I'm planning to buy my own instrument after years of using my instrument from school. How does 88HTCL sound? I've used a 88HYO before, it was very VERY bright.

Is 88HTCL a better model as compared to 42BO in terms of richness of tone and handling?

My personal horn is a Conn 88HCL. The trigger is what has had me sold about this horn (and really the only thing I personally like about it), the open feel it has plus the very short pull to engage it. I have only found one valve that I would replace it with--the Shire TruBore valve. I've played on this horn since '05 and has really allowed me to accomplish many great things and play for many great people. But recently it has started to limit my growth as a player as I have matured and now entering college level playing. problems with the Conn 88H for me is essentially the tone I want from the horn is not there, the openness I need is not there, and the constancy throughout the partials, as well as in the more extreme dynamics are not there as well. But as I have said throughout all of this, this is for me and only me. I have sounded great before for me age on this horn, but the guest artist from a trombone day this past weekend, Massimo La Rosa (principal of Cleveland), plays on a standard Bach Strad that you'd find in a store somewhere. It all depends on what you want. After having the sound you want, play the horns with someone else there to listen to you and be sure to tell them what you want to sound like. Make sure that above all, you aren't settling on the whole "I can live with this," make sure it's a horn you'll love and want to play on and what you want.

I've heard of people saying about the Conns lacking focus in their sound at extreme dynamics; same as Bach having control problems at high registers. How bad exactly was the focus issue?

btw, thanks loads for the opinion!

the only range for me which was full and had a slightly focused sound was under the bass staff and as far as constancy, it changes with just about every partial.

It seems that your response corroborates majority of the responses online! Maybe that's the trade off for having a good response across the registers. Now it does seem that 42t is a good choice.

just remember to try before you buy. preferably with someone listening to you.

I've just come across a second-hand kuehnl & Toyer 547 that's only been used for 4 months. Apparently it's an instrument from a higher league as only the music store than sells edwards and shires sells it. I've tried my senior's one, which is a Bolero (expert model); it sounded way better than both the conn and bach. But I think the one I'll be buying won't be a bolero. Have you heard of Kuehnl & Toyer and what do you think of this one?

I've never heard of those horns, If you like them, and you think you want to spend the money to get it, go for it. But I've never had experiences with those horns.

It seems like the older players prefer the Bach Strad 42 series and the newer generations of players lean towards the Conn 88H series. They're both great horns. It's up to you to decide which one works best for you.