From Clarinets to Trombones: Discovering Musical Instruments Still Made in America

A look at brass and woodwind band instruments manufactured in America.

As a new band mom, I’ve suddenly found myself learning a whole new vocabulary that includes reeds, slide oil, rental agreements and figuring out whether the clarinet or trombone is the better fit for my soon-to-be 5th grader. One minute we were talking about joining band and the next I was adding concert dates to the family calendar and researching where these instruments are actually made.

One thing I quickly learned is that professional instrument lines are much more likely to still be made in the USA than beginner student models.

So after all that research, here are some of the brands still building instruments right here in the USA:

Brass Family: Trombones & Trumpets

And yes, “Seventy-Six Trombones” from The Music Man definitely entered the conversation too. Shoutout to my friend Jeff for getting the song permanently stuck in my head and reminding me of high school musical days gone by.

Getzen Company

Getzen, a brass manufacturer based in Elkhorn, Wisc., has been making trombones since 1946 and remains one of the few major family-owned American brass manufacturers still building instruments domestically.

Getzen also produces trumpets and is the parent company behind Edwards Band Instrument Company, a custom trombone line handcrafted inside the Getzen shop and favored by many professional symphony players.

Conn-Selmer

Conn-Selmer is one of the largest band and orchestra instrument manufacturers in the United States, producing brands including Bach, King, Conn, Holton, Ludwig, Leblanc and Selmer.

Brass production is centered in Elkhart, Ind., where certain professional and intermediate Bach, Conn and King trombones and trumpets are still American made, while many student models are now imported. Elkhart has been called the band instrument “capital of the world.”

King trombones are especially well known in jazz circles, while Bach and Conn are often associated with orchestra and concert band programs.

One beginner model frequently mentioned as a Made in USA option is the Bach BTB301 student trombone.

Earlier this year, Conn-Selmer announced plans to close its Eastlake, Ohio factory after more than 60 years and move professional French horn production to its Elkhart facility. The challenges of competing with lower-cost manufacturing from Asia was the reason. Approximately 150 jobs are expected to be affected.

S.E. Shires

Another respected American brass manufacturer is S.E. Shires, known for handcrafted professional trombones and trumpets. Based in Holliston, Mass., Shires instruments are especially popular among advanced players, college musicians and professional orchestral performers.

Woodwinds: Clarinets & Flutes

Originally, my son was convinced he wanted to play the clarinet, which felt fitting since both my husband and I played clarinet growing up. But after instrument testing night at school, he changed course and became fascinated with the trombone.

As I started researching woodwinds, I quickly realized truly American-made beginner woodwind instruments are much harder to find than brass instruments. I couldn’t find a single brand that fully manufactures student-level clarinets or flutes in United States. Many student clarinets and flutes are now manufactured overseas, even from brands with long American histories.

Leblanc clarinets

Leblanc clarinets have longstanding ties to American manufacturing. While many student clarinets were historically produced in Wisconsin and later shifted to Indiana, certain advanced models, including the Serenade clarinet, are still made in Elkhart today.

Fox clarinets

Founded in 1949 by former Chicago Symphony bassoonist Hugo Fox, Fox Products has long handcrafted woodwind instruments in South Whitley, Indiana. In 2026, the company entered clarinet manufacturing with the Fox Model 5800 clarinet. This professional-level instrument is suited for advanced musicians, not a new student.

The manufacturing process still happens in-house, from aging wood and plating keys to hand-assembly and testing before instruments leave the factory. The company also offers factory tours at its Indiana campus.

Armstrong flutes

Armstrong was historically famous for 100% domestic production in Elkhart, Ind. by Conn-Selmer. Specific student models 102 and 104 were built from scratch entirely at this facility until 2019. These two models were the only 100% USA-made student options left across the industry that I could find. They have been replaced with other models since that source their parts overseas and are shipped to Elkhart where they are assembled and tested.

Gemeinhardt flutes

While much of Gemeinhardt‘s manufacturing is now global, the headjoint for its standard concert flutes is still made in Elkhard, Ind., while final assembly and many other components are produced overseas.

Haynes flutes

Founded in 1888, Haynes is considered the oldest flute-making company in the world and continues producing custom, professional flutes in Massachusetts today. Employees hand-assemble instruments made from silver, gold, platinum and other alloys, with each flute taking months to complete.

Unfortunately, Haynes’ student and intermediate flute models are manufactured in China.

Powell flutes

Founded in 1927, Powell Flutes continues to manufacture its professional flutes in Maynard, Mass. Founder Verne Q. Powell originally built himself a flute using silver dollars, watch casings and spoons.

Today, Powell is known for its professional instruments and introduced the Sonaré flute line in 2002 to provide more options for student and advancing musicians. While Powell’s professional flutes are made domestically, Sonaré models combine Powell-made body tubes with internationally assembled components before final adjustments are completed in Boston.

I never expected school band research to send me down such an interesting rabbit hole! Hopefully this deep dive helps other parents beginning the school band journey too.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing does not receive a commission from purchases made through the above links, nor was the organization or author paid for favorable coverage.

Labeling Note: This story is intended to highlight companies that support American jobs and that make great products in the United States. We rely on the companies listed to provide accurate information regarding their domestic operations and their products. Each company featured is individually responsible for labeling and advertising their products according to applicable standards, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s “Made in USA” standard or California’s “Made in USA” labeling law. We do not review individual products for compliance or claim that because a company is listed in the guide that their products comply with specific labeling or advertising standards. Our focus is on supporting companies that create American jobs.

For more on the Federal Trade Commission’s standards for “Made in USA” claims and California’s “Made in USA” labeling law, please also read this guest post by Dustin Painter and Kristi Wolff of Kelly Drye & Warren, LLP.