Best brass instrument retailers

PosauneCat · 2021-06-28 5:12 p.m.

Who do you think is the best brass instrument retailer in the US? I live in Minneapolis which is a veritable wasteland when it comes to good music stores. I'm trying to find a Yamaha 882G. Not only can I not find one locally, I can't even find one online! Any suggestions? Anybody online have good return policies so you can try out instruments?

Elow · by **Elow** » 2021-06-28 5:28 p.m.

Have you asked your local stores to order one? That’s probably the easiest thing to do

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2021-06-28 7:15 p.m.

The "Big Two" are Dillon's in New Jersey and Hornguys in California.

That model may be tough to find. Open wraps (882GO) are definitely more popular.

Elow · by **Elow** » 2021-06-28 7:23 p.m.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Model-Y ... 6890.l6249">https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Model-YSL-882-Xeno-Professional-Tenor-Trombone-SN-773372-SUPERB-/334057211553?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249</LINK_TEXT>

CalgaryTbone · by **CalgaryTbone** » 2021-06-28 9:49 p.m.

I see videos on YouTube from Schmitt (sp?) Music, based in Minnesota. I think they have a couple of stores in the state, but the main store seems to have a fairly large selection of professional trombones. The other possibility that is closer to you than the stores already mentioned would be Chicago. I'm not sure what the big store is there nowadays, but there might still be a good-sized music store in the greater Chicago area.

I'm wondering what "return" policies are like now with Covid. Trying instruments in store is more limited as well. There are also a couple of top boutique trombone makers (Edwards and M&W) in nearby Wisconsin. Yamaha is available in a lot of places, but some dealers seem to favor featuring a variety of other makers, while others seem to concentrate on Yamaha. Good luck - hope you find the horn you want.

Jim Scott

castrubone · by **castrubone** » 2021-06-28 10:19 p.m.

Chuck Levin's consistently has the biggest selection of inventory. The problem you will find with almost all brass retailers is that they only stock the most popular horns. Finding a Yamaha 882G in stock at a retailer isn't impossible, but it will take some digging, and unless you live in a NYC/DC/Chicago/LA your local retailer almost certainly won't have it. Trade shows or visiting the factory of a maker are sometimes the only way to try out certain horns.

harrisonreed · 2021-06-28 10:21 p.m.

Hickeys is great. But many small town music shops do a great job! For example Gerry's music in MA was a great store.

If there is a decent college program nearby, often the local music shop will have someone related to the college working there as a brass specialist who at least play tests horns as they come in to spot issues and the repair shop can fine tune them before they hit the floor.

Hickeys will order you any horn you want. You just might have to wait for it.

Doug_Elliott · by **Doug_Elliott** » 2021-06-28 10:23 p.m.

Yes, call Chuck's and talk to Lee Walkowich.

301-946-8808

Prices are the best there too.

PaulT · by **PaulT** » 2021-06-28 11:27 p.m.

Schmitt Music right in Mpls. Doesn't appear to be a wasteland. Carries Yamaha. Has 8820s in stock. Will order in an 882G.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://shop.schmittmusic.com/brass/tro ... trombones/">https://shop.schmittmusic.com/brass/trombone-low-brass/trombones/</LINK_TEXT>

hyperbolica · by **hyperbolica** » 2021-06-29 9:38 a.m.

My favorites :

Baltimore Brass

Brass Ark

Horn Guys

Brass Exchange

Schmitts

JCBone · by **JCBone** » 2021-06-29 2:31 p.m.

[quote="Doug Elliott"]Yes, call Chuck's and talk to Lee Walkowich.

301-946-8808

Prices are the best there too.[/quote]

+1

lupusargentus · by **lupusargentus** » 2021-06-29 10:57 p.m.

Probably your best bet for a local store is Schmitt Music in Brooklyn Center. They have a huge selection of horns in stock.

I bought a couple horns from Brass Exchange. Doug knows his stuff and is really helpful.

PosauneCat · by **PosauneCat** » 2021-06-30 12:55 a.m.

[quote="BGuttman"]The "Big Two" are Dillon's in New Jersey and Hornguys in California.

That model may be tough to find. Open wraps (882GO) are definitely more popular.[/quote]

Yeah, I know. But, I like the closed wrap better. I can order from a local store if I don’t find one elsewhere.

Thanks,

Mike

PosauneCat · by **PosauneCat** » 2021-06-30 1:40 a.m.

[quote="Elow"]<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Model-Y ... 6890.l6249">https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Model-YSL-882-Xeno-Professional-Tenor-Trombone-SN-773372-SUPERB-/334057211553?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249</LINK_TEXT>[/quote]

That’s an 882, but not a G.

sacfxdx · by **sacfxdx** » 2021-06-30 1:33 p.m.

Have you seen this? https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=21049

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2021-06-30 11:47 p.m.

[quote="sacfxdx"]Have you seen this? https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=21049[/quote]

882 is a tenor,

822 is a bass.

Cheers,

Andy

PosauneCat · by **PosauneCat** » 2021-07-01 1:28 a.m.

[quote="Doug Elliott"]Yes, call Chuck's and talk to Lee Walkowich.

301-946-8808

Prices are the best there too.[/quote]

Thanks, Doug. I will call him!

Vegasbound · by **Vegasbound** » 2021-07-01 2:00 a.m.

DJ Kennedy ;)

sacfxdx · by **sacfxdx** » 2021-07-01 7:24 a.m.

[quote="elmsandr"]

882 is a tenor,

822 is a bass.

Cheers,

Andy[/quote]

Now where did I put those glasses? :-)

Sorry. Misread the numbers.

ithinknot · by **ithinknot** » 2021-07-01 10:43 a.m.

~~[url]~~<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/conte ... large-bore">https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/content/yamaha-ysl-882ugii-large-bore</LINK_TEXT>

PosauneCat · by **PosauneCat** » 2021-07-01 11:00 a.m.

[quote="ithinknot"]~~[url]~~<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/conte ... large-bore">https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/content/yamaha-ysl-882ugii-large-bore</LINK_TEXT>[/quote]

Interesting!! I wonder what the other letters in the model number mean? I’ve never seen UGII before. I’m going to call them. Thank you!!

PosauneCat · by **PosauneCat** » 2021-07-01 1:53 p.m.

[quote="ithinknot"]~~[url]~~<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/conte ... large-bore">https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/content/yamaha-ysl-882ugii-large-bore</LINK_TEXT>[/quote]

Thank you very much for the lead on this instrument. I talked to Doug Bert at the Brass Exchange for about an hour today and based on what we talked about I bought the horn! He says the condition is great and it can be returned if I don't want it for some reason. The price is terrific and it has obviously been played by someone who took exceptional care of it.

Mike

ithinknot · by **ithinknot** » 2021-07-01 2:06 p.m.

[quote="PosauneCat"]<QUOTE author="ithinknot" post_id="152076" time="1625150594" user_id="9763">
~~[url]~~<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/conte ... large-bore">https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/content/yamaha-ysl-882ugii-large-bore</LINK_TEXT>[/quote]

Thank you very much for the lead on this instrument.
</QUOTE>

You're welcome. I'm very proud of my ability to recognize three-digit numbers :pant:

Enjoy the new toy!

PosauneCat · by **PosauneCat** » 2021-07-01 2:15 p.m.

[quote="ithinknot"]<QUOTE author="PosauneCat" post_id="152087" time="1625162026" user_id="11292">

Thank you very much for the lead on this instrument.[/quote]

You're welcome. I'm very proud of my ability to recognize three-digit numbers :pant:

Enjoy the new toy!
</QUOTE>

AH, but this one has not only three digits, it has four letters!! "UGII" Don't sell yourself short. :good:

Cotboneman · by **Cotboneman** » 2021-07-02 3:11 p.m.

I can't say enough good things about Horn Guys. I've purchased three trombones from them over the years, and always had a very good experience.

Anonymous · by **Anonymous** » 2021-07-02 8:04 p.m.

Great service at Baltimore Brass and Houghton Horns!

boneberg · by **boneberg** » 2021-07-03 5:09 a.m.

[quote="Doug Elliott"]Yes, call Chuck's and talk to Lee Walkowich.

301-946-8808

Prices are the best there too.[/quote]

Yep, over more than 40 years, Chuck's always came through with the best prices!

It's great that we have so many good choices.

Model34 · by **Model34** » 2025-04-10 10:23 a.m.

[quote="harrisonreed"]

Hickeys is great. But many small town music shops do a great job! For example Gerry's music in MA was a great store.
[/quote]

Thanks for the tip! Gerry’s had an 88HTO which I bought. It is on its way to me now.

Also thanks to Polina Tarasenko for brilliantly demonstrating how this horn can sound!

<YOUTUBE id="JpvzJwJcvwk">https://youtu.be/JpvzJwJcvwk?si=rKiprm4RMzkOM2eX</YOUTUBE>

Based on my search of the entire lower 48, it may well have been the last new HTO in existence!

JTeagarden · by **JTeagarden** » 2025-04-23 9:17 p.m.

Whatever happened to Giardinelli's in NYC for brass instruments?

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2025-04-23 9:31 p.m.

[quote="JTeagarden"]Whatever happened to Giardinelli's in NYC for brass instruments?[/quote]

Giardinelli closed the NYC store some 40 years ago. They set up as a mail order house in Livingston, NY, but I haven't heard from that one in several decades.

JTeagarden · by **JTeagarden** » 2025-04-24 8:21 a.m.

Haha! That's what I expected, strange how, when you fall asleep for 40 years, they pull a stunt like that.

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