Focusing on vintage drums, saxes, trumpets, and trombones....the instruments are disassembled, cleaned, repaired, reassembled, and regulated to be put back into good playing condition.  Some work is done in-house, and some is done by other professional instrument tech and repair people here in the SF Bay Area.  We are fortunate to have a lot of very talented and experienced repair folks around here. All instruments are play-tested by pro musicians before being listed.

Besides the instruments listed as for sale....we also have a stock of horns and drums “in the pipe”, as they say.  Not yet worked up, but scheduled to be in the next 6 months or so.  So, if you cannot quite find what you are looking for in the listings, visit the “on the wall” and “on the bench” listings to see what’s coming up.  If you see a horn or drum kit listed there which interests you, we can arrange a custom restoration to that particular instrument we have not gotten to yet.

We also offer professional custom work on building, altering, and renovating vintage drums.  Re-wraps, recutting of bearing edges, or providing single drums to match your existing kit. We also build custom drums and kits using Keller Maple, Mahogany, or Birch shells.

For those in the market for a nice, solid ol’ vintage musical instrument...up until now your choices were either eBay or Craigslist...the former being limited by the fact that you are always taking a chance on the actual condition and playability of the instrument...the latter being limited by the fact that there is only so much available locally.

The other possible option was to just buy online from a vintage online dealer offering grossly inflated prices, or one who fails to give a very honest representation of the condition of the instrument.  The purpose of 2nd Ending is to find that middle-ground, and make available good instruments in good shape for a reasonable price...with a fair return policy (since we stand behind what we offer).  Because, of course, not everyone can afford a $4000 sax, a $2500 drum kit, a $1000 trumpet, or a $2000 cymbal (nor should you have to). 2nd Ending offers instruments.... for the rest of us.  Music for the Proletariat.....so to speak (?!) 

Because it’s really a blast to make music..and you don’t need a lotta money to get set up. Furthermore, as our title says..... "they really DON’T make ‘em like they used to."  The advent of the internet has given these old classics the exposure and interest they deserve.

It’s our experience that vintage instruments are just built better, and sound better, than contemporary offerings.  Also, the most common arguments against purchasing vintage (expensive to repair and upkeep, more difficult to play, etc.) have more or less been refuted ad infinitum on various musicians forums all over the ‘net.  Newer horns and drums (90% of ‘em being completely offshore-produced) just cannot hold a candle to the older American and European-made instruments of yesteryear...and any respectable repair person can work on an old instrument just as easily and economically as a newer one. 

As we say: "these are instruments...not Edsels."

In addition, even a vintage instrument which has been worked up nicely tends to cost way, way less than newer brands which are inferior products.

So it’s a win-win for you, the buyer.  You get a higher-quality axe for less money. And ....that cool ol’ vintage MOJO is always....a gratis.

You will see familiar name-brands here, as well as a number of Stencil brands (these were instruments produced by reputable “mother” companies but labeled under another name ~ usually the name of an instrument wholesaler/distributor or music store). 

Indeed, we have some ‘holy grails’ here and there...but our goal isn’t to be a purveyor of rare models which we can price up the wazoo.  There are plenty of other sites you can visit for that.   A lot of what we offer are just good, solid ol’ ‘players’.

Feel free to browse our site. Questions and inquiries are gladly answered. If you see something which interests you, contact us and we will send you more information and additional photos, etc.