I've owned and played a lot of trombones in the last sixty years. For the last several decades I have been a professional bass trombone player on my Bach 50 BLG. I also play a Bach 42, Bach Bass Trumpet, Bach 39 Alto Trombone, and Besson Eb Tuba and Euphonium. This morning, after many years I dragged out my old Conn 88-H from 1964 and gave it a workout. I was amazed! I had forgotten the ease of playing and great sound. It has a lot sentimental meaning as well, for it's the one I used in my lessons with the great Emory Remington when I was a student at Eastman back in the day. Great memories and a great trombone!
For once there is someone who knows what they're talking about doing trombone reviews. I have a 88h right now and will get a HO for Christmas. I'm really excited. Thank you for the review
Thanks for the great video. I would add a few points. The 88h doesn't have as stuffy a F attachment as a Bach 42b. Open wrap does open the Conn up but not as big a difference as on the Bach. There are other slides for the 88h. There is a .525, .525/.547, .547/.562 and a .562. If you want to play jazz you can go with a smaller bore slide to brighten and improve projection and if you want a bigger sound or play bass there are larger bore slides.
I’ve used an 88HO for five years through high school and now just use it for fun, and it’s been the best all-around I’ve used. Yamaha is a very close runner up though.
I started out with the classic 88H, but after hearing your comparison, I'm partial to the 88HO sound, but this could be attributed to the mood of the artist, who is an accomplished player. I no longer have my 88H, which is a rather long, tragic story. I now have a Holton student model, which I don't enjoy playing, for obvious reasons. Before playing the trombone, I started out playing treble clef baritone horn. I graduated to Euphonium, then trombone, then bass clef, tenor clef and transposed treble clef. I miss the music days, and this makes me miss playing.
Michael Young I started out with. Holton student horn, and I also don’t like it either. Heck, I didn’t like it long before I even played a pro horn of any kind. Bach and Yamaha make much better student instruments than Holton does. I’m so happy I now have my Conn 88HO.
Excellent review! Bought a 1967 Conn 8H new and have always considered it probably the best horn I ever played. But after listening to this video, am curious about the 88HTO. Anybody have any comments about this horn? Thanks
Many consider the 88H a single bass trombone. Besides being able to play in the keys of Bb and F you are also able to play in Eb. I have a bass t- bone method book from the 1970's and the 88H is on the front cover as a bass bone. Any thoughts?
I have a 8HT (straight Light weight rose bell) and 88HOY (Open Yellow Bell). I used the 8HT for orchestra for 90% of the stuff that I played. I use the 88HOY for heavy orchestra stuff. I really wanted the standard weight rose but it gets too bright when played loud. The yellow just holds together at all volumes but does not sound as nice at low - medium volumes. I'm currently using the 88HOY as a bass in my trombone choir. Works really well.
Other trombones have superficial differences that are puffed up to attract a clientele, including new valves and f attachment designs that make little if any difference. Different types of alloys in different places change the sound but not the quality. The only significant difference would be a one-piece bell, different lead pipe, dual-bore slide, or heavy-gauge bell. The 88H standard wrap is better than the credit it receives.
I've owned and played a lot of trombones in the last sixty years. For the last several decades I have been a professional bass trombone player on my Bach 50 BLG. I also play a Bach 42, Bach Bass Trumpet, Bach 39 Alto Trombone, and Besson Eb Tuba and Euphonium. This morning, after many years I dragged out my old Conn 88-H from 1964 and gave it a workout. I was amazed! I had forgotten the ease of playing and great sound. It has a lot sentimental meaning as well, for it's the one I used in my lessons with the great Emory Remington when I was a student at Eastman back in the day. Great memories and a great trombone!
Every demo should be as straightforward and useful as this!!
The best trombone explanation and play on TH-cam. We are very appreciative.
For once there is someone who knows what they're talking about doing trombone reviews. I have a 88h right now and will get a HO for Christmas. I'm really excited. Thank you for the review
This is an absolutely brilliant review. Great info, great sound and very impressive playing.
From the video. 88HO was the best sounding. 88H Sounded hard work, 88HTO sounded light and no power.
Thanks for the great video. I would add a few points. The 88h doesn't have as stuffy a F attachment as a Bach 42b. Open wrap does open the Conn up but not as big a difference as on the Bach. There are other slides for the 88h. There is a .525, .525/.547, .547/.562 and a .562. If you want to play jazz you can go with a smaller bore slide to brighten and improve projection and if you want a bigger sound or play bass there are larger bore slides.
I’ve used an 88HO for five years through high school and now just use it for fun, and it’s been the best all-around I’ve used. Yamaha is a very close runner up though.
Thank you for posting this!
I started out with the classic 88H, but after hearing your comparison, I'm partial to the 88HO sound, but this could be attributed to the mood of the artist, who is an accomplished player. I no longer have my 88H, which is a rather long, tragic story. I now have a Holton student model, which I don't enjoy playing, for obvious reasons. Before playing the trombone, I started out playing treble clef baritone horn. I graduated to Euphonium, then trombone, then bass clef, tenor clef and transposed treble clef. I miss the music days, and this makes me miss playing.
Michael Young You seem to know a lot about the 88H, would you describe it as a good jazz horn? That's would I would intend on using it for.
Pharah Main never use an 88h for jazz, unless there are 5 bones and you are on fourth
Michael Young I started out with. Holton student horn, and I also don’t like it either. Heck, I didn’t like it long before I even played a pro horn of any kind. Bach and Yamaha make much better student instruments than Holton does. I’m so happy I now have my Conn 88HO.
Sounds like a good horn and I wish I had one tenth of this man's talent
Excellent review! Bought a 1967 Conn 8H new and have always considered it probably the best horn I ever played. But after listening to this video, am curious about the 88HTO. Anybody have any comments about this horn? Thanks
Love my HTO. Sounds great to me and enjoy the lighter weight of the thin wall bell.
I have an older 88H with a 9inch bell. It also has the extension tube to play into the key of Eb. Do the newer ones have this also?
Beautiful sound!
Many consider the 88H a single bass trombone. Besides being able to play in the keys of Bb and F you are also able to play in Eb. I have a bass t- bone method book from the 1970's and the 88H is on the front cover as a bass bone. Any thoughts?
I have a 8HT (straight Light weight rose bell) and 88HOY (Open Yellow Bell). I used the 8HT for orchestra for 90% of the stuff that I played. I use the 88HOY for heavy orchestra stuff. I really wanted the standard weight rose but it gets too bright when played loud. The yellow just holds together at all volumes but does not sound as nice at low - medium volumes. I'm currently using the 88HOY as a bass in my trombone choir. Works really well.
Other trombones have superficial differences that are puffed up to attract a clientele, including new valves and f attachment designs that make little if any difference. Different types of alloys in different places change the sound but not the quality. The only significant difference would be a one-piece bell, different lead pipe, dual-bore slide, or heavy-gauge bell. The 88H standard wrap is better than the credit it receives.
What is the 88HO and with silver called? I saw a young high school student playing one today.
Conn 88h vs yamaha 620?