Eastlake Conn 88HO - Successful Instrument Innovations Valve Swap

[dj4eagle]

I was gifted my (then) new Conn 88HO when I was in junior high (2008?), and it dutifully served me well through college and now in community groups.

I always loved the sound I was able to produce, but the valve register seemed ever so slightly off/constricted/u enjoyable (markedly better and 100% usable after adjustments, but still), centering in the 1st partial was difficult compared to other horns, and I could not get over the comically elongated open wrap design. I'll acknowledge my own playing isn't up to par, but I think I've played enough horns to detect when an instrument, especially one I've had 15 years of experience with, is "fighting me" in some aspect.

Being a (very) amateur musician, liking most aspects of the horn, and having a bit of a sentimental attachment, I could never justify shopping for a new horn. After years of deliberating and research, I finally decided to pull the plug and consult about custom work. Having had a positive experience with his work at BAC, I took the horn into Heritage Music in KC with a simple inquiry - "here for a chem clean, something doesn't feel right in the valve register, and what would options be for reconfiguring the open wrap to not stick out so dang far?" I also asked about a wooden or "fun" plastic thumb paddle, as I didn't care for the metal one.

I was walked through options, recommended the pictured wrap design with an Instrument Innovations rotor. Ultimately though, he suggested I have the instrument cleaned, tuned up, recorked, etc. and spend some time with it before pulling the plug on the valve replacement.

The horn I got back, which still had the stock rotor, felt like a new instrument. Kevin not only turned the beautiful wooden paddle (I was given a whole box of options!), but made it into a piece that was backwards compatible with the stock Conn one, should I ever sell the horn or want to change back (what???). The valve was in great shape, and whatever adjustments and dent work he did (noticed the bell was a little skewed if I remember?) caused the horn to play more open and resonantly than it had ever before.

I could have kept the horn as was and been happy with it for the rest of my life, but still wanted a more open blowing valve register and a more ergonomic/compact open wrap, so I decided to take it back for the valve swap. I was a bit apprehensive. I had never heard of these valves being put on Gen 2 88Hs, and feared I was sinking time/money into a Lemon, or would have been better off with a not better, but different horn.

Luckily it paid off. I think it looks fantastic compared to the stock 88HO or newer 88HNV, and how it plays is up to par! The open horn is mostly unchanged (perfect, it played great before), but whatever was going on with the poor centering in the 1st partial disappeared. The resistance in the valve register is about the same as the modern Conn OEM valve, and action slightly worse (again, the valve I had was actually quite good), but feels nearly identical to the open horn when playing - much easier to get notes to speak, more controlled, and of course more open. As a cherry on top, since it was no longer a stock horn and I had sold off the old metal thumb paddle anyways, he converted the trigger mechanism to a one-piece mechanism (no more screws backing themselves out).

My only other grievance with this horn was that I'd worn through all the laquer on the contact points in about 8 years of ownership, and didn't like the look or smell on my hands from the nickel hand grips. I had tried leather grips, but thought they impacted the horn's resonance or at least perceived feedback in a way I didn't care for. Heritage was able to spot laquer JUST the hand grips and cork barrels. The perfect solution. I had the bell laquer (95%) preserved, and the rest of the bell section tubing left raw.

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[Finetales]

I think it looks fantastic compared to the stock 88HO

I wholeheartedly agree!! The stock 88HO (and 42BO, for that matter) is hideous, but yours looks wonderful.