Good store that had the 1980 D-35 that I was looking for…read more My only issue is that on arrival the first few frets at the high E and B string were so worn that the guitar was unplayable and I have had to send it to Martin for a refret. I feel that this should have been disclosed at the time of sale and I had specifically asked about fret wear and dead notes and nothing was mentioned.

I spoke to the owner on the phone and then purchased the guitar off their website. Hours later…read morethey canceled my order due to "unforeseen circumstances."

These guys are the absolute BEST! I have taken many guitars here for setups. I used to do these…read moremyself, but these guys get them to play so much better. They also rebuilt an old touring guitar for me; '83 Gibson SG Firebrand. I beat the piss out of this guitar since 1985 when I bought it. It needed a rewire, pick guard, fret level, new bridge and tailpiece, clearcoat revive and a bunch of other things. This guitar is now back at the top of my rotation. Not only did they sort out the only sentimental guitar in my collection, but having them do a ground up resto job on it, it plays better than most of Strats, Teles and other Gibsons (some of which I paid over $3k for!). What an absolute pleasure it is to do business with Eastside Guitar!

I wanted to share my experience with Ryan Lynn, a master luthier whose meticulous fretwork is…read moreexceptional. I haven't encountered his level of skill anywhere else on the West Coast. He truly stands out in two key areas​ important to me: First, he can seamlessly replace a single worn fret, making the repair virtually undetectable. Second, he is adept at installing a new set of frets and perfectly feathering the edges into existing binding nibs (a distinctive feature on some Gibson guitars). This makes it ​h​ard to tell that the frets were ever replaced. He is simply ahead of the competition.

Full disclosure- I am not a musician and I don't know anything about drums so I can't comment on…read morethe quality of the selection or the knowledge of the staff in that regard but popped in to get a new pair of concert ear buds before a show. The lovely human working that day was so kind and helpful. As someone who is making an effort to buy things at locally owned places instead of big box retailers, I appreciated that while they did not have a large selection they did have some variation and the $20 pair I bought was much cheaper than what you see online and they worked so well. So if you ever find yourself in Portland for a show and need a pair- Rhythm Traders has you covered.

I can't say enough great things about Rhythm Traders! I was helped by two different employees who…read moreenabled me to close deals on a used cymbal stand and used hardware case. Being a musician and writer, I'm always on a tight budget, so I appreciate their recommendations.

I brought in a couple of guitars, one for a setup and pickup swap and one for a SS refret. Very…read morehappy with how both turned out! My 80's Charvel plays better than I could've hoped for. I can't recommend PFW enough, I definitely got my moneys worth

I've had a half dozen guitars rewired and set up by Sam and Roy at Portland Fret Works - Teles,…read more335s, Martins. I'll be bringing in a Taylor this week. There are no better guitar techs in Portland. I'll be a customer for life. - Mike Rodrigues, Portland

This shop is incredible!! The staff was very nice, knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about…read morehelping me find the right gear without feeling pressure to buy at all. They have an excellent selection of guitars, amps, and accessories. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend checking them out!

Looking for guitar specialists? Thunder Road is your place. They have a selection ranging from…read morerelatively inexpensive to "to die for" models. The best part is their service--these guys love guitars. They own them, play them, know them, and they will expertly guide you to the instrument best suited to your level of playing, size, and budget. Will, the owner, recently helped me with an issue I had with a Martin acoustic, and I walked away completely satisfied. It was a "win-win" solution. Great place for guitar aficionados as well as beginners who need guidance on finding the guitar of their dreams

The best! I brought my old violin in. Hadn't played for decades. The owner told me what needed to…read morebe fixed and why, and also what I didn't need to do. He did a great job, over and above, to set me up for my exciting new journey. The price was reasonable, and I got my fiddle and bow back in a week or so and it sounds great.

I kick myself a bit for not taking my grandfather's violin to Kim Manselle when I acquired it. I…read moretook it to a rather renowned luthier in Portland who sadly did nothing with it for 3, yes 3, years. When I showed it to Kim, he said it would take a month or two to bring it back to playable condition. He did just that for 1/3 of what I would have paid the renowned luthier. Thank you Kim!

A lot of cool gear, just don't show up brown and blue collar...the reception is chilly.read more

I recently attended my third performance at Strum. As a music venue, it's intimate and comfortable,…read morewith 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.

Incredible customer service! Very friendly and family oriented. Actually wants you to get the best…read moreout of your musical journey.

My children, like many of children in the area, have joined the public school orchestra. They…read moredecided on their instruments (which completely matched their personalities) and so we were directed to Uptown Music for rental and other equipment. Emmaly was amazing and took incredible care of me and my boys! The store was very busy, considering it was the weekend after Orchestra Parent night, but she greeted us immediately and was incredibly helpful in finding us what we needed. She sized up my one son immediately, as he played the same instrument she did, but she was quick to realize that my other son wanted to play an instrument that might be in short supply, so she rushed to check on that one first. She happened to get the very last one that was in stock and immediately claimed it for us. She then spent a great deal of time going over the entire instrument, ensuring that we had the right bow, rosin, and that the case fit correctly and had everything in it. She then set us up on the other instrument, and made sure it fit properly. She clearly explained all the rental rules and requirements and how it worked. I will say this; Uptown Music appears committed to keeping people playing music over maximizing overall profit. It's a rent-to-own system, and when a child sizes up out of an instrument, you can bring it back in and have the credit go immediately to the new one. If my children stay with these instruments, I won't have to constantly go back and buy a bigger size while being stuck with lost payments on an old one. I really appreciate that! They also operate on a month-to-month rental agreement, so if it doesn't work out, I'm not stuck with a long term contract. Music books were ready available, and despite the fact that all the schools in the area were starting up orchestra, they put $30 music stands on sale for $20. I had to drop some money to get my kids set up for this, but it could have been A LOT more. Then, because of all the confusion, there was a small error in the initial payment on the rental agreement. Emmaly gave us a call and the store was super accommodating in giving us time to get back in and catch up on the payment. I visited Uptown Music years and years ago, over eleven I'd have to say, and took some piano lessons here to try and build on what I learned as a kid. Going back with my kids now was a great experience, and made me get excited about music all over again. I'm really hoping my kids enjoy playing their instruments. I'd love to keep them playin for years and years. One of my sons is interested in the saxophone, so we're looking at that for a potential future option. If you're in need of musical instruments, I strongly urge you to avoid large national chains and check out this place. I had a great experience and felt very well taken care of!