What to get for the "Pro"??

Do you have an experienced musician on your list this year?  Do you want to wow them, but you're not sure where to start?  That's where we come in.  Let the knowledgeable staff here at Capo's help you put together the perfect gift that will make Christmas 2012 unforgettable.  We have assembled a few suggestions that might get your wheels turning. 

For the guitar player that knows their stuff.  Surprise them with this Larrivee D-05 Burst with Deluxe Hardshell case.  This guitar is all solid wood and made in North America by the fine folks at Larrivee Guitars. Pair this amazing guitar with a Lakota Leather strap handmade by the Lakota tribe.  The  black strap shown here is made from American Buffalo hide and is super soft to provide hours of comfortable playing.  The last piece to this ensemble is the staff favorite BlueChip Pick made in Knoxville TN.  All the guys here carry these in their pockets to play any chance they get. 

Is there a banjo man or woman on your list this year?  We have several amazing banjos to choose from, but here is just one of our favorites.  This is the Ome Celtic 11" Old Time.  Made from Curly Maple All Solid wood made in North America.  This banjo has beautiful inlays and a great sound.  It comes with a deluxe hardshell case.  This banjo looks and sounds great.  We can put together the whole set up for you with a strap, picks, tuner and whatever else that catches your eye.

 









Finally, here's a Mandolin that just came through the door.  We've had a Stonebridge Mandolin before and it was phenomenal, this one is just as amazing.  The Stonebridge MF-22 features a Spruce top and Maple back and sides to give it that great tone.  It has a gloss top and satin back and sides which gives it a unique look.  It comes with an oblong hardshell case.  Of course we can set this or any mandolin up with a quality strap and picks to complete the package. 

Our shelves are stocked with merchandise right now so stop by and check out our selection.  We offer expert set up for every instrument we sell to make sure it's ready to be played as soon as it goes out the door. 

Take advantage of our Lay Away program to make your shopping less stressful and we offer FREE gift wrap!! 

The Perfect Gift for Beginners

Beginning your musical adventure is an exciting and scary time.  There are so many things a new musician may not know, it can be overwhelming.  We're here to help.  We have put together some suggestions of the perfect gift for beginners.  We have assembled some "paks" that come with everyone you need to get started. When starting out we know you don't necessarily want to spend a small fortune on a new hobby so we are offering modestly priced instruments that we feel are the best bang for your buck. Pair these packs with the expert knowledge and customer service you get from Capo's and you will be well on your way to becoming a skilled musician.

* For the beginning guitarist.  The Washburn D10CE Pack.  This includes the Washburn D10CE acoustic/electric guitar with built in digital tuner, nylon strap, gig bag, Instructional DVD and 3 picks. 

*For the beginning Mandolin player, the Washburn Mandolin M1 A Style Mandolin.  This pack includes a gig bag, pitch pipe, strap, picks, instructional book and it comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. 

*Beginner Banjo Player.  The Washburn Banjo pack, including the banjo, gig bag, pitch pipe, picks, instructional book, strap and Limited Lifetime Warranty.

*For the beginner Fiddle/Violin player.  The Palatino Violin/Fiddle Pack.  This pack comes with a full size handcarved solid spruce top solid maple body violin, Instructional DVD, Mongolian horse hair bow, Featherweight case, Balanced shoulder rest, pitch pipe and rosin.

*Want to learn to play Ukelele?  We have a beginner ukelele pack also.  This pack features a Kala Ukelele, Instruction book, gig bag, clip on tuner or pitch pipe.

We also offer custom packs.  We will help you put together the perfect pack to fit your budget.  Or you can purchase an accessory pack if you just want to buy picks, tuners, straps, etc. and leave the instrument selection up to the player.  You can always just pick up a Capo's Gift Certificate, it's fast easy and they will get exactly what they want.

Our shelves are full of instructional books and DVDs to help get you started. We also offer a lessons program here at the store with several talented and professional instructors to choose from.  Visit our website to learn more about our instructors and our lessons program. 

We want to make your holiday shopping fun and easy.  We offer a convenient Lay Away program and FREE gift wrapping! 

All new instruments purchased at Capo's come with our professional set up service.  We make sure it is ready to be played when it goes out the door.

10 Best Stocking Stuffers

Need Ideas for Stocking Stuffers?

Here is a list from the Capo's Music Store staff with some great items available in the store that we think would be perfect stocking stuffers.

1.  Picks!! We have all sorts of picks from Wegen, BlueChip, Papa's and V-Picks.

 

2.Tuners from Snark and Peterson Strobe.

 

3. Strings.  We carry over 150 different types of strings.



 

4. Lizard Spit and Fast Fret for instrument cleaning and maintenance.

5.  String Swing instrument hangers to display their pride and joy. We carry lots of different styles and sizes.

6. Pro Winder string winder to make changing strings easier.

7.  Polishing cloths.

8.  Humidifiers to keep thier instrument at peak condition for years to come.

 

9. Straps in every color and style.

10.  And of couse...Capos!!!

Come see us and let us help you fill all the stockings on your fireplace.

 

The Experts

What makes someone an expert?  Knowledge? Skill? Education?  All of the above?  Being an expert means different things to different people.  But one thing is for sure, it's always good to have an expert on your side.  This principle is especially true when purchasing an instrument. 

An instrument is a big investment and having the knowledge of an expert can help you make the right decision.  Expert opinions can steer you towards the right fit for your needs and your budget.  That's why purchasing your instrument from a store that has expert musicians on staff is always a good decision. 

At Capo's Music Store, our staff is made up of expert musicians with years of experience and a passion for music, which allows us to provide guidance in the purchase and expert setup of all our instruments.  We stand behind all our instruments because we know that we sell quality merchandise.  We inspect every piece that arrives at our door to look for any imperfections.  If we find something that is not up to our standards we return the item to the supplier. 

We have a reputation for quality and we strive to maintain that by providing our customers with quality merchandise, expert advice, setup and service after the sale.  If you are in the market for a new instrument we would love to help you find the perfect fit for you!

Find us on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, or give us a call at 276-525-1880.  Better yet, do it the old fashioned way and come see us!  We are open Monday through Saturday 10-7 and Wednesday by appointment only.  Beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving we have special holiday hours from 1-6, to help make your holiday shopping more convenient!

Open Your Ears

Reputation is a valuable asset that takes time to build and can last for generations.  If you are able to build a positive reputation in the community that can benefit you far in to the future.  The tough thing about building a reputation?? It takes time, lots of time.  To become a trusted name you have to prove to your customers over and over that you are going to produce a quality product that lives up to its promises and is supported by outstanding customer service.  Some of the most well known names in the music industry took years to build their reputation and now are reaping the benefits.

When making the decision of which instrument to purchase the company's name often weighs heavy on the customers mind.  Some folks would turn down a superior instrument just because it doesn't have the "right" name on the headstock.  At Capo's we are suggesting a new way of thinking.  Instead of just looking at the headstock and automatically assuming that familiar name must be the best, try something different.  Let your ears be the guide. 

Sometimes it is difficult to look past the labels and open your mind to a different possibility, but you could be missing out on the chance of a lifetime.  Some of the finest makers in the world are producing instruments that out class many of the most well know makers around, but they just don't have the name recognition yet.  Some professional musicians are taking notice of these fine makers and are starting to play their instruments.  This will eventually provide that popularity to these makers but it will take time for the mainstream musician to notice.  Get in on the ground floor.  Get yourself one of these instruments before the popularity and most likely the price goes up!

We strive to carry a wide variety of instruments at Capo's and we do our very best to bring you only the finest available.  You may not have heard of all the lines we carry but we guarantee you will like them if you give them a try. 

That's why we are hosting the "Play Without Prejudice" event at Capo's Music Store.  This is going to give you an opportunity to play some instruments you might not have tried before without letting your eyes use the labels to make the decision for you.  We will have several instruments to choose from here in the store.  Some we already carry, some we are thinking of carrying and some have been borrowed from private collections.  All the labels and headstocks will be covered and you will have the chance to play them without bias.  Just use your ears to judge which is the best.  All participants will be asked to rank their favorite instruments on look, sound and playability.  You will receive a FREE pack of strings just for participating.  We want to expose our customers to some lines they may not be familiar with and possibly help you discover a hidden gem to add to your collection.  Details about the instrument will be revealed at the end so you can see just what you selected. 

 

The event is October 19 from 6 to 8, so come by Capo's and have some fun, do a little picking and try something new!  For more information about the event see our Facebook page or our website or just call the store 276-525-1880.

See you there!

Back to School means Back to Lessons!

August means the end of summer and the beginning a brand new school year for the kiddies.  New books, new friends and best of all new knowledge!  Learning is a gift and we should take advantage of every opportunity we have to expand our knowledge.  Why not use the start of the 2012 School year to jump start your music career?  Or to expand your understanding of an instrument??

Learning to play an instrument can do many things like increase your IQ, improve time management skills, increase self confidence and creativity, expand memory capacity and most importantly it can promote happiness.  Who couldn't use a little help with their memory??  Music has a multitude of benefits, the first step is getting started. You can become a musician at any age, all it takes is a little courage.

The Internet is a valuable tool that can give you loads of information about any subject under the sun.  Take this blog for example, we try to give you useful or thought provoking information that will hopefully help you in some way, or simply entertain you.  The Internet can also be used to teach you to play an instrument.  This is a good way to get started, but to really be accomplished and have an in depth understanding of how it should look, sound and feel to play the instrument you need one on one instruction.  A video on the Internet can't critique how your fingers move or encourage you quite the way a real live person can.  There are plenty of accomplished musicians out there willing to share their knowledge, take advantage of it!!

We offer a fantastic lessons program here at Capo's.  Our instructors offer flexible hours, reasonable rates and a wide variety of skills to accommodate most styles.  We have some of the most talented instructors in the region with loads of skills and experience to help you become the best player you can be.  For more information on our lessons program call the store at 276-525-1880 or see our website for details. www.caposmusicstore.com/instructors.

Sweet Tea and Front Porches

Summer in Appalachia. It's a beautiful time of year and it makes you stop and think how lucky we are to live in this area.  What could be better than sunshine, mountain breezes and crisp cool lakes and streams?  Unfortunately, some have not discovered the natural beauty of Appalachia, it's an often overlooked area.  The culture of Appalachia was built on the backs of hard working ancestors who were not afraid of long hours and back breaking work, and that attitude continues with a new generation.  Appalachians are becoming more appreciative and taking more pride in our region and what we have to offer.  Afterall, our music, food, culture and natural bounty are some of the best in the world. 

It's our duty as residents of this area, whether born and raised or transplanted to teach outsiders about our region and to promote it and take care of it.  Introduce someone to bluegrass or a fried apple pie or take a friend from out of town hiking on the AT.  This region has so much to offer and it's up to us to sustain it and help it grow.  It's not fair to keep all this to ourselves, the rest of the world needs to see what a treasure we have. 

So next time you are traveling or hosting out of town guests showcase our region.  Let them experience the best of what we have to offer, quaint down towns, gorgeous trails, rivers, and lakes and some of the best music and food around. 

Stop and appreciate the June bugs, mountain air and the twang of a banjo, be proud to be Appalachian!