I recently attended my third performance at Strum. As a music venue, it's intimate and comfortable, with admirable acoustics. Being able to sit close enough to hear direct sound from acoustic instruments and an amplification system that does not have to be cranked up to eleven to fill the room is a delight. During breaks, examining the instruments hanging on the wall is the nicest possible kind of museum visit. The beer selection isn't huge, but I'm always able to find multiple choices that suit my tastes. It's always fun to be able to listen to the interactions between performers and the person running the store - they always seem to appreciate each other. Hearing positive in-person interactions is quite a relief compared to the daily glut of online trolling. I always look forward to coming back to Strum. read more

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Bought a Martin D16 a year ago. Action was super high and couldn't find the right strings. Brought it to Charlie and he recommended a setup and that should take care of it. Just got it back and they did an AMAZING job. It plays and sounds amazing! Couldn't be happier with their work and highly recommend. read more

I want to start by disclosing that I do not play any instruments. My husband does so I'm writing this from the perspective of the person tagging along. Had a great experience at Strum yesterday. My husband was in need of a new guitar. He was eyeing one that was over at Strum so we went to check out out. This place is quite unique! They have a decent selection of guitars and amps. They also have a little bar which serves beer, wine, hard cider, and a few nonalcoholic beverages. They also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays. I had a great time enjoying a cider while my hubby tested out the guitar he would eventually purchase. This strikes me as a great place in the community for musicians and music lovers to gather. We plan to swing by for some music and beverages soon. read more

Strum - Enjoy a tasty adult beverage while your loved one tests out guitars!! - Guitar Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Walked in and bought some strings. I'm not from the area but if I was I'd be in here a couple times a week for a pint and some abuse of the 'gain,' knobs on all those cool amps! Amazing boutique store with friendly and accommodating customer service! read more

Strum is both a guitar shop, and a performance space , with a counter at which to purchase drinks. They also host live musical performances, and have a few tables and the world's most uncomfortable stools and chairs (seriously, the width of the bottom of the char backs are only wide enough for small children, despite them being bar-height adult chairs). It appears to be a family-run establishment, and the owners are extremely friendly and helpful. The selection is very wide, and there are a few rare gems to be found. Disappointingly, every guitar I picked up was dirty, grungy, out-of-tune, had rusted strings, literally felt sticky, and in the case of the vintage Squire with the locking nut, the low "e" string was tuned to "E#" at its lowest tension, making it challenging to tune the rest of the strings. My hope is that the owners will see this feedback and fix these issues, and in doing so, will vastly improve the shopping experience. Please also be aware that the concerts take place during business hours, so if you want to shop for instruments when a concert is in progress, you won't be able to (the performance area blocks off a lot of the inventory, there may be standing room only, and the volume level is too loud to be able to hear anything you're playing). There is usually ample street parking. read more

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As much a guitar museum as a guitar store: a guitar made in 1895, a guitar made from a bicycle packing box, many vintage guitars with vintage prices, others more affordable. Was there to here Twans, whose amazing guitarist Mike Gamble was playing a guitar he'd bought there--connoisseur quality. The have old amps, a variety of devices, and basics like strings and straps. Plus there's beer on tap! read more

SO easy to work with and had great conversation with some SUDS to boot! My band needed to rent gear for a local gig (flying in from out of town). We got set up with SUCH cool gear and with flexibility for some last minute changes. Much appreciated, we'll be back to do business and say "HELLO" again! Big recommend! read more

This place is awesome ! Caught a few live performances here. Great atmosphere and vibe

It's a cute shop that offers occasional shows. I like how cozy and soothing the show was. Recommended!

Nicely, friendly shop. I attended one of their shows, and enjoyed the cozy environment.

Discovered Strum through their Mike Compton/Joe Newberry concert they hosted. So many stringed instruments to explore (~50 electric and 30 acoustic guitars and mandolins/many vintage) Such a great concert - thank you so much for bringing these guys here. Suggestions: -Carry a few copies of records by the artists you host. I'd drop by and pick up more Compton and Newberry CDs (And related!) -Get at least one good IPA (one west coast and one hazy, even ; ) Suggestions from right here in SE: Leikam Brewing, Level Brewing, Von Ebert, Backwoods (Carson, WA),... Thanks again! We'll be back! Corbin East Portland read more

Awesome place and Michael is top notch! It's really nice to be able to sit with a cider and try out their awesome selection of guitars. read more

This shop is a gem in a fun little section of Stark Street, and a must not miss! You can sip on a beer while looking at the walls of guitars, and you can test out fine instruments, amps, and effects. What more can you want? Guitars and beer all in one shot! read more

Sweetest guitar shop on the planet. PLUS live music and beers. What more could you ever want?

Nice guitar shop plus pub! Really pleasant shop with tube amps as far as the eye can see. I stopped in to browse and checked out a couple guitars and had a couple pints of cider. They even have 1980's Guitar Player magazines laid out on the bar. The guitars are clearly babied and well-cared for. Had a pleasant chat with the owners. This shop has primarily vintage and boutique guitars and amps--lots of American Fenders and Gibson and nice collection of Vox amps. It's impressive--but this isn't the shop for an entry level instrument. I'd happily go back. read more

Whenever we're in Portland this one of our must stops. Great place, owner is in & really cares about his establishment. And on certain night there's great new artists performing. read more

Strum is the guitar shop that every town wishes they had. They have rare and wonderful guitars, killer amps, unique boutique pedals, a bar that serves beer and wine (WHAT!?), and free live performances from talented musicians most afternoons or evenings (DOUBLE WHAT!?). Michael is a fantastic human who is kind, knowledgeable, and passionate about what he does, and it shows. Even if you can't afford that sweet vintage Gibson up on his wall or that amazing 1970s Fender amp you can only dream of owning, Strum still offers a community space that is unmatched, a wide assortment of picks/strings/accessories, and beyond reasonable setups or repairs on your current axe. 11/10 would recommend. read more

Strum is one of the best resources for high quality, rare and vintage guitars, owned and operated by a very knowledgable and friendly family, in Portland. The prices are fair and you can even find some great deals. Products constantly move in and out of this predominantly used gear shop, so it's a great place to hang out, have a beer (oh yea they're a bar too and venue too!) and check out the new gear arrivals. In a previous review, someone mentions "grimey, out of tune, sticky" instruments. I have personally held a handful of dozen guitars there and have NEVER thought a guitar was dirty. infact I've seen the owner wiping down guitars after use.. considering these guitars are used and could be as old as 70+ years old, its fair to assume there will be an accumulation of wear from decades of use.. if you know vintage sales you know you dont remove patina and some folk dont understand that it can diminish the value. I can also stand by my word that the seating, and atmosphere, are confortable.. as I've spent hours sitting, talking gear, enjoying quality craft brews, and enjoying live music. This is definitely a gem of an instrument shop! read more

Hands down the best guitar shop in Portland. Amazing tap list. Fantastic free music all weekend. Lovely owners. Don't sleep on this place.