S.E. Shires
S.E. Shires Co. is a handcrafted professional brass instrument manufacturer based in Holliston, MA, producing trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and French horns across Custom, Artist, and Q Series lines. Founded in 1995 and owned by Eastman Music Company since 2014, the company serves professional orchestral musicians, jazz players, and educators through a global dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersHolliston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What S.E. Shires does
S.E. Shires Co. is a manufacturer of handcrafted professional brass instruments, founded in 1995 and based in Holliston, Massachusetts. The company designs and builds trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and French horns in three product tiers — Custom Series (handcrafted professional), Artist Series (signature models co-developed with principal orchestral players), and Q Series (more accessible pricing). Notable proprietary technical features include the Bollinger Tuning System, axial-flow valve design, hand-hammered two-piece bells, interchangeable leadpipes, and detachable flare bells. Every instrument is assembled and finished in the single Holliston workshop by a self-described "small, tight-knit group of craftspeople" who are themselves accomplished brass players.
The business model is dealer-mediated for instruments (pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers are routed to a global network of Custom Shops and Authorized Dealers, with optional in-person fittings at the Holliston showroom) combined with direct-to-consumer e-commerce for accessories, mouthpieces, cases, care products, practice tools, and branded merchandise. The company extends its product ecosystem through exclusive OEM partnerships with Pickett Brass (mouthpieces) and Marcus Bonna (premium cases). S.E. Shires has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastman Music Company since May 2014. Customers are primarily professional orchestral musicians, jazz soloists, conservatory students, and educators; artist endorsements include principals of the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Berliner Philharmoniker.
Revenue is generated through unit hardware sales across instruments and accessories. The accessories and merchandise line carries publicly listed prices ranging from $4 (enamel pin) to $255 (Marcus Bonna premium case), while instrument pricing is opaque and negotiated through dealers. There is no subscription, software, or service revenue stream, and the company has no disclosed AI, digital platform, or software products.
S.E. Shires firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- S.E. Shires
- Legal name
- S.E. Shires Co.
- Website
- https://seshires.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- S.E. Shires Co. is a handcrafted professional brass instrument manufacturer based in Holliston, MA, producing trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and French horns across Custom, Artist, and Q Series lines. Founded in 1995 and owned by Eastman Music Company since 2014, the company serves professional orchestral musicians, jazz players, and educators through a global dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
S.E. Shires industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Brass Musical Instruments
- NAICS
- Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)
- SIC
- Musical Instruments (3931)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Instrument Parts, Repair & Maintenance (Luthier, Tech Services, Spares) (MPAIAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA), Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF)
Keywords
Where S.E. Shires is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Holliston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
S.E. Shires business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Brass Instruments: Sale of handcrafted trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, cornets, and flugelhorns through Custom Series, Q Series, and Artist Series product lines
- Mouthpieces: Sale of trumpet and trombone mouthpieces manufactured exclusively by Pickett Brass, including standard and artist signature models
- Cases and Accessories: Sale of instrument cases (including Marcus Bonna premium cases), lubricants, care kits, and Alessi practice tools
- Apparel and Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including hoodies, t-shirts, hats, mugs, glasses, aprons, and tote bags
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trumpet Mouthpieces - Standard models |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trombone Mouthpieces - Standard models |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Demo/Sale Mouthpieces |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Instrument Cases |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Care and Maintenance Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Practice Tools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drinkware |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
S.E. Shires product offering
Product offeringCore offering
S.E. Shires designs and handcrafts professional brass instruments — trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, cornets, flugelhorns, and French horns — in its Holliston, Massachusetts workshop, organized across Custom Series, Q Series, and Artist Series lines. Each instrument is built by craftspeople who are themselves brass players, combining old-world artisan techniques with modern manufacturing standards to deliver precise mechanical action, even response across registers, and customizable configurations including interchangeable leadpipes and bell options. The company also sells mouthpieces (manufactured by Pickett Brass), Marcus Bonna cases, lubricants, care kits, Alessi practice tools, and branded merchandise.
Product overview
S.E. Shires Co. is a manufacturer of handcrafted brass instruments, primarily trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and French horns. Their product portfolio is organized into three main instrument series: Custom Series (handcrafted professional instruments), Artist Series (signature models developed with professional musicians like Joseph Alessi, Colin Williams, George Curran, Blair Bollinger, Ralph Sauer, and Michael Davis), and Q Series (more accessible pricing tier maintaining professional quality). The company also offers a comprehensive range of accessories including mouthpieces made exclusively by Pickett Brass, premium cases by Marcus Bonna, lubricants, care kits, and Alessi Practice Tools. All instruments are handcrafted in their Holliston, MA workshop, with a stated commitment to 'Quality without compromise' and over 25 years of craftsmanship tradition.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 2-year warranty coverage
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use S.E. Shires
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
S.E. Shires technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
S.E. Shires partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Pickett BrasscorePickett Brass produces S.E. Shires mouthpieces exclusively for the company. Each mouthpiece preserves the best features of the finest vintage American mouthpieces with incredible consistency and precision. All mouthpieces come standard in silver plated finish and are only available through S.E. Shires or authorized dealers.
- Marcus BonnacoreMarcus Bonna handcrafts premium instrument cases exclusively for S.E. Shires in Brazil. These fiberglass cases covered in black nylon combine flexibility and lightweight design with superior strength and durability. Cases can be adapted to fit various S.E. Shires instruments safely and properly.
- Joseph AlessiflagshipWorld-renowned trombonist and Principal Trombone of New York Philharmonic. Co-developed the TBALESSI and TBQALESSI artist models, as well as Alessi practice tools (ScaleUP and ExcerptUP). Active in promoting the brand and developing educational products.
- Blair BollingerflagshipPrincipal Bass Trombonist of Philadelphia Orchestra. Co-developed the Bollinger Tuning System and TBBO Blair Bollinger Artist Model bass trombone with unique design elements not found on other S.E. Shires instruments.
- George CurranflagshipBass Trombonist of New York Philharmonic. Developed the TBGC George Curran Artist Model featuring custom yellow brass bell and axial-flow valve configuration.
- David RejanoflagshipPrincipal Trombonist of Los Angeles Philharmonic. Co-developed the TBDR David Rejano Artist Model trombone.
- Michael DavisflagshipInternational jazz soloist and educator. Co-developed the TBMD Michael Davis Model and TBMDP Michael Davis+ Model small bore tenor trombones designed for jazz and commercial settings.
- Colin WilliamsflagshipAssociate Principal Trombone of New York Philharmonic. Developed the TBCW Colin Williams Artist Model tenor trombone representing an ideal realization of the heroic New York low brass sound.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
S.E. Shires competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Edwards Instrument Company: Edwards is a direct competitor in custom handcrafted brass instruments (trumpets, trombones), with a similar boutique model serving professional players. It is one of the closest substitutes for a Shires buyer evaluating premium American-made brass.
- Schilke Music Products: Schilke is a direct peer in professional brass instruments and custom mouthpieces, with deep artist endorsements in orchestral and jazz idioms. Highly comparable in target buyer, customization model, and premium positioning.
- Kanstul Musical Instruments: Kanstul is a direct peer producing handcrafted professional brass instruments, including trombones and trumpets, with artist signature models. Comparable in craft-based production and professional-segment focus.
- Getzen Company: Getzen is a direct peer in brass instruments (trumpets, trombones, cornets), with a long-running professional and student lineup. Comparable in product category and customer overlap with Shires' Custom and Q Series.
- Rath Trombones: Rath is a direct peer in handcrafted professional trombones, particularly bass and contrabass models. Comparable as a small-batch artisan maker serving orchestral professionals.
Broad incumbents
- Conn-Selmer (Bach, King, Conn): Conn-Selmer is the dominant incumbent in brass and woodwind instruments, with historic brands like Bach, King, and Conn competing across student, intermediate, and professional tiers. Comparable as the largest traditional competitor in the same brass category.
- Yamaha Corporation (Brass & Wind): Yamaha is a global incumbent offering professional brass instruments (trumpets, trombones, horns) alongside a much broader instrument and pro-audio portfolio. Comparable as a large-scale competitor that sets baseline expectations for quality and dealer reach.
- Besson / B&S (Buffet Crampon): Besson/B&S is a European brass instrument maker (now under Buffet Crampon) producing professional brass instruments with global distribution. Comparable as an established competitor in the professional brass category.
Others
- Eastman Brass (Eastman Music Company): Eastman Brass is a sister brand within Eastman Music Company (Shires' parent), producing intermediate and professional brass instruments. Comparable as a sibling portfolio offering at adjacent price tiers.
- Willson Brass (Eastman Music Company): Willson Brass is another Eastman-owned brand producing professional brass instruments (euphoniums, tubas). Comparable as a sibling brand in the same corporate family, with overlapping artist and orchestral customer base.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
S.E. Shires social profiles
Digital presenceS.E. Shires financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
S.E. Shires leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
S.E. Shires funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
S.E. Shires M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about S.E. Shires
What does S.E. Shires do?
S.E. Shires designs and handcrafts professional brass instruments — trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, cornets, flugelhorns, and French horns — in its Holliston, Massachusetts workshop, organized across Custom Series, Q Series, and Artist Series lines. Each instrument is built by craftspeople who are themselves brass players, combining old-world artisan techniques with modern manufacturing standards to deliver precise mechanical action, even response across registers, and customizable configurations including interchangeable leadpipes and bell options. The company also sells mouthpieces (manufactured by Pickett Brass), Marcus Bonna cases, lubricants, care kits, Alessi practice tools, and branded merchandise.
Is S.E. Shires a public or private company?
S.E. Shires is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was S.E. Shires founded?
S.E. Shires was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is S.E. Shires based?
S.E. Shires is headquartered in Holliston, United States, in the North America region.
How does S.E. Shires make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Brass Instruments are the primary driver. The others are mouthpieces, cases and Accessories and apparel and Merchandise.
Who are S.E. Shires's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Edwards Instrument Company, Schilke Music Products, Kanstul Musical Instruments, Getzen Company and Rath Trombones. Broad incumbents are Conn-Selmer (Bach, King, Conn), Yamaha Corporation (Brass & Wind) and Besson / B&S (Buffet Crampon). Others are Eastman Brass (Eastman Music Company) and Willson Brass (Eastman Music Company).
Does S.E. Shires have an API?
No public API is recorded for S.E. Shires.
What industry is S.E. Shires in?
S.E. Shires's product category is Brass Musical Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAG, Instrument Parts, Repair & Maintenance (Luthier, Tech Services, Spares), with a secondary code of CRALAEAA, Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra). Its NAICS code is 339992 and its SIC code is 3931.