1937 Conn 70H Bass Trombone
- Wilhelm
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Jun 17, 2018
I am offering my Conn 70H Bass Trombone, which according to the serial number and the Conn Loyalist website was made in 1937. This was the year Conn went back to making the 70H slides .562 single bore.
I bought the horn in around 2006 from Wichita Band Instrument Company. They had purchased it from the estate of Everett Gilmore, tubist with the Dallas Symphony.
The horn is in excellent shape for an 80+ year old instrument. No dents, only one place of scarring on the bell where a dent was taken out pretty badly. It's the obligatory dent from the slide coming loose in the case. There is a patch on the inner slide crook, which must have been done decades ago. I never noticed it, playing wise. The silver plate is coming off on the bell throat, which I can't figure out why it is happening. I have been playing the horn daily for the past year, and the plating is starting to slightly wear off where I come in contact with the instrument.
Mechanically, the valve is in fantastic shape, works smoothly and quietly, and is surprisingly open. Tuning slides are in great shape. The spring bumpers in the slide were removed before I purchased the horn. The slide has wear on the inners, and overall I would rate the slide action a 7.5 - 8 as a result. The outers have no evidence of dent repair. An excellent repair tech told me the inners are going to need to be replaced, which I agree with. I didn't want to touch the horn since it is very playable as is.
How does it play? It has the best sound and response of any American horn I have ever played. And I owned another 70H from the same year and a Shires. Beautiful sound, warm and full, and projects like crazy. Incredibly musical, very flexible tone, you can do so much with color and phrasing. I have used it professionally both in orchestras and big bands, and it worked exceptionally well in both genres.
I said that I would never sell this horn, but I am changing careers, getting out of arts management, and I don't see me having the time to regularly practice anymore.
I think $1,400 is a fair price, given the provenance, condition, and sound/playability. Any questions or additional pictures please contact me here or by email at <EMAIL email="l.emerson.kopp@gmail.com">l.emerson.kopp@gmail.com</EMAIL>.
I bought the horn in around 2006 from Wichita Band Instrument Company. They had purchased it from the estate of Everett Gilmore, tubist with the Dallas Symphony.
The horn is in excellent shape for an 80+ year old instrument. No dents, only one place of scarring on the bell where a dent was taken out pretty badly. It's the obligatory dent from the slide coming loose in the case. There is a patch on the inner slide crook, which must have been done decades ago. I never noticed it, playing wise. The silver plate is coming off on the bell throat, which I can't figure out why it is happening. I have been playing the horn daily for the past year, and the plating is starting to slightly wear off where I come in contact with the instrument.
Mechanically, the valve is in fantastic shape, works smoothly and quietly, and is surprisingly open. Tuning slides are in great shape. The spring bumpers in the slide were removed before I purchased the horn. The slide has wear on the inners, and overall I would rate the slide action a 7.5 - 8 as a result. The outers have no evidence of dent repair. An excellent repair tech told me the inners are going to need to be replaced, which I agree with. I didn't want to touch the horn since it is very playable as is.
How does it play? It has the best sound and response of any American horn I have ever played. And I owned another 70H from the same year and a Shires. Beautiful sound, warm and full, and projects like crazy. Incredibly musical, very flexible tone, you can do so much with color and phrasing. I have used it professionally both in orchestras and big bands, and it worked exceptionally well in both genres.
I said that I would never sell this horn, but I am changing careers, getting out of arts management, and I don't see me having the time to regularly practice anymore.
I think $1,400 is a fair price, given the provenance, condition, and sound/playability. Any questions or additional pictures please contact me here or by email at <EMAIL email="l.emerson.kopp@gmail.com">l.emerson.kopp@gmail.com</EMAIL>.