Conn 72H Bass Trombone (Elkhart, IN) | Instrument Reviews

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Between the summers of 2021 and 2022, I had the chance to borrow this unique and very interesting bass trombone! Made in C.G. Conn's famed Elkhart factory between the 1950's and 1960's, the model 72H runs on relatively standard bass specs (0.562" bore slide, 0.594" bore rotor section, 9.5" bell flare), but in playing experience it finds itself somewhere between the modern tenor and bass trombones. Enjoy!
~EQUIPMENT~
1957 Conn 72H single-valve bass trombone in Bb/F
Vincent Bach 2G & 5GS mouthpieces
~SOCIALS~
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Do you enjoy content relating to all things music and brass instruments? Sam has got you covered! On this channel we have been devoted to bringing you brass covers, play-alongs, multitracks, gear reviews and discussions, tips and tricks, collaborations, and even vlogs about the music world since 2016! Sam is a hobbyist brass multi-instrumentalist majoring in mechanical engineering. He is an active local performer and has played countless personal arrangements and compositions in small ensemble settings. If you like to nerd out over brass instruments, mouthpieces, music theory, and more, then make sure to subscribe and stay tuned! Thanks for watching.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Hey y’all! Thanks for watching this review, and as always, more bass trombone reviews are on their way down the pipeline, so stay tuned :)

[@erniearruda8861]

Actually 72 H and all single rotor bass trombone is perfect for marches on parade. A lot lighter to hold with one arm and it compliments with the tubas(bass line) that cuts through giving that direct beat. I know I’ve played and marched with a Yamaha and it was perfect here in Southern Canada with a police band.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

That’s actually a very good point, Ernie. I’ve never marched, so I don’t tend to think of these things. Thank you.

[@peternaryd_operasinger]

Great video Samuel!😁👌👍

[@Juan_Bone09]

Nice video Sam

[@MrSwinginjoe]

I just bought a Vintage Conn, and she is a duel rotor.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

I think I saw your post on Facebook, Joe. I saw “Hoffman Music” and had to do a double take because I live barely ten minutes away. So I presume you’re local to the area? Also, looking at the photos, I was wondering whether the dual rotor system was an aftermarket addition and it was originally a single-valve like the 72H.

[@MrSwinginjoe]

Yes I'm local to Spokane Washington. I don't know much about my new Conn Bass Trombone. I'm pretty sure I may be the second owner of it.

[@MrSwinginjoe]

I found your Facebook page and just sent you a Pm.

[@James_Dawes]

Brilliant video! I was always confused as to the difference between a tenor with trigger, a single rotor bass and a double rotor bass!

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Thank you, James! Anytime it’s a bass, expect it to have a bore closer to .562” as opposed to the tenor’s .547” but rotor setups on bass can range widely, from one rotor to two dependent or two independent rotors!

[@P1kaSans]

i hope i cleared up the confusion on your previous video 😅

[@Ruigekerel]

I am confused, how can the F valve be sharp? Then pull its tuning slide? Low F is the note on which you tune that trigger tubing. Some for Gb on bass. Those notes should be 100% in tune, and from there you adapt. C above needs some lowering for example.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

I never said that. If the F atrachment tubing was sharp it would be an easy solution. It was *flat.* I could barely get the pitch up when playing a low F with the trigger engaged.

[@Ruigekerel]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass I stand corrected. That is a major issue.

[@fredschaffner4118]

Why not use the Conn 3 mouthpiece that came with the horn originally?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

This is an instrument that’s gone through several owners and the original 3B mouthpiece has long since been lost. I unfortunately don’t always have the liberty of using 100% authentic setups on older instruments.

[@fredschaffner4118]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass I’ve seen them on EBay and the one I have fits the Remington lead pipe on my Elkhart 88H perfectly and makes it a completely different horn. If you find one you’ll like it.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

@@fredschaffner4118 Funny enough, I did find one a little while back. Unfortunately it was after I’d given back the 72H. I found it to be a little weird to play on, but probably because I didn’t have a proper Remington shank bass trombone to plug it into. The best I could do was use it on my school’s Bach 50. On my 88H it created a very tubby and unpleasant sound…

[@fredschaffner4118]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass cool! Keep it.

[@Jarhead-ji3lq]

I had an 88h and I hated that spring. The open horn plays beautifully, but the closed wrap design was something I didn't like as a bass trombone player

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

These are valid complaints, but I like the spring because it allows me to easily differentiate between true 1st position Bb and sharp 1st position D above the staff. For someone who doesn’t have much time to work on exact muscle memory on trombone it definitely helps. Then, as you said, it definitely helps in most cases to have an open wrap, but a lot of tenor open wraps are designed bizarrely with a sudden 180-degree bend inside the rotor that actually makes them play worse than most closed wraps, so while I’m sure a Shires tru-bore or some fancy rotor setup with open wrap would be better, the 88H’s typical rotor and closed wrap has yielded a more open and loud trigger register than any of the trombones I’ve played up to this point: Bach 42s, Yamaha Xenos, Getzen, Eastman, etc.