new version of Conn 52H

[JohntheTheologian]

I was in our local music store-- West Music, iowa City, IA-- yesterday and noticed a horn on display-- a Conn 52H.

A section mate of mine played one a few years ago, but this one was different. It had the red brass bell reminiscent of a classic Conn 88H, but the wrap was more King-Benge like and it had single radius tuning and hand slide. I looked up the specs and I think it's a one piece bell, not 2 piece like an 88H. The trigger was string and the trigger handle was like an old 88H or my Blessings B88-- very comfortable for someone like me who plays Yamahas and Blessings with classic Conn-like triggers. The slide was dual bore, but had the odd finger ring that large bore Kings and some intermediate Bachs have had. The ring would have been useless to anyone who didn't have tiny hands. My hands are medium sized and I wouldn't have been able to use.

I blew it for a while, but whoever setup the slide had it so gummed up in 1st or 2nd position that it hardly moved and I wasn't able to give it a fair test.

Conn-Selmer lists it as an intermediate horn. Has anyone given one of these a good test? I asked the salesman if standard .547 slides were available and he said, no, but that the spec sheet listed other brand slides as having compatible tenons.

Not really in the market for a horn like this, but in a few years my grandson might be upgrading from his King 607F and just want to know about options, especially is these hit the used market in a few years.

[Trav1s]

I have tried multiple 52H and they remind me of the Benge 165F but more expensive. Of the two, I’d take the 165F and pocket the savings. If I was in a similar place with my daughter I’d be looking at the Getzen 1047FN as a step up.

[Matt K]

I don't know what they did to make the leadpipe of that horn but it's pure, unmitigated magic. I picked up one like 10 years ago from someone here used and I have yet to put it in any 525 horn and not have it blow every leadpipe out of the water in comparison.