List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
-
- pro musician
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:51 am
- Location: Orlando, FL
List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
I've created a list of US tuba specialist shops. I don't know if some of these should be on the list, but these are (ideally) somewhere one could fly in, try some horns, and fly home.
I'll add to the list if anyone has any more leads.
Eastern US:
NC: Tuba Exchange
NJ: Dillon Music
MD: Baltimore Brass
Central US:
TN: Joe Sellmansberger
IN: Dan Schultz
IA: Lee Stofer
OH: Buddy Roger's Music
WI: Jim Laabs
OH: Buckeye Brass (small)
MI: Custom Music
Western US:
WA: Dan Overloh
CA: The Horn Guys
CA: The Brass Ark
I'll add to the list if anyone has any more leads.
Eastern US:
NC: Tuba Exchange
NJ: Dillon Music
MD: Baltimore Brass
Central US:
TN: Joe Sellmansberger
IN: Dan Schultz
IA: Lee Stofer
OH: Buddy Roger's Music
WI: Jim Laabs
OH: Buckeye Brass (small)
MI: Custom Music
Western US:
WA: Dan Overloh
CA: The Horn Guys
CA: The Brass Ark
Last edited by BopEuph on Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:14 am, edited 4 times in total.
Nick
- The Big Ben
- 6 valves
- Posts: 3169
- Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:54 am
- Location: Port Townsend, WA
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Dillon Music and Baltimore Brass. See contact info in the sponsors/shops list.
Horn Guys in LA area. Google is your friend.
Horn Guys in LA area. Google is your friend.
-
- pro musician
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:51 am
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Not really.The Big Ben wrote:Google is your friend.
Here's the first ten hits for "tuba stores US":
The Tuba Exchange
Guitar Center
Wessex Tubas
Yamaha
Just For Brass
Dillon Music
The Horn Guys
Jim Laabs
Hickey's Brass Music
Tuba - Wikiversity
Not all of these are tuba specialists, not all of these are places you can visit, and not all of these are in the US. And one of these isn't even a shop.
Google was, of course, the first thing I tried.
Nick
-
- lurker
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:07 am
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Baltimore Brass is a hot spot usually having 20-30 horns in stock. Especially good for used horns. They have Mr. Fedderly and another tuba specialist on staff to help you out too. Solid repair shop if you need it as well.
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- The Big Ben
- 6 valves
- Posts: 3169
- Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:54 am
- Location: Port Townsend, WA
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
I wrote "The Horn Guys in LA" Google is your friend. I gave the locations of the other two. I left you with the suggestion to use Google to find out about the Horn Guys. They have quite a good website= and frequently have many tubas in stock.BopEuph wrote:Not really.The Big Ben wrote:Google is your friend.
Here's the first ten hits for "tuba stores US":
.
https://www.hornguys.com/pages/tubas" target="_blank
-
- bugler
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:12 pm
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Wichita Band Instrument
- schneidah
- bugler
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:56 pm
- Location: Denver
- Contact:
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Custom Music in Ferndale, MI
http://customtubas.com/
http://customtubas.com/
- GC
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1800
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 5:52 am
- Location: Rome, GA (between Rosedale and Armuchee)
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Lee Stofer, Dan Oberloh, Bloke, and Dan Schultz all run repair shops and have horns for sale regularly.
JP/Sterling 377 compensating Eb; Warburton "The Grail" T.G.4, RM-9 7.8, Yamaha 66D4; for sale > 1914 Conn Monster Eb (my avatar), ca. 1905 Fillmore Bros 1/4-size Eb, Bach 42B trombone
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Do they still exist, besides a few Ebay listings?schneidah wrote:Custom Music in Ferndale, MI
http://customtubas.com/
Last summer, I was in Ferndale, and tried multiple times to contact them, with no answer. The one time I did reach them by phone a few weeks prior, they made it quite clear that they were not interested in selling me a tuba. One word answers, sounded irritated, and hung up on me (I called back "I think we got disconnected..." and got a few more words that time... but still, nowhere near a pleasant conversation.)
So whatever is going on there now... I wouldn't recommend it. Better options exist!
-
- pro musician
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:51 am
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Good point. I'll add them to the list.GC wrote:Lee Stofer, Dan Oberloh, Bloke, and Dan Schultz all run repair shops and have horns for sale regularly.
This is not much different from what I heard back in college almost 20 years ago. My teacher had a Hirschbrunner euph. Loved the horn, but there were some serious warranty-covered issues with the horn and trying to have Custom Music solve said issues was like pulling teeth. He even gave them a heads up that he would be visiting in a few weeks to purchase a valve section to fix one of the issues, to which he was told no appointment required. When he walked in, they acted like they didn't remember the conversation and told him they couldn't help him.bort wrote:Last summer, I was in Ferndale, and tried multiple times to contact them, with no answer. The one time I did reach them by phone a few weeks prior, they made it quite clear that they were not interested in selling me a tuba. One word answers, sounded irritated, and hung up on me (I called back "I think we got disconnected..." and got a few more words that time... but still, nowhere near a pleasant conversation.)
Not saying they are a pleasant source for tubas, but for some, it might be a regional thing to want to swing by to try horns.
Nick
- schneidah
- bugler
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:56 pm
- Location: Denver
- Contact:
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Hmm, sorry to hear that! I picked out my PT-6 there 15 years ago and recall the experience being fine. At the time, it was the only place in the US I knew of that had B&S/Perantucci instruments. That's no longer the case, so if I were in that market again I'd certainly consider other options!bort wrote:Last summer, I was in Ferndale, and tried multiple times to contact them, with no answer. The one time I did reach them by phone a few weeks prior, they made it quite clear that they were not interested in selling me a tuba. One word answers, sounded irritated, and hung up on me (I called back "I think we got disconnected..." and got a few more words that time... but still, nowhere near a pleasant conversation.)
So whatever is going on there now... I wouldn't recommend it. Better options exist!
- edsel585960
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1507
- Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:28 pm
- Location: SW Florida
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Bob Tucker in Ocoee (Orlando) Does good work. Has some interesting stuff laying around. 321-331-1511
Conn 20-21 J
Conn 10J, Conn 26 K, Martin Mammoth, Mirafone 186, Soviet Helicon, Holton Raincatcher Sousaphone, Yamaha 103, King 1240.
Conn 10J, Conn 26 K, Martin Mammoth, Mirafone 186, Soviet Helicon, Holton Raincatcher Sousaphone, Yamaha 103, King 1240.
-
- bugler
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:15 pm
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
I think Custom Music moved from Ferndale Mi. to Farmington Hills Mi.
By Phone
Local: (248) 546-4135
Toll Free: (800) 521-6380
By Fax
(248) 546-8296
By E-mail
info@customtubas.com" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
By Postal Mail
Custom Music International
24700 Crestview Court
Farmington Hills, MI 48335
By Phone
Local: (248) 546-4135
Toll Free: (800) 521-6380
By Fax
(248) 546-8296
By E-mail
info@customtubas.com" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
By Postal Mail
Custom Music International
24700 Crestview Court
Farmington Hills, MI 48335
"When the legend becomes fact, print
the legend."
the legend."
-
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1713
- Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:42 pm
- Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
This.ktsmr6 wrote:Baltimore Brass is a hot spot usually having 20-30 horns in stock. Especially good for used horns. They have Mr. Fedderly and another tuba specialist on staff to help you out too. Solid repair shop if you need it as well.
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
-
- 3 valves
- Posts: 342
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 12:24 am
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
Hmm, when shopping for a 3/4-sized BB-flat tuba back in October, I was considering the Sanders Etude from Custom Music. My e-mail inquiry received a prompt but terse reply: "Hello, All of the Etudes are sold, CMI".schneidah wrote:Hmm, sorry to hear that! I picked out my PT-6 there 15 years ago and recall the experience being fine. At the time, it was the only place in the US I knew of that had B&S/Perantucci instruments. That's no longer the case, so if I were in that market again I'd certainly consider other options!bort wrote:Last summer, I was in Ferndale, and tried multiple times to contact them, with no answer. The one time I did reach them by phone a few weeks prior, they made it quite clear that they were not interested in selling me a tuba. One word answers, sounded irritated, and hung up on me (I called back "I think we got disconnected..." and got a few more words that time... but still, nowhere near a pleasant conversation.)
So whatever is going on there now... I wouldn't recommend it. Better options exist!
That's in stark contrast to 2011 or so when I visited there on appointment to try out mouthpieces for my Holton Monster E-flat. They were very gracious and helpful at that time, and I got to try out everything in the store that was of interest--mouthpieces, mutes, tubas, and bags. What a treat! I was really looking forward to another trip down there, but alas, they seem to be lacking in wares to sell.
I ordered a PT-31 mouthpiece from them via their website a few weeks ago and received that in four days. No issues there.
-
- Deletedaccounts
- Posts: 706
- Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 6:54 pm
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
I know it is semantics, but Joe's spot outside of Memphis is further west than Chicago. It might be more accurately classified as "Central" than "Eastern."
[/post]
-
- pro musician
- Posts: 656
- Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:51 am
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
As much as I've heard this and would love to send him business, I live in Orlando and have not been able to get Bob on the phone in almost a decade. Either he's busy or is just bad at answering/returning calls; but it would make it difficult to want to recommend him.edsel585960 wrote:Bob Tucker in Ocoee (Orlando) Does good work. Has some interesting stuff laying around. 321-331-1511
The idea being that it's worth a long drive/flight for someone shopping around for a horn. If you think they're worth that kind of effort, then yes.hrender wrote:If by “specialist” you mean “has an assortment of tubas for sale”, Taylor Music in SD has a fair number of used horns in stock. I’m not sure how many new horns they have on hand, though. I had a very good experience communicating with them while ordering a case for the Martin. There are a few others, like Horn Stash in Palatine, IL, worth checking out, too. If you’re looking for services, I’d add Martin Wilk and Norm Epley.
Noted, and I'll go ahead and change that. Thanks.THE TUBA wrote:I know it is semantics, but Joe's spot outside of Memphis is further west than Chicago. It might be more accurately classified as "Central" than "Eastern."
Nick
-
- bugler
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:59 pm
- Location: Texas Hill Country
Re: List of tuba specialist shops in the US?
For folks that may not realize, The Horn Guys and the Brass Ark are within a few blocks of each other on the same main road (historic route 66) in the Los Angeles region. Noah's hours are by appointment, but there has rarely been a time when I didn't also swing by the Horn Guys to see what they have.
Alexander 163 CC 5V, MW Thor, Mel Culbertson Neptune, B&S Symphonie F 6V
-
- bugler
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Wed Aug 28, 2013 4:17 am
Custom Flop
Recently a student of mine ordered a PT-65 from Custom. The mouthpiece sent was totally different that the good one I use and was returned.