A treasured melody, in a music box made to give.
Custom-Made Music Boxes
Order just one music box with your favorite tune
Our dedicated arranger adapts your chosen music for a music box, which we then make with your preferred note count and case. Bring a meaningful melody to life.
Start with the tune, your budget, and the date you plan to use it. You can contact us even if you have not chosen a note count or case.
01 / PRICE
Arrangement fees and the total cost
After confirming the tune, note count, case, and quantity, we will provide the total cost in your quote at STEP 3.
What the total includes
Arrangement fee + Music box + Shipping
Your quote will also include the cost of any extras, such as name personalization.
| Music box type | Arrangement fee (tax included) |
|---|---|
| 18-note Cylinder | 33,000 JPY |
| 30-note Cylinder | 75,900 JPY |
| 50-note Cylinder 2 revolutions | 160,600 JPY |
| 50-note Cylinder 3 revolutions | 198,000 JPY |
| 72-note Cylinder 3 revolutions | 247,500 JPY |
| 100-note Cylinder 3 revolutions | 528,000 JPY |
| 45-note Disc | 165,000 JPY |
| 80-note Disc | 330,000 JPY |
- The table shows arrangement fees only. The music box and shipping are charged separately.
- For a second or subsequent music box using the same arrangement, including additional orders placed later,no further arrangement fee is required.
- The available notes and the phrases that can be played vary with the note count and number of cylinder revolutions.
For businesses and schools: volume production fees and inquiries
| Type and initial order quantity | Arrangement fee (tax included) |
|---|---|
| 18-note Cylinder Initial order: 100 or more | 61,600 JPY |
| 23-note Cylinder Initial order: 25 or more | 114,400 JPY |
Arrangement fees for volume production include production setup costs. The music boxes and shipping are charged separately. We will advise on delivery timing based on the quantity and specifications.
Custom music boxes for school and kindergarten songs
School-related custom orders are handled by the custom order desk at the Nidec Music Box Museum Suwanone.
suwanone-custom@nidec-instruments.com
Business and bulk orders →02 / SCHEDULE
Arrangement timeframes and delivery of your music box
We will send you an audio preview of the arrangement and begin making the music box after you approve it.We will advise you individually of the delivery date for the finished music box.
The table below shows estimated times until the first audio preview is sent
| Music box type | First audio preview |
|---|---|
| 18-note Cylinder | About 1 week |
| 30-note Cylinder | About 2 weeks |
| 50-note / 72-note Cylinder | Around 3 weeks |
| 100-note Cylinder | 2–3 months |
| 45-note Disc | About 2 weeks |
| 80-note Disc | Around 1 month |
Once we have confirmed payment and the necessary details, we will arrange for work to begin and advise you individually of the expected start date and preview date.
Checking arrangement feasibility and music rights also takes time. The schedule may vary depending on the availability of reference materials, the mechanism and case, current orders, and the timing of your replies and any adjustments.
The dispatch estimates on the linked page alone do not determine the delivery date for a custom arrangement order.
03 / ORDER FLOW
8 steps from your inquiry to delivery
We begin the arrangement after confirming payment and make the music box after you approve the audio preview.If you have already contacted us, please refer to the STEP number we have provided.
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1
STEP 1 | Before ordering
Tell us your chosen tune
What We Ask of You
Use our dedicated form to tell us the tune title and artist, your budget, quantity, preferred schedule, and any other requests. You are welcome to leave the arrangement choices to us.
What we do
We review the tune information and your requests. We will let you know if we need any additional recordings or reference materials.
If you have not chosen a note count or case, select “I would like advice before deciding” on the form.
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2
STEP 2 | Before ordering
Check arrangement feasibility and copyright
What We Ask of You
Please reply if we request any additional recordings or information. If we have not requested anything further, please wait for the results of our checks.
What we do
Our dedicated arranger checks whether your chosen passages and desired musical expression can be accommodated. We also check the music rights required for production.
These initial checks take time. Depending on the available materials and the rights status, we may be unable to accept your order.
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3
STEP 3 | Before ordering
Review your quote and production details
What We Ask of You
Please review the tune, note count, case, quantity, total cost, and schedule. Let us know at this stage if you have any questions or would like to make changes.
What we do
We provide the total cost, including the arrangement fee, music box, shipping, and any extras, along with the production details and delivery schedule. We also explain how to order and the payment deadline.
Once you agree to the production details, costs, and schedule, you can proceed to order and pay at STEP 4.
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4
STEP 4 | Placing your order
Order and payment
What We Ask of You
Place your order using the method we provide and complete payment by the deadline we give you individually.
What we do
We confirm the order details, completed payment, and information needed for production. Once everything is confirmed, we arrange for the music to be adapted at STEP 5.
We proceed with the arrangement only after we have confirmed completed payment. We do not begin the arrangement before payment is confirmed. If your payment timing changes, we will review the production and delivery schedule.
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5
STEP 5 | After payment is confirmed
Create the arrangement and audio preview
What We Ask of You
Please wait for the audio preview of your arrangement. If we contact you with questions about the arrangement, please reply.
What we do
Our dedicated arranger adapts the music for a music box according to your confirmed requests. We send you an audio preview to review the arrangement.
The preview uses electronic sounds, which differ from the tone, volume, and resonance of the finished music box.
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6
STEP 6 | Finalizing the arrangement
Review and approve the audio preview
What We Ask of You
Listen to the preview to check the phrases and how the tune begins and ends. Once you are happy with it, please reply to confirm that we may proceed with making the music box. Your review and approval are required even if you have left the arrangement choices to us.
What we do
If you request adjustments, we check what is possible and how this would affect the cost and schedule. Once you have approved the audio preview and the music box specifications are finalized, we place the order with the factory at STEP 7.
Production and delivery still take time after you approve the audio preview. As the music box is made to order, please allow time for factory production, inspection, and shipping.
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7
STEP 7 | After audio approval and final confirmation of specifications
Factory order, production, and inspection
What We Ask of You
Please wait while your music box is made and inspected. We will provide shipping details in the dispatch confirmation email. If your delivery address changes, please contact us promptly so we can check the details before preparing your order for dispatch.
What we do
We place the order with the factory using your approved arrangement and confirmed case and specifications. After production, we also inspect the music box in our store to check its operation and finish.
Your music box is made to order after we place the factory order. We will advise you individually of the time needed for production, inspection, and shipping, depending on the mechanism, case, and other specifications.
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8
STEP 8 | Delivery of your finished music box
Dispatch and delivery
What We Ask of You
Check the dispatch notification and receive your order. Please inspect the music box and check that it works before giving it as a gift or using it for an occasion.
What we do
We pack and dispatch your music box after completing our in-store inspection. We then provide the shipping details.
The dispatch date and delivery date are different. Arrival may vary depending on the destination, weather, and traffic conditions.
04 / YOUR REQUEST
Start with the details you know
Please share the following three things in our dedicated form. You can contact us even if you have not decided on the note count, case, or arrangement details.
Your tune and arrangement preferences
Tell us the tune title and composer or artist, the passages you would like to include, and the mood you have in mind. You can also choose to leave the arrangement to us.
Please include a reference recording, video URL, or sheet music if available. Timestamps in a recording help us identify your chosen passages. You are welcome to contact us even without reference materials.
Budget, quantity, and specifications
Tell us your total budget, including the arrangement fee, music box, shipping, and any extras, along with the quantity you would like.
If you have chosen a note count and case, please include a product URL or similar reference. You may select “I would like advice before deciding” for your budget or “Undecided” for the quantity.
Planned use date and occasion
Please enter the date you will actually use the music box, such as a wedding or birthday. You can also ask about name personalization and gift wrapping.
Please also let us know if you would like to use your own original composition or are considering more than one tune.
Submitting the form is an inquiry at STEP 1. It does not place an order or make a payment.
BEFORE YOU ORDER
About arrangements and production
We check the music rights
We check the rights needed for production, including whether recording rights are administered by JASRAC or NexTone. Even for works they administer, we may be unable to accept an order depending on the rights status or applicable policies.
Arranged for a music box
Limits on pitch range, the number of available notes, repeated notes, and other aspects mean we cannot reproduce the original music exactly. While preserving the feel of the tune, we check whether your chosen phrases can be adapted to the mechanism.
The audio preview uses electronic sounds
The preview is intended for checking the melody and structure. Its tone, volume, and resonance differ from those of the finished music box. Please listen to the audio we send you so we can finalize the arrangement.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave the arrangement and choice of passages to you?
Yes. You can leave these choices to our dedicated arranger. Please tell us if there is a particular mood you want to preserve or a passage you want to include. Even when you leave the arrangement to us, we make the music box only after you have reviewed and approved the audio preview.
Does arrangement work begin as soon as I send an inquiry?
First, we check arrangement feasibility and copyright at STEP 2, then provide a quote at STEP 3. After you agree to the details and complete payment at STEP 4, we arrange for the music to be adapted. The audio preview is sent after that.
Can I buy a finished music box for 33,000 JPY?
33,000 JPY (tax included) is the arrangement fee for an 18-note music box. The music box itself and shipping are charged separately. We will confirm the case and any extras, then quote the total cost.
What if I would like changes to the audio preview?
At STEP 6, tell us which part concerns you and how you would like it changed. Taking the mechanism's limitations and your original request into account, we will check whether adjustments are possible and whether the cost or schedule would change, then advise you.
Can a tune already available for another note count be arranged again?
You can ask us about creating a new arrangement for a different note count. Tell us the tune title and the note count you would like. We will check whether the mechanism can accommodate it and confirm the music rights before advising you.
Can you use sheet music I have arranged myself or an arrangement by someone else?
An arrangement specifically for a music box must be prepared by our specialist staff. Because it needs to be adapted to the mechanism, we cannot use an arrangement you supply directly for production. You may provide sheet music as reference material.
What should I do if I have a specific date in mind?
When you first contact us, enter the date in the form's “Planned use date” field. We will assess whether we can meet it, allowing for initial checks, arrangement, your review of the audio preview, production, inspection, and shipping. Depending on the tune and current orders, we may be unable to meet your requested date.
Start by telling us your chosen tune
With the tune title, your budget, and planned use date, we can advise you on what we can make, the cost, and delivery timing. Please also tell us about the mood you want to preserve and the occasion.
You proceed to ordering only after agreeing to the quote and production details.