I needed a minor repair on my trombone, and Lionel was extremely helpful and fast, despite being a trumpet player himself This was my first experience with delightful shop, and the woman with the instruments was friendly and knowledgeable, and this seems like it would be a great place to test out instruments and rent as well. There are some fascinating old instruments that make the shop look like a museum! read more

The most amazing, sweetest, kindest business that pours music into our community! Come visit Hornucopia for music lessons, equipment cleaning, or musical equipment rental! I love the option to bring the kids here so they can touch and feel and choose what instrument they want to play. Love supporting small businesses like this one! read more

Rented instruments for my kids for band. They were always courteous, honest, and willing to answer questions. If my kids didn't stop playing, we'd still be renting from them. read more

This review is for instrument repair: Lionel worked on my tenor trombone and my bass trombone. He repaired the slides on both my horns and fixed up all the little things that needed doing like servicing the valves. Great service, reasonable pricing, very helpful and friendly guy. read more

Interesting collection of reconditioned, mostly professional quality insruments, gathered from all around the US. Saw some trumpets that I know a little about. The owner was able to describe them in extensive detail. Her knowledge of professional trumpets was impressive! read more

This store knows nothing about trombones. They handled my trombone incorrectly and could've broken it. They also will overcharge you if you look young. I asked for an estimate on repairing my water key and re-aligning my slide and they took it to the back and changed my water key pad and charged me 30$ even though I had already changed the pad that day. I told them the pad I had there was already new and I didn't ask for this but they responded that they already did it. read more

Rude. Inappropriate and just deserves to go out of business. Called to ask about help with a wind instrument. Incredibly rude snob on the other line proceeded to imply that I had a 'Chinese crap' instrument. I'm a customer (or could have been one) and don't need a lecture from some flunky who works in a retail shop. This place deserves to go out of business. Fortunately there are better options out there- called a local music shop in Burlingame and they are happy to help us out. read more

This place is a gem. Incredible, nationally unique selection of restored vintage trumpets and other instruments. If you're a hobbyist looking for a great deal on a reliable used horn, or a pro musician or collector looking to try a lot of horns and get something special, this is the place. read more

**Always shop small, locally owned businesses!!** I was referred to Hornucopia to rent my daughter's first band instrument. This is her first experience on the school band, and of course she chose an instrument as big has her, and one I have no experience with... an alto saxophone. Luck for me, Hornucopia was just down the street from my office. I stopped in on my lunch and the sweet lady at the front desk answered all my questions about the instrument and rental process. At the height of her back to school busy season, she made herself available to me and was sure I was provided the best service. I set up an appointment with her to come back for the actual rental process-- only a few min long to fill out paperwork and sign agreements, and get/inspect your rental. I really appreciate the wonderful guidance and service. On top of all of that, Horucopia's rental prices are very competitive! Can't say enough great things about this place. read more

Wonderful shop. Super helpful staff. No technology at all, bring a check book. Very happy with them. They should recruit someone to make a simple website with basic info, and allow recurring payments on credit card. We'll be back for sure. read more

This is a specialty shop that captures a lot of loyalty because of its horn specialization, but the service is poor. I called several times about renting an instrument and every time I called, I couldn't get a simple answer - just long explanations about why it would be difficult to rent, difficult to rent short term, why I couldn't rent for my fiancée as a surprise without him picking it up himself. I would have preferred to work with them, but they acted as though they didn't want my business. For reference, my experience speaking with other horn/instrument rental services in the Bay Area was nothing but positive. Hope this helps. read more

I've never walked out without buying something -- Sandy is amazingly kind, their selection of vintage horns is the best in the bay area, and their prices on accessories is outstanding. Highly, highly recommend coming here for beginners and pros alike! read more

Hornucopia is open full-time. A few reviews below are incorrect on this point. The store is a nexus for quality instruments, repairs, and top-drawer instructors. Hornucopia has a substantial collection of antique and vintage instruments. These are displayed in handsome glass and wood cases among charming historical photographs. Browsing the instruments and chatting with the expert staff is like a trip to a museum. My child takes sax lessons from Patrick Wolf at Hornucopia. We rented his first saxophone here as well. For other parents with a child starting out, I would recommend seeking a quality instructor here first. The store provides an instrument free of charge for your child to try during a first lesson. If the type of instrument and the instructor are both a good fit, proceeding with the instructor and using the resources of the store should be a happy experience. read more

I have been renting an alto sax for my son here for 5 + years. They have good , fast service and are always very helpful. They service is always very quick too! read more

I went bay Hornucopia a week ago and it looked like it was closed. It is a shame if it is closed. They had such a great selection of vintage horns and woodwinds. The owners were knowledgeable and helpful. I hope they are relocating or I was mistaken when I passed by. read more

I absolutely love this place. It is full of amazing horns. Sandy is fantastic, delightful person, excellent knowledge (always learn from her) and spot on pricing, very fair and honest. This is an opinion I have heard from one after another person. Lionel is the best. repairs are A+++++ You get what you pay for. I would suggest you go nowhere else. One of a kind store. Thank you guys. read more

Sandy is amazing! My wife and I went in to see what my King Super 20 Tenor Sax might be worth and she spent at least a half-hour telling us about the horn, exactly what could be done to get it back to perfect state (I played it in high school in the 70's in a rock band and it got a bit knocked-up). And the store is like a timeline of great instruments... has to be better than most museums! If you love horns this is a MUST SEE!!! Thank you, Sandy, for the time you spent with us and creating such a place for the love of brass! read more

A really wonderful place. When you first walk in the mass of glass cabinets with glittering brass instruments is amazing. They rent & repair instruments, and they buy and sell used instruments. Many of the used instruments are exquisite - from the days before cheesy mass production. Sandy (the owner) knows all kinds of arcane details about every manufacturer, how they evolved, and which periods produced the best instruments. They have saxes, trumpets, flutes, trombones, ... you name it. If it's musical and glitters, they carry it. I bought a sax there after years of renting. I'm very satisfied. They also do lessons: there are lesson rooms in the back where a range of teachers give regular lessons every week. As far as I can tell, they're all good. I've used Geordie Frazer for years, and love him. Talk to Sandy to find a teacher. I can't think of anything to not like about them. read more

Hornucopia - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Carlos, California

Sadly, Larry of Hornucopia is scaling back his operations as he nears retirement. My understanding is that they will still be in business for rentals and possibly sales, but in all probability the operations of the store will be scaled back. Hornucopia had a great run under Larry though, and hopefully it stays in business for years to come. I really like this place. read more

Great music instrument shop! I called for a flute maintenance, Larry was very nice and so accommodating, he helped me out immediately so that my daughter could have her flute ready over the weekend. Owner Sandy was also very kind and honest. Their price was the most reasonable one compared with other shops, highly recommend!!! read more

Sandy is great. I stopped by and talked to her about an alto saxophone I'm thinking of selling. She was super helpful and knowledgeable about the instrument. The shop itself is beautiful and has a ton of instruments in glass cabinets. The three people ahead of me in line were all buying trumpets for their kids. Pro Tip: Don't take pics of the instruments. Thanks for your advice Sandy! read more

The store is chock full of very nice used instruments. I went to look at trumpets, and they have a large case of Vincent Bach Stradivarius trumpets with various options from the earliest Mount Vernon, NY, years, to recent production. There were also many models from many other manufacturers. It is a great place to try out a bunch of different horns and figure out what you really like. Most of their stock is high-end instruments, although also had a few blemished and mid-grade trumpets for sale when I visited. My visit was in December 2009. read more

We just went to Horucopia to get a trumpet for my son who is starting the 5th grade music program at school. We had such a wonderful experience! The Craigs clearly have a wealth of experience and a deep love for instruments and music. Sandy is very knowledgeable and patient. She helped us understand the trade-offs of renting (which they do at a very reasonable cost) or buying a used instrument. And, she helped us understand how to care for the trumpet. We will definitely be going back for our future musical needs. Highly recommend! read more

In a time when a friendly voice and a helpful person are hard to find, Sandy at Hornucopia fulfills that need. The days of the Mom and Pop store are fading but Sandy makes us realize why they are so important. Music and musical instruments are personal choices and an expression of who we are. Music is a passion and it's always great to find a kindred spirit who feels the same way and will treat you with respect whether you are a beginner or a pro. Sandy went the extra mile to help me get supplies for my music school. She understands that the success of her business is the relationships she builds with her customers. I will now be a lifelong patron of Hornucopia, knowing that when I call they will always take care of me in a kind and knowledgable manner and treat people with respect no matter what level of proficiency you are. read more

The very best brass instrument expertise, repair services, and customer service I've experienced in California. Welcoming staff answered all of my questions about my 40-year-old King 3-B trombone. Lionel (brass instruments repair expert) assessed each issue with succinct identification of the problem and best-path solution. The repair price was fair, too. Unlike my prior experience at a nearby competitor, Hornucopia was a completely satisfying experience. This will be my go-to brass instrument repair and purchasing store in the Bay Area! read more

Hornucopia - The great Hornucopia store (next door to Hot Wok Bistro) in San Carlos. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Carlos, California

I have a thirty-year-old LeBlanc clarinet in need of refurbishment, and I called Sandy to ask for a referral to a woodwind specialist. I explained at the time that the instrument was very valuable to me and that it was important to me that I find someone who really specializes in clarinets. She told me that the store has a "woodwind expert" who would be the perfect person to work on it. I took her word for that and brought the instrument in to Larry, who was then again introduced to me as a "woodwind expert." As it turns out, Larry is a well-known trumpet player and brass expert. He has worked on clarinets before, evidently. When I got the instrument back, it would not play high notes without a great deal of effort. I brought the instrument back in, and had to literally ask Sandy to play the instrument before she would concede that something was wrong with it. Larry wasn't there at the time, but called me later to say that he understood I had a "complaint" but that nothing was really wrong - I just couldn't play it, but he could. I went back in, and Sandy told me that she really wasn't a clarinet player so she had been wrong to agree with me that it wouldn't play properly. Long story short, both a local band director as well as an actual clarinet specialist both confirmed that almost all key pads Larry had put on the instrument (12 out of 14) were improperly set, were the wrong thickness for my model, and were barely attached to the keys at that (only the smallest drops of adhesive were used, so that the pads were easy to pop out). The clarinet specialist checked the instrument in front of me so that I could see the problems. He also took photos showing the leaks (which were major - and obvious to anyone who bothered to check). In separate conversations, both Larry and Sandy countered that the band director and the clarinet specialist could be wrong! No matter what I said, there was just no way either would acknowledge there really was a problem. I will say that Larry did call the following day and left a kinder message, saying that "if" the clarinet was not working then by all means he wanted to fix it. I went in to thank him for the message but added that I was sure he could understand why I wasn't comfortable bringing the clarinet to him a third time. He said he doesn't give refunds, but I would be "silly" to pay someone else to fix the clarinet when he was willing to fix it "for free." OK, really? I didn't even expect a full refund, but a token gesture towards the fact that he didn't do the job in the first (and second) place would have been decent. I decided to just cut my losses and have it fixed properly elsewhere. The entire experience was stressful and negative. Larry and Sandy would never acknowledge that there was a real problem with the work done. Not only did Larry fail to resolve the problem, but both he and Sandy showed poor customer service, an insulting attitude, and a complete lack of integrity. I am sure that brass players are in better hands here, but woodwinds should look elsewhere (I highly recommend Daniel Deitch in San Francisco, who not only did an excellent repair job but who also is an incredibly kind and helpful person to work with). No matter what your instrument, just make sure to ask questions ahead of time and make sure the instrument is playing well before you write that check. read more

Excellent quality products, service and store overall. Will buy from again! I love my Yamaha and have been playing it everyday since. Also great for mouthpieces! read more

Good news--Hornucopia is alive, well, and plan to continue their business as before; we were there on Saturday. The owner will be focusing on repairs and his partner will be handling sales--a division of labor, not a scale-back. This store is a horn player's dream! Case after case of beautiful trumpets, saxes, French horns--you name it (and some I couldn't name!). Lessons, rentals, sales--very friendly and customer focused. If you play a horn, it's worth your time to check it out. read more

I've been dealing with Sandy for almost 20 years. I've bought and sold trumpets to her, and have used Lionel for trumpet repair. All parties are fair and honest. Great place to buy a used instrument. They are all in great shape and the prices are reasonable. Better than buying on Ebay, where you really never know what you're going to get. read more

This is more of an instrument shop, rather than a place to get music, or tuners, or other accessories. I play the flute, so I've been in there to browse and try out different their selections on different occasions. I will admit I was reluctant to visit the shop, even though it is nearby because the name made me think they wouldn't have a selection of woodwinds, but I was wrong. The staff was helpful, honest, and provided an unbiased ear on each occasion. I even ended up purchasing a used flute there and it was a great deal. When it came time to sell my old flutes, I hopefully took them there looking to save myself some craigslist trouble. The owner looked them over, noted the repairs that would need to be made, told me how much she could give me for them, and then suggested that I would get a much better price if I sold them myself (b/c people buying from a music store expect fully repaired instruments, so she'd have to pay me less to justify spending the money to fix them). How's that for honesty? One thing to note: this is not a good place to take a small child or stroller. There are so many instruments inside that there's little room to maneuver and get the kid to a place where nothing is within reach. So leave the kid at home and go try out the instruments on your own. read more

WOWEE!!! I went to Hornucopia today to look for a piccolo trumpet and found the motherload of cool horns. They had hundreds of trumpets and brass instruments, from the obscure, to the popular. That had wind instruments that I have never even heard of, and that's impressive, since I'm a band director! It was almost like an archive or a museum for brass instruments, except you can play and purchase the instruments if you so desire. Also, if you're looking for lessons, they only allow top-notch, professional, union member musicians to teach at their business. I've been to many a music store in my day, but nothing as awe-worthy as Hornucopia (what an awesome name they have too!) read more

I've been in the music business for over 40 years, as an educator and performer. Hornucopia is an INCREDIBLE business if you are looking for high quality woodwinds and brass. I have tried out and then recommended that students purchase instruments from Hornucopia. I have had numerous students rent high quality instruments from them. They -- Sandy and Larry -- are always friendly and highly knowledgeable and professional. I have purchased instruments there, myself. I have always been satisfied. Repairs done by Hornucopia are of the highest order. I feel that my students and I are very fortunate to have such a high quality music store right here in our area! Try them out, I am sure you won't be disappointed. read more

I needed a couple new pads on keys on my Gemeinhart(sp?) flute. I also had the flute polished and had a dent taken out. Fantastic work!! (And Reasonable Price!!). Thank you!! read more

Dont wast your money anywhere else. I took My OBOE to 2 different places in the San Francisco bay area and both wanted from 800 to 1200 for fixing it. I took it to Larry Souza that operates the repair shop located within Hornucopia music store in San Carlos, and all Larry did was to replace one pad fix the upper register keys which were all mis adjusted and looked over the OBOE and I was charged about 80 dollars for the hour that he spent on it. I wish I had gone there first - because it would have saved me a lot of time. These people are very friendly. read more

My son's trumpet teacher strongly recommended that we take his horn here for repair--so we did. We got good service, work done promptly, etc.--very happy. The trumpet players in band told me what a special place Hornucopia is, and recommended I take my son to see it. Wow! What a place. Display cases everywhere, crammed full of instruments for sale (some of historic instruments) and for display. When I asked the clerk to show my music students some of her interesting instruments, she gladly walked us around and told us about some of the horns and why they were special. It was fascinating, and she was clearly VERY knowledgeable about them!!! read more

Prices are high than other stores. No selection of new instruments. Very little selection of woodwind instruments. Was very stand offish too me. I will shop somewhere else. read more

I've been there 3 times. First two times are for repairing a Yamaha 6335s trumpet and the last time was came over for information regarding french horns. Based on my limited experiences, I like this store. There are many interesting Brass instruments in their display cabinets. I can't comment much on the price. The repair job was very nice! So all my future repairs will be on them. Their charge rate is similar to others but with better craftsman than the other nice repair person who is only several minutes from me. The lady that always in the shop is very nice and knowledgeable. I got a huge amount of information on french horns even though I might still like to take the risk of getting an ugly horn and bring to them to fix. Finally this is a trust able store to go to. It should be one of the top repair shop in the bay area. read more

Okay so basically I visited here not long ago. Just as I entered the atmosphere was pleasing and surrounded with very friendly workers. When I entered the place with nice people one of them said "May I help you?" Okay with past experiences, in my opinion BAD music stores no one actually asked me if they could help me. The workers in the last visited stores of mine kept crunching on potato chips ignoring the customers. Wow. I was astonished with the friendly man in Hornucopia. I said no thanks and saw the antique and unique alto saxes. Hornucopia is a small place, but let me tell you, filled with a ton of instruments! It was heaven for me! There were saxes, trumpets, trombones, clarinets.... But the instruments were quite pricey, but of great quality. I'm going to visit tomorrow and see if I can actually get an alto sax! 5 stars! :) But one thing. Can anyone here please put the store hours of Hornucopia? It would be a great help. :) read more

We have been a customer with them for more than a year. They are very knowledgeable. Price is reasonable. They fix any problem you may have with the instrument right away. They are polite and helpful. read more

Amazing place, I could browse in here for a couple hours. Excellent service. Prices are reasonable too. I bought a flute for my daughter here, and two trumpets for my son. They support what they sell and are very knowledgeable. Check them out you won't be disappointed read more