A440 Musical Instruments has struck a chord with the community and the area. 

For over a decade, owners/musicians Dan Heath, the video production teacher at Great Bend High School, and Brian Bellendir, Barton County sheriff, have met the musical needs of the young and old alike.

A440 Musical Instruments is located at 1207 Main in downtown Great Bend. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Plus, “we are always willing to open up for musical emergencies anytime,” Heath said.

“We sell, repair, trade, and buy new and used musical instruments and all the stuff you need to make them look and sound great,” Heath said. “From school band and orchestra to guitars, amps and PA gear, if you want to make music, A440 is here to help.”

This goes back to the shop’s core business philosophy.

“Everyone at A440 is a musician. We love music and want to share that passion with everyone,” he said. “We strive to be helpful, fair, friendly, and professional. If we can’t help you with your musical needs, we will help you find someone who can. We provide old-school small-town service and we always will.”

Born of music

A440 Musical Instruments just celebrated its 12th birthday. But the story goes back two decades.

“About 20 years ago (Barton County Sheriff) Brian Bellendir was looking for a guitar player to form a country/rock band. I had recently moved to Great Bend to take over as the drama teacher at GBHS,” he said. The band, Sunset Limited, became a staple of the area music scene.

“One night at a gig, Brian dropped his saxophone and the resulting repair costs fueled a desire to learn to perform such repairs himself,” Heath said. Soon, he was certified in instrument repair from a school in Colorado. Not long after, he was doing repairs for area schools and overflow repairs for music stores in western Kansas.

“Business was good and he soon outgrew his garage. He approached me with the idea to open a small music store where he could do repairs in the evenings and weekends,” he said. “We found a tiny shop on Forest next to the Abstract Office, I hung my small guitar collection on the wall, and A440 Musical Instrument Supply and Repair was born.”

Rent was cheap and Bellendir’s wife Carol was willing to sit in the store during the day until they could hire a paid employee. “Fast-forward 12 years and we have upgraded to our current location on Main. Our General Manager Lyle Jones has been running the store for six years, and we are one of the few surviving brick and mortar music stores between Hutchinson and Denver.” 

Now, they are here to stay.

“Our schools are the heart of our community and there is a ton of support for all of our activities – including music,” he said. “From the beginning, our mission at A440 has been to make sure that we put instruments in the hands of young musicians. We get to watch our instruments get played from the stands.”

They also see themselves as being a part of a long legacy.

“Great Bend has a rich musical history. From the Argonne Rebels Drum And Bugle Corps to the Great Bend City Band, our local community has always been musical,” he said. “There are several small bands that call Great Bend home, and they play annually at citywide celebrations like June Jaunt and Party in the Park.” 

Remember to look locally

Great Bend has been good to A440, Heath said. And, they want to return the favor.

“Like most small town businesses, we support our schools and organizations with contributions and auction items,” he said. “We often provide PA equipment for charitable events free of charge. Lyle has made several videos promoting civic events that have been popular on our YouTube channel. A440 is always looking for ways to promote our downtown and community.”

This involvement is crucial and what sets small-town locally owned businesses apart.

“We know we can’t compete with Amazon and Guitar Center on price. So we have to rely on the community to support us by shopping local,” he said. “We can’t expect that support from our community if we don’t return the favor and support our community. Great Bend and the Golden Belt area has been great to us; we are proud to do what we can to give back.” 

As the Christmas season nears and people are checking off names on shopping lists, Heath said he wants them to look locally first because businesses here have so much to offer.

“We all are feeling the pain of higher prices lately. We understand,” he said. “But I want folks to remember that when you shop locally, you aren’t just buying the guitar, trumpet, or drumsticks for your musical loved one, you are helping keep a music store open in our community.”

What makes this place special?

“Great Bend is an awesome place to live and own a business,” he said. “Our community is close-knit and supportive of one another. People check on and care for their neighbors. Our economy is stable with a wide variety of jobs to choose from. We have an awesome school system and a growing community college.”

But, “what makes Great Bend really special are all of the community events,” he said. “In just a couple of weeks, we will celebrate the season with the Christmas parade, holiday tree lighting in Jack Kilby Square and, of course, the Rosewood Christmas Cookie contest.”

He had to brag. A440 Music always has a highly competitive cookie for the Small Business Saturday event, having claimed the top prize several times. 

Business Insight is a regular feature of the Great Bend Tribune, showcasing locally owned businesses and encouraging folks to shop local as we near the Christmas holidays. Contact news@gbtribune.com for more information.