Kelly vs Yamaha French Horn Mouthpieces
Kelly offers 5 french horn mouthpieces (made in United States), while Yamaha has 23 models (made in Japan). On average, Kelly cups measure 17.17mm versus 17.44mm for Yamaha. Below we compare both lineups side by side to help you choose the right brand for your playing style.
Kelly
Models5
Avg cup17.17mm
Avg throat3.88mm
Common styleGeneral
CountryUnited States
vs
Yamaha
Models23
Avg cup17.44mm
Avg throat4.14mm
Common style—
CountryJapan
Kelly vs Yamaha — head-to-head comparisons
- Kelly MC vs Yamaha HR-29B
- Kelly MC vs Yamaha HR-35C4
- Kelly MC vs Yamaha HR-28B
- Kelly MC vs Yamaha HR-29C4
- Kelly 31 vs Yamaha HR-29B
- Kelly 31 vs Yamaha HR-35C4
- Kelly 31 vs Yamaha HR-28B
- Kelly 31 vs Yamaha HR-29C4
- Kelly MDC vs Yamaha HR-29B
- Kelly MDC vs Yamaha HR-35C4
- Kelly MDC vs Yamaha HR-28B
- Kelly MDC vs Yamaha HR-29C4
All models
Kelly (5)
MC
16.76mm · V.Deep · General
31
17.53mm · — · General
MDC
16.26mm · — · General
11
18.29mm · — · General
DC
17.02mm · — · Orchestral
Yamaha (23)
HR-29B
17.07mm · Shallow
HR-35C4
18.08mm · Medium
HR-28B
16.87mm · Shallow
HR-29C4
17.08mm · Medium
HR-31D4
17.28mm · Deep
HR-30B
17.27mm · Shallow
HR-32B
17.67mm · Shallow
HR-34B
18.07mm · Shallow
HR-29D4
16.88mm · Deep
HR-30C4
17.28mm · Medium
HR-30D4
17.08mm · Deep
HR-31B
17.47mm · Shallow
HR-32C4
17.48mm · Medium
HR-33C4
17.68mm · Medium
HR-SOMMERVILLE
16.93mm · Medium
HR-30-GP
17.08mm · Medium
HR-32D4
17.48mm · Deep
HR-34C4
17.88mm · Medium
HR-BACON
17.99mm · Shallow
HR-32-GP
17.48mm · Medium
Frequently asked questions
Which brand makes better french horn mouthpieces — Kelly or Yamaha?
Neither brand is universally better. Kelly has 5 models and Yamaha has 23. The best choice depends on your playing style, preferred cup depth, and tonal goals. Compare specific models head-to-head to find the right fit.
How do Kelly and Yamaha french horn mouthpieces compare in size?
Kelly averages 17.17mm cup diameter with 3.88mm throat. Yamaha averages 17.44mm cup diameter with 4.14mm throat.