When I switched from 88H to 42BO back in the 90's, I appreciated the comfort of the over-the-thumb valve lever, but missed the elegance of the string linkage. Do horns exist with both?

If you want bell brace between thumb and forefinger with string linkage, the King 4B and 5B as well as the Holton 150 have that. If you want a setup like the Conn 88H, look at the Holton 158 or 159.

You could ask a good instrument tech to make a conversion like mine. This is my 50 bass with Instrument Innovations valves and string linkage. The linkage was made by Graham Middleton of Salem Oregon. He also installed the I.I. valves (the latest and hopefully last incarnation of my bass).

I’m not sure, but I think Graham recycled part of the linkage from the old Kanstul valves, but I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t do something similar with most linkages. Anything can be done with enough time and money!

<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0352.jpeg" index="2">[attachment=2]IMG_0352.jpeg</ATTACHMENT>

<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0353.jpeg" index="1">[attachment=1]IMG_0353.jpeg</ATTACHMENT>

<ATTACHMENT filename="IMG_0354.jpeg" index="0">[attachment=0]IMG_0354.jpeg</ATTACHMENT>