Starts out with a very fake demeanor followed by talking down to you like you have not a clue about music or playing any kind of instrument. Selection of product is decent for a tiny music store in a mountain town, but the owner kind of ruins that. Not sure how or why they are still in business because the owner is a jerk to say the least and treats potential customers like trash. read more

LOOOOOVE this place. My 13 year old son bought an electric guitar here and amp. Doug is a kind dude and was so helpful in the ordering process. So grateful Nederland has this gem. read more

I had one of the worst experiences I have ever had with a business or human being today when Doug damaged my guitar and talked down to me the entire time I was in his store. I was hopeful to support a local business but wish I had just gone to Boulder or read the other low star reviews here first. Doug seemed nice enough a few weeks ago, so today I brought Doug a travel guitar that had started buzzing in the past month and needed the tension rod adjusted. First, Doug told me my guitar was unsafe to play and began filing the frets down (without asking for my consent first) extremely aggressively (see damage to binding and guitar body in the photo). He could tell I was newer to playing and talked down to me the entire time as a result. He also told me, "You put the wrong kind of strings on this guitar." I let him know that I bought the guitar used from Guitar Center with those strings on it a few years ago and had never put strings on the guitar myself. He then told me the issue was that I tuned the guitar to D instead of E. I explained to him that I had tuned it in this way for years and never had an issue with the buzzing string until a month ago. I left, grateful I hadn't let him near my larger guitar, but then realized the damage he had done with the filing. I brought it back in, and he glued the binding hastily, but the body is still damaged until I can repair it. Then he changed two of the strings and said I needed to change all of them. As I tried to learn more and dialogue with him, he was incredibly dismissive, though at one point he did try to educate me about how the strings can wear down over time and how that can impact the sound, which I found helpful. When I asked if he would be open to changing them all, he said, "I can't do that for you today." I ultimately left with a damaged guitar and felt like Doug bullied me. Maybe he was having a hard day, but it should not be taken out on others. I am a young woman who is still relatively new to guitar, and I was eager to support a small, local business and hopefully learn more about my instruments. I cried in the car after leaving his store and would never recommend his shop to anyone. Fortunately, I found a business in Boulder whose employees were kind and gracious and willing to help me. They also acknowledged that the tension rod may need an adjustment after all. My advice is to make the trip to Boulder and avoid risking damage to your instruments. I hope that Doug can learn to be more patient and more kind to those who come into his store. I felt very hurt by our interaction today and cannot recommend his business to anyone. read more

Brightwood Music - Damage to the binding and body from aggressive filing. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Nederland, Colorado

I am pleasantly surprised by the very ample supply of guitar-maintenance items, such as top end strings, picks, cords, as well as a pretty good assortment of acoustics. Doug takes the time to talk to customers, and is extremely knowledgeable about just about any stringed instrument. The place is also set up for repairs too, which is quite handy for the area. Highly recommended! read more

If the owner doesnt like you he'll hover near you with a pair of bolt cutters like hes gonna hit you. Not joking. Its not scary because hes about the least intimidating dude youll ever see. Still awkward though. read more

Nederland has a local music store! That gets 3 of the 5 stars right off the bat. Plus there's knowledge, friendliness, quality, helpfulness - another 2 stars. The owner cares about music and everyone enjoying music; everyone I talk to there is encouraging no matter the level of musicianship. Why drive to Boulder when there's high quality instructors right here? read more

Normally I hardly will ever give a place a 5-star review after just one visit but upon returning home and finding only two reviews for Brightwood with 14 filtered positive reviews not all of which meet the orange head/1 review/0 friends auto filter (wtf Yelp?) and then reading the negative review posted by someone that seems to me to be socially challenged. A five star it is. The owner is a very pleasant gentleman and invited me to play any instrument in the store I wanted to. He had several resonator guitars in the shop and after strumming a few I took down a metal bodied Recording King biscuit cone for a test drive. I thought it sounded pretty good but I wasn't sure about the price? I never impulse buy a musical instrument without researching it and the price. Although his price is slightly higher than an internet price it isn't unreasonable for a store price and seems very fair. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) I have a couple guitars I use for slide now and this wasn't "the One" that I'm searching for but I'd recommend it and the shop to anybody I know looking for a nice resonator. After I was done hearing what this res had to offer ( and the owner complimented me on my playing) we chatted about guitars for a bit. A lady came in with a couple guitars to have them checked and re-strung and he was very professional and courteous to the woman that obviously was a novice. He made good recommendations for her and didn't attempt to upsell her with expensive strings or other items she didn't need. As I left the store he asked me to please come back anytime and I will anytime I'm up this way because you never know where and when "the One" will appear and also because I enjoy supporting small businesses whenever I can. read more

I am delighted to have found a music shop on the P2P that can support my bourgeoning mandolin habit. The shop owner was welcoming and knowledgable about mandolin selection, repair and accessories. I plan on availing myself of the shop's mandolin instructor, and I will update my review as I become more acquainted with this Nederland gem. So far so good! read more

Doug and Brightwood Music are the very best in what I need in a music store. Doug has helped me find exactly the instrument I needed every time. He is also a great luthier and super hard worker for his customers. Check out the Teton Ukes, especially the 140 Cedar wood series. Ask Doug and you will be amazed at the value. read more

I wrote a previous review, but it is hidden/ filtered for some reason. Maybe I wasn't specific enough. So here's what I know about Doug and his business with specifics: strings - I have come in looking for my "usual" strings and he has had them. But further, he has also turned me on to new brands I hadn't been aware of (Mangan strings), as well as helping me select appropriate strings on instruments that were new to me (Dobro and lap steel). Very helpful resource in that regard. instrument setup - I had Doug take my Dobro from not really playable to an easy player. I brought it in hoping he could maybe rescue it, and he took it up to a whole new level. Tweaked the truss, installed a new cone, fit the old bridge to new biscuit, maybe a few more things. The total bill was much more than reasonable. Now it is a joy to play. Great work, great price. general resource - I have had the pleasure of talking with Doug about a number of things over the years and he has always been generous with information and excited to share it. I have learned a few setup and finish techniques just by stopping by at the right time, and chatting about what he had on the bench. We here in "the boonies", as some unpleasant previous reviewer put it, sure appreciate having this store. read more

Just noticed the funny, immature response from the owner. You obviously piss off more folks willing to purchase your goods, than just myself, since this in no way describes my interaction. When I was there, no one else was in the store. I never even thought of insulting the help (never would do it under any circumstance), but he, in fact, insulted you (explicitly) behind your back, along with me. He was arrogant, unhelpful, condescending, and completely unfit to handle the public. And I'm extremely easy-going. Probably too much of pushover. Do you really believe publicly responding in such a childlike manner encourages folks to stop by? Especially when you've made it clear you disrespect your customers? You are the reason Amazon thrives. You. Yikes! read more

I love having a music shop in town. When I was in the market for a guitar, Doug came in on his day off to show me the one he thought would work for me. He was right. I love it and play it over my other choices. He also sold me a sweet little tenor, that I really enjoy. Amazing variety for such a small shop. read more

Sorry, but just go anywhere else. Doug, the owner, has no skills to deal with the public whatsoever. All he can stock is a bunch of decent looking cheap China goods...just buy off eBay. He's arrogant for no obvious reason, and minimizing to customers and employees alike. He's done so spectacular in life that he's running a joke of a shop in the boonies. And, must be dumb as a rock. He should be open and receptive to what "should be" his target customer, someone with disposable income. I'm an easy going guy, and have done well in life, and have an amazing collection of 30 of the best acoustic guitars in the world. I came into Doug's store, and was mesmerized by a handbuilt guitar by a local builder, Singing Mountain guitars. He scolded me like one of his kids a few times that he had "important things" to do in this dumpy little shop, and didn't have time cause he had instruments to repair. I left that day, thinking this guy is a real jerk.... ....but the sound of the guitar brought me back today, a one hour drive from Longmont. I even brought one of my collection guitars to show him the amazing, rare woods. As I listened to this jerk while evaluating the guitar, which was priced at $5000 (highest price in the store. Everything else China junk, $300-500), I told him that the guitar did not have paperwork certifying the grade and authenticity of the woods from the builder, which is important for investment quality. He replied some snide garbage that you don't ask Picasso what kind of paint you use. He said something about having to pay the rent of the shop with another customer, and went off to make his big sale of a pack of Elixer strings. He's so stupid, even though he knew I came back to his shop for the $5000 guitar two times in two days, he had the sale in the bag. I had $6000 cash in an envelop in my pocket, and just showed him an $18,000 Marc Maingard guitar from my collection. When buying an instrument that will resonate with my heart and soul, it's important the whole experience is spectacular. I was there to purchase this wonderful guitar, and because of this arrogant jerk, I walked out of the store and will never return. Ever. Worse than the Soup Nazi. Go have a look and get some of this losers attitude for yourself. Maybe his mama doesn't love him...whatever the reason, he doesn't belong in the front of the store, ever. Get over yourself, dude. You're not special, in any way. Trust me. read more

Interesting that only the one bad review is displayed, and counted by Yelp to score the business, but the other consistently very positive reviews are filtered. Reasons remain a mystery. Consistently great experiences with Doug; knowledgeable, friendly, open. Try again. read more

I had left home without a guitar and happened upon this shop on my way to Estes Park. Sadly, he was fresh out of left handed acoustic guitars (not like I expected him to have more than maybe a couple) but could order me in one. Meanwhile, he converted a 4 string banjo to lefty so I would have something to enjoy until the guitar came in. He then offered me 100 percent credit of the cost of the banjo toward the guitar, and did not charge me for the extra setup. That was way past good customer service. In my own humble opinion, the Brightwood Music of 2015 is a great place to stop for a stringed instrument fix. read more

Stopped here while in Nederland and very disappointed. I'm a professional guitarist and perform nightly. I tryed talking to this man who seemed to own the shop. He wouldn't give me the time of day when he realized I knew alot about stringed instruments. He had a Martin guitar and I brought it up but he quickly put it down. I happen to own and play Martin guitars and did not appreciate that at all. I wasn't offered to try any instruments at all. He quickly left out the door to talk to a friend who drove up and really blew myself and a couple asking questions about another instrument. He may service local musicians but pre qualifys others. Big mistake pal!! Word of mouth! Arrogant very unhelpful and no personality. I've played 54 years and know about and he sensis that and runs. It's a shame. Sorry but this is what happens and I'm not one to post negative reviews but he deserves this one. Hope he learns. Guess I'm stuck at gc read more

My experience with Doug and Brightwood has been wonderful. Doug is helpful, friendly, knowledgable, and very pleasant to deal with. I think it is great that Nederland has such a great business and resource and it is a shame to see negative reviews on Yelp based on one interaction that clearly did not go well for either party. Keep up the great work Doug and team and know that many are glad you are here and doing what you're doing. read more

Brightwood Music is great! The entire staff has always been so friendly and helpful and the quality of gear and expert knowledge is great. After Doug helped me pick out a new guitar today he took the time to get it all dialed in with any setup I desired. I am so pleased with my new acoustic and the price was incredible. This place has a customer for life and I will send everyone their way. read more

We were vacationing and stumbled upon this wonderful gem! My daughter has been playing the violin for the past 4 years and has been using a student violin provided by the school. Walking by, on a whim, we decided to go in Doug's wonderful store. I have been searching the internet and our local stores in Kansas City to purchase a first violin for her. The owner was extremely helpful, was not pushy, and answered a lot of questions from a very inexperienced player (myself) and treated my daughter as a true musician. She beamed as we purchased her first violin from Brightwood Music. Thank you for the wonderful experience, I'm sure she will enjoy it for years to come. read more