What happened to the king 2266 and 2268?

[Entety303]

So i am currently looking to buy a new horn for my birthday and when searching online for European market, i have seen that they are no longer sold anywhere in Europe. Did they stop their production? I know they were one of the most popular horns over here.I have only found a few sellers with their 3 valve models and none with their 4 valve models besides 1 that sells the top facing bell model.

[davewerden]

I think some music stores (here) are dropping such lines in favor of carrying their own name on Chinese stencil instruments. However, Brasswind still lists the 2280 and says it is in stock:

https://www.wwbw.com/King-2280-Legen...um-468332.wwbw

That could mean King still makes them, or perhaps Brasswind is just selling out their large stock.

This page might help you find other dealers in your country:

http://www.conn-selmer.eu/dealer-locator

[Entety303]

I believe that the 2280s are still being made as they are listed, but the 2266 and 2268 are no longer listed on their site. Some stores in usa still have those horns but some say it’s unavailable. Ill play with the locate dealer soon as on mobile its really bad

[Entety303]

Just went through all of the sites in Eu and none have it. I looked both under baritone and euphonium.

[davewerden]

There is a nice 2280 for sale right now, and it can ship worldwide:

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/showthr...reat-Condition

[Entety303]

I an talking about the bellfront 2266. Mentioned 2268 because its also no longer sold anywhere not talking about the 2280 model.

[davewerden]

I an talking about the bellfront 2266. Mentioned 2268 because its also no longer sold anywhere not talking about the 2280 model.

Sorry about that! The 2280 wandered into my brain and got stuck there.

I can't speak for Europe, but in the USA the market for the 2266 and similar horns seems to have shrunken. It's too bad, because the front-valve configuration has some advantages. Wessex used to carry a Chinese version of the 2266, which looked like a direct copy except the bell direction seemed to be turned to the right slightly. But I checked their site and that horn is no longer listed. I suspect Jin Bao still makes one, although I have never played on one and can't comment on its playing characteristics.

On eBay I see LOTS of 3-valve front-valve horns, including Kings, but I doubt Europe is that same.

This shop MAY provide one solution:

http://www.musik-lechner.com/

I think they carry the bell-front instrument used in this video, but there is a lot of "language barrier" getting in my way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw_DnLkKaIA

It's not a King, but may at least be a current model. At least, I hope it is still current.

[Entety303]

In Europe the market is thriving due to the fact this style of horn is popular with oberkrainer style of music.
The Lechner horn you mentioned is crazy expensive and here goes for up to nearly 8k. I am thinking they stopped producing the horns though. Its a shame because i prefer to play them over the british brass band style of Euphonium, baritone and the German baritone and tenor horn that is frequent in europe