Lessons, Repairs & Community Music: NH Guitars

Hunter Letendre
Feb 20
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Nobody, Everybody - Podcast | Ep. 4

In this engaging podcast episode, we sit down with Paul German, the owner of NH Guitars, a unique guitar shop based in Windham. The conversation begins with a light-hearted discussion about intro tunes and copyright laws, before diving into the background and operations of NH Guitars. Paul, who founded the shop three and a half years ago, describes it as the “coolest nursery guitar shop in Windham,” focusing on three main services: selling, teaching, and repairing guitars. He shares his journey from a hobbyist to a business owner who decided to start a guitar shop during the pandemic, a unique twist that has shaped the shop's growth and resilience. NH Guitars keeps its offerings simple and specialized, catering primarily to guitar enthusiasts and avoiding other instruments like drums or wind instruments.

The podcast also highlights the shop's focus on music lessons, serving 50 students of all ages and skill levels. Paul discusses the inclusive and practical approach to teaching, emphasizing fun and personalized learning over traditional music education methods. He reveals the shop's farm system approach to hiring instructors, where passionate young musicians are nurtured into teaching roles. Moreover, the conversation touches on the growing demand for guitar repairs, now a significant part of their business, and their innovative consignment model for selling pre-owned instruments. Paul also discusses the shop's unique marketing strategies, such as utilizing open jam sessions and community events to attract and engage customers. The episode concludes with Paul sharing his vision for the future, including plans for expansion in early 2025 and the introduction of vocal lessons.

A particularly heartwarming segment is Paul's discussion of NH Guitars' partnership with the Manchester VA hospital, offering free guitar lessons to veterans. This initiative underscores the shop's commitment to community and the therapeutic power of music.

Tune in to this episode to learn more about the journey, challenges, and innovative approaches that make NH Guitars a beloved local business and a model for passion-driven entrepreneurship.

Click the image below to listen to the full episode.