Brass Repairs and Custom Modifications
John Sandhagen’s Boneyard
John is a great repair technician who can do most anything out of his garage shop in Claremont California. He also loves a good beer! Give him a call at 909-626-2796 to set up an appointment.
Robb Stewart: Brass Instruments
Robb is probably the best brass repairman in the world. I take great inspiration and admiration from Robb and we’ve been friends for years. He is a master with any metal and also one of the most informed brass historians alive. Over the years he has created a variety of amazing one of a kind brass instruments, historic reproductions and restorations. Robb also maintains a list of used instruments for sale. Check out his website for his virtual museum and excellent articles updated mondays. His shop is what being a brass nerd is all about. Robb is currently semi-retired, but he is still doing small repair jobs.
Brad Close: The Brass Medic
Brad does great work and also we happen to share shop space together. He does a majority of my repairs for the instruments I sell and is ok with walk in clients, just do call ahead to make sure he is in the shop. He tries to keep regular hours M-F noon-5pm. Give him a call or text message at 818-957-2448 to set up an appointment. Did I mention Brad is a fabulous trombonist and knows how to rebuild and repair trombone slides…believe me, it’s an art.
Trombone Related Websites
SoCal Historical Brass
Los Angeles and Southern California’s professional historical brass players and instrument collection
The Conn Loyalist
One of my favorite websites for all things Conn related. A great source for pictures, specifications, serial numbers and more.
It’s a Bear!
This is a great website run by Olds instrument expert, John Lowe. You will find lots of information about all things Olds here. Great pictures, documents and more await you.
Jay Friedman: Principal Trombone of The Chicago Symphony
A friend of the Brass Ark and one of my favorite musicians. Jay’s website is filled with excellent articles on all things pertinent to today’s brass player… from picking the right horn to audition prep. He has some wise words to offer. Updated weekly.
The Trombone Forum
The worldwide online community of trombone players. One of the best resources for trombone related material on the internet. Look me up, my avatar is Slipmo
The Hornguys
Owned by trombonist Steve Ferguson, I started out working with Steve at this shop for a number of years back when I was in college and we were selling trombones out of Steve’s house. A great place to buy new brass instruments from makers that I don’t carry such as Adams Brass, Hirsbrunner, DeCarbo, Getzen, Gebr Alexander, Engelbert Schmid, Jurgen Voigt, Miraphone and Gronitz. Hornguys also carries cases from Marcus Bonna. Any new cases can be sourced from Hornguys and included in your orders from The Brass Ark
The Trombone Corner Podcast
Monthly podcasts hosted by Noah Gladstone and John Snell from Bob Reeves Brass.
Instrument Makers
Bob Reeves Brass
My mouthpiece collaborator and dear friends. Here’s a link to their shop. They also stock new trumpets from Shires and Hub van Laar and Shires Trombones.
O’Malley Trombones
Custom Trombones exclusively at The Brass Ark, 100% made in Chicago, IL in collaboration with Miles O’Malley and Jay Friedman
Markus Leuchter: Brass Instruments
Markus learned his craft as the late Heribert Glassl’s apprentice. He is now making some of the finest brass instruments in Germany. In addition to his own designs, we collaborated together to bring our “Baby Fuchs” model bass trombone to market. Markus is a dear friend and he puts 100% of his love and skill into every instrument he builds. I’m proud to say his instruments are available exclusively in the USA through The Brass Ark.
Ewald Meinl
Arguably the best modern historic brass instruments in the world. I own two tenor sackbuts and a classical trombone from the Meinl brothers and they are fabulous! Made in a small shop in Geretsried Germany