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| Store Info |
1-800-540-4ABI
Retail Store Hours
| Tuesday-Friday |
10am-7pm |
| Saturday |
10am-5pm |
| Sunday-Monday |
Closed |
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Wait, where are the instruments?
You probably noticed that most of our catalog pages for instruments have some good general information about buying an instrument, but not much in the way of actual instruments to buy. There may be some vintage, used or closeout items listed, but the majority of the new instruments that we sell are not shown online. There are a few reasons for this:
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First, most major manufacturers limit dealers from showing deep discount pricing on their website, and since we offer such discounts we often can't show you our real price online. We'd rather have you call and talk to us about our inventory than give you the false impression that we charge too much.
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Second, our inventory is constantly changing, with instruments being sold and new stock coming in all the time, so any list we publish is likely to be out of date right away. We really feel bad when someone makes a special trip to our store based on something they saw online, only to find out once they arrive that we happened to be out of stock of that particular item. (This is also true for our used and vintage instruments, but we think it's important enough to make these items visible to break our own rule in this case.)
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Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we REALLY don’t think that musical instruments can be offered for purchase online in a way that allows you, the player, to make a truly informed choice. After all, instruments aren’t like televisions or video games where a review and some well-written text is probably enough to help you buy – there’s an awful lot of subjective analysis that has to take place when choosing a musical instrument, and no amount of photographs or hyperbole can substitute for a hands-on test play!
Having said that, we certainly appreciate that you’re probably here on our website because you want to know what we sell or gain some insight into choosing an instrument. With that in mind, we've attempted to come up with buyer's guides appropriate for each instrument type that will give you some idea of the brands and types of instruments we sell. We fully understand that buying an instrument can be a complex process with a sometimes overwhelming amount of information and variables involved, and these guides only just scratch the surface of what you probably need to know to make an informed decision. However, we've attempted to give you a good solid grounding from which to begin your quest.
A word of caution: There are many low-cost brands available on the market today that are woefully short on quality. If an instrument is lacking good engineering, materials, or workmanship, it is practically guaranteed to fail. We hear horror stories from band directors about instruments that well-meaning parents purchased for their children at a price that seemed too good to be true, only to find out once class begins that they are barely functional or play badly out of tune and cause unending frustration for the student. In our repair shop, we frequently see instruments of this nature that after 6 months or a year are unplayable and unrepairable. In contrast, a good-quality instrument that’s designed and built correctly and properly maintained and cared for should have a lifespan of 50 years or longer! A wise investment up front may save a lot of money and frustration down the road. If you’re not sure about your choices, PLEASE ask your teacher or band director for guidance before making a decision you may regret!
We believe in selling only instruments that we can be held fully accountable for as they face the test of time. Please feel free to contact us at any time by phone, fax, or email for the latest information on price, availability, and advice about your particular needs! |
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