Where to buy a new horn in California?

[tbdana]

I'm a dinosaur. When I was buying trombones in SoCal, there were places you could go an try out a bunch of horns, and even mix and match parts to get the best horn for you. I don't know if you can do that anymore.

I need to buy a small bore horn, my first such purchase in a couple decades. I want another Bach LT16M. The quality in these mass produced horns varies. I'm wondering if there is still a place in the Bay Area or L.A. (or anywhere else in the state) where you can try out a bunch of horns, where they keep a stock of horns on hand. I really don't want to buy the only one someone has, or to order one online, unless I know that horn is being made for me.

If you wanted to make sure you were getting a great playing 16M in California, where would you go these days?

[Slidehamilton]

You could try Anaheim band. I went there years ago, and they had a pretty nice collection of horns to try.

[Slidehamilton]

You could also go see Dick Akright in Oakland at K+G music.

[JohnL]

In SoCal, Ferguson Music/hornguys.com has been the go-to for quite a while now, though I'm not sure what's going on with them right now. Noah Gladstone (brassark.com) usually has a nice selection of vintage horns. Bertrand's Music usually brings a batch of instruments to SoCal Trombone Day, so you might contact them.

San Diego County Music Exchange in Vista might have something; they get some pretty cool stuff on consignment from time to time.

Up in the Bay Area, your best bet is probably brassgurus.com.

[tbdana]

Good leads so far. Thank you!

[tbdana]

You could also go see Dick Akright in Oakland at K+G music.

Do you maybe mean A&G Music on 14th St. in Oakland, which has now merged with House of Woodwinds?

[ZacharyThornton]

Looks like Hornguys might be undergoing new ownership. Who knows?

[Finetales]

It is pretty surprising to me that southern California has no big general music store like a Dillon Music. We are spoiled for great small/boutique shops like the BrassArk, and Horn Guys is (was?) good for the small selection of pro horns they have, but there's no place you can just go and try a bunch of stock horns and mouthpieces off the rack.

Given that it is southern California, I'm guessing property costs are a big reason. But surely there would be a ton of customers with all the schools and players in the area. Not to mention the direct link to Asia via the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, which I would think would make a house brand of Jin Baos make more sense than on the East Coast. LA seems like the perfect place for the Thomann of the Americas, and yet.

[brassmedic]

It is pretty surprising to me that southern California has no big general music store like a Dillon Music. We are spoiled for great small/boutique shops like the BrassArk, and Horn Guys is (was?) good for the small selection of pro horns they have, but there's no place you can just go and try a bunch of stock horns and mouthpieces off the rack.

Given that it is southern California, I'm guessing property costs are a big reason. But surely there would be a ton of customers with all the schools and players in the area. Not to mention the direct link to Asia via the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, which I would think would make a house brand of Jin Baos make more sense than on the East Coast.

Does Dillon Music sell new instruments? I don't see any on their website.

[JohnL]

...Horn Guys is (was?) good for the small selection of pro horns they have, but there's no place you can just go and try a bunch of stock horns and mouthpieces off the rack

There used to be places like that. When I moved down here in the mid-1980's, Zep's Music was still around. Whittaker Music and Anaheim Band Instruments were both pretty good, too. Zep's and Whittaker are gone and ABI is now Music and Arts.

Does Dillon Music sell new instruments? I don't see any on their website.

Their website is kind of pain to navigate, but yes, they do. Assuming they're doing a good job keeping their inventory current, this is what they have in stock:
https://www.dillonmusic.com/brass/tromb ... in_stock=1
They've got a lot of demo horns, too.

[Finetales]

Does Dillon Music sell new instruments? I don't see any on their website.

Plenty! Including from the modular makers.

Here's the new tenor trombones they offer. 111 different options, not including the 39 demo horns. They have a small house band Jin Bao line as well.

[brassmedic]

Does Dillon Music sell new instruments? I don't see any on their website.

Plenty! Including from the modular makers.

Here's the new tenor trombones they offer. 111 different options, not including the 39 demo horns. They have a small house band Jin Bao line as well.

Oh, I see now that you checked "new" under "condition" in the left column. Strange that if you don't do that, it only shows you used or demo instruments.

[Rrova]

I was in email contact with Steve Ferguson. I got his email through the Horn Guys site. Among a few things we talked about, he did mention he doesn't carry anything from Conn-Selmer.

From what I know, the only places that MIGHT have more than one sample to try is Dillon and Chuck Levin's, maybe Hickey's. I know that Aidan Ritchie (Burgerbob) was trying to sell one.

My youngest son is progressing very well on trombone and is currently using my well-playing 42B (that needs some work). If I were to get him a "new" Bach, I would probably try to find a used at good price that can still be worked on to look nice, add a new valve and change the slide tubes with something from MK.

Good luck!

[Jimkinkella]

Second for Brassark, Noah doesn't carry much new stuff, but there's usually a pretty good selection of used.
Dillon's is cool. Chuck Levin's used to be, still might be.

Adding in Park Avenue Music in San Jose (if you want to visit the bay area). Eric Hand has been my usual guy to talk to. Hadn't been up there in a number of years, but selection was pretty decent back then.

[tbdana]

Second for Brassark, Noah doesn't carry much new stuff, but there's usually a pretty good selection of used.

Noah is at the ITF right now, but was kind enough to write me back and say he doesn't have anything right now but will keep an eye out. Very nice of him.

[ZacharyThornton]

Even of the horns that have variation.. the 16M has always been crazy different. Good luck finding one!

[tbdana]

Even of the horns that have variation.. the 16M has always been crazy different. Good luck finding one!

I found one! Just a wonderful horn. Yay! (It has a gold brass bell, which is different).

[ZacharyThornton]

Awesome!! They are amazing horns for a lot of people! Just have to find the right one

[tbdana]

Awesome!! They are amazing horns for a lot of people! Just have to find the right one

They can indeed be great horns. The one I've been playing (which is borrowed from a friend) is not one of the good ones, unfortunately. Hoping I love this new one for a very long time. In fact, it's making me want to play small bore horns again, it's so much fun.

[ZacharyThornton]

Dude I am so glad to hear it! Upload some clips!