Conn 60H Elkhart Bass Trombone, Used

Item Details

This is a classic and fairly rare Conn 60H bass trombone made in Elkhart, Indiana circa 1969.  The distinctive features of the 60H are the discrete tuning mechanism in the hand slide, the one-piece red brass bell branch, and single rotor to F.  All those features lead to a very vibrant, alive, open instrument.  This slide is the lightest hand slide of the several versions that were made.  The rotor pulls to E for those low notes.

Cleaned, tuned and adjusted, ready to play by Brass Mavens in Whittier.  This trombone is from the collection of George Thatcher, trombonist with John Williams and the Hollywood studios.  I don't think this was a trombone he often played.  Mostly George used a double valve version of this called the 62H.  But one must have a spare, and probably a single bass for a George Roberts style gig is a good idea.

This is such a great playing bass trombone, I can't even tell you.  It has its minor quirks compared to Minick and Kanstul bass trombones in my arsenal that are styled like this, but none of them have this sound.  The bell is exactly right on this horn: red brass with some weight to it, not super light, which makes the tone and projection simply amazing.  It's lively and personal and captivating like nothing else. The weight of the slide is noticeable from the torque in 6th-7th positions, but it's lightly braced, somewhat fragile, and not heavy.  The traditional rotor does require some shifting sometimes versus the oversize rotors we see today.  It's not much; you get used to it in a minute.  As one who plays single valve bass trombone most of the time and owns two, I don't need three single basses.  But it's that good.  I want it.  You might too.  It's worth it.

Original Conn hard case is included.

Biography of George Thatcher

George Thatcher, 1953-2024, trombonist, performed as a Hollywood freelance recording and symphonic musician, whose career has transverses a wide variety of styles as well as a number of continents. Since returning to Los Angeles in 1988, Thatcher has recorded for such motion picture luminaries as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Randy Newman, Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman, on such film as Jurassic Park, Anastasia, Men in Black and the Shawshank Redemption. He records for television, advertising and records, having performed with such artist as Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, and Frank Sinatra. Thatcher's orchestral associations include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Long Beach Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, and @the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco and Kirov ballet companies. His work abroad includes positions of principal bass trombone with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, principal bass trombone with the National Symphony Orchestra of the S.A.B.C., and principal bass trombone with the Orchestra Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas. Thatcher records for Raptoria Caam Records as a solo artist and as principal bass trombone of the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony. An active symphonic soloist, Thatcher recently performed Maria Newman's Concerto for Bass trombone and Orchestra (Peccavi) with both the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony and the Occidental-Caltech Orchestra in Los Angeles. He also appeared as soloist with the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra, the Palisades Symphony and the Chamber George Thatcher Orchestra at St. Matthew's, and has been featured at many well known music festivals nationwide. On the jazz scene, Thatcher has toured extensively with famed trumpeters Harry James and Al Hirt. While residing in Johannesburg, South Africa he recorded two original solo albums for the S.A.B.C. Thatcher's later compact discs include "Even Call Girls Get the Blues" and "Terrorist".

-Rene Laanen