Centaur Guitar

This review has been a long time coming. It’s not Sweet-​Guitar-​Friend-​Center. It’s a Guitar shop. They sell sweet ass pedals, too. I have gone in there with so many different needs, requests, and weird schemes and they have always been willing to help out. If you’re not a complete twit, these guys are just about as cool as it gets. If there were a UN Council for Guitar, they would probably be our international representatives.

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.

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!

They did a great job on repairs to my bass. It had butchered electronics that Kelly was able to fix right up. I’ll give them my business from here on out.

This place is what a guitar shop is supposed to feel like. Incredible selection of guitars, pedals both new and vintage. The guy who helped me was great, friendly and knowledgeable and graciously let me make some rather obnoxious noise while I tried out some pedals. I could spend a lot of time and money in a shop like that.

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!

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.

Excellent customer service and prices. They stand behind there used equipment. This will always be my guitar shop.

I love this shop. Welcoming, friendly, and totally zero-​pressure. I bought a $ 250 guitar here several months ago and the staff treat me like a high roller whenever I come in. They’ll answer any question, and no question is too silly or embarrassing. Perfect for new guitarists (like me) and advanced players as well. Will recommend anytime.

One of the better shops in the area. Great vintage gear and good guys.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Kelly was super helpful and knowledgable. This is my guitar go-​to shop from now on. I went in with my new VoyageAir thinking there was a problem but he showed me it was something super simple and he was just very professional and friendly. GREAT shop, very organized and clean.

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

I am a 55 year old woman with gray hair who has played guitar for 45 years. I wanted to add a classical to my collection. I walk into big box GC and am either ignored or talked down to like a child. Centaur talked to me as if I had a brain and sold me a sweet sounding vintage Guild Mark V. She shows some loving wear but plays sweet… a lot like her new owner. It was nice to be treated well… great selection of vintage gear. I’ll be back and spread the word.

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

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.)

Such a good spot. Staff is tremendously helpful and super nice. Jared found the perfect amp for me. I’ll definitely be going back for all my guitar needs.

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.

These guys are so great that I literally just came straight home & signed up for Unilocal 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.

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.

«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.