PARKERSBURG - A Parkersburg music store was recently recognized by the readers of a national music magazine for its service and selection of guitars.
Ryan Stair, guitar department manager for C.A. House Music in Parkersburg, said the July issue of Guitar Player magazine includes a story on top guitar shops around the country and the local store is one of those cited by the magazine's readers as a top choice for the South Region.
Stair said the magazine asked its readers what independent guitar stores they thought were the best in the nation. Readers were encouraged by the magazine to vote for the best regional shops across the country through its Facebook page.
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Ryan Stair is guitar department manager for C.A. House Music in Parkersburg, which was recognized in the July issue of Guitar Player magazine as a top guitar shop in the country in a survey of the magazine’s readers.
"Our name came up enough to be mentioned in the article," Stair said, adding he thought a joke was being played when the article's author contacted him for more information about the local store.
"I think it shows how far we've come - especially with our Parkersburg store - to get national recognition as one of the premier guitar shops," he said.
Stair was told positive points mentioned about C.A. House by survey respondents included its level of customer service, its selection and a generally friendly atmosphere.
The company has been around since 1872, having started in Wheeling, and is one of the oldest music stores in the country, Stair said. C.A. House opened its original Parkersburg store in 1990 and has been at the current location at 3700 Cavalier Circle, off Emerson Avenue, for about 15 years.
In terms of guitars, the store has about 300-400 in stock, including electric and acoustic models. The best-selling brands are Fender, Ibanez, ESP and Taylor, Stair said.
The store also sells pianos, band instruments and a wide range of other musical instruments and related items. It works with many local school band programs and also services its products, both band-related and guitar-related, he said. Another service includes music lessons for a wide range of instruments.
In addition to the Parkersburg store, the company also has three Ohio locations, in St. Clairsville, Zanesville and Lancaster.
