Pre-Owned 1970 Conn 88H Large bore Tenor Trombone

The Conn 88H has been a staple in the classical trombone world for generations, offering nuanced and efficient response and control with a sound that can vary from light and warm to brilliant and projecting.  This 1970 88H (at the end of the vaunted Elkhart era for this model) features an 8 ½” two-piece rose brass bell with unsoldered rim, yellow brass bell, traditional Conn closed wrap F-attachment and a .547” handslide with yellow brass outer tubes and nickel silver crook. This is one of the cleanest and best-playing Elkhart-era 88H’s we have had in the shop in several years (it is hard to tell with 1970 88H’s if they were built in Elkhart or Abelene but given how this trombone performs Elkhart would be our best guess).  There are a few small areas of lacquer wear on the bell (possibly evidence of repair dents but not entirely clear) and a few small dings on the bell stem, main tuning slide and neckpipe; the handslide has a small amount of lacquer wear on the outer tubes but overall lacquer condition throughout the instrument is 90+%.  The handslide is a 9+/10 with no inner tube wear evident and no redrot on the outer tubes; the mouthpiece receiver is a Remington shank but standard large Morse taper shanks fit it well.  The rotary valve is fast and clean and the string linkage is in excellent condition. This 88H is a good example of why this model and era has been so highly regarded through the years; it combines a nicely balanced blow (more open then the modern 88H) with an incredibly colorful timbre that maintains breadth throughout it’s dynamic range.  It can be light and lyrical at soft dynamics but provide a wonderful power and energy at higher dynamics and has easy range access to the 12th partial plus.  This is a great instrument for someone looking for the classic 88H experience, or for any player wanting an excellent playing and versatile large bore tenor.  Comes with mouthpiece and newer Conn hardshell case.