The alphorn is not the most common musical instrument, but many people will undoubtedly recognize it almost immediately as soon as they look at one in someplace.
It is almost natural to start thinking about how much it could cost an alphorn. For that reason, here at howmuchdoescost, we decide to do some research, giving you the most accurate information possible regarding the cost of purchasing an alphorn.
Table of Contents
How Much Does an Alphorn Cost?
The price for purchasing an Alphorn goes from a minimum of $1,500 until reaching more than $3,000, but if you are searching from some unique piece, the price may go up until reaching more than $5,000.
As you can see, the price is not low, and you need to spend a lot of money if you are interested in purchasing it. But attention because the cost purchase is not the only thing that you have to worry about, there are many others cost, as the cost of shipping, that will not be so cheap.
Alphorn musical instrument
The alphorn is made of wooden, and it is length more than 3 meters; the location where it is most common is in the Swiss Alps, Austrian, Germany, and is also present in the French Alps.
All the notes that are coming from the alphorn are made using the lips. The size of the alphorn is another variable that may increase the cost; more traditional alphorn is sold at a higher price, but they can be found only in specific locations.
Why are alphorns so expensive?
Some of you may start to think that alphorn is generally costly than the majority of musical instruments, but before saying that, I encourage you to read the cost of a pipe organ.
The high cost of alphorns is due to the instruments’ rarity and the materials used to produce them. The alphorn is made by carving from solid softwood, and the type of work required for giving the specific size makes the alphorn so expensive.
Shipping cost for an alphorn
Suppose you know what you are going to buy. In that case, the shipping cost is an important consideration to keep in mind, mainly because alphorn production is limited to Switzerland.
Depending on the size, the cost of transportation may make a significant impact on the overall cost. Mainly because, after spending thousands of dollars, you would certainly add the insurance, which may translate into an additional cost of $100, considering the size and the handling care that may be necessary.
In total, we can say that shipping and insurance costs for an alphorn depend on the location where you have to send it, but on average, you can expect to pay something around $200-$350.
Alphorn lessons cost
If you are lucky to stay near a place where some good teachers know how to sound alphorn, you have to consider that this will be the best occasion of your life.
On average, the lesson cost for the alphorn is not expensive; they range from $20 to $50.
Additional accessories cost
There aren’t many accessories required for an alphorn, the only things that you should consider buying are:
The travel case will cost you $350, and some pieces for replacing the mouthpieces cost on average $50-$80
Addition things to know
Some of the alphorns are more particular; they can be painted in wood, giving a unique look. You can customize that type of coloration by yourself or give it to some expert designer who will paint it in the best manner possible.
Some of the alphorns are made of five sections that can be easily separated. For example, suppose you would like to buy an alphorn from a location that is far away from your current location. In that case, it is always better to ask about acquiring the alphorn model that can be divided into sections.
How can I save money?
The only 2 ways possible that will make you saving money are acquiring the alphorn on the location where are made, or by searching on the internet for a secondhand alphorn, it will be perfect in case you are just at the beginning.
How much does an alphorn weigh?
The weight of an alphorn may arrive in 5 kilograms or 11 pounds
How many alphorns are there?
It is recognized that by the Swiss Yodeling Association that there are more than 1,800 Alphorn blowers in Switzerland and around the world. Still, this number may be higher if we consider the number of people posing one but not registered on the Association.
Conclusion
As we saw during the article, the alphorn is a particular musical instrument that is not so famous in all the world but only in some specific country. Regarding the cost, there are many things to take into account if you decide to purchase one, as the size and your locations, because this one may increase the price of the alphorn notably.
