I was VERY impressed with my visit to Centaur Guitar! Selection is HUGE (much larger than one would 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 read more

See all

What a great place! I start my guitar class tonight and I completely spaced on procuring a guitar until 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. read more

Great shop, repaired my warlock in top condition. This is my first and only review, pick these guys first!!

Really great experience with Al, and the team at Centaur Guitar. They went out of their way to send more photos and information to me. I scored a mint, lefty Telecaster that is absolutely pristine. Everyone at Centaur are friendly and helpful, really neat vibe at this store. Bravo Centaur, thank you very much! read more

Centaur Guitar - Thank you Centaur Guitar! Your team is awesome. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We are on holiday from Australia and I had to pop into a cool guitar store while in Portland. These guys popped up in a quick search, and we popped in on the way back to our AirBnB after a day of smashing Hawthorne District. I was not disappointed at all - great range of new and secondhand guitars, amps, and my favourite, effects! Picked up some cool stuff and was super impressed with how friendly and helpful the staff were. Great guys, great gear, great shop! Go there NOW! read more

Centaur Guitar - Rad gear galore! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Portland, Oregon

These guys are fantastic. Glad they were able to reopen and have done so with manners and pure class. We had some great convo and they had tons of suggestions for helping me get myself and kids started on both guitar and bass. I could spend hours listening to their sage advice and storytelling. Top notch crew! read more

Stopped by this morning and had a real great experience. Staff was helpful, nice and polite. they had everything I needed, in one stop, hard to ask for a better guitar store experience. read more

Great place,took my newly aquired strat in and they did a great job of going thru and checking and /or replacing all aspects of my guitar,plus great collection of guitars for sale,no more box stores for me,centaur is home.check out their collection of old guitars artwork. read more

I brought an acoustic guitar and ukulele for restringing and they did a great job! Not only that, but it was very affordable. $12 to restring the guitar and $6 for the ukulele (plus the cost of strings). They have a good selection of guitars and vintage effects pedals as well. Great experience all around! read more

I took a guitar that I was having switch issues with over to centaur. The guy working offered to take a look at it, asked if he could open the switch plate, and showed me that sometimes the switch holders will slip. He adjusted it... and didn't charge me anything. Nice selection of guitars! read more

Great selections at this shop. Everyone in town will tell you to go here, and it's for good reason. While I haven't brought anything in to be serviced (I live in southern California, so this doesn't make any sense), I have come in to peruse their incredible selection of pedals. They carry a lot of hard to find pedal makers such as Sioux, and they're always focused on local gear. I stop in every time I come to Portland. read more

Okay, so let's assume that you're a guitar player if you're taking the time to read this review. I could tell you about my collection of vintage Gibsons and my prized Gretsch and you'd know what I was talking about. But that's not why I'm recommending Centaur. Sure, they've got it all and they live and breath guitars. I've bought several nice instruments from them over the years. What sets them apart is that they took two hours out of their day to explain to my thirteen-year-old son everything that his dad has been trying to tell him about guitars for years, and sold him his first axe ... a gently-used Mexican Strat. They could have unloaded any piece of crap on him that they wanted to move. Instead, they assessed his tastes, let him play a variety of models (badly), and set him up with a sound instrument within his price range. Guitar salesman are generally a notch below prison informants in the world of ethics, but the guys at Centaur are good people. Now, if I could only teach my kid to play when I'm not home, I'd be a happy man. read more

"Before we leave Portland, I MUST get a new guitar!" With the prolonged need for a upgrade, I looked up some stores before our trek back home. Some strange divine force steered me to Centaur Guitar and I'm sure glad I listened to the gods of internet. The quaint store gives off a comfortable, local and homey vibe. They offer a good selection of new, used and vintage. While not messy, the store is filled top to bottom. The place isn't your typical retail guitar store... If a guitar store can be a home, this would be it. Jason was totally personable and super chill. I told him what I was looking for, what I was currently working with, what my skill level was (crap-a-lastic) and he knew exactly what to show me. Super informative and knowledgeable. Not pushy and more importantly did not have the "I'm way to cool for your business syndrome" like other guitar centers I've been to. He chose a few for me to feel out and bashfully strum. I'm completely 100% satisfied with my purchase and absolutely LOVE my new guitar! He threw in a free guitar strap and a discount for the capo and guitar stand. Woohoo! Oh and it's Oregon, so tax-free for this Seattle-lite! Oh I would totally come back for my guitar needs - yeah, even when I'm a 3-hour drive away. read more

Do you dread browsing music shops to purchase something because of the reserved, rude, and/or sometimes awkward salespeople who seem like they are uninterested in helping you? The staff at Centaur Guitar is an exception! Centaur Guitar left a great first impression when I visited. They told me they do not usually carry the certain type of instrument I was looking for, and without me asking, they happily wrote down for me another local music shop (not owned by them) that would be able to better assist me. The friendliest attitude I've ever seen in a local music store! I'd be happy to shop here again. (I love how another reviewer here wrote, "Portland is so cool now that when you walk into a shop everyone acts like you don't exist." SO true! haha. But luckily not at Centaur Guitar.) read more

I have always had great experiences shopping at centaur guitar. It is wonderful to walk into a kick ass music store with super nice and knowledgeable employees without the condescending attitudes! They have an amazing selection of pedals and gear. I will always support this place! read more

Out of all the shops in portland Centaur is my favorite for sure, Although there's a few other ones id recommend centaur is the only shop that after I bring any friend by they always thank me for it after. Very cool selection that's resonably priced. The wealth of knowledge you get from small talks with the staff alone make it my go to. Often music store employees make me want to do my shopping online. I haven't found a question the owner couldn't answer. You can tell that these dudes don't just sell equipment for a living, its there entire life. witch isn't something you'll get from one of the thousands of guitar centers in this country. if there's a spot closer to you trust me its well worth the drive to centaur. read more

I've brought two basses in for setups, as well as purchased a few pedals from here. I couldn't be happier with the service and the staff. Al has done tremendous setups for my guitars, and is always very friendly along with the rest of the staff. Worth checking out as they may have something hiding in a case that you didn't know you needed! read more

So, about an hour before they closed on Labor Day, I called up because the girlfriend's B.C.Rich had a connection issue at the jack. Not only did they repair the issue within ten minutes, they also didn't charge for the repair. Overall, awesome from start to finish. Laid back, and well-stocked. Go here. Stop reading. Just give them money. I know I will in the future. read more

Usually when you go to a guitar shop, you're prepared to either deal with crappy employees, a lack of product, or just a weird vibe. Centaur is none of these things and everything I've ever looked for in a guitar shop. Not only is everyone there super nice and knowledgeable, but they have a great selection of pedals from brands that are hard to find in person: Earthquaker Devices, Catalinbread, and some boutique brands I've never heard of too. I'm happy to have found my go to guitar shop and if you have a chance to go, I'm sure you'll feel the same way. read more

Brought my 13yo granddaughter here to pick out her Christmas gift. Having stopped playing piano after 5 years of mediocre teachers, she got excited about the guitar at summer camp. There was a wide assortment, a wall-full, of the acoustic guitars she was interested in and the salesguy spent lots of time with her, showing and playing how they differed from one another. He brought over about a dozen through the course of 30 - 45 minutes, priced from $120 to $1000, but with never a hint of trying to push her selection. Next time I need a guitar in Portland (I'm a piano guy), I'll go here! read more

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Jason and Kelly are sharp looking men, and I've heard that if you have an afternoon to kill that these guys will kill it. Seriously great shop with a good mix of guitar and bass gear. New and vintage toys that will melt your brain. Always something new in this shop. These guys are also very helpful every time I come in with a problem with my gear. They may not always be able to fix it, but they work real hard getting me to someone who can. I feel bad I haven't spent more time and money here. Make sure to stop by Saturdays during the summer, you're likely to catch a show in the parking lot. read more

Centaur Guitar - Centaur's littlest fan. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Brought my Rickenbacker 4003w in for a setup. Although it took longer than I wanted, they definitely did a great job on it! Beautiful low action! read more

Make sure you bring cash! Went to purchase guitar strings on my debit card. The money came out of my account (pending status) but due to a malfunction on their machine the transaction failed. I left $20 lighter and no strings. When you also consider the construction/ parking situation this amounted to a very negative experience. Been a loyal customer for 8+ years......I'm Done. read more

Kelly and the gang!! You guys ROCK!!! Thanks for all the great deals and advice!!! Chad B. read more

Employees are so nice and helped me pick out my first bass and amp! Awesome store!!

Really fantastic group of guys and excellent service, really hard to think of anything negative about my experiences there. I'm really new at guitar, but the staff treated me with total respect, no condescension at all. They were able to provide me with advice that was actually helpful in finding a guitar that was a good fit for me and my budget. Likewise with accessories (strings, cables, etc). Pretty darn good selection of used guitars, amps, and basses, and TONS of effects pedals. About three weeks after buying my guitar, I noticed that one of the push-push pots wasn't latching properly. Most likely it had been that way since I bought it, but I couldn't be sure. Anyway, it was used, so you get what you get, right? Well, I brought it in so their luthier could replace the potentiometer (they had to special order the correct one for me); he had it done shortly after dropping it off. Even better, when I asked about the cost, at the end I was told "I think this is under warranty ;)" Pretty classy for a place selling used gear! Overall my experiences have been great. I think shoppers with more savvy than me will really enjoy their selection of effects pedals and higher end gear, lots of fun to browse around! read more

They are the best. No pressure. Quality instruments. Friendly and knowledgeable. Not pushy. Thanks for the sweet guitar!

The lovely people in this shop restrung my guitar and cleaned the fret board in a matter of hours without an appointment and gave me additional suggestions of work I might want to complete on it at another business. Every time I've gone in there, I have gotten very friendly but not at all pushy or condescending customer service. Highly recommend. read more

As the other reviewers point out, this place is awesome! Great, knowledgeable staff and no-pressure to purchase. Excellent choice of used guitars and amps, all priced fairly. What a music store should be. read more

I've only been playing a couple years and lack the confidence needed to step into a music shop and know exactly what I need. In addition, I'm weary of an up-sell or getting ripped off. I was happy to find that this place was welcoming and happy to help. In addition, I was convinced I'd have to deal with some pretentious music snob that I'd rather avoid and just shop online. Again, I was happy that this was not even close to being the case here. The staff member who helped me was kind, motivational and up front in every way, even with my ridiculous questions and requests. I will definitely return here for any guitar needs as well as refer any who inquire. Thanks, Centaur! read more

My favorite guitar store in town. The Centaur boys are as friendly and affable as you'd like in a neighborhood shop, and you'll experience no pressure sales techniques here. There's a reason folks stop by just to chat and hang out. They're also not loaded down with cheap bottom-feeder guitars and overpriced top end gear, like Guitar Center. There are plenty of unique midrange instruments and amps. And if you're a pedal freak, this is the only stop worth making in PDX. Plus repairs! I can't recommend them enough. read more

Time and time again, I have come back to Centaur Guitar to purchase quality guitars to use for drawings for my customers. Usually, calling them at the last minute! The team at Centaur never makes me feel I am bothering them or putting them out in any way. They know what guitars my audience will get excited about and have helped me put my association on the map! For someone who knows nothing about guitars, I have had to put my trust completely in them, and they haven't failed me yet! No attitude, no hassle and willing to work within my budget. I highly recommend this shop to ANYONE no matter what level player you are. You will leave feeling motivated and suddenly a member of the Centaur Family. Just go once! you'll see... read more

best guitar shop in portland. Even better is that they're awesome people. It's the only guitar shop I actually feel at home going into. And I always find great things. read more

Great staff, great schtuff. I don't look like a rocker- and they didn't treat me like I wasn't a rocker. They have great effects, and a good selection of "off-the-wall" guitars. I dig this place. read more

A year ago, we bought a used electric bass from Centaur guitar in NE on Sandy. We have always felt well-treated there, and they have been wonderfully helpful more times than I can remember. Recently the bass stopped working well. So I took it there, with the story of how it was not working. No warranty or such. The guy thought he knew what the problem was right away. Took a screwdriver to the panel on back, opened it up, took out a 9 volt battery, touched it to his tongue, said "dead as a doornail", and popped a new one in. He then closed things up, and proceeded to play bass lines for about 10 minutes, Pink Floyd's "Money", the Beatles' "Lady Madonna", and a few others; a rather fun concert. You can tell people like working here. Wouldn't take a dollar. He took the time to explain, between riffs, that some basses have a battery, that it acts like a pre-amp. If you leave the bass plugged in between uses, it drains more quickly. If not, it may last a year or so. Just the usual amazing and friendly treatment from a super, local guitar store. We'll be back. read more

I just recently to Portland from Seattle, and have been looking for a nice music store. I hate going to guitar center or the stores that have nothing but the standard new gear over and over... strat, strat, tele, tele, lp, lp, epiphone, epiphone, etc. Centaur Guitar has an amazing selection of vintage guitars, many you probably have never seen before, and at very reasonable prices. Not as cheap as Craigslist, but all the guitars seemed like they had been set up and they all played well. I felt like a kid in a candy store... it's a shame I had to pick just one. I picked up an early 60's Kalamazoo guitar (made by Gibson in Kalamazoo Michigan) for under $450. It plays and sounds fantastic. The staff was friendly and helpful, not pushy. They really only stock guitar and bass stuff, pedals and strings though, so don't go expecting a lot of recording gear or mixing stations, blah blah blah. read more

Great selection of affordable vintage guitars and new pedals! I wouldn't come here if you're looking for a newly manufactured guitar. The guy behind the counter was exceptionally nice and easy going. I'll be back for sure! read more

I dropped into Centaur Guitar yesterday for the second time and have never spent any money there. I was on my way to a rehearsal, had my guitar with me and asked If they could make a few adjustments to the bridge. Within seconds the guitar was on a bench and half an hour later it was handed back with a smile and a charge of ZERO... I offered to pay the fellow for his time and was refused. I offered to add to the "beer" fund and was again refused. Though as a business owner myself I believe that good work deserves fair compensation, I also believe that good will is much more valuable than the few dollars that they might have asked me for. They have made a permanent friend and customer in me and I would recommend Them to anyone who is looking for expertise combined with stellar customer service. Alex Hofberg Watchworks Inc. read more

These guys are so great that I literally just came straight home & signed up for Yelp so I could review them. My first time there, and I went in with a great old bass that I'd neglected for years & the wiring was sounding really rough. Turns out all it needed was a hell of a lot of cleaning in its guts. They couldn't have been more friendly (particularly since I was so clueless about it) or more reasonable in price. While I waited I checked out their stuff, a nice range of everything from $75 beaters to oh-if-only axes. None of the attitude or pressure I've seen in other shops, either. Seriously, this place has enough good karma to power a dozen other mere mortal guitar shops. read more

Yeah !!! You know why these guys have a perfect 5 star rating, two reasons 1. They are nice guys 2. They have cool gear that is reasonably priced. Now if you want to experience the opposite of this experience go to Apple music. read more