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World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 8:01 pm
by atopper333
Hello All,
Over a year ago, I purchased the world’s ugliest Elkhart 88H from one of our awesome forum members under the premise that if it got that ugly, it had to be played, thus it had to be a great horn. I’ve now gotten it back and as always, I’d love to give a shout out to the great work done by our awesome techs who used their considerable skill and experience to bring this horn back.
The horn was originally sent to Mr. Brad Close’s Instrument Repair and he pulled the original leadpipe and made it press fit and supplied his awesome 8H pipe in Morse taper. He also reworked the slide and brought it back to life with new inner tubes and he provided a few more tweaks to bring this instrument back. This work was downright excellently done, many thanks again for all the work.
After getting the horn back I proceeded to sent it to Mr. Huwe at Wardbrodt Music where it received dent work, a scratch brush finish with bright inner bell, and lacquer. His work was excellently done, many thanks again to him for all the work put in.
This horn has come back and plays and looks wonderful with many years of life ahead of it!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 8:18 pm
by muschem
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 9:56 pm
by harrisonreed
'Before' pics or it never happened!!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 10:17 pm
by AtomicClock
harrisonreed wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 9:56 pm
'Before' pics or it never happened!!
Probably this:
https://www.trombonechat.com/viewtopic. ... 58#p236758
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 10:28 pm
by Posaunus
harrisonreed wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 9:56 pm
'Before' pics or it never happened!!
viewtopic.php?p=252000&hilit=Ugliest#p252000
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:27 pm
by Finetales
Wow! Nice to see that horn given a second lease on life. I'm glad it's in your hands. World's ugliest no more!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 5:20 am
by atopper333
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 5:23 am
by atopper333
Finetales wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 11:27 pm
Wow! Nice to see that horn given a second lease on life. I'm glad it's in your hands. World's ugliest no more!
Thanks much, and thanks again for the awesome deal on the horn! I played on it a bit prior to getting the work done just to be sure…there just seemed to be something special about it, and I’ve always been a fan of the 88H sound.
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 5:44 am
by Soulbrass
Wow! What an amazing transformation…made me smile : )) Congrats to you for the project stewardship and to the craftsmen for their expertise. Well done!
Somewhere on this blog should be a repository of before/after stories and pics.
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 5:47 am
by harrisonreed
Yeah it's awesome!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 5:58 am
by EriKon
Looks like a custom horn now! Great job and even better if it plays well!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 6:06 am
by chromebone
Jim is the best! I have a Benge 190 that I managed to drop on the floor of the Pittsburgh airport after forgetting to zip up the case after going through TSA.
The bell was pretty badly smashed. He did an amazing job of straightening it out and relacquering it.
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 7:25 am
by atopper333
EriKon wrote: Fri Dec 19, 2025 5:58 am
Looks like a custom horn now! Great job and even better if it plays well!
It plays like a dream. The slide and rotor are amazing, and the sound is awesome. Feedback to the player is really good too. It’s every bit as good as good as my HN White era King 4BF, it just hits that different sound concept which is exactly what I looking for!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 7:29 am
by atopper333
chromebone wrote: Fri Dec 19, 2025 6:06 am
Jim is the best! I have a Benge 190 that I managed to drop on the floor of the Pittsburgh airport after forgetting to zip up the case after going through TSA.
The bell was pretty badly smashed. He did an amazing job of straightening it out and relacquering it.
Ouch! That had to hurt! Definitely agree on Jim, he is downright awesome and talented, not to mention he is such a great guy to work with.
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 1:29 pm
by hyperbolica
Wow, great look on that old horn. It's amazing that old horns still have that in them, and play great to boot. Thanks for the pix.
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 2:22 pm
by atopper333
hyperbolica wrote: Fri Dec 19, 2025 1:29 pm
Wow, great look on that old horn. It's amazing that old horns still have that in them, and play great to boot. Thanks for the pix.
Not a problem at all…got some plans for that 6H I bought from you awhile back…just gotta recoup some funds before the next project!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 8:51 pm
by hyperbolica
atopper333 wrote: Fri Dec 19, 2025 2:22 pm
Not a problem at all…got some plans for that 6H I bought from you awhile back…just gotta recoup some funds before the next project!
Oh, yes, another great player that didn't look so good. I'm glad it wound up in the hands of someone with some vision.
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 5:44 am
by WGWTR180
I like!
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2025 5:56 pm
by slidesix
I love it. She looks great! I like seeing a trombone being loved.
Re: World’s Ugliest Elkhart 88H transformed!
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2026 4:35 pm
by Cotboneman
atopper333 wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 8:01 pm
Hello All,
Over a year ago, I purchased the world’s ugliest Elkhart 88H from one of our awesome forum members under the premise that if it got that ugly, it had to be played, thus it had to be a great horn. I’ve now gotten it back and as always, I’d love to give a shout out to the great work done by our awesome techs who used their considerable skill and experience to bring this horn back.
The horn was originally sent to Mr. Brad Close’s Instrument Repair and he pulled the original leadpipe and made it press fit and supplied his awesome 8H pipe in Morse taper. He also reworked the slide and brought it back to life with new inner tubes and he provided a few more tweaks to bring this instrument back. This work was downright excellently done, many thanks again for all the work.
After getting the horn back I proceeded to sent it to Mr. Huwe at Wardbrodt Music where it received dent work, a scratch brush finish with bright inner bell, and lacquer. His work was excellently done, many thanks again to him for all the work put in.
This horn has come back and plays and looks wonderful with many years of life ahead of it!
Jim Huwe does fine work. I've had him scratch brush a Getzen bass trombone for me. Congratulations!
