What's New
5/17/10
How about that we've just opened a second store in Long
Beach, across the city from our original store? Find it
here. The new store is conveniently located near
Long Beach Airport and Long Beach City College, just north of the 405 freeway.
It's also next door to the Long Beach Jazz Workshop and Long Beach Woodwinds,
owned by the great saxophonist Rusty Higgins.
The new store features two showrooms and six teaching
studios, which will be available for rent hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly.
The merchandise selection will be similar to the other store, but on a bit
smaller scale. If you'd like us to transfer anything between the stores,
just call ahead, as we'll do a weekly run between them.
The Long Beach store will celebrate its grand opening on
Saturday May 22, 2010, from 2-8pm. Please stop by. It will be
staffed by trombonist Dave Bridges, who used to run things at Bronstein in San
Francisco.
5/17/10
S. E. Shires will soon offer a Pro Select model tenor
trombone with F-attachment that is specially made for The Horn Guys. It
will feature a wide slide, one leadpipe, an axial flow valve, and a medium
weight 8.5" gold brass bell. Case will be included, and at $3500, you'll
save nearly $1000 over the similar modular Artist Custom model. No options
will be available on this horn, but the quality is the same, and it is made in
the same Hopedale, MA shop as all S.E. Shires instruments. Shires is also
ready to introduce a one-piece trombone bell. You may be able to try it at
the ITF in Texas this summer.
5/17/10
Miraphone has a new version of their 5/4 size 1291/1292 CC
tuba. This new model 1293 has a larger bell, and an oversize fifth rotary
valve. The leadpipe can be the large from the 1291, the medium from the
1292, or both can be included with simple mounting brackets to make the
leadpipes interchangeable. I played this one in silver plate at the
Miraphone plant last month, and it's incredible. The fifth valve is so
good, you'll want to use it on every low note you can. The price for
lacquer should be a bit over $10000 USD.
Stay tuned, Miraphone is testing a new 6/4 piston BBb and
CC tuba. I've played the BBb, and though it's a monster, it's incredible.
Price is not set yet. This sounds like the sort of instrument where if you
have to ask how much, you probably shouldn't. I have pictures will will be
posted soon.
5/17/10
Kanstul Musical Instruments plans to offer a CC cimbasso
with 4 pistons and one rotor. Bore should be about .689", and pricing
should be in the range of $10000 USD. They'll be finalizing the design and
testing over the summer.
Kanstul is also testing a new small bore tenor trombone
with in-slide tuning. The bell is a new 2-piece .023" medium weight.
The slide can be had in yellow or gold brass. The model number will most
likely be 1606ST. No price is set yet.
5/17/10
After over 15 years driving a Honda Civic, Steve finally
has a new car: a Honda CR-V. All I can say is that I waited far too long
to step up to a newer model.
