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.

The customer service wasn't so great and the main guy "helping" me had a stuck-up attitude and…read morewasn't very respectful to me or my needs. They seem to have a decent selection of brass and woodwind instruments as well, but lack basic or a variety of accessories for them.

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

I was pleasantly surprised as I approach the address/location where Allegro Violin and Music is…read morelocated. "Spolier alert" - it's in a residential location! Craig opened the door and gave us his undivided attention for the next 90-120 minutes (I don't remember how long we took to decide on 4 or 5 different violins). But his attention to us and ability to answer most of our questions was very useful & helpful in our eventual decision. There were options and more options...and Craig clearly understood the process of violin purchasing! Patience and plenty of options were available. Definitely will recommend any friend or relatives to visit with Craig & Roxanne for a stringed musical instrument.

I'm a beginner violin player and was at a little bit of a loss about where to rent a violin while…read moreI'm learning. Allegro has better hours than most of the shops in the Portland metro area, so I made an appointment with Craig to see some violins. The shop is right in their house, and while I think they prefer appointments, I believe you could also just stop in. Craig showed me two different violins--entry level and mid level. I went with the mid-level and will be doing a rent to own. His prices are good and the instruments beautiful. He tuned it for me, had me try it out, and gave me some options for buying rosin and the shoulder pad. He also showed me an app, pano, which you can use to tune the violin on your own. Pretty cool. I would highly recommend Allegro and Craig for your string instruments.

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.

Less than one I feel sick to my stomach…read more This is my experience. The ego often makes a shop owner see themselves as vying with the customer rather than serving them. The ego often makes a shop owner see themselves as competing with the customer rather than serving them. In conclusion, when a shop owner's ego becomes the primary motivator, they may "dismiss" the customer to safeguard their self-image and sense of authority. This behavior often contradicts the classic notion that "the customer is always right." Instead, it reflects a pride that purportedly aims to create a comfortable, dignified environment. However, this approach lacks genuine substance, as it is built on flawed assumptions that undermine core principles of customer service.  Upon entering the establishment, I was separated from others and treated in a manner I believe would not occur outside this context. Specifically, I felt infantilized when I was informed that employers had complained about me for asking for deals. The feedback I received was vague and poorly articulated. However, one allegation shared was that I allegedly threw objects at staff members. This situation is unlikely ever to occur, particularly given that I felt my conversation went well. The irony was that, after I paid the full price for the installment, I was reprimanded for inquiring about a discount. This response can be seen as a manifestation of perceived disrespect; when customers do not exhibit the level of deference expected by the business owner, the owner may prioritize personal pride over financial gain. The proprietor of Hank's Music has requested that I refrain from visiting the establishment in the future unless I fully grasp the protocol regarding pricing negotiations for their pre-owned instruments. It is crucial to avoid discussing the possibility of negotiating the listed price, especially in the presence of customers and employees. A shop owner's ego can sometimes lead to reactions that prioritize personal pride over business acumen, particularly when considering the perceived value of instruments, as many musicians receive only a fraction of their instruments' value when trading them in or purchasing them outright. When operating from a place of ego, owners may misinterpret customer feedback or inquiries as personal affronts rather than constructive business interactions. This is ironic, given that I previously sold instruments to their establishment, thereby providing them with the opportunity to profit from those sales. In such scenarios, emotional responses can overshadow the potential benefits of engaging customers in a more transactional, less personal manner. I will not provide justification, engage in debate, defend my choices, or offer explanations regarding my actions. My dissatisfaction with the guitar has reached a point where I regret entering the store and making any purchases. Consequently, I have resolved to withdraw my support for this establishment and will not return in the future. I am sick to my stomach.

Cool shop, great selection of gear and super knowledgeable and helpful staff members. Highly…read morerecommend.

Caitlin is truly everything you would look for in a luthier, and more (if you happen to be lucky…read moreenough to be looking for a luthier)! She is knowledgeable, fair, very easy to work with, happy to help in any way she can, and very high integrity, which is so important! I feel lucky to have found her. She can help you navigate to what you are looking for, whether that is buying an instrument, having one repaired (or custom made), or selling one. She repaired and sold my cello for me, so now I'm shopping for a new car! Give her a try and I'm sure you will be glad you did.

Caitlin is excellent at what she does and an all-around great person. Very trustworthy. My son has…read morebeen going to her for his cello for almost 10 years. He started out on a tiny 1/16 and is now on a full-size. She has always found him excellent instruments. Caitlin also sold an antique bow for me and got me great price.

I happened to be in town and had a gift certificate to spend . I was happy to see various music for…read moretrombone and ended up buying a book in addition to slide oil , which was in copious stock . I did want to inquire about the used Edwards straight trombone on display, seemed the employee in back was tied up with another customer so I left . Hmm wouldn't have minded looking it over and trying it out . Anyway , very well stocked store and a treasure for the music community .

The price of a public school education is higher than you'd think. I'm pleased to report that my…read morelocal schools still have music and arts programs, although sometimes it feels like they are hanging on by a fraying thread. What was a little surprise as a parent was the cost of participation. If you don't have a trumpet or clarinet lying around, you need to rent one and the monthly fee is quite high. Our school recommends Wally's in Oregon City and they visited our school for the rental process. I made follow-up trips to their store to pick up accessories. Unfortunately they didn't have everything we needed in stock and I was looking for pretty basic items. Wally's qualifies as an O.C. institution since they've been in business since 1947. The building and interior are quite worn, but I loved the old time murals. I'll probably be doing business with them for at least the next five or six years, so hopefully my rating will improve with time.

Ray is an outstanding human who gives tailored piano instruction to adults and children alike! They…read morehave a unique teaching style that centers creativity and fun. Their rates are affordable and the home they teach out of is cozy and cute! I highly recommend learning piano from Ray. Ray is an outstanding human who gives tailored piano instruction to adults and children alike! They have a unique teaching style that centers creativity and fun. Their rates are affordable and the home they teach out of is cozy and cute! They are very knowledgeable about ways to work with children, including autistic children. They offer free trial lessons and provide a contract that outlines their policies. I highly recommend learning piano from Ray!

Sunshine Ray is a charismatic and talented musician. He has some background in childhood education…read moreas well. He is very popular with children. He charges $30 dollars for a 30 minute piano lesson in his home studio. All good. But this cannot be a good review because of his obnoxious and rude business practices. He will cancel at the last minute (more than once). Also, although he is a self employed piano teacher, he expects to receive PTO for his "vacation " days. Yes, if he remembers to cancel with proper notice, he expects to be paid for a lesson...that he...cancels....Just putting this out there to parents who might be considering this immature man as a potential piano teacher.