Conn 78H

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Andyc
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Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:36 pm

Conn 78H

Post by Andyc »

I am a big fan of older Elkhart Conn trombones, having played a 72H bass trombone in the U.S. Army years ago and still playing my Conn 88H and 6H today, I am contemplating the purchase of a 78H. Please tell me your experiences and opinions of the 78H for those who play or have played one in the past. Thanks in advance!
Thrawn22
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by Thrawn22 »

It's great for small brass group, chamber group and 3rd chair bigband. Mine has a great core in all registers. They're a real nice alternative to an 8H/88H when you don't need a big beefy sound. I love mine.
6H (K series)
6H (early 60s)
4H/5H custom bell
78H ('53)
78H (K series)
78H/36BG /2547 slide
8H
88HN
71H (dependant valves)
72H
35H alto (K series)
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dukesboneman
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by dukesboneman »

I played 78H`s for years. That was my only horn for Lead, Jazz (of all kinds) R&B , everything.
They played free, great in all registers. Great horns
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hyperbolica
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by hyperbolica »

I play an 88h and a 79h, and go back and forth on the 78h. One of the guys in my quartet plays one, and sometimes he just gets this laser-bright and thin sound. Sometimes playing one myself it just seems like the perfect instrument and other times it's just too light or too thin. I love my 79h, but every time I go and buy a 78h, I wind up selling it. This is at least the 3rd one now that I've sent on down the line. I'd like to try some very old ones (1920s-30s). Noah Gladstone of Brass Ark seems enamored of this vintage. So I guess the message is unless you like to buy horns on speculation and sell ones you don't like, you should probably try a specific horn before you buy it, just to be sure you're going to like it.

Something else you might try is to get a sl2525 slide and put it on your 88h. To me, this creates a nicer, more controllable sound than the 78h or even the 79h. My 88h with the 525 slide can play softer, and its slightly lighter sound than the 79h. My 88h is a really beautiful instrument, and the 525 slide makes it just that much better.

The 78/9h has a wider slide than the 88h, which is a nice touch, and the bell is smaller (8 vs 8.5), but my 88h is only 30 grams heavier than my 79h. Maybe a couple of wraps of duct tape around the throat of the 78h bell would tame it a little bit.

This might be more info than you needed. They are great horns, but if you also play an 88, it might leave you wanting something different.
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dukesboneman
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by dukesboneman »

I`ve had a 78H from 1928, 1958 and a custom model.
I never felt like the sound was thin and bright.
It`s not an 88H so the sound is different.
My 1928 horn was heavy, Heavy bell heavy slide.
I switched out the heavy slide with a Light weight 78H Slide from another horn. Beautiful !!!
I switched to Bachs and now have a 36 and 36B but I have a soft spot in my
Heart for the 78H`s I played those for a little over 20 some odd years
Maybe I should get another....................
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Trav1s
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by Trav1s »

I have owned a '65 78H and now own a '67 78H along my '69 79H. (I can't speak much to the early horns other than I own a 1939 32H.) The bells on the 78H bells are of a similar weight but not as light as the 79H bell. I have tried pairing the various bells and slides and there is something about the 79H slide that just makes it my favorite - likely the lead pipe.

I use mine for concert band, quintet work, and solo stuff at church - people constantly complement the full sound. Part of that is the horn, part is the mouthpiece, and part is my sound.
Travis B.
Trombone player since 1986 and Conn-vert since 2006
1961 24H - LT101/C+/D2
1969 79H - LT102/D/D4
1972 80H - Unicorn
Benge 165F LT102/F+/G8
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Oslide
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by Oslide »

When Matthew Gee did his "Bolero Challenge", playing the solo on six occasions in six different styles and on different trombones, one of the horns he chose was a 78H. May be interesting for you to listen to and compare.

Ceterum censeo to fetch All of TTF
Andyc
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by Andyc »

Oslide wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:51 pm When Matthew Gee did his "Bolero Challenge", playing the solo on six occasions in six different styles and on different trombones, one of the horns he chose was a 78H. May be interesting for you to listen to and compare.

It’s funny that you say that. I recently heard him play “Bolero” on that horn, hence my above inquiry regarding a potential future purchase!
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jacobgarchik
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Re: Conn 78H

Post by jacobgarchik »

Nice horn. Had an Elkhart 1970 78h. Used it on this record.
https://40twenty.bandcamp.com
Sold it.

Now I have an Elkhart 1928 special with an 8 1/2 bell.

I still use a bach 36 for most things but the 78h is nice when you want chocolate instead of vanilla.
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