Conn 88HO Large Bore Tenor Trombone Review

The Conn 88H has been one of the most prevalent, go-to large bore tenors in the past 50 years; yet somehow, in our last year of videos on the Trombone Shop channel, we neglected to do a review of it (until now!) In this video we play through and talk about the current generation of the 88H; leave some comments below and let us know what you think!
Find out more about the Conn 88HO at shop.schmittmu...

[@thomasherrera6587]

In the last year, I acquired an 88HYO and it has become my go to tenor when I I'm playing in smaller ensembles with trumpets (brass quartets, quintets). It blends better for me in those settings than my Bach 42 AFG, which is a fine instrument in it's own right, but for me a little 'too big' for my small groups. Honestly, in nearly 55 years of trombone playing I'd never owned an 88H before. I've always played Bach and Getzen trombones. What is immediately apparent is its lightness and nimbleness with not a lot of effort. The tradeoff is that as you noted, if you push too hard it will back up and even break on you. Thanks for all these reviews. We trombone players love talking about our gear!

[@LisaLizTrombone]

Nice! I have the thin wall version and I love it. Super light and bright, as far as large bores go.

[@dominikbauer9344]

I’ve listened to a lot of videos of your!!! Compared to all the other equipment you have played, you sound by far the best on this Conn 88H & Bach 5G. So centered, full, warm and open. Wow!! That’s YOUR GEAR MAN!!! :)))

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@emorigami7108]

The 88hto was the version I liked the most. The response really opens up when you have a thinner bell!

[@thechrismackeyorchestra1042]

try an elkie 88h

[@raymondfallon7429]

Would you mind if I chirp in with a suggestion? When you do demos, could you either announce the pieces you're playing, or (better yet) run it as a subscript on the page, or failing either, list it in the comments under the video. In general I recognize most of the pieces you perform, and generally curse a little to myself about how much better than I you play them, but once in a while there's something I don't recognize, and of course, I'm almost 68, so some of the younger viewers will have had less time to be familiar with all this music. I know that this is your presentation, and that it's uniformly excellent. Being a long time business guy, I was just looking to "add value" (as we say an average of 37 times per day).

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

It is a very good suggestion and I always appreciate the feedback! What I will start doing is listing the piece(s) I use in the video descriptions; with the small bore tenors I usually just use jazz standards and for the large bore tenors, basses and altos it's typically excerpts or repertoire we have in the shop so it should be easy. Thanks for keeping us accountable and relevant!

[@raymondfallon7429]

@@SchmittMusicTromboneShop I have one more request - possibly for a video - there is a wealth of information on KZbin - such a wealth that at times it's not easy to figure out what's out there - case in point - my wife bought me the Doug Yeo arrangementt of Shostakovich opus 34 piano preludes arranged for tenor/bass (or I guess 2 basses if you have really super bass players - one prelude gets up to a high E natural). I had only heard James Markey's version for trombone and piano (equally great). Now I've found a number of cool performances of these pieces, but I would never have thought to look. Maybe with your resources you could do a video on what's out there, both to order as sheet music, and to just listen to on KZbin, or for that matterr Naxos, etc. Just trying to get the most bang for our KZbin buck.

[@alancoates]

You have an appealing sound on the 88H. This has been my instrument of choice for decades. My first large bore tenor was a Conn 8H (no trigger). Moved on to an 88H (closed wrap), and later bought the 88HO which I have been player ever since. The Denis Wick 4AL (recently reviewed by you) on the 88HO is my setup. But I still play the 8H whenever I can.

[@raymondfallon7429]

I take it back - YOU have the best toys. Do you use the 4AL on the 8H? Seems huge for jazz and commercial playing...

[@alancoates]

@@raymondfallon7429 You are correct about 4AL for jazz/commercial, but I don't do those. I am limited to orchestral playing. Awesome for orchesta!

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

I absolutely agree! In my opinion the vintage 8H is the best orchestral straight tenor out there; I love how you can get a large, open sound with a lot of projection but with nuanced response and beautiful color...

[@alancoates]

Just got an email from another well known trombone dealer. They are having a "blowout" (their word not mine) trombone sale that includes 8H and 88H. Maybe Schmitt Trombone shop has good prices too! Good time to check, if you think Conn might be your next axe.

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

We strive to have very competitive prices, combined with having a wide selection of instruments in-stock and expert advice and guidance; out goal is to be a resource for the trombone community!

[@raymondfallon7429]

I'll chime in with one point on retailers - though I live in Boston, I discovered Schmitts Trombone Shop on Twitterr, during my Tweeting days (long gone). When it came time to purchase a new Shires bass for my grandson, I set it up through Keith. His personal attention made the purchase process seamless, which was important due to a FedEx snafu that could've really crushed the deal. In the old days (20th Century) one would have walked into Rayberns (Boston) or Manny's (NYC) or 8th Street Music in Philly. Nowadays it's on line. IMO it's important to have a relationship with a human being to keep your (expensive) purchases protected. I would give Schmitts' 5 stars on any review for any reason. Keith earns it. I continue to buy gear there, although I haven't been in Minnesota since 1991. Quick shipping, and the ability to talk pros and cons with a knowledgable pro player and sales rep.

[@USAFVet1]

Hey Keith, I was just wondering what you meant when you said we’re seeing a shift away from the larger instruments with a lot of core and mass (Bach 42) that can “hurt people”. Please explain, in what way do they hurt? I play an S.E. Shires Q30GA trombone with an axial rotor that can be heard a block away, but doesn’t hurt at all and is impossible to overblow. I always thought that small bore student horns were the ones that could hurt or injure when trying to overblow, not the large bore tenors.

[@philholmes3713]

Just wondering how the Holton TR160 compares with the Bach 42BO and this Conn 88HO. Have you ever played the Holton TR160? My guess is the low end will respond better. I'd be interested in your review.

[@bogeydope3619]

How would you compare this to the S.E Shires Custom Alessi? I'm looking back and forth trying to find any distinguishing features about the two trombones but I don't have that many resources on the main differences other than listening to videos of the two, looking at people's opinions on them. Even still I can't find a definitive answer to which one's more suitable. From looking back and forth from your review of the 88HO and the Shire's Custom Alessi, I've noticed a stark difference between the two sounds, this could possibly be from an upgrade in your microphone setup but I can't really translate the sound quality from this video's microphone to the other. In conclusion, I'm trying to compare the two large-bore trombones to see which one is better for the short and long term.

[@okaymarcel9273]

They are both really good horns. It depends on what sound you're looking to get, your budget, and how you use your air.

[@bogeydope3619]

@@okaymarcel9273 Much appreciated. I might settle on a B.A.C down the line.

[@okaymarcel9273]

@@bogeydope3619 Np, I hear B.A.C has great custom horns. I haven't been able to play one yet.

[@cookie0329]

I recently got my hands on an 88H closed wrap, under the trigger there was 1171, is this the serial number? I'm really trying to date this trombone but I just can't find enough resources

[@ckeilah]

Where is this magical trombone shop? In “the live music capital of the world” we only have one shop with fewer than 15 trombones to try! Sad.

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

We are located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro in Minnesota. From experience we know that it is difficult to find music retailers with a wide selection of instruments; frankly it is fairly difficult in the music retail industry to be able to allocated 100K in inventory to stay in a single location but we see the importance of selection and strive to be a resource for the trombone community...

[@davidbucher4095]

I think the two-piece bell is dispersing more of the energy into overtones than a Bach 42 one-piece bell, resulting in less projection per unit of input, making a Bach 42 more suitable in a big orchestra when sound projection is important.

[@yungkev2141]

Hey guys. I’m a very advanced 8th grade trombonist and I’m needing a new horn because my beginner horn that I have had for two years was falling apart. I need a new horn that’s not too expensive but that is also very good for its price. Any suggestions ?

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

What kind of price range works with your budget? The Eastman ETB428G and Jupiter JTB1150F are both in the $1600 range and play well for their price. If we wanted to look at upper intermediate level the Eastman ETB828-828G and Yamaha YSL-548GOAL Allegro are in the $2200 range and are a step up in terms of sound and performance. We also have a trombone project we have been working on to offer a professional-level performance and quality at a great value; if you are in the States and are interested in more information on any of these feel free to email at [e-mail]. Thanks for watching!

[@yungkev2141]

Schmitt Music Trombone Shop thank you so much😁 I will be sure to look at these trombones

[@bobcat24]

Strad 36B.

[@rtstt2886]

Embocadura do Dr. Schmitt muito AGRADÁVEL...BONITO NO MODELO MARCA CONN.... COMBINAÇÃO PREFEITA AGRADÁVEL SOM DO TROMBONE CONN ...MELHOR SONORIZAÇÃO DE TROMBONE E EMBOCADURA DO DR.SCHMITT...BOM...BOM....NOTÁVEL MELHOR SOM NO MODELO MARCA CONN...SOM BELÍSSIMO NO CONN.DR.

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Obrigado por assistir e por seus comentários gentis!

[@raymondfallon7429]

you get the best toys?

[@davidnguyen9037]

How would you compare this to the Yamaha YSL-882O?

[@raymondfallon7429]

@@GamerTime_2002 Lotta horns inspired by that 88H...

[@Itzjohn05]

Cavatine by saint-saëns is the song he played btw

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

A classic (and one I have under my fingers enough so I can pull it out when I need to do a video :) )

[@iittssccuurrllyy8083]

Thoughts on the 88H vs the 88HO?

[@alancoates]

8H is more comfortable to hold over long periods. And I love the unimpeded airflow. I should mention my 8H is vintage - from time when Conn was at one of its peaks, quality wise. 88H is for anything with 6-7 positions back to 1-2 positions, like Saint-Seans organ symphony. Did I mention I am an orchestra player? I don't have any jazz or comnercial experience. Conpared to 8H, the 88HO feels a little 'stuffy', bot not nearly so much as the closed-wrap 88H.

[@justinaskins2156]

It's there a noticeable difference between this and the Yamaha

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Which Yamaha model in particular?

[@davidbucher4095]

If the air is backing up when you try to play it like a Bach 42, it's probably because the Bach has a bigger lead pipe.

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

I certainly find the leadpipe to be a part of the equation but IMHO there are a number of attributes of the 88H design (handslide crook width, bell taper/gauge/two-piece design, material choices) that also play a role in the overall blow and response...

[@davidbucher4095]

@@SchmittMusicTromboneShop You may have discovered some proprietary information about the Bach 42: the bigger lead pipe.