Conn-Selmer · Professional · 88H · 1954–present
Conn listed the 88H in 1954 as its Artist Symphony trombone, with a large bore, a rotary F attachment and a red brass bell, and Conn still sells it today. Wikipedia lists it among the few models Conn was known for that carried on into the Conn-Selmer era. Conn's many owners show up in where it was made. Conn left Elkhart in 1971 and moved professional brass to Abilene, Texas. When Abilene closed in 1986, brass production went to the King plant in Eastlake, Ohio, which Conn-Selmer announced it would close in 2026. Today's 88H has a 0.547-inch bore, a 0.562-inch F attachment, an 8½-inch rose brass bell and a rose brass outer slide, which give it a darker, warmer sound than yellow brass. Conn now pitches it for symphonic and solo playing. The New Vintage 88HNV is Conn's own nod to how much players like the early Elkhart horns. Check the slide and rotor first, and use the serial to tell an Elkhart horn from a later one.
A large-bore professional trombone for a serious high school, college or adult player, not a beginner. If a teacher has asked for a large-bore horn with an F attachment, this is one of the standard choices.
Build and case88H
Conn's serial chart (on the Conn-Selmer site) runs from about 652,000 in 1957 to 949,000 in 1962, then letter prefixes from c (1963) through r (1972), and ga prefixes from 1973. From 1987 the first two digits plus 50 give the year, so 37 means 1987. For 1980–1986 the chart covers only student trumpets and cornets.
The hand slide and rotor are the parts to worry about, and Conn's own care leaflet calls a dented slide or sticking valve expert work. Lacquer wears through where hands hold the horn, which Conn put down to perspiration.
More on this in our trombone buying guide.
Buying guide
We'd buy a used 88H from a US seller well under new prices, like the one shown in its case at $1,861 delivered. There are at least 23 for sale, and dealers set most of the $2,750–3,900 band, with new ones at $3,459–4,472 and refurbished ones at $3,329, while US used ones ask $1,511–3,145 from sellers with feedback. An 88HO has the open-wrap F attachment, and Elkhart, Abilene or Eastlake tells you the era, which the serial confirms against Conn's chart. The hand slide and rotor are the costly parts, so ask for a video of both moving and budget for a shop check-up. Skip the $943 delivered one from a zero-feedback seller, far too cheap for an 88H.
$1,511.14est. delivered
The lowest delivered 88H from an established seller at $1,511, titled Abilene, TX, where Conn built its pro brass in the 1970s and early 1980s. The photo shows worn lacquer and no case is titled, so ask for the serial and a video of the slide and rotor.
Abeliene TX Conn 88h
$1,860.55est. delivered
An 88H with the F attachment and rose brass bell, shown in its case, at $1,861 delivered and well under the band. There's no condition claim, so ask for the serial and a video of the slide and rotor.
CONN 88H Symphony Professional Tenor Trombone With F Attachment Brass Rose Brass
$3,072.55est. delivered
Titled a 1960s Elkhart 88H, the era Conn's New Vintage model pays homage to, at $3,073 delivered, under the $3,879 most new ones ask. Ask for the serial to back up the date, since Conn's chart has numbers up to about 949,000 by 1962 and letter prefixes from 1963.
vintage 1960s elkhart Conn 88h trombone
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$1,511.14est. delivered
$1,400.00 + $111.14 shipping
Buy It Now$1,400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled Abilene, TX. Worn lacquer in the photo, no case titled.
Seller: arkirg-0
100% positive
Used$1,860.55est. delivered
$1,750.99 + $109.56 shipping
Buy It Now$1,750.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
F attachment, rose brass bell. Shown in its case.
Seller: the_meadow_barn
100% positive
Used$3,072.55est. delivered
$3,000.00 + $72.55 shipping
Buy It Now$3,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 1960s Elkhart.
Seller: xan_685
100% positive
Used$2,750.00delivered
$2,750.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$2,750.00
Our take
Used 88HO from a US dealer, at the bottom of the band.
Seller: altomusic
99.6% positive
Used$3,144.83est. delivered
$3,100.00 + $44.83 shipping
Buy It Now$3,100.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
88HO, open wrap, rose brass bell. Shown in its case.
Seller: ry444161
100% positive
Refurbished$3,329.10delivered
$3,329.10 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,329.10
Our take
Refurbished 88HO from a US dealer, listed three times.
Seller: sweetwatersound
99.8% positive
New$4,471.99delivered
$4,471.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,471.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
New, from a US dealer. Shows what new asks.
Seller: playmusic123-store
100% positive
Used$942.66est. delivered
$850.00 + $92.66 shipping
Buy It Now$850.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller, far under the price of a real 88H.
Seller: jesseb_k
No feedback yet
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