Connstellation Remington Small Shank

[Arendsdale]

I was curious if anyone had any info on this old small shank mouthpiece I have. I’ve read a few different things but not quite certain on any information. The only markings are “connstellation” on the rim and “Remington” on the throat. It’s a small shank mouthpiece. Thanks!

[CalgaryTbone]

That is the small shank version of the Remington (large shank) mouthpiece that used to come with Conn 88H and 8H trombones back in the 50's - 80's. That mouthpiece was named for (and approved by) Emory Remington - the Trombone Professor at the Eastman School of Music for decades during the 20th Century. He produced many great students who occupied chairs in orchestras all over the world, as well as some fine jazz musicians.

That mouthpiece can be a good fit for some mid-sized horns (Conn 78/79H, Bach 36 and similar horns from other more modern manufacturers. They were a common mouthpiece 50 years ago - less so now, but worth trying out if you have a horn around a .525 bore, or a smaller horn that you want to get a big soiund on. It's kind of a medium size by today's standards.

Jim Scott

[Arendsdale]

That is the small shank version of the Remington (large shank) mouthpiece that used to come with Conn 88H and 8H trombones back in the 50's - 80's. That mouthpiece was named for (and approved by) Emory Remington - the Trombone Professor at the Eastman School of Music for decades during the 20th Century. He produced many great students who occupied chairs in orchestras all over the world, as well as some fine jazz musicians.

That mouthpiece can be a good fit for some mid-sized horns (Conn 78/79H, Bach 36 and similar horns from other more modern manufacturers. They were a common mouthpiece 50 years ago - less so now, but worth trying out if you have a horn around a .525 bore, or a smaller horn that you want to get a big soiund on. It's kind of a medium size by today's standards.

Jim Scott

Thanks! I was thinking about trying it in a .508 bore horn once it arrives. I’ve read that the Remington indicates a different taper, is that true? Or are the small shank version just normal small shank?

[CalgaryTbone]

Different taper to the shank in the large version - not any difference in the small shank. A standard large shank mouthpiece, like a Bach will sit further in the horn with the old Conns - the small shanks are generally a universal fit, except for some very rare exceptions.

JS

[Posaunus]

As already clearly explained by Jim Scott, the Conn Connstellation "Remington" is the small-shank version of the large-shank "Remington" 5CL mouthpiece developed with the collaboration of Emory Remington for the Conn 88H / 8H large-bore trombones (~25.65mm cup I.D., 6.15mm throat). I received one with my shiny new 88H in 1972 and could never get along with it. (Perhaps due to the small 6.15mm throat and the backbore? ).

But a funny thing happened: 46 years later, I acquired an equally wonderful closet queen Conn 79H (0.522" bore) trombone and ... a small-shank Conn Connstellation "Remington" mouthpiece. I think it has the same rim, cup, and throat as the large-shank version, but a standard small-shank taper and (probably) a different backbore. To my surprise (and pleasure), this mouthpiece works very well with the 79H. I'm keeping it. (And my Conn 88H still doesn't get along with the large-shank Remington.) I cannot explain this.

[BGuttman]

The small shank Remington was provided as the standard mouthpiece for many of the Conn trombones in the 1950s and 1960x. My teacher when I was in High School (late Pre-Cambrian era) put me on a Conn Remington (not Connstellation) on my Olds Ambassador with F, where it worked until my layoff from trombone after high school. It's similar to a Bach 5G, which was pretty large for the period.

I moved on to a Bach 4C for my Ambassador and the mouthpiece went unloved for quite a number of years until I was playing in a band with a really good player (ex Pro) who had a Connstellation Remington that was having problems. I swapped my Remington for his and he was ecstatic. Meanwhile I cleaned a bunch of crud from the interior of the Connstellation Remington and had it gold plated. Now it plays great, although it's still too small for me.

In short, if you like the Bach 5 size the Conn Remington is a good candidate for daily driver.