you may choose a different alloy at no additional cost.

Other Customizing Options:
V2 Leadpipe: Come standard on all new 804 horns. Our latest acoustical breakthrough for dual bored horns, the V2 Leadpipe improves on the already stellar leadpipe design of Lawson Horns.

Lacquering: All of our 804 Models come with lacquer standard. If you would like an unlacquered horn, please notify at time of order.

Adjustable Finger Hooks, Crutches, Duck Feet: All 804 Models come with a standard pinky hook. If you would like any of these to be put on your horn, please notify at time of order. Please note there may be an additional charge.

Additional Water Keys: All 804 Models come with a Leadpipe mounted Holton-style water key and another Holton-style water key on the 3rd slide on the B-flat horn. If you would like additional water keys installed, either style (Amato or Holton), please notify at time of order. Please note: there may be an additional charge.

Other Options: Please contact us with any special requests and we will do our best to meet your needs.

.: Lawson Customizing Horns FAQ

With two types of tapers, two thicknesses for the bell tail, two thicknesses for the bell flare, five alloys for construction, and five choices of alloys for the bell, you can customize your new Model 804 in two hundred possible combinations – just another reason why Lawson Horns is a leading maker of custom horns!

We receive many questions about how different aspects of our custom horns affect their instruments. Please take the time below to read as many of the most common questions will be answered.

What is the taper?

The taper, or bore of the instrument as it widens, is how quickly the horn moves from the small size at the end of the mouthpiece to the bell.

Why does the taper matter?

Many horns are built in similar fashion, but even a variance of .001 of an inch can have a critical impact on a horn. Our horns are built to the highest standard and years of research have been done to ensure that Lawson Horns are the most efficient horns built.

What is the thickness?

The thickness of the horn is how thick is the wall of tail (or last turn of the horn) and final bell flare. With most horns, this can vary in extremes from .005” on thin, small brass horns to .020” or larger for large orchestral horns.  This thickness is very important to how the horn responds, and more detailed information can be found on our research page.

What are the playing differences between .020” and .016” (Lite) horns?

The thicker wall yields a little louder sound with a somewhat richer overtone series and certainly is more mechanically sound, while the lighter material seems to have a quicker, cleaner response, lighter tone and 'locks-in' a little better. Chamber or ensemble musicians may find a lighter instrument fits that style better; whereas, a heavier horn might make sense for larger classical groups, but it must always be kept in mind that the player has enormous control over the instrument's characteristic sound.

Can I have my horn in one thickness, and the bell in another?

While many players prefer a matched thickness, we can make bell tails and bell flares in either thickness.

Does the alloy selection really make that much of a difference?

Yes, the material of the horn’s composition, particularly the bell tail and flare, has an effect on the sound, response, and feel.

What is 'Ambronze'?

In 1979, Lawson introduced a new alloy which had been used previously in architecture but never was applied to musical instruments. The result was a strong, workable metal which became one of our most popular alloys called “Ambronze.”

What is 'Nickel Bronze'?

A search for the alloy that the famous Kruspe nickel silver horn was made from yielded another new alloy to the musical instrument world: Nickel-Bronze. This is the closest alloy available now to the pre-WWII German nickel silver used by Kruspe.