Welcome

Welcome to your source for Stofer CC tubas, fine pre-owned instruments, repairs, custom work and accessories. Located in Eastern Iowa, the business was founded in 1998, first working out of my garage in Atlanta, GA and has been blessed beyond my expectations.  I am quite thankful for the many friends of Lee Stofer Music as the business is in it’s 26th year.

The repair shop is the primary part of this business  I do the bulk of my work by appointment. If your instrument needs servicing, please give me a call and we can set up a time for you to either bring it here or ship it, and we will get the work done while minimizing your time away from your instrument. If you are looking for custom work, a play-condition restoration of an instrument or a full restoration of an instrument, I am always happy to provide an estimate. That said, the queue for instrument repairs and custom work is too long, so I cannot accept any new projects until the summer of 2025.

From May of 2022 through March of 2024 I had the opportunity to represent Josef Lidl rotary brass instruments for North America, and enjoyed every moment of this time. The sales started ramping up, to the extent that I could not keep up with the demand for that, and run an effective repair shop. Meanwhile, Buddy Roger’s Music, now part of Willis Music in Cincinnati was looking to increase their low brass offerings, and after several meetings between Josef Lidl leadership, Chris Hite of Buddy Roger’s Music and myself, an agreement was worked out and Buddy Roger’s Music is now the primary source for Josef Lidl brass instruments in North America. If you haven’t played one, you should. I own a Josef Lidl tuba, and remain a big fan of their instruments.

The completion and sale of the first Lee Stofer CC tuba in 2015 was a dream realized, but I felt that it would not be right to make restoration customers wait even longer while I built new instruments. So, most of 2015 and 2016 were devoted to working through the backlog of repairs and restorations, and putting the manufacture of new instruments on hold until customers’ instruments were done. Meanwhile, Martin Wilk made a set of MAW pistons and fit them to the valveset for serial number 0002, Sherry Huntley of Artistic Engraving engraved the bell, and other preparations were made while restorations were going on here. Serial number 0002 started coming together in December 2016, and since I felt the need to show this instrument at the Capitol Tuba Conference at the beginning of February 2017, we worked some serious overtime in January to get it done. The resulting instrument was everything I ever wanted in a 4/4 CC tuba – an agile, responsive and in-tune instrument with a beautiful tone color, that is alsolutely consistent from top to bottom of the range. The price is substantial, but so is the amount of labor involved in crafting such an instrument, with construction details that are hidden from view, and may be lacking in other instruments.  By December 2021 I completed the 9th Stofer CC tuba, and ser. # 0010 and 0011 are in the works.  Due to an extremely long repair queue, I have not had the time to build a Stofer CC in two years, so I’m really wanting to focus on building and finishing two in 2025.   Please feel free to contact me to discuss the Stofer CC tuba, which can be built to order, to your specifications.

Concerning sales of new and pre-owned instruments and accessories, I insist on having satisfied customers. All purchases have a seven-day approval period, and an extension if needed. If you are ultimately dissatisfied with your purchase in any way, return it and I will issue you a refund. I do request that the item be returned in substantially undamaged condition.

Please feel free to call, e-mail or message me about your instrumental needs and wishes!