Question:
Simonetti's, the place to go
On June 3, 2006, my husband decided he wanted to upgrade his saxophone. About 15 months ago he went to Simonetti’s Woodwind and Brass Repairs and purchased an Antiguas tenor sax. He’s been taking lessons and practicing daily and really enjoys this pass time.
So we ventured out to Scimonetti's Woodwind and Brass Repairs, Lancaster (Antelope Valley in northern L.A. County), CA. Your can find them on the web at for contact information.
It was about an one-hour and a half drive from LAX. Great store, and very nice people. Jimmy, Jr. spent a lot of time talking to my husband about their inventory. He told us which was his favorite sax, Cannonball, and his father’s favorite, P. Mauriat. Jimmy gave us his opinions and told Paul that it is up to the individual which sax is right for him. So Jimmy showed Paul to a private room and gave him about eight different makes and models to try out which were in our price range. Paul spent some time trying out the horns and decided on a beautiful Cannonball Saxophone. It was the one I would have chosen just by the look of it.
I was really impressed with the shop, the have a repair shop at one side of the shop which is in full view throughout the shop. It’s like everything is on display and there is nothing to hide. There are instruments all over the walls. Jimmy showed us some beautiful old horns. It was very impressive what they had in their shop.
Then we met his dad Jim, Sr. Very nice man. He played different horns for us and it was amazing what Paul learned in the time we were in the shop. Both Jr and Sr are very knowledgeable. The service was excellent.
Jimmy, Jr. said he stocks only A-class instruments. Their new-horn selection was huge, many Cannonballs, Yamahas, Antiguas, Jupiter, Earthtone Chicago Jazz Series and P. Mauriat; and they have straight and curved sops, altos, tenors and baritones, in addition to the flutes and clarinets. They have all the accessories you need, as well as music books.
It was a unexpectedly interesting and nice trip to the shop for me. They gave Paul a three year warranty on servicing his horn. Jimmy recommended coming in every three months so that they could service the sax at no charge.
I would recommend anyone looking for a horn to visit this shop. They have a great inventory, the service is marvelous and they are truly nice people to know.
Annemarie Smith

Answer:
Plus 1
Top notch, fun store...candy store for muscians from musicans. You couldn't meet nicer people all the way around. Woodwind specialty store..no guitars/amps crap. (On edit: they do have bass fiddles/drums, jazz/instrumental music/studies) Especially suited for you jazz muscians or wannabees out there.
They did a great job on putting a J.Keilwerth alto back in working order, and they also helped me out with some pad leaks on my Rampone baritone, which I absolutely love. I was allowed to spend 2/3 of a day trying out different horns (tenor) and matching moutpieces, and another 1/2 day spent trying out different mouthpieces for my bari. And they have a very full selection of instruments. Give them the business, these are people we want to keep around! :)

Answer:
I too have had a postive experience with Scimonetti's, but Annemarie, when your very first post is a plug for a business, no one is going to take you very seriously. Unfortunately, businesses use this site to promote themselves and sometimes use shills, or even disguise themselves with anonymous screen names to do same. I mean think about it... what good is a recommendation on a web forum/community coming from someone who's never been there before, isn't known and hadn't taken the time to get to know folks? Now you could be an honest person who just wanted to do some good for a business that treated you right, but you're not going to be perceived that way. Folks might think that this business steered you here, or gave you a discount for making the plug. Your post does read like an advertisement.

Answer:
Plus 2
I've got to say that everything I've heard about this place is true.
I drove down last Friday from Fresno to get my horn overhauled and got the best treatment I've ever had walking into a repair shop, and I used to work in one here locally!
First off, heading out, I wasn't sure if I missed the CA-138 off the I-5 and called to get directions, Jimmy gave me his dad's cell#. I gave Jim Sr. a call, who was more than helpful guiding me out there (he even called me back to make sure I was doing alright).
So after about 3 hours on the road I got to the shop, walked in, and finally met the two Simonetti's. These guys are really open, talkative, and nice musicians. There's really no ego here, which is something I've become very accustomed to in Fresno shops. Anyways, within five minutes of walking into the shop, my horn was out of the case and they had me trying out mouthpieces! I mean really, who does that?! I was there to leave my Cannonball tenor to get it roo-padded with black roo's and silver-plated noyaks, plus Jimmy talked me into getting my neck de-corked (one of their specialties) and even gave me a discount for driving down. They even threw in some free stuff just for making the drive!
Now I needed to be back in Fresno later that night for a gig, which I thought I'd have to play alto for. I'm happy to report that I got to play tenor on that gig because Jimmy loaned me another Cannonball while mine's in the shop! It even has a corkless neck which I was really impressed by. So far these guys have knocked my socks off!! I ended up spending about an hour and a half in there talking to both of them, but that's only because I needed to be back in town. I'm driving down again next Thursday to pick up my horn and I intend to spend a lot more time there!
I'll follow-up, after I get my tenor back, and report on the job they did. :thumbrig:

Answer:
First off, Grumps...I missed your 2000th post. Congrats!! :) We appreciate your contributions!
Scimonneti's may be great, but I'm with Grumps...something seems a little fishy here. :| We may be all washed up on this matter in the end, but first post being on the greatness of the store where your hubby bought the sax...:?

Answer:
There is already a huge thread about Scimonetti's store. Maybe the initial poster here missed it because she misspelled the name. And maybe those who questioned her ethics may have missed the other thread because of that. If you'd seen the other thread maybe you wouldn't have responded the way you did.
Having visited there many times (always satisfied) and having been the originator of the other thread (after the moderators combined all the threads), I can tell you that Annemarie was spot-on about this store and the Scimonettis' customer service. DAVE

Answer:
Originally Posted by Dave Dolson And maybe those who questioned her ethics may have missed the other thread because of that. If you'd seen the other thread maybe you wouldn't have responded the way you did. There could be a hundred threads on this topic, all favorable, but I'd still make my post. I didn't question her ethics, and even assumed it was an honest post. It's the appearance of impropriety that needed to be addressed. You may disagree because you're a fan of the store in question, but that would be the only reason.

Answer:
Grumps: Not the only reason. True, some posts here have a hidden agenda, but many are not challenged for the reason you gave. I read Annemarie's post and saw nothing hidden in it.
I am a suspicious person by nature, training, profession, and experience, but I know the store and the owners. I saw no appearances of impropriety. I know you stated your case, but I disagree and fail to see even a hint of impropriety in what she posted. DAVE

Answer:
viral marketing
for me, her post was the double-whammy...
1) she posted on this site even though she doesn't play sax
2) talking about P. Mauriats and Cannonballs.
Have you read anything about how Proctor & Gamble is paying women (in products mostly) to talk about Proctor & Gamble products to their friends and co-workers? And they leave it up to these viral marketers whether or not they disclose that they are being compensated by P&G.
I think Scimonetti's, Cannonball & P. Mauriat are promoted in a lot of fishy looking posts. I'm not saying that this stores & or these saxes aren't good, but that I'm very skeptical of some of their promoters on this site.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Dave Dolson I am a suspicious person by nature, training, profession, and experience, but I know the store and the owners..
And therein lies your bias.
Originally Posted by Dave Dolson I saw no appearances of impropriety. Well, if you didn't know them, would the above statement change? And note, we're only talking about the appearance of impropriety.

Answer:
I made a trip to Scimonetti's a couple months ago, and I had an experience virtually identical to Annemarie and Saxy Nate. They have an incredible inventory, the service is tremendous, I got top quality adjusment work on my tenor while I waited, and I tried about 6 tenors based on nothing more than curiousity. Both Jim Sr. and Jr. are enthusiatic & friendly people. I would encourage anyone to go there.
I've also had wonderful experiences with Kessler's, Baxter-Northrup, and the Horn Connection in Hollywood. I'd recommend all these places with no hesitation. And I have no connection to any of them.
My experiences with WWBW, on the other hand . . . . .

Answer:
Art Salt: Are you skeptical of me? I'm not promoting Scimonettis as much as cluing in others that if they want a nice retail experience, they may want to try Scimonetti's, that's all. I have NO interest in their business, nor do I have an interest in Baxter-Northrup, Kessler's or any of the other stores I've done business with. I've been to those places and done business. I thought others would like to know that. Many posters praise the retailers they know. That is a good thing for the saxophone community.
Grumps: Had I not visited Scimonetti's myself, I still would not have seen anything suspicious about her post. What is there to be suspicious about? Oh yeah - her first post about an enjoyable shopping experience her husband had.
Had it been a negative post, THAT would've surprised me. DAVE

Answer:
Nothing in that a bit suspicious given other known plants and plugs? I'd figure the investigator in you might want to know more. Like how she found the site. Did her husband find it? Has he posted here before? Did they find out about it from the dealer?
Well, that's what I'd be wondering... if I were the investigative sort.

Answer:
Wow... you could cut the tension in this thread with a knife! :argue3: We could all probably take it down a notch; after all, we're all here to serve one another in the saxophone community. Having only been around a few months, I've come to believe that's a core value of this forum.
Originally Posted by Grumps I'd figure the investigator in you might want to know more. Like how she found the site. Did her husband find it? Has he posted here before? Did they find out about it from the dealer? I personally found out about this forum from Jim Scimonetti Sr. when I met him at the NAMM Show in Anaheim last January. He told me to check out his reputation here and also to Google his shop as a way to see what others think of him. I would assume he says the same thing to many of the other people he meets, both customers and PROSPECTIVE customers. To me, that seemed like the confidence of a business man who has treated people well and has nothing to fear.
Having subsequently been to his shop and done business with him, I'm inclined to agree with my initial impression. If you look at some of my other posts about him and his business, you'll see that I thoroughly researched the product I bought, checked with people here about pricing around the country, and then made my choice. AFTER all of that, I gave my commentary on Scimonetti's. Simply put, it's a great company that has my personal, unsolicited, uncompensated endorsement. :D

Answer:
Grumps: The investigator in me told me that what I read in the initial post was true. Jim Scimonetti (both the dad and the son) are the real deal. I KNOW that from personal experience, hence I felt no need to "open a case" - until I read your posts (and others supporting it).
Yes, there have been several posts praising this business, just as there has been praise for other band-instrument stores, dealers, technicians and engravers. I've praised many of them and so have others. To me, that is not a basis for suspicion.
It is entirely possible that Annemarie may have heard about SOTW at Scimonetti's. Or she may have stumbled across it just like I did years ago.
So what? There wasn't an untrue statement in her post. And many other posts corroborate her claim. That, to me, is SOLVED BY EXTRAORDINARY MEANS (according to the FBI's case-clearance guidelines). DAVE

Answer:
Grumps - I hope you're feeling alright. It seems to have been a rough last month or so. The tension has been extraordinarily high here lately. It's getting to me too. Maybe I, too, need to lay out a while, take a walk instead of a break at the keyboard, drink less coffee, eat more cookies...
All the best to you and yours.

Answer:
Tension? Relief is in sight. Sci****** can have their logo right up there on the screen beside Kessler's.

Answer:
Tense? Gosh, hate to think I caused all that. Go read my first post again. Did I really question her ethics?
I stand by it, as stated, 100%.

Answer:
I'm not usually one to jump in on these topics, but I have to agree with Dave Dolson, Dr. G and others....
I've read some of the other "high tension" posts Dr. G has referred to...hopefully everything is alright Grumps, because this kind of post isn't the way we want to introduce new members to SOTW, IMO.
Maybe you didn't question her ethics, but I'm willing to bet you made her feel pretty uncomfortable, especially since that was her first post. If I were a new poster and read your thoughts, I wouldn't be visiting the forum again. If you're trying to give her 'careful' advice...it's probably better to send it in a PM.
These statements aren't made in an attacking sense; just careful observations and slight suggestions. Who knows, maybe you're right, but it seems you're taking the "guilty, until proven innocent" opinion. Hope everything is well. :)
Saxaholic

Answer:
Annemarie Smith's original post is dated 6/12, a long time ago.
The first reponse is a month and a half later on 7/27.
I want to think:
Annemarie Smith was simply sharing a genuine but slightly naive enthusiasm
and,
Grumps failed to notice the dates before he posted
and,
as part of the group I/we failed to even hail a new member
for 6 weeks.
Hello Annemarie?