Alexander 1103 French Horn

Model notes

What to Know

The Alexander 1103 is a current-production professional full double horn from Gebr. Alexander in Mainz. It is built as a K-model double in the Knopf/Geyer-style family and can be ordered in F/Bb or Bb/F setup, with brass, gold-brass, or nickel-silver construction.

The 1103 is often easiest to understand next to the Alexander 103. The 103 is the classic compact Alexander reference point; the 1103 keeps the Alexander family sound but uses a larger body, medium-large mensur, and a layout closer to modern Geyer-family doubles for a more open, freer-blowing feel and stronger projection.

Core specs include a 12.1 mm / .476 inch bore, 310 mm / 12.2 inch bell, four valves, one thumb lever, fully independent Bb and F valve slides, and a string-action change valve. Alexander builds these instruments to order, so the exact material, bell, finish, and setup should be confirmed on the individual horn.

For players coming from American Geyer-style doubles, the 1103 will feel more related than the 103, but it is still not a one-for-one Carl Geyer copy. Alexander's 1106 Heldenhorn uses the 1103 body, leadpipe taper, and bell taper but opens out the 1103's tighter F-branch bends into a more explicit Geyer-wrap layout, which helps explain where the 1103 sits.

Used 1103 examples can vary by age, bell type, material, and maintenance history. Valve compression, trigger feel, slide fit, leadpipe condition, bell ring, and any previous custom work are worth checking before buying.