[Keith Ridenhour]

I was in conversations with Jim Scimonetit (sp?) of Scimonettie's music down in Lancaster Ca and he was telling me about Stephanhouser horns and how great they are. Yada Yada Yada, it went in one ear and out the other, another Tawaneese special I thought. But I was at a music store in Vacaville teaching a few weeks ago and picked up the tenor for sale on a stand (no idea what it was) and played a few notes. Wow, it played so easily and with a fat dark tone. It really reminded me of the last time I played a Ref 36 (my main axe is a Selmer Mk 6 220000 serial number.) I mentioned it to my tech and he told me that these horns are made by Gemeinhart in Germany (good, very good flutes) and have some interesting new designs. Anyway, I'd steer people to at least try it. It really does sound good for the price range (1700 to 1900 retail). Also, I wanted to plug my Beechler 9 belite piece. Its the poor mans Guardala with more core (to my ears ) tone. K

 

[rbur]

Gemeinhardt was a german, but the factory is in Elkart, Stephanhouser also
http://www.gemstonemusical.com/

(perhaps you should show this link to your tech )

 

[awholley]

I tried one of their altos about 4 years ago. It was not one of their pro models, but it sounded just as good as the Selmer I was waiting on. I was impressed, especially for the price point.

 

[grevsax24]

Apparently their new horns are very good. My teacher played one of their curved sopranos and it sounded very good, unfortunately low Bb and B were both a quarter step sharp.

 

[Martin Williams]

My old instructor endorses these horns, great horns, some of them have some really interesting looks to them

 

[ThreeSaxes]

I played one of their un-lacquered pro altos at NAMM a few years ago. Definitely my favorite of the horns I played that day (including Selmer, Yanagisawa, Yamaha, Keilwerth). Was a good match for the Dukoff D7 I had with me (easy altissimo). Probably would have bought it if there was a dealer in the Bay Area.

 

[ianhart]

There is a dealer in the bay area, Bronstein Music. Located on Grand Avenue (333 I think) in South San francisco. They just started carrying them around august of last year, I think.

 

[tjontheroad]

I tried a lacquered tenor. Was a good horn for the money. I compared it right next to a P Mautiat and the keys looked almost exactly the same. They played and sounded alike to me. Although the PM felt more solid. I figured it was a stencil in the modern sense of the word.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I'm teaching a jazz improv workshop for beginners over in Vacaville where I tryed out the Stephanhouser tenor a few weeks ago. .Sunday, I took my P to the workshop because my left thumb had problems with my Mk 6. So once there at the store I compared my P (non rolled tone wholes) against the Steph. My P sounded much fatter /darker and was just as fast as the Steph, so I'm glad Ikept the the P as my backup horn.. A very good player played my P last friday and liked it alot. He recently bought a Yamaha 82z and loves it but he liked my P alot better than the Cannonball Global Big Bell he had before the Yamaha . To each his own? K

 

[maestroelite]

I played a Stephanhouser once for a sales rep I know. I thought it was extremely lacking in the "core" department myself. No character either really. I've never had that issue with any of the "big 4" horns.

 

[trinitron]

I played a Stephanhouser once for a sales rep I know. I thought it was extremely lacking in the "core" department myself. No character either really. I've never had that issue with any of the "big 4" horns.

I'll agree. I played one of the models with the high G key. to do this they had to take a section out of the neck tenon. DUMB. i would give one of their G-less horns a shot.