Learn About Our Family-Run Store Below
Our History
The Troubadour
First established by Kent Buys in 1970, The Troubadour Music Center is Corvallis’ oldest music store.
In the 1970s, Kent built “The Old World Center” on the corner of SW 2nd Street and Adams Ave (now The Old World Deli). The Troubadour was on the corner.
In the mid-1980s Kent took a hiatus from the music business and went back to school, earning a PhD in anthropology and cross-cultural communication, which continued his lifelong interest in world cultures.
In 2003 Kent reopened The Troubadour with his son, Ryan. He has trained many apprentices since then, passing along the art of instrument repair, which is slowly being lost.
Some of these apprentices are still working with him, while others have moved away, taking what they learned with them.
After starting The Troubadour over 50 years ago, Kent still enjoys working on guitars and other instruments, contributing to the community, and making it possible for others to play and enjoy music.
In 2024, following Kent’s semi-retirement (53 years after first opening), his son Ryan has taken on managing the day-to-day operations of The Troubadour, as well as the repair workshop.
Guitar,
Violin,
Mandolin,
Banjo,
Ukulele,
& Beyond
Strings,
Tuners,
Accessories,
& More
Sales, Repair, Restoration, LESSONS
Our Products & Services
We have a friendly and welcoming team at The Troubadour, who can help you find an instrument, setup or fix one that needs help, or get you connected with a teacher to reach your music goals.
We specialize in both new and used stringed instruments and accessories including:
Classical and Steel String Guitars • Electric Guitars and Amplifiers • The Violin Family (violin, viola, cello, bass, bows) • Mandolins • Banjos (Tenor, 5-String open back & resonator) • Ukuleles (Soprano, Concert, Tenor, Baritone, and more) • World Instruments • Vintage brass and woodwinds • An extensive selection of strings • Tuners • A full range of additional accessories
Please visit our Products page to learn more about what we carry.
All our registered new instruments come setup and shop-adjusted by our specialists to play beautifully, along with our full trade-back and lifetime warranty.
We are known throughout Oregon and beyond as one of the few shops capable of performing archival restoration and repair of stringed instruments.
Whether you need a basic tune-up or string change, or have a stringed instrument broken into pieces, we can fix it.
We strive never to compromise on the quality of our repair work.
We always have an ongoing queue of projects (usually around 100), so do not expect complex repair projects done quickly, though if the project is basic and straightforward, we can fit you in among the larger projects and have you playing again quickly!
We aim always to please our customers with our best work and will treat your instrument like one of our own.
Timeline
Pre-Oregon
1967
While studying theology in Claremont CA, Kent Buys began working at the Folk Music Center, becoming a manager of their repair shop.
Putting out a shingle
1970
Having moved to Corvallis, Kent started The Troubadour with high-school friend Larry Edgar in an alley between 2nd & 3rd St.
Growing & Building
1976
Kent built the Old World Center and expanded, relocating The Troubadour to the corner of Adams & 2nd.
Hiatus
mid 1980s
Kent sold his interest in the Old World Center to Ted Cox of the Deli and went back to school at OSU, earning a PhD in Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Communication.
The Troubadour Returns
2003
Kent restarted The Troubadour with his son Ryan at 125 SW Washington Ave.
Expansion
2008
The Troubadour outgrew the Washington Ave. space and moved around the corner to its current location at 521 SW 2nd.
Kent Retires
2024
53 years after starting The Troubadour, Kent hung up his apron and retired. His son Ryan has taken over the day-to-day operations of the Troubadour.