Mission and History
Our Mission
At B.A.C. Musical Instruments, our mission is to make a lasting impact on schools, families, and musicians by providing high-quality, repairable instruments that enrich music education and performance. We are dedicated to ensuring that every student, educator, and performer has access to instruments that inspire excellence, foster creativity, and support lifelong musical journeys.
About B.A.C. Musical Instruments
In the year 1999, a young musical instrument repair technician and budding musical instrument historian by the name of Mike Corrigan decided to dedicate his life to a career of musical instrument manufacturing and building. During a four year apprenticeship in the Boston, MA area, he began to realize the significance of the shrinking number of American musical instrument manufacturers, and the challenges they faced. Conversely, Corrigan saw an overwhelming demand in the marketplace for instruments produced during the "Golden Age" of American Musical Instrument Manufacturing (1930’s-1960’s). Having become an accomplished craftsmen, Corrigan developed a strong understanding for how modern technologies had negatively impacted the sound quality and "character" found in the older vintage instruments. He envisioned a company that could produce ‘NEW’ instruments that would meet the demands of a modern day professional, yet satisfy the acoustical pallet found with these vintage American-made instruments. So in 2004, the Best American Craftsmen (B.A.C.) vision was born.
B.A.C. began in a small utility closet of Corrigan’s Overland Park, KS home. In 2007 the shop was moved to Olathe, Kansas. Finally, in 2014, Corrigan realized his dream to move the factory to downtown Kansas City, MO. We are now appropriately located in the "Historic Jazz District" off The Paseo, and across the street from 12th Street and Vine. (As referenced in the iconic Classic “Kansas City” - Here I Come - by Wilbert Harrison.)
Today, B.A.C. has grown far beyond its beginnings as a repair shop and custom brass manufacturer. We offer a complete range of student, intermediate, and professional brass and woodwind instruments, along with concert percussion and high-performance marching brass, battery percussion, and front ensemble equipment through our 825 Marching line. Our Kansas City craftsmen continue to handcraft professional trumpets and trombones while also providing expert repair and customization services. To date, more than 900 instruments have been handcrafted by B.A.C. here in the heart of America.
B.A.C. also serves students, families, schools, universities, and music programs through a connected family of brands and programs. Our factory-direct model allows customers to work directly with us, providing greater value, responsive service, and long-term support. Through our partnership with RentMyInstrument, families have access to affordable instrument rentals, while our Virtual Booster Club program turns those rentals into dollar-for-dollar reward credits that schools can redeem for B.A.C. and 825 instruments.
B.A.C. Instruments have been played by professionals the world over, and seen on television with musical groups including: Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center, Trombone Shorty, Bruno Mars, Kool and the Gang, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Panic! At the Disco, Slightly Stoopid, O.A.R., Jay-Z, NO BS Brass Band, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Paul the Trombonist, ROAR!, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, HBO’s Treme’ Sound Track, and many many more.
Timeline
2001- Following the September 11th attack on New York, cutbacks at his job in Boston forced Corrigan to start a repair shop. He called it "B.A.C. Horn Doctor."
2004- Corrigan relocated to the Kansas City area, and officially focused his energy building B.A.C. Horn Doctor in the basement of his Overland Park, KS home.
2007 - After outgrowing his home repair shop, Michael moved his company to a 2400 square foot shop in Olathe, KS.
2007 - The first B.A.C. Custom "Sackbut" was completed, marking an important step in the company’s evolution from instrument repair into manufacturing.
2008 - Production began on the first commercial B.A.C. Jazz trombone. Elliot Mason of Jazz at Lincoln Center became B.A.C.'s first endorsing artist.
2010 - B.A.C. attends first International Trombone Festival in Austin, TX.
2011 - B.A.C. launches new line of imported professional level instruments with Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews to be donated to kids around New Orleans. The new line is called "Artist Series." Corrigan is presented a key to the city of New Orleans by Mayor Mitch Landieu for B.A.C.'s role in the recovery of New Orleans Music Scene, post Hurricane Katrina.
2012 - B.A.C. officially announces the line of Artist Series and Custom horns to the public at winter NAMM convention in Anaheim, CA.
2012 - B.A.C. Musical Instruments LLC is formed and splits off from B.A.C. Horn Doctor Inc.
2012 - B.A.C. partnered with RentMyInstrument, expanding the company’s ability to help students and families access quality musical instruments through affordable and flexible rental options.
2014 - B.A.C. Musical Instruments relocates production from Olathe, KS, to the Historic Jazz District of Kansas City, MO.
2016 - B.A.C. Introduces the new hand-made 'Paseo Series' Custom trombones and trumpets, named in honor of the company’s location near The Paseo St. in Kansas City.
2017 - B.A.C. introduces the new 'Recording' Model trumpet, using an original F.E. Olds Bell mandrel from Los Angeles, CA.
2018 - B.A.C. Custom Introduces the new Maverick Model Trumpet, and Voyager Model Trombone.
2022 - B.A.C. made the decision to sell its instruments factory-direct, allowing schools, families, educators, and musicians to work directly with the manufacturer. By removing traditional dealer markups, B.A.C. could provide greater value, more responsive service, and stronger long-term support.
2022 – The factory-direct model made it possible for B.A.C. to launch Virtual Booster Club. Through the program, student rentals generate dollar-for-dollar reward credits that schools can redeem toward B.A.C. instruments and equipment, putting value that would traditionally go toward dealer markups back into music programs.
2023 – B.A.C. launched 825 Marching, expanding into high-performance marching brass, battery percussion, and front-ensemble instruments. That same year, the Boston Crusaders began performing on 825 Marching brass.
2025 – In only its third season manufacturing marching brass, 825 Marching helped power the Boston Crusaders to their first DCI World Championship and the Jim Ott Award for Best Brass Performance. The achievement provided further validation of the quality, design, and performance of 825 instruments at the highest level of the marching arts.
Today – B.A.C. has handcrafted more than 900 instruments in Kansas City and has grown into a complete music-education ecosystem that includes B.A.C. Musical Instruments, 825 Marching, RentMyInstrument, and Virtual Booster Club. Together, these brands and programs provide quality instruments, affordable rentals, direct purchasing, and sustainable funding opportunities for musicians, families, and music programs across the country.
Head Office
B.A.C. Musical Instruments LLC
1219 Lydia Avenue Kansas City, MO 64106
