Everyone in the shop is super knowledgeable and helpful. We went in looking for a rental for our…read moreteen. They helped him pick a violin based on his ability to care for an instrument and his preexisting knowledge of how to play a different string instrument. We would definitely do business with them again!

Paul Schuback sold me an instrument in 2018/2019 that was in "great playing condition" according to…read morehim. Over the next few years, the condition and playability of the instrument worsened drastically and when I asked him if I could trade in the violin for something comparable or if he could buy it back (modus operandi for violin shops), he refused to do either. I sent photos to experts / took the violin to multiple respected luthiers in person and the response was ubiquitous, the violin was not at all in good playing condition and would take upwards of $20,000 to restore the instrument into stable/ sellable condition. The last and final time I had him do work on the violin, the fingerboard was not glued onto the neck correctly and a new crack opened up on the front bout of the instrument. AVOID this shop at all costs. After all of these headaches, I am still trying to sell the instrument and I STILL don't have an instrument that I love.

Wow, this is service at it's best. So the first time I experienced Windsmith Music my daughter and…read moreI were shopping for a violin for her. We came to try a few of the violins they had. They were great about explaining the different choices they had and talking about some of the different sounds each violin might produce. My daughter tried the four that were in our price range and didn't really experience anything remarkable. So ultimately we ended up playing a German Violin that had the sound she was looking for. Something about being made from wood from the Carpathian Forests, seemed to make a difference :) But I wouldn't hesitate to buy a violin from them. And personally, I'd love to do that b/c their service is so great (more about that next). So recently, we had a problem with our silent (electric) violin. One of the strings was starting to come apart a bit so we decided to get new strings thinking that would fix the problem. We brought the violin back and found out the problem was still there. So we called, and they said to bring the violin back and they'd take a look. We dropped it off and then about a day later they figured out it had to do with a finger guide we had wrapped around the neck which was coming up just enough to cause a problem w/ a couple of the strings. What impressed me though was how kind and helpful they were throughout the whole process. Cassie was the one helping us and she was AMAZING! So basically, the problem was all on us. We are the ones who caused this issue (not them). Yet they took the time to research the problem to try and figure out what it was, then figured out the issue and got us taken care of. Then on top of that we weren't charged anything. At one point they even offered to drop our violin off in Corvallis (where we live) to save us a trip back into Philomath. PRO TIP: If you're traveling from Corvallis, I recommend calling first depending on what you might need. For example, the person you may want to speak with or work with may not be there when you stop by so it might be wise to call again just to be sure. But they truly go above and beyond, give great service, their pricing is very fair and reasonable. We're fortunately to have such a great music business here in the area and I'm excited for the next time we'll be stopping by!

Very knowledgeable. Was helped with my grandsons guitar and multiple suggestions for lesson it was…read morea very pleasant surprise to find someone so knowledgeable and helpful

They went all out to trade me back and let me choose a more suitable instrument for me . I now have…read morea small parlor guitar and love it. Super nice people not pushy at all, lots of choices more than I have ever seen in one shop. Lessons- school rentals they do it all.

Great customer service, went in to look at a certain guitar, they let me try it, answered all the…read morequestions i had and even gave some advice, they didn't try to sell me a bunch of stuff I didn't need. Where very nice and honest. Was in n out within 10min and i left very happy with my purchase! Definitely will be coming back when I decide to upgrade!

One of the best music teachers I've ever worked with. Patient and very easy going for an enjoyable…read morelesson and informative session. I've learned so much about music not just for singing but also for guitar and piano theory as well. He's extra talented to teach you and motivate you in all areas! 10/10 would recommend.

I can't say enough amazing things about working with Kevin! From day one, he has been incredibly…read morepatient, encouraging, and inspiring. Kevin has a gift for breaking down complex techniques into simple, easy-to-understand steps -- making both voice and guitar feel approachable and fun. I am sure it helps that Kevin has been a performer much of his life and takes absolute joy in what he does. His passion for music is contagious, and he brings so much energy and positivity into every session. I always leave lessons feeling not only more skilled but also more motivated and excited to practice. If you're looking for a knowledgeable, talented, and genuinely supportive instructor who will help you unlock your potential and fall even more in love with music, I can't recommend Kevin highly enough. He's the real deal! Love working with you Kevin!

We love everything about RiverCity Rock Star Academy!…read more My daughter is about to start her 4th program with them, the Saturday Rockers. These programs run each season, with summer being a bit shorter than the others. She takes electric guitar lessons in the program, which teaches students not only how to play their instruments but also how to play together as a band. Each session includes one-on-one private lessons (which can be done anytime), then 2-hour band lessons (on Saturday in our case). So some students are learning guitar, others doing drums, bass, keyboard, or taking vocal lessons. They select a playlist of songs they want to learn and rehearse together, with full support from the instructors every step of the way. At the end of each program, they perform live in front of an audience. Sometimes it's mostly parents, other times they do shows in town, like at The Barn or Grand Theater. It's been very motivating for my daughter, and I started taking private lessons there myself recently. Every staff member and instructor genuinely cares about the success, safety, and satisfaction of the students and it shows. I think the pricing is very reasonable for everything you get, and there's not many places that do anything like this. It's a great location, too, because they can really play loud without disturbing anyone, yet it's also very close to downtown and lots of little restaurants to check out nearby. From the front, it may look small but once you go inside you and see how many rooms the place has, you'll see it's actually very spacious inside. There's also a good selection of guitars and gear to buy, with no pressure and very helpful staff. Check out their website and social media, or stop by and give them a try!

Am I the first person to review RiverCity Rock Star Academy on Yelp? That would be my honor…read more Why is a guy from Chicago raving about RiverCity Rock Star Academy? I could list 3 things but I'll focus on the third point. I purchased a beautiful white/white Jet JS-400 Guitar from Oregon, long distance. That process went great. 1) Timely updates in email. 2) Wonderfully packed. 3) Great SETUP of the guitar. I took the guitar out of the box and it was flawless. I tuned it, that was simple. The guitar played great out of the box. Normally you need to spend $50 getting a guitar "set up". Putting on new strings and making sure the "action" isn't too high. The "action" on my new Jet Guitar JS-400 was perfect. Let's call it medium. Too high and it's hard for a beginner to press down guitar strings. Strings too low and you get "fret buzz". My Jet guitar from RiverCity Rock Star Academy played great out of the box. Her Slovenian name is "Bela" pronounced "bay luh". (Jet Guitars are owned by Slovenians.) RiverCity Rock Star Academy staff are wonderful. Buy a guitar from them locally or long distance. Best Wishes from Chicago, IL Richard

Greg at Powell Baker guitars is great. I have had him work on 4 of my guitars, 1 of them he did a…read moreelectronics upgrade and a bridge over haul, and the other he did a partial restoration including fixing an issue with the fretboard that was delaminating from the neck. Greg's prices are always reasonable and fare. I have a couple more guitars that I will take to Greg and have him do a setup and adjustment on. I am also saving to have him build me a custom guitar that he and I have been talking about. If you are needing a good setup, a restoration, or want a custom guitar built I would definitely take the time to contact Greg and speak with him about your project.

From the owner: Full service guitar repair and sales of hand built custom guitars!read more