History of S.E. Shires Co. & the Modern Brass Instrument Makers’ Consortium
Founded in 1995 in Hopedale, Massachusetts by trombonist-technician Steve Shires, the S.E. Shires Company quickly earned a reputation for producing some of the finest hand-crafted brass instruments in the world. From its inception, the company emphasized modularity—allowing players to mix and match bells, tuning slides, handslides, and valve sections to create their ideal instrument. This level of customization set a new standard for professional brass manufacturing.
In the early years, S.E. Shires catered to elite symphonic and jazz musicians looking for precision craftsmanship and tonal consistency unavailable in mass-produced horns. Their instruments became known for superior response, projection, and build quality, all produced by a small, highly skilled team in Massachusetts.
In 2014, S.E. Shires was acquired by the Eastman Music Company, a growing parent brand with a reputation for supporting premium, artist-level instrument makers. Rather than outsourcing production, Eastman invested in S.E. Shires’ expansion, relocating operations to a larger facility in Holliston, Massachusetts to meet increased demand while preserving their handcrafted process. Founder Steve Shires remained involved during the transition, helping maintain the company’s commitment to tonal excellence and innovation.
Eastman’s portfolio has since expanded to include other respected makers such as Haynes Flutes, Bakun Clarinets, Willson Band Instruments, Bourgeois Guitars, and Laskey Mouthpieces, forming a broad consortium of world-class musical brands. S.E. Shires remains a cornerstone of this group, offering both fully custom instruments and the more affordable Q Series, based on Shires designs but built to tighter production specs.
Here at The Brass Exchange, we’ve proudly served as an Authorized S.E. Shires Pro Shop since 2012—even before the Eastman acquisition. We offer expert consultation and custom fittings using both new and pre-owned Shires components, helping players build or refine their setup with unmatched flexibility.
Whether you're exploring early independent-era Shires models or recent Q Series configurations, our archive offers a unique look at the evolution of one of today’s most innovative brass makers.
