Homestead Pickin’ Parlor

I’ve stopped in this store a few times over the years. My review is on the CDs and vinyl Homstead Pickin’ Parlor sells rather than the music lessons and instruments they offer.
This store is small but packed. The album stock focuses on bluegrass, folk, country and other acoustic sounds. There’s no other specialty shop like this in the Twin Cities. Last time I was there, they had cool items available like a huge Bill Monroe box set on the Bear Family label.
This is one of the smallest record shops in the Twin Cities, but the stock is intriguing and fills a niche. Certainly worth checking into if you have an interest in the styles mentioned above.

I purchased a used autoharp in August 2013, and had been recommended to bring it into Homestead Pickin’ Parlor to get it assessed and see if any work needed to be done on it. I brought it in on the last week of August. When I went in to speak with the staff about my autoharp, the woman working took a peak at it and said that Marv would have to be the one to look at it and determine what needed to be done. I told her that I was ok covering the cost of replacing the strings, if that is what needed to be done. It’s expensive, but I had gotten a good price on the autoharp, and was prepared to cover the labor/​strings price. She said they would call me later that day to let me know what needed to be done on it. That was the only truth they told me in my 7+ month saga with them. They called me that afternoon, and sure enough, recommended to replace the strings. I said that was fine, and asked if I needed to go pay for it up front, or when the job was done. They said I could pay for it all when it was done. Ok. Well, fast forward a couple of months, and I still hadn’t heard anything from them. I figured it was going to take a little time, because it’s a small business, and I had seen a pile of instruments that were in to get work done ahead of my autoharp. I decided to call and see what the status was of my autoharp. They told me it was next in line to be worked on, so to expect a call in a week or so. I was ok with this. I figured I was going to be getting it by the end of the month. No call. I waited a couple more weeks, because now we were getting into the holidays (Thanksgiving/​Christmas) and maybe they had events and things going on. I called them again, and they said my autoharp was currently ‘on the bench being worked on, and should be done in a couple of days. We’ll call you when it’s finished.’ Sweet. I’m going to finally get it this weekend, I thought. No call. Fast forward another couple of weeks, actually spoke with Marv, and he told me the exact same thing the last employee had told me. I asked him if it was actually going to be done, because I had been told that before. He assured me they would call me on Saturday that week because it would be done by then. Did I receive a call? Nope. I called again, and spoke with a woman, I explained my situation to her, how I had been told it was being worked on, and was supposed to be done a couple of weeks ago, etc, and she started telling me how they have been having trouble with autoharps and things were being delayed. I’m not sure what she was trying to explain. It sounded like she was trying to make up an excuse for it not being done. Finally, I decided that I had to go into the parlor in person to see what on earth was going on with my autoharp. I went in, told the employee my name, and still had my receipt stub with the number on it, told her I had brought my autoharp in last August, mind you, it’s April 2014 now, and asked her if she knew what the status was on my instrument. She said that if I hadn’t been called, it’s not done. I asked her if ANY work had been done on it. Nope, none. I had been lied to multiple times on the phone that my autoharp was being ‘worked on’ and would be done. She asked if I wanted to still get work done on it. Absolutely not. Clearly nothing is being done with it sitting here for over 7 months. I would’ve rather them have told me the truth of it not getting done, so that I could’ve come in and gotten it earlier and just done it myself. Unbelievable. On my way out, she apologized for the ‘delay.’ Delay? Really? How about ‘absolute disregard’ of doing anything with my instrument? So disappointed in this place. It had promise with it specializing in folk instruments, but what a let down. Horrible customer service. I definitely do NOT recommend bringing anything in here to get work done.

The Twin Cities one stop shopping for Bluegrass, Folk and Blues music, The Homestead Pickin’ Parlor features cds and vinyl from local to obscure old recordings. They also sell mouth harps, banjos, guitars and other related instruments, offer guitar, banjo and dulcimer lessons, as well as host frequent in-​store jam sessions. The owners and staff are dedicated to keeping up with this American musical tradition.

Great place to buy strings!

Dolly Parton is one of my personal heroes for a number of reasons. For starters, she’s a fantastic banjo player. I’ve loved the sound of the banjo for years and scored a used Deering for a song. After a little research, I stumbled upon Homestead Pickin’ Parlor.
I take lessons with Russ every other week, sometimes not as often due to weather, annoying family affairs and the like, but it’s always a sad call to make when I have to reschedule. While I feel guilty about rescheduling, and I wouldn’t recommend making a habit out of it, the HPP staff doesn’t scold or judge. Russ is very encouraging and has written different versions of songs for me so I can learn them easier.
The store itself is packed with CDs, records and instruments. There’s enough space for the small group jam sessions hosted by HPP. Everyone’s been incredibly friendly to me whenever I’m there; I’d feel comfortable at a beginners’ jam session if I had the time to go to one.
Lessons are held a few doors down in typical practice rooms. The doors to these rooms are rarely shut, so there’s a gentle cacophony of string instruments most of the time.
I’ve recently acquired a mandolin (for even less than the banjo – I’m a lucky kid) and I wouldn’t hesitate to switch to mandolin lessons at HPP.