Conn 88H Vintage Elkhart Era, SN N09563 — made in 1970, the final year of Conn’s Elkhart production.
This single-owner horn was played for less than two years and then carefully stored.
It is the finest-condition Elkhart-era 88H we’ve seen at The Brass Exchange in over 12 years.
This trombone has never been damaged or repaired.
We performed full professional shop service, including a chemical bath and complete inspection.
The rotor valve was removed, the casing polished, linkage restrung, and adjusted for smooth, quiet, reliable action.
The handslide is superb—plating is flawless, the tubes are perfectly straight, and alignment is spot-on.
Factory-stock first-position springs remain intact.
It retains the original Remington-style leadpipe receiver and mouthpipe, and even includes an original Emory Remington mouthpiece.
The only cosmetic work we performed was re-lacquering the nickel-silver hand grips, restoring them to like-new appearance.
This trombone looks and plays exactly as it should—a true reference-grade Elkhart 88H.
Conn still makes the 88H today, but many players and collectors view the current versions as replicas of this classic Elkhart design.
This example is the real thing.
Included is a new Italian-made Marco Magi NN-TKR case — vintage-inspired style with modern protection.
View case details ›
Common Questions about the Conn 88H
What makes an Elkhart-era 88H special compared to modern production?
Elkhart 88Hs (produced up to 1970) are prized for their responsive, resonant bells and smooth, free-blowing slides, the result of Conn’s legendary mid-20th-century craftsmanship. Many professionals consider them the benchmark for symphonic large-bore tenor trombones.
Is a Remington-receiver leadpipe compatible with modern mouthpieces?
Yes. It accepts the original Remington-style mouthpiece included here, but with the appropriate adapter or modern Remington-taper mouthpieces it works perfectly for contemporary players.
How does the vintage 88H compare with other classic orchestra trombones like the Bach 42B?
The 88H (0.547 bore, 8½-inch rose-brass bell) became a favorite among U.S. orchestral players in the 1950s-60s, shifting many away from the Bach 36B (.525 bore) and later competing with the Bach 42B (also .547 bore). The Elkhart 88H is renowned for its centered yet flexible tone that blends beautifully in orchestra and section work.
Is this horn suitable for modern orchestral and band literature?
Absolutely. While prized as a collector’s piece, a well-maintained Elkhart 88H remains a top-tier professional instrument for symphonic, chamber, and band settings.
Archive Reference & Next Steps
📌 This Conn 88H Vintage Elkhart has been sold and is now part of our Archive of Sold Instruments, preserved as a resource for musicians and collectors researching historically significant trombones.
🔎 Browse our current trombones in stock
