"One man's trash is another man's treasure" sums up my conclusions on horn selection.
We have all tried an instrument highly praised by another only to discover it not to our liking. One horn can not possibly work for everyone since each person's physical make-up is different.
About the only quality one could call objective in an instrument is how well it is made, but the craftsmanship doesn't always determine how well a horn may play for you. I recommend judging an instrument on comfortability, sound quality, and craftsmanship -- in that order.
You may think that sound quality should be first in the list, but I believe that it is more important that the instrument play easily for you. A listener is more likely to notice bad intonation and missed notes than slight nuances of sound, and if the horn is close to your target sound, with practice you will attain the sound you want. However, if the sound is radically different from your ideal, this will not be the right horn for you.
Sometimes a conductor demands everyone in a section play on similar models. I do not belong to that school that believes certain models or makes to be the only choice. When everything is balanced, the performer is free to pursue the true goal of making music.
One time I was invited to participate in a brass repair seminar. When it was my turn to speak, I walked out, said, "Oil your valves!" and left. Though the enthusiastic response was probably due more to the brevity of the speech than its content, the message was clear. As frequent oil changes are essential to long car engine life, so also frequent oiling of horn valves results in fewer chemical cleanings and valve rebuildings.
Oil, besides providing the necessary lubrication for the bearing surfaces, leaves a thin, corrosion-resistant coating on the interior of the tubing. Moisture, a mixture of water, saliva, and various acids, and other foreign matter, (pizza, twinkies, ...) that causes the dreaded dezincification, or red rot.
A suggested oiling regime is:
1) Every other day put a few drops of valve oil into each slide, insert the slides (being careful to keep the oil from dripping out) and rotate the horn to wash the valves in oil; also blow a few drops through the lead pipe.
2) Weekly, put sewing machine or spindle bearing oil under the valve cap and rotor stop arm (the part to which the valve string is attached).
I have seen many horn twenty-five years and older in amazing shape due primarily to diligent oiling. Consider it an investment since your horn will keep or increase its value -- an oiling a day keeps the repairperson away!
Ken attended Oberlin college and is active as a free-lance hornist in addition to having studied instrument repair. He and his wife have two sets of twin boys, which keep them busy. You can reach Ken at 617-522-0532.