Conn 88H B-flat/F tenor trombone
Conn https://www.rosehillinstruments.co.uk/p/88H/tenor-trombones-b-flatf/conn/conn-88h-b-flatf-tenor-tromboneEx-demonstration stock: click here.
The Conn 88H series is one of the most widely played professional B-flat/F symphonic trombone designs in history. These large-bore instruments offer the broad, resonant sound and responsive playing characteristics that have made them a favourite of orchestral musicians, brass band players, educators and advanced students for decades.
Known for their rich tonal character, projection and dynamic range, 88H models are capable of producing both a powerful orchestral sound, and the warmth and subtlety required for more lyrical playing. The various instruments in the range allow players to select the combination of materials and features that best suits their preferences, whilst retaining the distinctive qualities for which the Conn 88H is renowned.
The standard 88H combines a traditional closed-wrap F attachment with a rose brass bell and outer slide, producing the warm, resonant sound closely associated with the classic American symphonic trombone.
- Lacquer finish
- Rose brass bell
- Large bore: 0.547 in. (13.89 mm)
- Bell diameter: 8½ in. (216 mm)
- Traditional (closed) wrap F attachment
- Metal action traditional rotary valve
- Sprung water key
- Wood shell case
| F attachment/valve | Bell material | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose brass | Yellow brass | Thin rose brass | |
| Closed wrap/traditional | 88H | 88HY | 88HT |
| Open wrap/traditional | 88HO | 88HNV | 88HYO | 88HTO |
| Open wrap/CL2000 | 88HCL | 88HYCL | 88HTCL |
The ‘88H’ was introduced in 1954 by C.G. Conn of Elkhart, Indiana, as part of the expansion of their 8H large-bore trombone design. Featuring a .547-inch bore, 8½-inch rose brass bell and F-attachment, its broad, warm orchestral sound matched the evolving tonal requirements of American orchestras, and helped standardize the modern large-bore symphonic setup. Many variants—open-wrap configurations, alternative bell materials, and artist collaborations—followed. Despite corporate transitions, the 88H remains a benchmark of orchestral trombone construction worldwide in the twenty-first century.
Manufacturer’s website: conn-selmer.eu
