Alphorn Maker's Showcase
Welcome to a photo gallery of homemade Alphorns!
It takes skills, patience and determination to build an Alphorn! If you have successfully built an Alphorn and would like to showcase it here, please send photos of your horn, any links to your sites, and info on your location, to jason@argobuilder.com, and I will include it in this gallery.
Please note that I do reserve the right to decide which words and which photos get posted on this site. Please include your first name and your location so I can update the map. This page is primarily for homemade wooden horns, but I will also post alphorns from professionals if professionals send me photos and descriptions of horns they built themselves.
Map of homemade alphorn builder locations. Red dots represent locations where the horns on this page were built. The gallery is up to 11 Alphorns!
F Alphorn Built from Sitka Spruce, Built by Jason in Merton, Wisconsin, USA, in 2020.
One-Piece F Alphorn built in Wisconsin USA of Sitka Spruce, with a birdsmouth main trunk construction and traditionally carved bell. Walnut, Cherry, and Hard Maple trim rings.
Sitka spruce Alphorn, with Black Walnut and Maple trim rings, and with local flower paintings. Wisconsin USA 2020.
Mouthpiece end of the alphorn, with homemade Black Cherry mouthpiece.
F# Alphorn built by Scott in Green Bay, Wisconsin USA, 2020
Beautiful work, Scott! The darker stained wrapping matches the bell-ring perfectly and I like the green bell.....maybe you can play it at a Packer Game! Congrats on your finished product and thanks for sending in the photo.
Alphorn built by Kelly in Vancouver, Washington, USA, 2021.
This one-of-a-kind Alphorn, with lovely bell painting, was built by Kelly in Vancouver Washington, and is tuned to F. Great work Kelly and congrats on completing this beautiful instrument.
Alphorn built by Stephen in Centreville, Virginia, USA, 2021
Congratulations Stephen on this Alphorn that you built with expert woodworking skills and wonderful design creativity. This alphorn is made in segments so that it may be disassembled. It is made of pine with steamed White Oak reinforcements around the sockets where the sections connect. Stephen used birdsmouth joinery for the trunk and also used a new very creative method of building the bell. The bell was made by first building a birdsmouth straight conical bell, then cutting that into wedge cross sections and regluing them together to make a curved bell. Fantastic!! Stephen's alphorn is not wrapped with reed and does not have hardwood rings at the bell-end; this gives it a unique and clean look. Check out this amazing instrument below. Stephen, thanks for sharing photos of your fine creation.
Stephen with his finely crafted alphorn in Virginia.
Check out this woodworking mastery! Steam-bent shaker style white oak reinforces the socket connection where the sections connect. Ace work!
Here is Stephen's alphorn bell in-progress. Tapered , straight, birdsmouth cone.
Next he cut the straight bell into angled sections that when reassembled formed a curved bell.
Stephen's alphorn bell glued back together and sanded. I love the creativity and workmanship. Thanks Stephen.
Pine and Fir Alphorn Built by Jason in Wisconsin, USA
This is the second alphorn I built, and the goals of this second horn are: 1. Built in sections for easy transport 2. Lightweight with no wrapping around the outside of the horn 3. Simpler rustic look vs my first one, for example there are knots in the wood, it features a sorghum stalk woven handle, deer antler foot, no hardwood rings on the bell and a some carving marks are left to be seen in the bell. 4. The experiment was to build an alphorn from low cost construction lumber...the wood for this horn cost $59.00. More details on how I built this horn may be found on my Alphorn building page.
3D Printed Alphorn, Designed and Made by Jason in Wisconsin USA
Printed in 4 sections, which are assembled using threaded joints. Alphorn in F. Made in 2023.
3D Printed Alphorn
Alphorn built by Eric in Denver, Pennsylvania, USA
Another new and creative alphorn! This one from the rolling hills of Denver , Pennsylvania. Denver, Pennsylvania was founded by Swiss immigrants so it is quite fitting to see this fine instrument built there. Use of flame to char and finish the exterior along with leather straps and a bike-sprocket-foot make this a one-of-a-kind masterpiece! Congrats on your project and thanks for sharing.
Alphorn made by Hartmut in Stuttgart, Germany
Here is a beautiful Alphorn designed and made by Hartmut in Stuttgart, Germany. Tuned to F, and also note the lovely hand-turned mouthpiece from a cherry tree in Hartmut's garden. Wonderful! Hartmut's design includes a brass sleeve connection, allowing the Alphorn to be disassembled. Inspiring work and thanks for sharing!
Alphorn made by Eloise and Tim in New Glarus, Wisconsin USA
A beautifully crafted and painted Alphorn made by Eloise and Tim in Wisconsin. This special instrument is made of Sitka Spruce with very fine Black Cherry joints and trim from a local tree they cut down and the foot of Spalted Maple. This lovely Alphorn is made using the birdsmouth main trunk technique and breaks into two pieces with Testrite Aluminum joint bushings. As Stephen did in Virginia, Tim and Eloise built the bell in birdsmouth mitered, with a great end result. Inspiring work and must have been a special and memorable project to complete together. Thanks for sharing and congratulations!
Alphorn made by Stephan in Calgary , Alberta Canada
Behold this one of a kind work of artful craftmanship from Stephan from our wonderful neighbor to the North; Oh Canada! Congratulations Stephan on this outstanding handmade Alphorn. Sleek and perfectly finished joinery with a warm sheen and finish. Also note the turned mouthpiece stock and mouthpiece. It turned out wonderful. Thank you for sharing your work.
3D Printed Alphorn made by Peter in St.Gilgan, Austria
Congratulations Peter on creating this wonderful instrument. Austrian color scheme and features the threaded connections for disassembly. Also on your experimentation with French Horn mouthpiece adapters. Thanks for sharing your accomplishment!
3D Printed Alphorn made by Tom in the UK
A great looking 3D printed Alphorn made in the UK by Tom and his son. Congratulations! Made on a Bambu A1 and assembled with 2 part epoxy. Great project and thanks for sharing the photo.
