Story Teller Guitars will be bringing the sound of music to town

DEXTER — Every guitar has a story to tell, believes David Iverson as the history of each instrument may reveal who has played it, where it has been and can also conjure up memories for the guitarist. Iverson plans to share many tales when his Story Teller Guitars store opens in early August.

“Aug. 4 is my scheduled date, so I think that’s going to work,” he said during a break in setting up the store at 15 Grove Street Suite A. Story Teller Guitars will carry new and vintage inventory, primarily acoustic but with some electric models and other instruments. Guitar and flute lessons given by Iverson and his wife Dorothy respectively will also be offered.

“None of them are high end but they’re really fun,” Iverson said. He said many of the guitars will be priced affordably and Story Teller Guitars will also offer layaway to help put instruments in more hands.

Iverson’s business is located in the old bingo hall of the lower level of American Legion Post 53. “This was presented to me through the Legion and the timing was perfect so I had to jump on it,” he said.

“It is a great location right off Main Street, there is great parking, and it is right off Route 7 down over the hill,” Iverson said. “If someone wants to have coffee and sit down and talk about guitars then that’s why we’re here.”

“Hopefully it will bring some more attention to downtown,” he said, saying this portion of the community has a village feel.

Iverson said Story Teller Guitars began back when he found a 1970s Ibanez York 12-string acoustic guitar at a yard sale. “It looked like someone stepped on it,” he said. The back was detached at the neck and shoulders and the sound hole was collapsing.

“I knew it was a nice guitar so I bought it,” Iverson said, feeling the instrument deserved to be saved. He brought the Ibanez to Larry Ziegler in Farmington and Ziegler made the guitar playable once again, with some finishing touches done by Dan Miller of Wizardly Guitar Repairs in Stetson.

“It’s not perfect, I don’t try to make them perfect,” Iverson said. “I kind of want them to tell their own story.” He said the Ibanez, which is on display at the storefront, is very playable.

“I thought to myself, ‘I could do this,’” Iverson said. Five years ago he began Story Teller Guitars online, shipping vintage and used guitars to all 48 lower states, Canada and Europe over the last half decade.

“I started this in 2013, I was going to retire from the military and this was something I could do from home but now it’s time for a storefront,” he said. “I needed to get out of the house, where I live in Exeter it’s down a dirt road and very rural.”

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
EVERY GUITAR HAS A STORY TO TELL — Story Teller Guitars owner David Iverson holds a restored 1970s Ibanez York 12-string model at his soon to be opening storefront at 15 Grove Suite A in Dexter. For the last five years Iverson has operated the business out of his home and starting Aug. 4 Story Teller Guitars will sell the instruments and accessories and offer repairs and lessons.

Iverson said he hopes to fill a need for an area music store, as now residents have to either drive to Bangor or Augusta or go online.

“I have played for 30 years off and on just as a hobby,” he said about his time with a guitar in hand. Iverson said when he was getting ready to retire from the U.S. Air Force he was contemplating what to do next.

“I like woodworking, I like guitars,” he said.

“I will do minor repairs here and what I can’t do I will send out, I have worked out an agreement with Dan Miller of Wizardly Guitars,” Iverson said.

“We will have all of the typical music store stuff, the market will determine which way we go,” he said. “We will have strings and guitar hangers, tuners, straps, amplifiers, a bunch of stuff.”

“Pretty much whatever you need for a guitar, we will have here,” Iverson said.

Included in the needs will be instruction for how to play as Iverson will handle the beginner guitar lessons and Dorothy Iverson will provide flute instruction. He said she has been playing since grade school.

“We will start with me and my wife and hopefully grow from there,” Iverson said.

“I’m hoping to have a little stage over here,” he said indicating to space by the wall. “It will be four by eight feet and acoustic performances can be right here as the opportunities arise. People can hang out, drink some coffee and hear some tunes. I’m pretty excited, I think it will be a lot of fun.”

Story Teller Guitars will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday to start, and Iverson said lessons will be from 4 to 8 p.m.

“That’s why I’m open later, so folks who work out of town can get here,” Iverson said, mentioning the evening hours can help accommodate students who may have sports and other activities after school.

“I’m going to try selling vintage vinyl,” he said, with a table of classic rock albums set up in the middle of the store.

For more information on Story Teller Guitars, please see the business Facebook page.