Conn 88h insight

[SamEdwTbone]

Hey all, I found a pretty nice Conn 88h, thoughts? Seller wants 1200

[hyperbolica]

Nickel bell?

[SamEdwTbone]

Nickel bell?

I think so, only relevant info on the listing is "8.5 Inch Bell
.547 Bore (Remington Taper)"

[hyperbolica]

You'd have to play it to see if it's useful to you. I'd try to talk him down the amount of a leadpipe pull anyway.

[Burgerbob]

Yup, it's a nickel bell. Looks to be in good shape. Good price.

[NotSkilledHere]

it's an 88HN. I've seen them go for $750-1400 depending on condition so a decent price. I've seen that exact listing. The nickel bells were a rather uncommon option. I wouldnt go so far as to say rare but they certainly are bordering the line between uncommon and rare. they play darker than a yellow or red 88H.

[wayne88ny]

I have seen an 88h with a nickel silver bell, but I've never an 88h with the pictured engraving (technically it's not engraving; it's a roll stamp). Here's what I've seen on the 88h bells (in chronological order)

Half Moon Engraving - Elkhart
Similar Engraving without the Half Moon - Elkhart
Same Engraving - Abilene
Same Engraving - USA
Artist Symphony - Roll Stamp
Gen II - Laser Engraving

I've seen Texas 88h's with Elkhart labeled bells (the 88h's assembled in Elkhart have wider ferrules on the F attachment). I have no proof, but it's my theory that the Texas 88h's that play well have Elkhart bells (regardless of the engraving - Elkhart, Abilene, or USA) brought to Texas when Conn moved there.

The valve cap on the pictured 88H is unique. It looks similar but not the same as the one on the King Valve used on the Gen II 88h's. Of course, it may not be the original valve cap. I have seen the pictured roll stamp on some other model Conn Trombones, but never on an 88h. Conn was sold to Daniel Hinken in 1980 and sold to again in 1985 to what was to become UMI, The manufacturing was then moved to East Lake. Why would the roll stamp have been changed while the 88h's were being made in Texas? I was under the impression that the "Artist Symphony" roll stamp was used from the later Texas days (cheaper than paying an engraver) until the Gen II 88h's came out. Of course, I could be wrong about that. Has anyone else seen an 88h with the roll stamp pictured by the OP? I'd like to know the serial number of this trombone so we can nail down the manufacturing date.

[Mitchwolberg5]

Were there ever any 88’s that had no bell engraving? There’s one near me that’s been for sale for awhile.

Mitch

[wayne88ny]

There's an 88HN (nickel bell) on Reverb with the same roll stamp. Perhaps it's unique to the 88HN.

[wayne88ny]

Minick would use bells from various manufacturers with no engraving. I'm sure other people did too. It could be a replacement bell.

[CalgaryTbone]

The nickel bell was an option for a while - not for too long as I remember. It may(?) have pre-dated the yellow and sterling bells that Lindberg got them to make once he became an artist for Conn.

Jim Scott

[NotSkilledHere]

the engraving pictured above reminds me of some director engravings actually

my '92 88HN has a different engraving and the front of bell engraving. so my guess is this engraving here is possibly unique to the 88HN but is not the only engraving available on the 88HN.

[NotSkilledHere]

Hard to get thw right view on everything in my lighting but this is the engraving mine has

[JMudge]

Conn moved to Eastlake in 1986, but I know the Artist Symphony generation was produced until at least 1989.

The stamping on the nickel bell also looks similar to Benge and King of the early 90s; it has the UMI look to it.

I also seem to remember different variations after the Artist Symphony and before the Gen II line came out.That’s what this one makes me think of. Like it was mentioned earlier the serial number might help.

[Thrawn22]

They're great horns. I have one myself.