Conn 88H Elkhart Tenor Trombone, Used

Item Details

This is a classic Conn 88H tenor trombone, built about 1960 in Elkhart, Indiana, USA.  Maybe.  The faded serial number on the hand slides suggests that date, but the bell engraving may be from a later era.  The Conn aficionados can figure it out.  The two components seem to be matched well and their age appears similar.  Earlier Elkhart engraving would read "Elkhart Indiana" whereas this one simply reads "USA".

The Conn 88H trombone, introduced in 1954, was the favorite orchestral model of Emory Remington, John Marcellus, Denis Wick of the London Symphony Orchestra, Ralph Sauer, Robert Marsteller and Loren Marsteller of the LA Phil, the Cleveland Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic and many more including Bill Booth, Bill Reichenbach, Abby Conant, June Satton, Christi Beliki, and onward...

Distinctive features of the Conn 88H include the medium width hand slide made of nickel and bronze, the looping F-attachment with pull to E, and silent string activated linkage.  The lightweight 2-piece hand-brazed bell is made from red brass, about 90% copper, and hand spun.  The bell rim is left unsoldered for a livelier tone.  The hand slide has the original springs in the cork barrel, which encourages extended position style tuning.  That gets the Conn right in tune.  About 1cm at the tuning slide and 1cm with the springs, and you're golden.

This trombone is from the collection of Los Angeles trombonist George Thatcher.  Since the photos, it has received an utrasonic cleaning, slide alignment, re-string and any other repairs by Brass Mavens in Whittier, CA.  It'll be a little shinier with perfect mechanical action when you receive it, and as fresh as an older instrument can be.

Condition: no dents, slide action is good, A- for age, chrome is good, nearly full coverage of lacquer but finish is worn at areas, tarnished or faded at others, evidence of minor repairs.

This is a nice player.  It's nimble with good projection, snappy and light, but stable enough.  Recommend.

Includes Tuxedo gig bag and George's mouthpiece.  If you'd prefer another case, please ask.  The case is usable.  It's not ideal.  We have Protec and Marcus Bonna available or can ship as is.

If you'd like to make an offer for the Conn 88H, please send a note.

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