Conn 62H

tubademon999 · Post by **tubademon999** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:09 am

What is everyones opinion on this particular instrument?
and how much would you pay for a used one in good condition?

Thank you
Cody Kleinhans

Joe Stanko · Post by **Joe Stanko** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:50 am

Cody, are you referring to the 62H bass trombone? And if so, what vintage; the version we bass trombone players think of first is the one with tuning in the slide, made in the mid-to late 60s in Elkhart.

The current model is a nice instrument, but in my opinion not nearly at the level of the Elkhart version.

Joe Stanko

PhilSloan · Post by **PhilSloan** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:51 am

Depending on vintage, model, etc. I love the 62H. As a disclaimer, I am a big Conn trombone fan anyway. I played an 88H in high school multi-decades ago, bought a 50H a few years later and then ultimately found a good deal on an 88H I have played for the last 25 years or so. My intent is to make my next bass bone purchase a 62H. If I can be patient enough to save my pennies it might even be a Greenhoe 62H. (Hey, I can dream!)

tbn.al · Post by **tbn.al** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:56 am

I played an Elkhart 62H in the 60's. What a sound! Maybe the best blowing bass trombone I have ever had. The problem is the slide. All that extra weight gets in the way when you have a lot of fast slide movement. For that reason I traded it for a very early Yamaha. I regreted it almost immediately. Given the trade off I would rather have had the Conn sound. I play a Besson 943 Hagmann now and honestly it is the best bass trombone overall I have ever played. There are lots of good ones out there by Getzen, Shires, etc. I wouldn't put the new Conn or Bach horns in that class however.

Joe Stanko · Post by **Joe Stanko** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:57 am

Sorry tbn.al, but I don't find the tuning in the slide mechanism to be an issue with either my Elkhart 62H or 60H (single valve version of the 62H). Did yours possibly have a cross brace/thumbwheel mechanism? If so, then yes, that is substantially heavier than the one seen on Joe's photo above (which is on both of my slides).

I also suggest giving the Kanstul 1662 that uses the Elkhart 62H dimensions - dependent valves, Conn type slide, red brass bell with unsoldered bead - a try. In my opinion this is an excellent updated version of the original.

Joe Stanko

tbn.al · Post by **tbn.al** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:21 pm

I did have the cross brace thumbwheel setup. I have not played the Kanstul but have heard really good things about it. At my age I'll probably just stick to what I've got, as it is certainly not what is holding me back. There are a lot more excellent choices out there today than there were in years past. I'll never get that 62H sound out of my head completely though.

rodgeman · Post by **rodgeman** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:59 pm

If you love it - go for it. It is a good setup. I would not pay more an $2000 for one - it would have to be pristine.

I feel the same way about Bach Strad bass trombones.

Liberty Mo · Post by **Liberty Mo** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:00 pm

The 62H was a great Conn bass that had a short run from the late 60s and ran to the early 70s before UMI reintroduced it in 2001 (it stinks now). The old Conn horns (Elkharts) are classic bass bones, the new ones...bleh. The Greenhoe conversions are top notch, but the price tag is tough to justify IMO. I think the second rotor on the old 62H was in E so that you could have C in first, but not sure on that, I've only played one older model and it had D on the second rotor, but that may just have been an alternate tuning slide. I've never really notice a weight issue with TIS trombones, it's a nice feature. If the horn in question is in good shape, $2000+ is reasonable.

As was pointed out by Joe Stanko, the Kanstul 1662 is also a very nice modern take. You can also find a Getzen 1062 that is a very good value for a stacked dependent bass bone.

If I was in the market for a new bass bone, the Yamaha 822 would be at the top of the list with the Kanstul 1670D. If your funds are deep, you can open the door to Edwards/Rath/Shires/etc, but there are very good bass bones that are cheaper.

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:38 pm

Bass bone is my other main instrument (equal for me to tuba). That said in advance...

The Elkhart 62H is one of the finest Bass trombones ever built. There are a great many players still performing on them, and three contemporary makers copying them for a very good reason... exceptional, exceptional instruments!!

The modern Getzen 1062s are actually copies of the 62H bore profile (with the tuning slide all the way in); they actually will make you a tuning-in-slide slide if you order it. This of course goes for the Edwards as well (the tuning slides on the bell are continuously tapered even through the slide legs). Again, a copy of a legendary instrument.

The current instrument, while sharing a bell mandrel with the historic version, is a wildly different ax. And they can vary quite a bit in quality. But there are good ones out there. The CL versions, however, I would recommend avoiding due to the unusually high number of problems from these valves - acoustically - which come to my shop.

J.c.S. (who's working on his own 62H copy for himself ; )

Richard Murrow · Post by **Richard Murrow** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:33 pm

Re: Conn 62H
by rodgeman » Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:59 pm

If you love it - go for it. It is a good setup. I would not pay more an $2000 for one - it would have to be pristine.

I feel the same way about Bach Strad bass trombones.

I used to own an older vintage, tuning in the slide 62H. Selling it was one of the big mistakes of my life! If you can find the older vintage for $2000 buy it without asking questions. I've not seen one in good condition for that price in a very long time. The ones I've seen were in the $3000-3500 price range and even there they are worth it. I do regret selling mine.

Richard Murrow

Richard Murrow · Post by **Richard Murrow** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:29 pm

Re: Conn 62H
by bloke » Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:43 pm

Those 60H/62H (no-tuning-in-the-bell) bass trombones were really a "reintroduction" of the ancient (c. 1930's - 1940's) Conn 70H bass trombone that some refer to as the "Fuchs" model

True, except that the 60H-62H had more of a taper after the valve, a larger bell throat, and consequently a much bigger, warmer sound. The 70H was nice and physically looked similar to the 60-62H, but played quite a bit differently. The 60H was definitely a move towards a much more modern bass trombone.

Richard Murrow

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:43 pm

Indeed, the 60/62H TIS (Tuning in Slide) Basses are "larger" than the classic 70H. I have one with the earlier 20s configuration... 9 inch bell, E quick change valve and a 547/562 dual bore slide. Magnificent sound!!! Not big, but radiant and lovely.

My buddy has a 40's vintage which has the more typical slide and 1/2 in larger bell... but in all other manners identical. I little broader sound, gorgeous, enviable.

The 62H is a good-size instrument... modern in all proportions. And the TIS slide has many benefits. And you can break bricks with it if you so choose.

J.c.S.

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:50 pm

Sorry, Bloke... got a little nit-picky there, didn't I.

The 70H miaybe the finest instrument ever designed for it's purpose. My buddie's 70H is may be perfect (Minick mod with twin dependant valves). But another 60H, A NY Bach 50, and one of George Robert's actual Olds Basses, Ray Premru's Holton, and a genuine WIlliams Bass all are contenders for the prize as well.

J.c.S.