My New Conn Elkhart 88H Trombone

[Mr412]

I just purchased a mint-condition Elkhart 88H from Doug at the Brass Exchange. He said I would not be disappointed and that was an understatement! My pics do not do it any kind of justice. After having play-tested it, I believe it is a very solid example of an Elkhart 88H. No wonder they are prized in symphonic work. The upper range sings magnificently. It is very versatile. It can purr like a kitten and roar like a lion. I have a Remington taper Bach 4G on order. Truthfully (hide your children's eyes from this), I love playing it with my Bach 1.5G!!! It can take any mpc size/shape I put to it, including my Doug Yeo. If the world were a bass trombone Dodgeball game, and I showed up with my Elkhart 88H & a Yeo mpc, I would NOT be the first one tagged out. Lol. It's a dream horn for my use as a high tenor, a mid-range tenor, a low tenor and a baby bass. What a horn!

[Posaunus]

Welcome to the 88H club!

[BGuttman]

Now you see why Emory Remington used to make his students buy a Conn 88H. If you are only going to own one instrument, it's versatile enough to play almost any symphonic part, and any concert band part. Only the high Jazz players need something else.

[hyperbolica]

Yeah, they're great horns! Think about getting an sl2525 for it.

[Mr412]

I'm now a card-carrying member of the Elkhart 88H Club! lol

I tried twice before to get a good and I mean a seriously good 88H. It was harder than I thought! Oddly, the second one was pretty close and it was an Abilene. With a Wick 4AL mpc, it was close, but not close enough for me. It felt clunky and hard to handle in my hands.

One of the features of this particular horn that makes it very easy for me to play is the custom factory extra-long trigger.

An sl2525 would be a considerable investment but cheaper than a whole 'nuther horn. But first up on the agenda is to get that Remington taper 4G mpc. If it works out okay, then I'll want to get a 1.5G in a Remington taper. I also have a Wick straight mute on order.

[etbone]

Interesting trigger. You do realize, it's not a bass trombone. Going to a 1.5g, can create some tuning issues.

A 4G WITH Remington taper, works pretty well. If you feel, you need a bigger diameter diameter 'piece, there are large diameter tenor pieces, out there. (Talk to Doug Elliott, worth the price)

One thing about a Elkhart Remington mouthpiece, it is designed, for the Elkie leadpipe.

[biggiesmalls]

Beautiful horn... congratulations! Doug Bert finds some real gems!

Lately I've been playing my L series 88H with a vintage Giardinelli Remington screw rim that came with my '53 8H custom. The rim is similar to my DE 103, and the cup is deep, like a DE H cup, but with a slightly smaller throat diameter.

[Mr412]

Thanks guys!

I only play a 1.5G occasionally on a very, very low melody line. Usually, the 4G works just fine for lower trigger notes.

My go-to is the 4G, but I can see uses for the original Conn 3 that came with it. That mpc does very well when I really want to spank a high melody line with attitude.

I don't think there is a "wrong" mpc for that horn b/c it is so versatile. But outside the norm, there could be intonation and articulation concerns. Not that they couldn't be overcome, though.

The horn plays like a dream, so it's not merely a shelf queen. It's a fantastic-looking work-horse.