Conn 88H Eastlake 1992: Remington or Morse?

[TboneLeesMills]

I just acquired a 1992 Conn 88H Eastlake horn. The horn came with a Schilke 51C4 that is pretty beat up. I would like to know what my options are for replacement mouthpieces.

1. Does this vintage 1992 Eastlake 88H (assuming it is the original lead pipe) have a Remington taper or a Morse taper? Is there a way to tell which taper the horn has?

2. Will a Bach large shank like 5G or 6-1/2AL be appropriate? Or should I look specifically for Remington taper mouthpiece?

I am returning to playing after a long hiatus, so my chops are basically back to beginner. So whatever I choose may not be forever but I don’t want to make a bad choice.

Most grateful for your help!

[CalgaryTbone]

I'm 99% sure that vintage would take a Morse taper mouthpiece. There was a time where they offered a couple of removable leadpipes, and one of those might be a Remington taper. If it's a fixed pipe from that vintage, I'm sure you're fine with a standard fitting mouthpiece.

To be sure, maybe send an email to Conn/Selmer?

Jim Scott

[UATrombone]

1. Does this vintage 1992 Eastlake 88H (assuming it is the original lead pipe) have a Remington taper or a Morse taper? Is there a way to tell which taper the horn has?

2. Will a Bach large shank like 5G or 6-1/2AL be appropriate? Or should I look specifically for Remington taper mouthpiece?

1. AFAIK it is Gen2 88H, so, it has Morse taper.
You could check this with any "modern" mouthpiece which shouldn't wooble in leadpipe.
2. Both of them are appropriate for 88H if you like these sizes.

[Burgerbob]

My 88H of a similar vintage was Remington. 1992 is pre Gen II, I think.

[UATrombone]

My 88H of a similar vintage was Remington. 1992 is pre Gen II, I think.

Thank you for clarification.
Maybe, many years ago I've tried one with swapped handslide...

[Posaunus]

I thought the 88H had abandoned the Remington taper by the 1980s.

When did Conn stop shipping new 88Hs with Remington mouthpieces?

[harrisonreed]

The early 90's 88HY was Morse, at the very least. I think it was labeled "Artist Symphony" and later was the Lindberg model before the CL2000.

[UATrombone]

So, we have splitted opinions.
Another Conn "transition period mystery"?

[AtomicClock]

I thought the 88H had abandoned the Remington taper by the 1980s.

When did Conn stop shipping new 88Hs with Remington mouthpieces?

Definitely still shipping with Remington when I got mine in 1987.

[NotSkilledHere]

my 1992 88HN is Remington shanked

[Posaunus]

I thought the 88H had abandoned the Remington taper by the 1980s.

When did Conn stop shipping new 88Hs with Remington mouthpieces?

Definitely still shipping with Remington when I got mine in 1987.

Thanks.

[TboneLeesMills]

Thanks for the responses. There appears to be uncertainty about when the 88H switched from Remington to Morse. Now I am wondering if the Schilke 51C4 that came with my ‘92 horn is a Remington or Morse long shank. I will ask my repair shop if they can tell. I will update this thread if I get a definitive an answer, for future reference.

[BGuttman]

Older Schilke mouthpieces with the long shank have a hybrid taper that fits both Bach receivers and Remington receivers.

[TboneLeesMills]

Thanks. I assume the beat up Schilke 51C4 that came with the horn might be one of the hybrid long shanks.

If my 88H IS from the Remington shank era (opinion is split here) will a modern large shank mouthpiece such as Bach or Schilke fit well enough* (with or without tape)?

*”well enough”: I am returning to trombone after a long hiatus and not performing,

[CalgaryTbone]

Older Schilke mouthpieces with the long shank have a hybrid taper that fits both Bach receivers and Remington receivers.

I used a Schilke 51C4, and a 51 with some much older Conns - the older Schilke taper works very well. Regular Morse tapers can work well in those horns too, but the slotting is a bit different, particularly in regards to more pronounced articulation. You can adjust to that. Many people still find it better to have the longer shanked mouthpieces on Conns with the Remington fitting - particularly if you switch instruments frequently - your slotting/articulation will feel more consistent when you play the other instruments.

If the OP wants ease of switching, either a Doug Elliott setup with 2 shanks - one Conn, one Morse, or the BrassArk sleeves do a similar thing. More expensive but very workable is to have 2 mouthpieces of the same (or similar) size, each with a different shank.

I played old Conns for the first half of my career, and used a standard Bach mouthpiece for much of that time with very little issue. Later, after I had switched to an Edwards, I went over to a colleague's house where we were just doing a quick test of some recording equipment for an upcoming solo performance I was scheduled to do. I didn't bring my horn since it was just a quick test, and borrowed his Conn to test the 2 microphones we were deciding between. I felt like I couldn't make a decent attack, and he grabbed his Conn shank for the same DE mouthpiece I was playing - it instantly solved the problem! If you're used to it, you can make the Morse mouthpiece work on the Conn receiver, but the proper fitting means that there's no big adjustment period.

Jim Scott