Alabama Fiddle Champion Roger Abernathy knows what it's like to be a struggling musician.
So, when Will Jones and he started talking about starting a music store, they wanted a place that will help those with a tight wallet but a thirst for performing.
Unbridled Music opened last week in downtown Aiken's Holley Building, 115 Laurens St. S.W., Suite 202.
The store will carry instruments such as mandolins, fiddles, banjos, guitars and basses, with an access to certain brands such as C.F. Martin & Co. Guitars, or "Martin Guitars;" strings such as Elixir acoustic strings; instrument accessories such as capos; and other items such as microphone and speaker chords.
Not all instruments will be new, because the owners will sell used instruments, too.
If a customer wants a certain item and doesn't see it, Abernathy and Jones are willing to order it.
"Here's our motto: 'If we don't have it, we can have it in three days,'" Abernathy said.
The owners, according to Abernathy, will offer layaway starting in June and consignment, in addition to meeting and beating prices, as long as the customer brings in a written price he or she obtained from the music store.
"We want to connect with the community," Jones said.
The owners sublet from Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene, with whom they share space.
"We want to try to help the struggling musician," Abernathy said. "I've been there and done that. I know how hard it is to afford a set of strings."
Abernathy, who previously owned Abernathy's Music Store on Park Avenue, teaches lessons for any string instrument and piano at $30 for each 30-minute lesson. Interested parties must sign up for four lessons at a time; through the month of April, one of the four lessons will be free.
Jones and he have known each other for around three years and operate the local Abernathy and Jones recording studio and publishing company.
Unbridled Music will hold its grand opening with free food and giveaways from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2 and jam sessions, referred to as pickins,' every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
"We always want to see it really prosper ... (and) are going to let the store build itself up," Abernathy said.
For more information, call 803-645-4779 or visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/unbridledmusic.
Stephanie Turner is the arts and entertainment reporter for the Aiken Standard.