Thomas Musical Instruments is quality and great value. Great service and knowledge. I would reccomend them for service and rebuilds

I highly recommend John with Thomas Musical Instruments. He fixed my son's trumpet in less than 24 hours and was reasonably cost.

John was so professional! We arranged a meeting for him to look at my child's flute. There was a simple repair that he did on the spot to have it working instantly. I asked him if the flute needed any other repairs or maintenance and he said it was in good working order. He didn't try to upsale me and told me all he wanted was a happy musician. I highly recommend!!! read more

I've read countless reviews on how amazing this place is. I'm sad that my experience wasn't the same and less than satisfactory. I went in beginning of September to request my flute for repadding repairs. I told them that I did not need it for about another month or so, so they said that that was great because that's plenty of time. It's already past the middle of October and from my understanding it hasn't even been started on yet. read more

These folks (shop owner John and employee Sabrina) are the greatest! They both do repairs on instruments, and they deal squarely and fairly. They have a large selection of books and will order more. You can get music lessons there in one of their private teaching rooms. This is a great local business that's worth supporting. It's a little out of the way, so you are unlikely to just "happen across" this place, but it is really convenient if you know where you are going. It is right across the street from New Leaf on the West side. read more

Another shout-out for a great example of the right way to run a business: Last week one of my wife's saxophone students had a problem with his sax. She referred him, as she does all her other students, to John at Thomas Musical Instruments for the repair. The student's mom was a little skeptical because of the inconvenience and expense of driving from Saratoga all the way to Santa Cruz - even worse, making another trip two weeks later to pick up the sax when it's finally fixed. At least that's what she expected. The word came back: "He fixed it on the spot while we waited, it only took him twenty minutes, and he only charged us $10 for the work!" This is typical: Quality work, done quickly (either on the spot or on the promised schedule), at prices that make you wonder how he even pays the rent. His customers are always surprised and delighted. He has serviced my wife's saxophones and flute and clarinet, and my trombones. (I watched him earn her trust with his work on several other instruments before she let him near her rare vintage pro-grade alto sax.) He's the go-to guy for several friends' brass and woodwind instruments. Also sells new and consignment instruments, sheet music, accessories and gadgets, etc. Always exemplary work and business practices. The shop is even a fun place to visit: Crowded and cluttered with too much business, the rafters are filled with instrument carcasses to be disassembled and used as component donors for repair work. John and his technicians are musicians too, and when they blow even just a few test notes through an instrument it's obvious they have talent way beyond mine. Back to my wife's student and his mom: Since they had a few minutes to look around the shop, and the student had already been interested in doubling instruments, they bought a flute while they were there. He brought it along to this week's lesson for my wife to see, and of course it was of fine quality and in excellent condition, better than you'd expect for a used student-upgrade-level instrument. Way to go John! That's the way to run a business! read more

John and his crew at Thomas Musical Instruments are a class act in the Santa Cruz area. I've purchased, consigned, and had repairs done in the store, and it's a good solid entry in the local music scene. If you're in the market for electric stuff, there are myriad other choices in the area, but if you're after woodwinds, brass, and sheet music for any of the above, then I've found they're much closer to the mark than any local store. The best part is: If they don't have it, they can, and will, get it for you, and promptly. There are better specialist repair folks further away, and in the new location off Fair Avenue, the store is a bit claustrophobic, and sometimes repair times are a little excessive- the store is a bit of a victim of its own success in that respect- but overall the store is a solid experience, without the effort of driving 80 miles to the city. It's a great place to become a "regular". read more

As a budding 66 year old beginning violinist, I am pleased to recommend 5 stars to this great shop! The shop is very helpful, patient and friendly, and not at all snooty to this neophyte, even when obviously real musicians were shopping there, and where one's lack of experience describing what you are looking for could be noticeably embarrassing. A great local asset for all musicians! read more

I first began coming here when I started the clarinet in the 6th grade 15 years ago and John and the staff were very nice and helpful then and always have been. John shows his love for music and does quality, honest work. read more

John knows his stuff and is one of few in the area that can do some pretty serious repair/mod work on brass instruments, while also doing a great job on more mundane cleanings and tuneups. read more

J. Thomas accepted my alto sax on consignment over 2 years ago. He has failed to return it to me in spite of repeated requests.

So, I give John Thomas 5 stars for his repair work because he totally saved my skin! A pad fell out during a musical rehearsal, and he promptly took it in the next day and fixed it on the spot in addition to fixing another loose pad he found. So many thanks, John for being my go-to repairman!! read more

Removed a dent from a brushed gold trumpet bell while I was in SC a couple of years back. Couldn't tell it was ever there! Did it on the spot and charged next to nothing. read more

Good honest service! If only I could find someone equally good on this side of the Santa Cruz mountains, but it is worth the drive. If I call ahead, John takes the time to repair my sax, clarinet or husband's horns on the spot when possible. He knows what is out there, gives conservative, honest answers, and I always feel like I've rec'd a lot more than I paid for - John is very generous with his knowledge and expertise. read more

John did fantastic work on my tuba - a miraculous resurrection of a tuba I ran over with my car. He stayed within his estimate, and the work is first class. I took my horn here all the way from San Francisco because the repair shop near my house took a good look at my half-flattened horn and said they couldn't repair it - and weren't sure anyone could repair it. They did say that if anyone could, it would be John in Santa Cruz. It took 4 months (so if you're in a hurry, ask him about timelines) but my horn sounds as good as ever, and looks as good as one could hope. To clarify - I told him that appearance wasn't critical, so he didn't order a replacement outer branch. I'm confident he would have had it looking brand new - but I was content with a significantly less pricey repair. It still looks fine, and no one who didn't know what to look for would ever guess that much of it was once pitifully under the merciless tire of my car. read more

I have known john for a very long time. He has done work on my instruments for a very long time. In the Santa cruz/Monterey bay area he is a class act and there is nobody on the central coast better than John and his crew!! Robert K. read more