Introduction
The Conn CL2000 rotary valve, crafted by trombone legend Christian Lindberg, is a bold departure from traditional rotor designs, offering unmatched responsiveness and a unique sound. Yet, its exclusivity to Conn trombones and polarizing Y-junction design have sparked debates among players. In this article, we’ll dive into its innovative mechanics, weigh its pros and cons, compare it to other valves, and explore why it remains a niche choice for trombonists.
How the Conn CL2000 rotary valve works: A Revolutionary Design
If you’re a symphonic trombonist looking for a valve that delivers a rich, centered tone, the Conn CL2000 rotary valve might be worth the investment.
The Y-Junction Explained
The Christian Lindberg rotary valve, (also known as: CL, CL2000, CL2K) has a lot of astonishing characteristics and a completely discrete design. It differs heavily from classical constructions, but also from other recent valve designs. This valve has got a Y-Junction inside, which allows very short lever movements.
But a Y junction also means that there is always a dead end for the air to flow into. I saw a lot of discussions about this »dead end«. Critic voices never stopped raising, but there always were supporters, too. This design is probably the most discussed one, which is not a bad thing per se.
For a more in-depth description to follow, please take a look at this concept art first.
There are some advantages to this valvue due to its design:
Short Throw: 40% faster lever movement due to a 45° rotation, enhancing playability.
Rich Sound: Heavy valve cap option produces a fuller, orchestral tone.
Unique Design: Y-junction minimizes resistance for smoother transitions to the F attachment.
Despite this, other valves do have their pros and cons as well — there are interesting designs by Hagmann and Thayer.
Maintenance of the CL2000 valve
The Conn CL2000 valve is a well-designed but simple valve. Since it works similar to a standard rotary valve, no special maintenance is needed.
In my experience, the shorter throw will put less wear and tear on the parts.
Why Players Love (or Avoid) the CL2000
The Conn CL2000 rotary valve has a very broad and straight bore. The bore does not get tighter in the valve section, which is a common problem with other valves.
Another advantage while playing this valve is the much shorter throw.
But the best thing about this valve is that it has no plop sound when you press the trigger. Since there is never a vacuum in the valve, it does not make a sound when you press the trigger.
CL2000 vs. the Competition
| Valve Type | Throw Length | Sound Quality | Availability | Cost (Add-On) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard valve | Medium to Long | Tight, squeezed | All brands | € 400,- (Open Wrap) |
CL2000 | Short (45°) | Full, warm | Conn only | € 900,- |
Hagmann | Medium | Clear, open | Multiple brands | € 600,- |
Thayer | Medium | Bright, focused | Multiple brands | € 560,- |
Manufacturers and Cost
The most probable reason for not seeing this valve often is probably it’s a Conn-only design.
On the other hand, other trombone manufacturers have their own designs, which are less expensive and about the same quality.
| Front view | Back view | Close-up |
|---|---|---|
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If you take a look at those images, you can see that a lot of brass and other materials are being used, hence the high price. Also, there is a second valve cap (not pictured) that has less weight and allows sharper attacks. The heavier valve cap (seen in the images above) allows a broader sound. Most musicians will probably choose this one.
Availability of the CL2000 valve
Standard valves still dominate the orchestral trombones, and professionals tend to use Hagmann valves or sometimes Thayer valves on their custom instruments. On Bach trombones, you can now often find Bach-Axial-Flow-valves.
If you are going to buy a Bach 42 (tenor trombone) or a Bach 50 (bass bone), you can choose one of those valves:
Standard rotary valve
Hagmann valve
Thayer rotor valve
Bach-Axial-Flow valve
But there is no option for Conn CL2000 valves.
So if you were buying a german Kühnl & Hoyer trombone, you might see similar options, which are:
Standard valve
”Open Flow”-Meinlschmidt rotary valve
Hagmann rotor valve
So no options to choose a CL2k valve here as well.
So there is Shire (brand), another well-known trombone manufacturer.
Standard valve (not commonly used on those trombones)
S. E. Shires True-Bore valve
Shires axial valve
No CL2000 valve found here, too. This means it is only available on Conn brand trombones. If you don’t like the Conn 88H, you will probably never play this valve. This is a bummer because the 88H is a great trombone, but Bach trombones are a little more spread for a good reason.
User Experiences and Reviews
Still, some reviews about the CL2000 valve can be found online.
Anonymous: trombone8vb.tripod.com
This is only available on Conn trombones. It was developed by, what a surprise, Christian Lindberg. It has a REALLY short throw and it’s REALLLY OPEN. On one of the models I played at ETW 99 it was more open with the trigger engaged than without it. It looks funny because it has a much larger diameter than traditional valves, but who cares about looks?
The Trombone Lab: Valves and Valve Types
Anonymous: Edition Tarrodi
For SIX whole years Christian Lindberg and the magnificent woodwind and brass instrument builder Bela Tarrodi(his father -in law) strived to invent the ultimat rotor system for trombone! Three ideas were scratched out(94-96, 96-97, and 97-99) before Bela found the ulitmate solution (in old fashion style of inventors the idea came to him at 3 o´clock in the morning!!) that has been a revolution for trombone players around the world. The system, as all great systems, is fairly simple, but gives the most open sound possible, but yet by far the shortest and fastest trigger transition in the business(from Bb to F).
The invention of the Conn CL2000 Valve on CL Trombones and Mouthpieces
Steve Ferguson
Why yes, I did notice that one of the tubes within the rotor is shaped like the letter Y. About that: It truly looks like it should not work. It does. The error in bore size for that short distance is small, and while it may add a tiny amount of inefficiency, this seems to help make the tone broad and warm.
Conn 62HCL Bass Trombone at Horn Guys
Valve overview, bassposaunen.de
To compensate for the disadvantages of the classic valves, various systems have been invented, all with the same goal: an unimpeded air flow even when the two valves are used simultaneously.
The following systems are currently on the market:
Further developments of the classic valves: * “Lätzsch” * “Kanstul” * “Kühnl” * “Greenhoe”
Newly designed vales: * “Shires TruBore” * “Hagmann” * “Thayer”, * Conn CL * “Advanced balance system”
Bassposaunen.de: Technik - Ventile
Conclusion
The Conn CL2000 rotary valve is a bold, innovative design that offers unmatched responsiveness and a distinctive sound, but its exclusivity to Conn trombones and higher cost limit its reach. For players who love the Conn 88H’s orchestral voice, it’s a worthy upgrade — if you’re willing to maintain it. Have you tried the CL2000? Share your thoughts on Bluesky with me or explore Conn’s official site for more details.