📌 Archive of Sold – Historical Reference
This collection of Conn Trombone Slides has been sold and is now part of our Archive of Sold — a curated reference library built for musicians, collectors, and researchers studying vintage and professional brass instruments.
Each listing reflects a real example that has passed through our shop, offering insight into condition, design, and long-term value.
✦ Historical Perspective
This Conn 88H Ultimate Handslide Set from the late 1990s represents a unique and highly specialized offering that was originally intended for demonstration and professional evaluation. Sets like this were typically assembled for sales representatives, artists, or dealers to showcase the range of available configurations within the Conn 88H platform.
What makes this particular set exceptional is both its completeness and condition. Preserved as a former sales display model, it remains new old stock, meaning these components have not seen regular playing use and retain their original factory condition.
The collection includes four distinct handslides, each offering a different playing experience:
- .525/.547 dual bore (large shank compatibility)
- .547 straight bore
- .547/.562 dual bore
- .562 bass bore
This range allows players to explore the full spectrum of response, resistance, and tonal color associated with the Conn 88H design. From more compact, flexible setups to broader symphonic configurations, the versatility of this system is remarkable.
In addition to the slides, the set includes 12 removable leadpipes, further expanding the customization potential. Leadpipes play a critical role in shaping articulation, resistance, and overall feel, and having this many options in a single collection is virtually unheard of in today’s market.
Housed in a dedicated demo case, this set reflects a time when manufacturers and dealers invested heavily in hands-on, modular demonstrations — allowing players to fine-tune their setup in real time.
From a historical and collector standpoint, it is extremely unlikely that another complete, original Conn 88H demo slide set like this still exists in such preserved condition. For serious Conn players and historians, this represents a rare glimpse into the depth of customization that was available during this era.
At The Brass Exchange, documenting pieces like this helps preserve not only the instruments themselves, but also the systems and philosophies behind how they were presented to players.
📸 Photography From Our Early Archive
These photographs are part of the early years of The Brass Exchange and reflect the evolution of how we document brass instruments.
While our imaging process has advanced significantly — moving toward fine-art photography of brass instruments — these images remain an important part of our historical catalog and help illustrate how our archive has grown over time.
✦ Further Reading
✅ Questions Trombone Players Often Ask
What is the advantage of having multiple handslides and leadpipes?
Different slide bores and leadpipes significantly affect response, resistance, and tonal color. A modular system like this allows players to fine-tune their setup for different musical settings.
Are these slides interchangeable with standard Conn 88H instruments?
Yes — these components were designed within the Conn 88H platform and are compatible with standard configurations, depending on receiver and leadpipe system.
What does “new old stock” mean in this context?
New old stock refers to items that were produced but never sold into regular use. They remain in original, unused condition despite being from an earlier production period.
🔧 Availability & Archive Status
This listing is part of our Archive of Sold instruments and is no longer available for purchase. It is maintained as a historical reference to support research, comparison, and valuation.
If you are searching for similar components or instruments, we recommend browsing our current inventory below.
📌 Archive Reference & Next Steps
This Conn 88H handslide set has been sold and is now preserved as part of our historical archive.
🔎 Browse current trombones and components:
https://thebrass-exchange.com/trombones
📣 Looking to sell rare equipment or collections? We offer professional evaluations and consignment services.
https://thebrass-exchange.com/sell
🏅 Why Players Trust The Brass Exchange
Since 2010, The Brass Exchange has served thousands of musicians, collectors, and institutions by providing carefully curated brass instruments and components backed by real-world expertise.
Our archive continues to grow as a trusted reference for both players and collectors seeking accurate, experience-based insight.
