Sheet Music Cabinet Buying Guide

If you are looking for a “fine furniture grade” sheet music cabinet that solves music storage problems, offers reliable performance, and low maintenance… research your purchase carefully. Before ordering a sheet music cabinet from any source, get answers to the following 15 questions. Not all music cabinets are created equally.

1. Is this cabinet made from solid hardwood?

Katahdin Studio sheet music cabinets are indeed solid hardwood.  We only use veneered wood for structural components such as drawer bottoms and back panels.  Our cabinets are “artisan grade.”

2. Are the species of woods named on the website the actual woods used, or are they lesser woods with a pigmented or painted coating?

When you order a cherry cabinet from us, you get solid cherry, not a lesser wood stained to look like cherry. 

3. Is the finish hand-rubbed or “sprayed”?

We hand-rub our oil finish into the wood, piece by piece.  This allows us to “work” the wood one last time to bring out that translucent quality that is simply not characteristic of sprayed on finishes.

4. Do the drawers have metal sliders or other hardware than can loosen or come out of adjustment?

Katahdin’s sheet music drawer/trays are meticulously fitted one-by-one by professional cabinetmakers, not factory workers.   The drawers slide through precise grooves routed into side panels.   Our design avoids mechanical hardware that can wear out over time.   We build robust cabinets that are meant to last generations.

5. How do I determine the number of drawers I need?

Determining the amount of space you need to organize and store your sheet music is an art unto itself. However, one way to figure this out is to stack into piles the music you wish to store within the cabinet, measure the height in inches of each stack, and then arrive at the total number of inches of all the stacks combined. Divide the total combined height by 2.5 and that figure will approximate the number of drawers needed. Example: If you have 3 stacks of music totaling 30", divide 30 by 2.5, which results in 12, so a cabinet with at least 12 drawers should accommodate your collection of music.

There are a number of other factors to consider, such as how you wish to organize the music. Some prefer to organize by composer, or by genre. Others may organize their music by level of difficulty, or by frequency of use. Perhaps everyone has their own take on how music should be organized, and that is a wonderful thing. Katahdin music cabinets provide lots of flexibility to suit everyone's preferences.

6. Are components stapled together, or are they fitted, screwed and glued?

Katahdin Music Cabinets are always glued and screwed with hardened steel woodworking fasteners.  Our components do not loosen or distort under heavy stacks of music.  Never will you find a staple in a Katahdin Sheet Music Cabinet.

7. Should I get a cabinet that rests on a base or one which stands on legs?

Often the decision regarding "base or stand" is simply a matter of preferred style and aesthetics. However, cabinets that stand on legs provide easier access, because one does not have to bend and kneel so far to enter the lower drawers of the cabinet. Also, since loaded music cabinets are heavy, cabinets on legs are more convenient to dust beneath and around.

8. Is the cabinet completely handcrafted by skilled craftsmen in the USA, or is it made elsewhere, and merely painted in America?

Katahdin cabinets are “Made in USA” at our shop in Lewiston, Maine.  We are located in a historic mill building that has turned out world-class products for over 100 years.    Unfortunately, some marketers of music cabinets lead you to believe that their products are domestically made, when in actuality, they are made in Asia and perhaps only painted in the US.  When you order from Katahdin Studio, you will NOT have to wonder whether your cabinet was manufactured by child labor in a developing country.

9. Is the cabinet signed and dated by the craftsman who made it?

Your Katahdin cabinet is made by one of our 3 craftsmen…  James Roy, Mark Maynard or John Stass.   You will find one of their signatures with the date of completion on your cabinet.

10. Can I request minor custom changes to the cabinet at minimal or no extra costs?

Katahdin can make changes that suit your needs with ease.  We do not have an assembly line, so we can alter dimensions and add or remove features without any bother.

11. If I prefer the style of one cabinet, but wished it had some of the features from another style, can I "mix and match"?

YES!! All of our cabinets are crafted one-at-a-time. Therefore, we can switch most of the features from one cabinet to another with ease. Sometimes there is a price differential which can either add to or reduce the cost. The exact cost will be quoted to you before you order. Just let us know what features are needed to create your ultimate music cabinet.

12. Do I have options in selecting drawer pulls and knobs?

One size does not fit all.  Katahdin offers several styles of drawer pulls, including wooden Shaker knobs, brass knobs, our best selling “Katahdin” pull… and any custom knob or pull of your own choosing.

13. Can a cabinet be designed and built specifically to meet my needs?

Katahdin prides itself in doing fully custom “one of a kind” work efficiently and economically.  We can create a music cabinet that will integrate flawlessly with the motif of your space.   No project is too large or small either.  We work with architects and interior designers regularly as well.

14. May I speak with the craftsman who will make my cabinet?

Indeed… Call Katahdin Studio Furniture toll-free at 888-783-2969 and ask for John.

15. What is the procedure if I choose to return the cabinet?

If for some reason you wish to return a Katahdin Studio cabinet, just make a call to John Stass within 30 days, and he will arrange pick-up from your home at no cost to you.  You do not need to make uncomfortable arrangements for a “returns authorization.”   Katahdin will satisfy your needs first.

Please visit our line of sheet music cabinets. If we don't have one that suits your needs, we will be happy to work with you to create one that does. Click for a sheet music cabinet comparison guide.

Why not call today and speak with John Stass at Katahdin Studio Furniture.  He will listen to your needs carefully, and respond with knowledgeable answers to all your questions.   Please call John at 888-783-2969 or email him at john@katahdinstudio.com.  He would love to hear from you.