Living

Inventory constantly changing at Music Go Round

By Mary Therese Biebel, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The Tribune Content Agency

July 11, 2026 3:18 PM

You might think 338 guitars are enough for any music store.

But Mike and Bridget Weber, owners of the Music Go Round store on Kidder Street in Wilkes-Barre Township, are always looking to buy more instruments. And sell them. Or trade them. And, if necessary, repair them.

Besides, at least some of the 338 guitars in the inventory on a recent Wednesday afternoon most likely have found new homes.

"Our inventory changes daily," Mike Weber said, noting people can bring in used instruments, no appointment necessary, and walk away with cash or a store credit for something they'd rather have.

And while much of the ever-changing inventory consists of electric guitars, Bridget Weber said, on any given day you might find a concertina, "a bunch of banjos," or a euphonium, which is similar to a tuba.

Of course, the store carries acoustic guitars as well.

"A shipment of 10 beginner acoustic guitars just came in," Mark Weber said. "They're gone already."

Weber, a professional drummer who plays with Best Friends Girl, a tribute band to The Cars, was a customer at the local Music Go Round for years before he and his wife bought the local franchise.

They were thinking about making the purchase as far back as 1999, when previous owners Harry and Linda McDonnell wanted to retire. The Webers found local banks weren't interested in giving them a loan, but the First Internet Bank of Indiana made things easy for them.

"We had all the paperwork ready to go," Mark Weber said. "Then the shutdown happened."

The COVID pandemic delayed the process, but the Webers took ownership in December.

Since then, they've enjoyed becoming a hub for seasoned musicians as well as students just starting out.

"We teach lessons here," Mark Weber said. "Primarily guitar."

And long-time musicians drop in frequently to see what's new.

"There's guys that come here every day," he said. "They come to the intake area, see things they want, and test to buy."

They might find PA equipment, cables, or something recently cleared out of someone's attic or garage.

"Sometimes wives come in to sell their husbands' old guitars," Mark Weber said. "They're like, 'Why does he need a dozen guitars?"

On its Facebook page, Music Go Round encourages that attitude.

"Your basement called," one recent post said. "It wants its floor space back. Stop hoarding that guitar you 'promise' you'll learn to play ...."

The staff of nine employees, who are all musicians themselves, make sure the instruments are in good working order before they're sold.

"We make sure they're clean and ready to play," Mark Weber said.

Part of the Webers' musical mission is to help local musicians have an audience. To that end, Music Go Round helps advertise a locals-only program on radio station 97.9x (WBSX-FM).