Horn Review
Yamaha 668 II Review
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Yamaha 668 II Review
Pros
Strong range with good intonation
Easy to play
Well-made, tight values/rotors
Cons
Dents more easily due to thinner metal
Summary
The 668II was Yamaha's later Kruspe-style professional French horn and is now discontinued. While they have not managed to surpass the Conn 8D in popularity just yet, professionals regard them more highly than post-Elkhart 8Ds. But even vintage Elkhart 8D fans may have met their match with the newer 668II, which wins praise from professionals for its dark mellow tone combined with good flexibility. The 668II's success may stem in part from being a more literal copy of the original Kruspe horn vs. the Conn 8D. The thinner metal, slightly larger bore and consistent construction are some of the qualities that may contribute to the playing differences vs. the Conn 8D. Areas where the 668 II excels include focused low range and along with greater smoothness through range transitions. The high register on large bore horns can be a little tougher to get out, and like the Conn 8D, the 668II will require some more effort in that range especially above A.
Due to the thin metal on this horn, it may not be ideal for beginning students or those playing in a rowdy school band. But build quality is strong and Yamaha horns have an especially strong reputation for manufacturing high quality rotors -- an added benefit when comparing with the arguably less consistent and stringent standards of competing brands in this price range such as Conn. This also means used Yamaha horns hold their value well.
Cost: The Yamaha 668II line is now discontinued, so current pricing depends on the used market and remaining dealer inventory.
While priced at the advanced student level, the 668II can be found in professional settings where players are seeking the original Kruspe-style horn without risk of shoddy manufacturing and cut corners. If your budget can go a little higher, we also recommend the similar Hans Hoyer's Kruspe-style horn, the 6801/6802.
Player rating
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Specs at a Glance
- Type
- Full double horn
- Key
- F/Bb
- Design family
- Kruspe
- Bell
- Fixed or detachable
- Bore
- 12 mm / .472 in
- Materials
- Yellow brass or nickel silver
- Linkage
- String
- Finish options
- Lacquered
- Made / assembled in
- Japan
- Production type
- Factory-made
- Availability
- Current production; special order
- Recent new price
- About $5,538
New and used prices vary by dealer, condition, setup, and repair history.
Player Reviews
5 owner/player reviews
- 4.5
Yamah 668
They aint a professional horn for no reason. Best horn i have owned in my 20+ years of horn playing. Solid in all ranges especially where the large bell and bore comes into it's own in lower registers.Little to no resistance in higher registers and lends to great note centering, warm sound and great intonation all-round. Overall best pro horn for the low price range and holds it's value excellently. Only reason i would put this horn down is for an Engelbert Schmid, and that says alot for it's quality.
Helpful to another player? - 4.5
Good horn
I played one of these at the army school of music. Air flows through the horn really well making it easier to play than a conn 8d. The tone is slightly airy, but not to an extent that its a bad sound. Physically, it feels great on the hand. Overall, I would say it's a better horn than an 8d for anyone
Helpful to another player? - 4.9
Yamaha 668
I’ve had my Yamaha 668 for about a year now, I got it as a gift from Meyer music and Yamaha for making state and I’m very please. I am a prominent low horn player and this horn speaks very well. The bore on this horn is PERFECT for me. Most smaller bore horns sound stuffy with my tone so this works amazing. I would recdomend this horn to the high school prodigy and college student.
Helpful to another player? - 3.1
Yamaha 668 II
My high school band director requires that the horn players use school owned Yamaha 668s. As such, I've been playing one for 3 years now. It sounds ok as a beginner horn but almost every horn in our school has busted brackets, from poor construction. Ive played lots of other horns and it sounds most similar to the Abilene-run Conn 8Ds, which makes sense because the Yamaha started as a template of the 8D. It loses a lot of sound in the upper register. Good low register for the most part, until you get below pedal F. Its also really restrictive, and its really difficult to play loud. This is a decent horn for middle school or high school, but you will be laughed at if you attempt to take it further than that.
Helpful to another player? - 4.8
Truly a Professional Horn
I purchased this horn with the intentions of going into a professional music school for the next few years. I've been testing horns for several years now - this horn has gotten my attention after 5 minutes of testing. This horn is capable of producing a dark, omniscient tone - arguably better than the 8D. The warmth of the horn amazes non-Yamaha enthusiasts. There is an adjustment period to this horn though. Compared to the 8D, the YHR-668 mk 2 requires more air, but the return is definitely rewarding with it's tone and volume. The structural nature of Nickel silver makes the horn on the fragile side, but the stress-free joints really help with minimizing wear-and-tear on the horn. The bell really resonant with the horn, you can feel the vibrations of the horn through the bell in all levels of dynamics - in other words, extremely responsive. True pianissimos to deafening fortissimo, this horn will deliver. The value for money? It's a steal for the quality of horn that you are getting - factory made but custom Yamaha quality. Definitely worth a consideration for the avid horn player.
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