I'm not sure if I went to the same store as the previous reviewers. I had to rent an instrument…read moresince my daughter decided to join band. I went here since it was the one recommended by the school. I was met with a friendly and knowledgable staff. He gave me all information I needed regarding price, rent to buy and instrument information. There was no hard sell and they have both new and used instruments for rent. They do have a credit check and standard forms to fill out if you're renting an instrument. He said if you purchase the instrument, you get full rental fee credit if you purchase within 6 months and 50% credit after. I appreciated that he could answer all my questions. I had to come back because the credit check guy wasn't available but no biggie. I looked around the store, it was very clean, well kept and the other customers in the store were getting equally helpful service. I would recommend this store to anyone who is looking to buy or rent an instrument.

I called them told them exactly what i had and if they would like to purchase these items they said…read moreto bring in and they'll take a look I said that i was driving from a bit out and didn't want to waste my time if not going to purchase, got impression that they would purchase, arrived and the main guy (owner?) was put offish. look at what i exactly told over the phone and said no, what a tool, time, gas and patience. Arghhh.

I was VERY impressed with my visit to Centaur Guitar! Selection is HUGE (much larger than one…read morewould expect when looking at it from the outside), the staff is EXTREMELY knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly, and prices are LOW. They carry a huge variety of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, amplifiers, and accessories. They also offer setup and repair services. They sell both new and used items. Their used items were unanimously in extremely great condition, and did not appear to be used. A few things to note if you visit: *There is a small, private parking lot *The entrance on the building that is on the same side of the gate as the parking lot is not actually for Centaur Guitar, it is for an amplifier repair service that shares the building. *The entrance for Centaur Guitar is on the street side of the building, past the parking lot gate. *To enter, one must ring the doorbell, and an employee will open the door to let you in *There are no centaurs available for sale

What a great place! I start my guitar class tonight and I completely spaced on procuring a guitar…read moreuntil today. I forgot the name of the kind person who helped me. They took the time to go over several guitars with me so that I walked out with something that was usable, nice sounding and not intimidating. I can't wait to use my new guitar tonight.

Tim was the absolute nicest, most informative, welcoming retail worker I've encountered in recent…read morememory. He answered our novice guitar questions, and then just kept going. Showed me how to adjust string height, then proceeded to explain and demonstrate the different effects from different picks for my daughter. 5/5 stars, this place is great. From here on out, anything guitar-related we get here.

Bought 12ax7 pre amp tubes from them, it blew out after a day, I called and explained that they…read moresold me a dud and they acted as if my amp was the problem lol after haggling back and forth and getting them to replace it, low and behold 2 days later it blew out! So they refused to make it right, I went to eurotubes and bought another 12ax7 and over a month later IT STILL WORKS! So I wouldn't recommend buying 12ax7 tubes from them, they buy the cheap low tested ones and then resale them. I looked into it myself from who they buy directly from.

This is a review about the in-store experience, not any transactions or trades…read more We stopped in one September afternoon while we were wandering around the Alberta Arts District and wow - what a selection of guitars. My partner has been playing for nearly 25 years, and really enjoyed getting to try out different instruments. I have less interest in guitars, but even I loved walking around to see every shape and style, plus ukuleles. The shop is pretty huge, you feel like it just keeps going. The store is laid back and gives you a lot of space to try things out. Another customer was there and was chatting up everybody, telling stories about his time in bands and how his guitar teacher was Tom Morello. The store employee was very chill and welcoming, and chatted with us as well.

Bad service, self involved indie boys that are far up their own arses. Sales people purposely don't…read moremaintain inventory if they want to keep the guitar(s) on display. If the guitars aren't set up, customers don't buy and staff gets to keep what doesn't sell. If you catch on to this hustle, they try to convince the customer that they are lousy players "what tuning did you have that in, yeash!" Yeah right a**hole- we see through your b.s. I brought mine home set it up, it plays ace. solid. 'eff off, little boy.

Very helpful, great work. Cool guitars and amps. Will be back for sure. Thanks so much!read more

Staff is friendly and helpful Good selection and prices Definitely my go-to place for…read moreinstruments and service

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

MusicWerks has made a huge impact on my life. Their friendly, talented teachers are knowledgable…read moreand really great with children. Watching these kids grow from beginners to amazing musicians is a real treat! The flexibility and understanding that MusicWerks has about family life is the key difference between this music school and any other. I highly recommend them.

We love MusicWerks! My daughter has been studying piano and voice at this studio for 4 years. She…read morehas had two different teachers during this time - both excellent. Through MusicWerks she has also had the opportunity to participate in a juried music festival, rock camp, and a variety of group classes. The studio is well organized, professional, and family-friendly, There are a variety of teachers, and Robyn. the owner, will talk with you to determine who might best suit your child's needs. I feel like Robyn has provided me with a lot of parental support, and has always been there to address my questions and concerns. The recitals are really lovely as well. It's wonderful to see the full range of students - from preschool through high school - showcasing their talent in a fun, relaxed environment. I highly recommend MusicWerks. It's a great studio for kids of all ages.

Great staff that genuinely cares. Kids demonstrate growth that you can really see and experience…read morefrom one show to another, all while building friendships and connections that will last far beyond the walls of the school.

Went to our kid's School of Rock concert at Hawthorne Theatre and honestly it was one of those…read moreparenting moments you do not forget. Seeing your child walk onto a real stage, under real lights, with a full band and an audience cheering them on hits you right in the heart. This was not just kids playing songs. It was confidence. Growth. Courage. You could see how much work they put in and how supported they felt by their instructors and by each other. Watching them perform, handle the crowd, recover from little mistakes, and finish strong was incredibly moving as a parent. School of Rock is a truly great program. It teaches music, but more than that it teaches teamwork, discipline, and how to show up when it matters. You can tell these kids are learning life skills along with guitar riffs and drum fills. Hawthorne Theatre was the perfect venue for this experience. It feels real and authentic, not polished or sterile. Being close to the stage made everything feel personal and immersive. The sound was solid, the flow of the event was smooth, and the whole space felt welcoming to families while still giving the kids a true concert experience. There is something powerful about watching your child perform in a real venue and realizing how much they have grown. We left feeling proud, emotional, and grateful for programs like this that give kids a place to shine. Highly recommend School of Rock and Hawthorne Theatre. This was more than a concert. It was a memory we will carry for a long time.

The tale of the Pot Seed Martin…read more In 1972, I bought a brand new Martin D-35 somewhere in Maryland, where I was stationed while working for the NSA. I played the hell out of that guitar, and afterwards as a civilian, trotted it with me as I hitchhiked around North America. I was performing one night, in a bar in Montana, when an errant seed popped out of the joint I was smoking, and landed right on the guitar, burning a perfect little circle into the binding. Put a pin in that. Flash forward a few years to the late 70s, when I sold the Martin to my friend Bob for traveling money. Flash forward again, a few years later, when I asked to buy it back, but Bob just grinned and shook my hand; "no" was all he said. Every couple years, same question, same answer. "Nope." Eventually, that morphed into "you can have it when I die," and so it remained thus, for 30 years or so, whereupon Bob suddenly passed away. True to his word, his friend returned the guitar to me within days. I opened the case and was dismayed. The Martin was destroyed (see pictures from previous post). It had turned orange with cigarette smoke, and sat in an uninsulated attic, neglected, for who knows how many years. I let it air out for a year or so just to get the cigarette stink tamed, but didn't think there was anything salvageable there. Bob really trashed that guitar. Cut ahead another 10 years, when I decided to see if anything could be done. The guys at 12th Fret Guitar gave me some good news: not only could they repair the Martin, they could make it better than new! When I told them the tale of how it came to be in their shop, they dubbed it the "Pot Seed Martin," and so finally my guitar had a name. You can see the seed burn below. A flaw in the production of 1972 Martins caused a slight intonation problem that they could fix when repairing the cracked bridge. Ray at 12th Fret replaced the bridge, removed and reset the neck, refretted the fretboard, fixed the cracked bracings, replaced the pick guard (that had basically become a cup holder), repaired the existing binding, and replaced a missing foot-long section completely. He painstakingly "aged" it to match the cigarette-orange color of the original binding. He also replaced the awful cigarette-stained mother-of-pearl inlay in the headstock with the Martin logo, and aged that as well. Now, 46 years later, I once again have a "new" Martin. A little older and wiser perhaps, scarred by various blunt and pointed objects, and rich in history and adventures (if only the wood could talk), and now the Pot Seed Martin is home and singing loud and clear. In case it isn't obvious, I highly recommend 12th Fret Guitar for all your guitar needs.

On the recommendation of a friend and true professional musician, I recently had a prize bass…read moreconverted to fretless. Per my request, they used thin maple fake fret fillers, sanded perfectly flat and added a varnish covering. The work was flawless and spectacular. I even went with their recommended flat wound strings. Likewise, I brought them my jazz guitar for repairs, as well. Their work was better than the (not cheap!) guitar came from the factory (the intonation and action were both better.) The work isn't super fast, but with a small shop that is to be expected. Pricing was quite fair. Big thank you to the whole team. I am a very happy customer.