About Us

Why we’re here

After many years in the brass instrument world, I noticed that there were limited options for brass players interested in keeping their horns clean and maintained. Ultrasonic cleaning – the safest and most effective method – is offered as a side service by music stores, but that often entailed leaving your horn for a period of time and maybe not knowing who is actually handling it. My idea was to start a shop where a culture of cleaning and routine maintenance was the main focus, not just an extra service. Where you could choose to have the cleaning done same-day or even while-you-wait, in a rustic and casual environment. A place where we can talk brass, and you can maybe pick up a maintenance item or an accessory. Introducing Brass Mavens!

What we do

Brass Mavens offers a range of services with the focus on maintaining your horn, including:

Ultrasonic Cleaning

This is our focus – to help you maintain a clean horn and clean sound with the safest and most effective cleaning method. Our ultrasonic cleaning is available for trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, and other horns in that general size range. This is limited by the dimensions of our ultrasonic equipment.

For those instruments or heirlooms deemed to be too fragile to be exposed to ultrasonics, we offer the option of a Safe Chemical Cleaning.

The products we use are environmentally friendly and safe for use in California. Brass Mavens strive to be water-responsible. A lot of our rinse water goes to the yard and gardens!

Water Key Service

We offer service on both traditional lever and Amado water keys. It's important that your water keys drain efficiently, but also that they fully seal when not in use. We have the tools, parts and expertise to replace springs and corks on traditional water keys, and the parts and knowhow to service the more tricky Amado style. We are also experienced with Saturn water keys and the Joy Key.

TROMBONE HANDSLIDE TUNE-Up

Brass Mavens has tooled up to provide a professional trombone slide tune-up service, which includes expert inspection, cleaning, polishing, aligned / adjusted, water key serviced, and custom-cut slide bumper corks installed. Your slide is fragile, and a good maintenance routine will help maintain its speed and agility. We can put the glide back in that slide.

Precision Valve ALignments - coming soon!

Most quality valved instruments are built well, to the most accurate and consistent specifications as a company can economically do. “Measure twice, cut once”, as the old saying goes. Brasswinds are made mostly from metal, but out of necessity, certain parts - such as piston and top cap felts - are often made from felt. With use and exposure to moisture, felts will compress, causing that quality horn to go slightly out of alignment over time.

When the Brass Mavens does an ultrasonic or safe chem clean, we replace those worn, soggy felts with clean new felts of the size used by the original manufacturer. This puts the instrument back into its original alignment, making that good horn play well again. But what if you could make a good horn better? An accurate valve port alignment, using state-of-the-art tools and contemporary non-compressing materials will keep that horn from going out of alignment and at the same time optimizing your current set-up. The Mavens PVA is coming soon.

Casual DENT WORK

The active player will experience the occasional dent or ding. To help keep your horn looking its best, the Brass Mavens offers casual dent removal. Send us a pic or bring it by.

Case renewal

If your horn spends much time in a case, you want to be sure it is free of dust and odors. We will blow out your case interior, and can treat it with a chemical-free deodorizer if needed.

Instrument appraisal and sales help

Have a horn you'd like to sell, but would like help with determining its value and finding the right buyer? Want to know some history of that old family heirloom? Brass Mavens can help. Music appraisal services cover different areas, such as insurance replacement, legal settlement of damages, IRS charitable donation, and consulting for archives and institutions. Clients include the Barbara Caton Family Trust.

CONSIGNMENT SALES

Looking to reduce the size of your arsenal? Brass Mavens will get your horn looking and playing its best, then some handsome photos and detailed listing on multiple platforms to help find that beloved old horn a good home.

What we don’t do

The Brass Mavens focus is on cleaning and maintenance. We currently do not offer services like piston refurbishment, complete refinishing, custom engraving, etc. Some of these things are on the horizon for us but we will do our best to refer you to experienced resources for that type of work.

How we work

We provide our services on an appointment basis. Just contact us with information about your needs and we’ll set up a time that works for you.

Policies and fine print

All work is guaranteed.

Some products used in this shop MAY contain chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm.

About me

After college and some professional trumpet playing experience, I began my career in the brasswind manufacturing industry in the early 2000s, joining Kanstul Musical Instruments as sales manager. While at Kanstul, I focused on increasing the visibility of the company and our products, and strengthening our relationships with dealers, artists, private label brands, and the player community.

Soon, Zig Kanstul tasked me to develop a bass trumpet, as we had a serious buyer but we didn’t yet make one. This became the Kanstul Model 1088, which quickly became the standard in orchestra halls, brass bands, conservatories and studios. That was the first of a series of instrument development projects that I managed, with Zig's design oversight (and utilizing the resources and talent of Kanstul craftsmen and staff!). The next was the development of our soprano trombone and slide trumpet - with considerable testing provided by top call studio and international players. Worked together with my mentor, industry legend Mudge Miller (CMI), on the creation of the Kanstul X Model trumpet and the much-storied H. Passant series trumpets; worked directly with Zig Kanstul on a C/Bb trumpet project; managed development of a line of field instruments for Tama; and helped assemble a “dream team” of industry legends to work with Zig as he pursued his last great project: the Kanstul Grand Series and the Zig Kanstul (York-style) tubas.

My time at Kanstul gave me a lot of exposure to the art and science of brass manufacturing. Along the way, I spent a lot of time on the factory floor with our craftsmen, as well as interact with the brass legends who frequently collaborated with Kanstul, such as R. Dale Olson, Byron Autrey, Doc Severinsen, Jerry Callet, Charley Davis, Alan Kaplan and Claudio Roditi; and worked closely on projects with Flip Oakes, Paul Cacia, George Roberts, Mike Suter, Tim Wendt, Marcus Belgrave, and Wallace Roney.

My consulting work includes projects for companies like Protec, Cannonball Musical Instruments, Calicchio Instruments, E. Benge in Kansas City, and The Martin Brasswind Company.

I was a member of the inaugural Sea World Beach Band back in the day, and have played trumpet professionally with a few local bands as well as some name artists. I currently play with The Wiseguys Big Band Machine, a popular local band performing a mixture of what we call “Big Band Vegas Swing”.

Testimonials

“I just wanted to say congratulations and how excited I am about your new venture and the company Brass Mavens. I've always known you over the years to be a quality musician, trumpet player and sales professional in our industry, always great advice and someone who gives excellent customer service and support. I know your customers will be very excited to do business with you and I recommend you and hold you in the highest regard. I know your customers will be well served with your expertise and your professionalism. It is always a pleasure working with you and I'm excited about Brass Mavens and how you'll be able to help a lot of people”

Rich Wetzel - Bach Trumpet Artist

Band Leader - Groovin’ Higher Orchestra

District Manager at Conn-Selmer, Inc (Ret.)

"I just picked up my Lechner rotary trumpets from Charles and they both look and play like they did brand new. Thank you Brass Mavens for your exceptional service"

Tony Ellis - Pacific Symphony