Kuhnl and Hoyer Musikinstrumentenfabrik

What Kuhnl and Hoyer Musikinstrumentenfabrik does

Kühnl & Hoyer GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of premium brass instruments, founded in 1948 in Markt Erlbach, Middle Franconia, and currently operating under fourth-generation family ownership led by Managing Director Dieter Kühnl. The company designs and builds trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, trombones, rotary valve instruments, baritones, hunting horns, and signal instruments entirely at its single factory in Germany, producing approximately 90% of all components in-house. The product portfolio is organized around signature editions co-developed with elite professional musicians, including the Malte Burba Edition (trumpets/flugelhorns), Bolero Edition (orchestral trombones), Bart van Lier Edition (jazz/big band trombones), Solaris Edition (formerly Slokar, with Professor Branimir Slokar), and the Royal-Line of rotary valve baritones. The company has won the German Musical Instrument Award eight times between 1991 and 2021, most recently in 2021 for the Bb/F-tenor trombone 'Bolero' with its proprietary 'open flow' valve technology.

The business operates a craft-plus-technology manufacturing model combining traditional hand-lapping of stainless steel valves and hand-finished assembly with computer-aided measuring and adjustment for tonal consistency. Core proprietary features include hand-lapped stainless steel piston valves, rotary valves with light rotors, an 'open flow' valve design enabling a fully open aerial passage, and a variable weight system on trombones for sound customization. All instruments are sold exclusively through specialist music retailers worldwide, with distribution reaching Germany, broader Europe, the United States, Australia, and Asia. The company operates a factory showroom in Markt Erlbach for instrument testing by appointment, maintains a YouTube demonstration channel, hosts an online sound database, and supports the Kühnl Trombone Quartet as a branded artist ambassador group. Recent product activity has included the Edith (Nils Wogram, 2024), Bolero sonor (2022), revised Orchestra alto (2025), and the 2026 rebrand of the Slokar line to Solaris Edition and introduction of Fürst-Pless hunting horns.

The company has approximately 25 employees and operates on a one-time-sale revenue model with three principal streams: full-price professional instrument sales, discounted B-Stock and outlet sales (e.g., hunting horns from €240-€292), and accessories (cases, covers, mouthpieces, care products). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed beyond a reference PDF price list. Customer segments span professional orchestral musicians, amateur/hobby players, and brass bands and wind orchestras (including military ensembles such as Big Band der Bundeswehr). Distribution is exclusively indirect via specialist retailers, with named anchors including Musikhaus Thomann, Musikhaus Schlaile, and Musikhaus Hieber Lindberg in Germany, alongside international specialist retailers across Europe, the US, Asia, and Australia. No external investors, parent company, or subsidiaries are present, and active succession planning is underway with the next generation of the Kühnl family preparing to assume management responsibility.

Name

Kuhnl and Hoyer Musikinstrumentenfabrik

Legal name

Kühnl & Hoyer GmbH

Website

https://kuehnl-hoyer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kühnl & Hoyer GmbH is a privately held, fourth-generation German manufacturer of premium handmade brass instruments, producing trumpets, trombones, flugelhorns, and rotary valve instruments for professional orchestral musicians, brass bands, and amateur players worldwide through specialist retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brass Musical Instruments

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument Parts, Repair & Maintenance (Luthier, Tech Services, Spares) (MPAIAJAG), Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF)

Keywords

• Brass instrument manufacturing
• Professional wind instruments
• Handcrafted musical instruments
• Trombone and trumpet production
• German instrument maker

Headquarters

HQ city

Markt Erlbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Brass Instrument Sales: One-time sale of handcrafted brass instruments including trumpets, trombones, flugelhorns, baritones, and hunting horns. Products sold exclusively through specialist music retailers.
2. B-Stock and Outlet Sales: Sale of B-Stock instruments, exhibition pieces, and discontinued collection items at discounted prices through the company's outlet.
3. Accessories Sales: Sale of matching accessories including cases, covers, mouthpieces, and care products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kühnl & Hoyer manufactures premium handcrafted brass instruments in Markt Erlbach, Germany, producing trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, trombones, tenor and baritone horns, and signal and hunting instruments. Approximately 90% of all components are produced in-house, with products developed in collaboration with renowned professional musicians across editions such as Malte Burba, Bolero, Bart van Lier, and Solaris. Sales are conducted exclusively through a worldwide network of specialist music retailers.

Product overview

Kühnl & Hoyer GmbH is a German manufacturer of premium brass instruments producing 100% Made in Germany. The product portfolio centers on three core instrument categories: Piston Valve Instruments (trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns including Malte Burba Edition), Trombones (available in Bolero Edition, Bart van Lier Edition, Solaris Edition, and Bass Trombones), and Rotary Valve Instruments (tenor horns, baritones, bass trumpets including Royal-Line series). The company also offers Signal Instruments, Hunting Horns (Fürst-Pless and Parforce), and Accessories. Products are sold through specialist retailers worldwide with prices ranging from entry-professional to professional soloist levels. The company has won the German Musical Instrument Award eight times (1991, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2019, 2021) and collaborates with renowned musicians including Professor Malte Burba, Branimir Slokar, Bart van Lier, and Nils Wogram for product development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Malte Burba Edition: Trumpets and flugelhorns developed in cooperation with Professor Malte Burba for universal and professional use.
• Slokar Edition (now Solaris Edition)
• Bart van Lier Edition
• Bolero Edition
• Royal-Line

Products and services

• Piston Valve Instruments Brass instruments using piston (Perinet) valves, including trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns. Features hand-lapped stainless steel valves for quick, reliable action and long lifetime. Includes the Malte Burba Edition for professional use.
• Trombones Slide brass instruments available in multiple editions: Bolero Edition (with open-flow, Thayer, and Hagmann valves), Bart van Lier Edition (jazz and big band), Solaris Edition (developed with Professor Branimir Slokar), and Bass Trombones. Includes alto, tenor, and bass configurations.
• Rotary Valve Instruments Brass instruments equipped with rotary (cylinder) valves including trumpets, flugelhorns, tenor horns, baritones (including Royal-Line series), and bass trumpets. Feature high-quality nickel silver rotary valves with special bronze rotors.
• Hunting Horns Traditional hunting horns including Fürst-Pless hunting horns (models Signum, Signum Pro, and various configurations) and Parforce hunting horns for hunting applications.
• Accessories Complementary products including cases, covers, mouthpieces, and care products for brass instruments.
• Bb/F-Tenor Trombone 'Bolero' with 'open flow' valve Top model professional orchestral trombone with gold brass bell (220mm), bore 13.9mm, K&H 'open flow' nickel silver rotary valve, multi-adjustable trigger. Winner of German Musical Instrument Award 2021.
• Bb-Trumpet 'Topline' Versatile allround trumpet with hand-lapped stainless steel valves, reversed gold brass lead pipe, ML bore. Winner of German Musical Instrument Award 2019.
• Bb tenor trombone 'Edith' model Nils Wogram Jazz trombone developed with Nils Wogram featuring brass bell, bore 13.4mm, nickel silver lightweight slide with exchangeable brass lead pipe, variable weight system. Designed for tonal versatility and easy response.
• Bb-Trumpet 'Sella' Entry-professional trumpet with gold brass lead pipe, adjustable finger ring. Winner of German Musical Instrument Award 1993. Designed for music students and amateurs with professional ambitions.
• Bb-Baritone '79/4' Professional baritone with curved version, gold brass construction, bell diameter 285mm, 4 rotary valves. Winner of German Musical Instrument Award 2000 for exact intonation in symphonic brass music.
• Bb-Flugelhorn Model 7.11 Professional flugelhorn with gold brass bell (155mm), bore 11mm, high-quality nickel silver rotary valves with special bronze rotors, decompression bore, 2 exchangeable lead pipes. Handmade for soloists.
• Bb-Trumpet 'Spirit' professional Professional trumpet with brass lead pipe, silver plated finish, heavy bottom valve caps. Features good response, powerful tone, and vibrant sound. Distinguished by unique triangle design.
• Bb/F/Gb/D-Bass Trombone 'Orchestra symphonic' with 'open flow' valves Professional bass trombone with detachable gold brass bell (260mm), bore 14.3mm, two K&H 'open flow' rotary valves. Developed with Jürgen Zellner and Benjamin Appel. Successor to the German Musical Instrument Award 2007 winner.
• Bb-Tenor Trombone Bart van Lier '.480/88 MK II' Personal Bart van Lier model with bell diameter 195mm, dual bore 12.2/12.4mm, conical bronze slide, variable weight system. Features warm tone and controlled fortissimo even at strongest dynamics.
• Malte Burba Edition Professional trumpets and flugelhorns developed with Professor Malte Burba, featuring Amado water keys, reversed lead pipes, and designs for universal and professional use. Includes models: Pocket, Premium, Universal, Classicum C, and Piccolo.
• Solaris Edition (formerly Slokar Edition) Trombone line developed with Professor Branimir Slokar, renamed to Solaris Edition in 2026. Features open and closed construction designs with nickel silver slides and exchangeable lead pipes.
• Bart van Lier Edition Trombone line developed with Dutch jazz trombonist Bart van Lier, suitable for jazz, big band, and symphonic use. Features variable weight systems, bronze slides, and models in various bore sizes (.480, .500, .512).
• Bolero Edition Professional orchestral trombone series including models with 'open flow' valves, Thayer valves, and Hagmann valves. Winner of German Musical Instrument Award 2021 for the Bolero with open-flow valve. Includes Bolero, Bolero Large, and Bolero traditional models.
• Royal-Line Premium rotary valve instruments featuring baritones with advanced specifications including 14/15 and 15/16 bore options and open flow valve configurations.

Quantifiable outcome

• German Musical Instrument Award won 8 times
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Malte BurbacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Malte Burba, renowned trumpet virtuoso, collaborates with Kühnl & Hoyer on product development. Together they produce trumpets and flugelhorns for universal and professional use under the 'Malte Burba Edition'. Instruments developed with him are part of the core product line.
• Branimir SlokarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Branimir Slokar, acclaimed soloist and pedagogue, developed the Slokar trombone series (now becoming Solaris Edition). The Slokar trombone quartet presents these instruments at concerts worldwide.
• Bart van LiercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch jazz trombonist and docent at Hilversum Conservatory developed signature trombone models suitable for jazz, big band, and symphonic use.
• Nils WogramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJazz trombone player, composer, and producer collaborated with Kühnl & Hoyer to create the 'Edith' Bb tenor trombone model, tailored to his preferences for tonal versatility and easy response.
• Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (Neustart Kultur)minorOthersThe sound database project is sponsored by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien) through the Neustart Kultur program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alexander Brass Instruments: German manufacturer of professional brass instruments including trumpets, trombones, and tubas; competes directly in the orchestral and brass band segments with similar handmade European positioning.
• Gollmann Brass: Austrian premium brass instrument maker focused on rotary valve instruments and trumpets; directly comparable artisanal manufacturer with similar European heritage and professional musician target market.
• Helmut Voigt Brass Instruments: German maker of handcrafted trombones and brass instruments; small artisanal manufacturer with overlapping premium positioning and professional musician customer base.
• Edwards Instrument Company: Japanese manufacturer specializing in high-end professional trombones with strong US artist endorsement network; similar premium positioning and target market of professional trombonists.
• B&S Blechblas- und Signalinstrumentenfabrik: German brass instrument manufacturer producing trumpets, trombones, and rotary valve instruments; competes in the same mid-to-professional European brass market with comparable product offerings.
• Thein Brass: German handcrafted brass instrument manufacturer specializing in professional trombones and trumpets; directly competes with Kühnl & Hoyer in the same premium niche market with similar Made-in-Germany positioning.
• S.E. Shires Brass: US-based boutique brass instrument manufacturer producing custom and production trumpets and trombones; comparable premium niche positioning with strong professional musician endorsements.

Broad incumbents

• Conn-Selmer (Bach, King, Holton): Major US-based brass instrument conglomerate owning Bach, King, and Holton brands; broader incumbent offering entry-to-professional brass instruments globally, including the Hans Hoyer professional line that overlaps with Kühnl & Hoyer's segment.
• Yamaha Brass: Global Japanese musical instrument manufacturer with broad brass instrument portfolio from student to professional; dominant scale player whose Xeno professional trumpets and trombones compete in the same professional segment.

Emerging players

• Schiller Brass Instruments: Premium Taiwanese brass instrument manufacturer positioning in professional segment with German-trained craftsmen; emerging competitor offering comparable quality at lower price points, increasingly competing in mid-professional tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kuehnlhoyer
• Instagraminstagram.com/kuehnlundhoyer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kuhnl and Hoyer Musikinstrumentenfabrik