Wakefield Music: a Sweet, Acoustic Guitar Escape for Rhode Island Beach Trippers

Small, independent music stores are a rare breed these days, so I was thrilled to stumble upon Wakefield Music while on a family beach trip to Narragansett, Rhode Island, this summer.

The storefront, situated within a small strip mall just a mile or so from Narragansett, caught my eye as we drove down Main Street, heading toward Mews Tavern in South Kingston. But looks were deceptive: Beyond the faded storefront sign, Wakefield Music is brimming with a bounty of acoustic guitars; guitar strings, amplifiers, and more.

Strolling between rows of these wooden beauties, I felt right at home, The owner told me he didn’t sell electric guitars because of too much online competition, but that’s OK. There were plenty of acoustic models for every skill level and budget, between basic Yamaha six-string Parlor guitars (that are perfect for beginners), and Alvarez and Taylor models.

One of the managers on duty let me try my hand at a few of them. I started with the Taylor Academy 22e — a solid walnut-top model with a warm, lived-in sound. I appreciated the manager’s explanation on the way wood influences sound — I hadn’t really paid much attention to wood when selecting guitars in the past, only relying on how they felt (since most tuned guitars sound phenomenal, regardless). I’m happy to say it sounded and played like a dream.

But my favorite instrument of the day had to be the much pricier Taylor GT 811e, made of a solid Sitka top wood, and solid rosewood back and sides. The guitar produced just the right amount of resonance (making the walnut-top 22e guitar sound brassy, by comparison). I didn’t want to let it go, and I only did when I saw the price tag: $3,695.

After trying out a 12-string guitar, I left the store with a pack of D’Addario strings and a few guitar picks. But if I lived anywhere close to here, I’d consider taking a few lessons or trying out a few more instruments. Current inventory includes a Melissa Etheridge signature Ovation guitar; a GOLD TONE Paul Beard Squareneck Resonator Guitar; and other intriguing models.

[SEE RELATED: Oneonta, N.Y.’s Mountain Jam Guitars is a Treasure Trove of Beautiful Instruments]

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.