Kent Buys: Troubadour Music Center and Instrument Repair Shop

If you have ever had a desire to play a musical instrument, Kent Buys will do everything in his power to help you learn.

Buys owns the Troubadour Music Center and Instrument Repair Shop in downtown Corvallis. Buys is passionate about his store and the community. With economic times as tough as they are it's hard to find deals like the ones Buys offers.

Buys works on instrument repair and reconstruction. This is not the same as rebuilding. In reconstruction you attempt to preserve the original parts of the instrument. Buys says this preserves the sound and feel of the instrument.

The work they do is very unique. Buys says even after all these years they keep getting new problems. Buys says that because every instrument is different you need different devices to repair them. For this reason the majority of their repair equipment is self made by the Troubadour staff.

It was one phrase that made Buys decide to get into instrument reconstruction and repair. His mentor said this to him when Buys was wondering if he wanted to play music professionally or go into reconstruction.

“Do you want to be a musician, or do you want to make it possible for thousands of people to be musicians?”

Buys cares about the community. He does not see the other music shops as competition but cherishes them. They help to promote the music community in Corvallis according to Buys.

“We have the most musicians per capita than any other town,” Buys says.

He says this is thanks to the number of great music shops in Corvallis.

You can see Buys' impact on the community in many places. Not only in magnitude of musicians Corvallis has, but in some of the local eateries. He was the one who built and designed the Old World Deli.

Buys encourages people young and old to play music. If you are a new customer you will receive a free kazoo. Buys says then at least you can get out and start making some music.

“Music heals and brings us happiness,” Buys says.

Buys is a teacher at Linn-Benton Community College, and he also has had nine apprentices at his repair shop. Buys feels apprenticeship is as important if not more important than traditional schooling. He apprenticed under Charles Chase in the late 1960s for three years in California.

Aarron Wootton is Buys current apprentice. Wootton feels his apprenticeship is a real blessing.

“Kent believes in me and what I can do,” Wootton said.

Wootton says Buys is generous and helps the community.

Buys is not in the business for the money. He likes to work with people and get them playing music. Elaine Difalco, an employee of Buys, says that he gives an exceptionally good deal on all of his services.

“He is there for the love of music and those who want to learn,” said Difalco.

Ryan Buys is Kent's son and one of his apprentices. He used to think Kent charged far too little and thought Kent was too concerned with community.

“I was in the wrong. What you get out of it is not just money,” Ryan says.

Troubadour Music Center and Instrument Repair Shop is located at 125 S.W. Washington Ave. in Corvallis.