Home to 250 brands
WITH OVER 11,000 INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES
EVERY PLAYER. EVERY STAGE.
ALL IN ONE PLACE.

Fretted instruments designed from a commitment to effortless playability, remarkable tone and perpetual R&D since 1965.
WOODWINDS, BRASS
Saxophones to trumpets, beginner to professional - every P. Mauriat instrument is meticulously handcrafted to provide the best possible vessel for a player’s creativity.
PERCUSSION
Dixon master builders combine tried and true techniques with a constant appetite for ingenuity to create drums that exceed every sonic expectation and stand out on stage.
BRASS, WOODWINDS
Band instruments built to encourage beginning and advancing students to discover the joy of musicmaking and embrace the school band community.
STRINGS
String instruments trusted by educators and retailers for over a century thanks to time-honored methods, supportive innovations and superior Knilling shop adjustments.
GUITARS, BANJOS
Guitars, banjos and resonators that provide the look, feel and sound of classic American designs, enhanced by modern structural integrity for the contemporary player.
ARCHTOPS, MANDOLINS
The Loar draws inspiration from the golden age of fretted instruments, creating archtop guitars and mandolins that combine classic tone, craftsmanship, and vintage style.
ACCESSORIES
Designed for players of all levels, Hamilton accessories deliver reliable support, practical function and lasting quality for musicians in classrooms, rehearsal rooms and on stage.
Real People, Real Service
We’re more than a supplier – we’re your musical partner. Real people are ready to play alongside you whenever you need. If you have any questions about our brands, becoming a dealer, or placing your next order, we’re here to help.
Meet our teamCraftsmanship & Expertise
We’ve built our calluses. Inside our walls are lifelong musicians and music-lovers wholly dedicated to their craft. From product development to meticulous instrument setups, every detail is the result of deep knowledge and even deeper passion. This isn’t just work – music is who we are.
Cutting-Edge Operations
Every part of our business infrastructure plays its role in a larger composition. Our systems – from our warehouse to our instrument shops to our e-commerce platform – are constantly streamlined to conduct the smoothest, simplest and most reliable experience for our partners.
Your Success is Our Business
We play your fight song, because we win when you do. We pride ourselves on our dealer-centered philosophy: programs, freight and terms are all designed with your success in mind.
Innovation in Every Note
While tradition is our foundation, music is always evolving – and so are we. Our R&D teams are constantly searching for new sonic horizons so that musicians at every level have tools that move as fast as their ideas.
BACKSTAGE
SLM Backstage is our e-commerce platform and dedicated dealer resource space. Gain exclusive access to our spread of products and services designed to support your business.




SOUNDCHECK
Each month access SOUNDCHECK - an exclusive breakdown of all that's happening across the SLM landscape. Explore everything from product launches, brand highlights and promotions, to tools and news designed to help your business perform at its best.
Musical instruments developed independently
Musical instrument
By 1400, musical instrument development slowed in many areas and was dominated by the Occident. During the Classical and Romantic periods of music, lasting from roughly 1750 to 1900, many new musical instruments were developed. While the evolution of traditional musical instruments slowed beginning in the 20th century, the proliferation of electricity led to the invention of new electric and electronic instruments, such as electric guitars, synthesizers, and the theremin. Musical instrument classification is a discipline in its own right, and many systems of classification have been used over the years. Instruments can be classified by their effective range, material composition, size, role, etc. However, the most common academic method, Hornbostel–Sachs, uses the means by which they produce sound. The academic study of musical instruments is called organology.


