Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long has Giant Steps been in business?
A: Giant Steps has been a Chattanooga-based repair shop for nearly 50 years. Giant Steps Music Corporation has been in business since 1977, and in its current location on Hixson Pike since 1983. The company was founded by Michael Bauer with the idea of creating the best possible service for local musicians, whether just beginning or the long-time player. Between selling the highest quality instruments and repairing them when they weren't working, the ultimate goal was to always keep the musician playing. What began as a hobby in a basement in the early 1970s grew to be one of the most recognized stores and repair shops in the East Tennessee and North Georgia area. By servicing all area schools, 80 and counting, as well as renting instruments, we are truly a full service band and orchestra store. We are in the process of extending our reach across the state, as we have taken on new school accounts from the Middle Tennessee and Upper Cumberland areas in the past 2 years.
Q: How much does [insert repair here] cost?
A: All of our typical repairs have their respective costs listed on our “Repairs” page. Feel free to call us if you don’t see the repair you need listed, or have more specific needs. An estimate is always free, so please bring your instrument to the store for our technicians to estimate a repair for you. Accurate estimates cannot be given via phone or email—we need to see it in person.
Q: What’s the difference between and rent-to-rent and a rent-to-own instrument?
A: Our student rental program is a partnership between our store and Great Southern Instrument Rentals. They are student-grade instruments and are strictly rental; once they are returned they are repaired, cleaned, and sent back out into the fleet to be rented again. This is a great program for beginners just starting out that builds store credit over time, should the student decide to later purchase an instrument of their own. Student rentals are billed monthly and can be cancelled at any time. See our Rent-to-Rent page for more details.
Our Rent-to-Own program is designed to be in-house financing for a professional-grade instrument that you would own. No interest is charged and all repairs are covered while renting to own it. Our typical contracts are 36 to 48 months and are a great way for high school and college-level musicians to play on equipment that will continue to grow with their skill level. Our rent to own instruments are billed monthly and can be cancelled at any time. See our Rent-to-Own page for more details.
Q: How do I change the primary payment card on my rental instrument?
A: If it is a student rental (a Rent-to-Rent instrument), call Great Southern Instrument Rentals at (423)-240-5342. If it is a pro-level Rent-to-Own instrument, you can call our store at (423)-875-4179.
Q: Can I fill out the rental contract online?
A: At this time, we do not yet have an online option for rentals; the paperwork must be filled out in person.
Q: How long will it take to get my instrument repaired?
A: Depending on the nature of repairs, sometimes you will need to drop off your instrument and leave it with us. Rest assured our technicians are working to get your instrument back to you in a timely fashion, but some repairs will take longer than others depending on the influx of instruments that are in line ahead of it, as well as the nature/intensity of the repair. We will always get you an estimated time frame in which you can expect your instrument to be ready for pick-up.
Q: What is a chemical cleaning and why does my brass instrument need it?
A: A chemical cleaning (otherwise known as a “chem clean” or “acid bath”) is a treatment for brass instruments to remove and prevent corrosion that builds up on the inner tubing, slides, and valves. Brass is a porous metal, and food particles, dental plaque, old grease, and moisture left in a brass instrument (from condensation or spit) can encourage the growth of corrosion (AKA the green stuff you see on your slides). Left untreated, corrosion and rot can cause a brass instrument to have stuck slides, broken solder joints, or holes to be eaten away at the metal—all of which are a much more expensive fix!
During the process of a chem clean, we disassemble and scrub the instrument in soap and water first to remove old grease and oil, then submerge the parts in a mildly acidic solution that eats away the corrosion, plaque, calcium, etc. The instrument is then rinsed and scrubbed again to get any remaining areas, hung up to dry overnight, and reassembled with new water key corks, felts, bumpers, strings, etc. before being sent home with you. A typical chem clean also includes 15 minutes worth of dent-work to any easy-to-reach dents on the instrument. (Any labor-intensive dent removals past the 15 minutes would be charged a shop rate upon the customer’s request—please let us know ahead of time if you have any that you would like addressed.) Silver-plated instruments are treated and polished before reassembly.
Q: How often should I get my brass instrument chemically cleaned?
A: We recommend at minimum once a year for musicians that play on a regular basis. We advise to bring in your instrument over either Winter or Summer break so that your student won’t go without their instrument during class. A typical cleaning can take anywhere from 2-5 business days during normal season; busy season (summer-early fall) can take longer.
To prolong the time between chemical cleanings, we recommend periodically giving your brass instrument a bath. Every other month or so, completely disassemble your instrument and soak the body, slides, and valves in a bath or lukewarm water with blue dawn dish soap. You can gently scrub the valve casings out with the appropriate-sized brushes and snake the horn with a cleaning snake. LET THE INSTRUMENT DRY COMPLETELY BEFORE REASSEMBLY. Apply new slide grease and valve/rotor oil. If you feel uncomfortable taking your instrument apart, please bring it us!
Q: What’s the difference between a chemical clean and an ultrasonic clean?
A: The main difference between the two is that an ultrasonic clean utilizes sound waves to dislodge particles that are scrubbed off in the soap-and-water phase of a chemical clean. The instrument and parts are submerged in a mild acid solution and then vibrated with sound waves that create microscopic bubbles that collapse, reaching areas of the horn that brushes would not normally be able to reach. However, ultrasonic cleanings have the potential to cause damage to older/vintage instruments, and can worsen preexisting conditions of rot or holes in the brass. Ultrasonic cleanings also have the potential to remove lacquer; the shiny outside coating on a brass instrument.
Currently we do not offer ultrasonic cleanings.
Q: Do you buy used instruments?
A: We do, though we may not be able to give you the amount of money that you could earn selling it yourself. We have to warranty and maintenance every instrument we purchase, so that affects the cash-in-hand price we could offer you, while a private buyer might purchase it as-is. We can give you an accurate amount to sell your instrument for and advise where to sell it. If you are looking to use your instrument as trade-in credit towards a new one, we can usually give you more in credit than in cash. Keep in mind that some brands/models we will not purchase.