BETHEL — It was just another day for Ross Timberlake of Bethel.

The musician of 52 years was at home when he decided it was time to replace one of his guitars. Instead of traveling to Portland and browsing through the city’s many music stores, Timberlake went to his computer. He punched in brands that interested him.

After surfing through numerous websites, he eventually found one on eBay that stood out. He placed a bid on the instrument and won. When it arrived, Timberlake said to himself, “Wow, this might be THE guitar.” Then he thought “maybe it’s not the guitar, maybe I’ll just get another one to try out.”

He returned to his computer and continued to search, finding websites and auctions for quality guitars at better prices than most stores. The guitar collection quickly grew.

“I looked up one day and was like, ‘Holy smokes I got 30 guitars,’” Timberlake said.

With 30 guitars and only two hands Timberlake considered turning his hobby into a “retirement job.”

“It’s like taking a lifelong passion for music, rock and roll in particular, and selling guitars that are affordable and really playable,” Timberlake said.

He wants his customers to become attached to whatever kind they choose, not a particular brand.

“My motto is a good guitar is the one you don’t want to put down,” he said.

The morph

Timberlake soon became aware that his retirement job could fulfill an even bigger project he’d had in mind — blending the arts with business.

“The idea of involving businesses and the arts and the arts being involved with businesses I think in a town like Bethel is something to really try and encourage whenever possible,” he said.

Timberlake looked at his guitars and decided to kick off his “guitar project.”

The idea is to put a guitar on the wall of a business in the area. Beside the guitar would be a plaque explaining the details of the project. The guitar would be available for anyone to take off the wall and play.

Timberlake thinks people could do it while waiting for a beer at a brewery, or even while sitting at a doctor’s office. He wants the idea to branch out to a variety of places.

The guitars will be acoustic and electric, with businesses deciding what one would better suit their atmosphere.

“I think it would be a good way for people to just get more involved in doing an art in places,” Timberlake said. “If you’re a business it’s a little something different.”

Timberlake hopes the idea attracts musicians who may want to play in front of a small crowd.

He emphasized that the guitars are also for everyone’s use. He wants people who are interested in playing to learn how to play. He thinks people could share the guitar and possibly each take turns using it for a week at a time.

“Why not make a guitar like a book that they can take out of the library?” Timberlake said.

He hopes his idea will prompt people to want to continue to learn to play the instrument and perhaps make it a hobby like he has for the past five decades.

Getting going

The Gem Theater opted to be the first business. Timberlake dropped of his first guitar there recently. Co-owner of The Gem, Wade Kavanaugh, said he is thrilled to hop on board with Timberlake’s plan.

“I’m really excited about Ross’ project and what potential it has to bring more music to town,” Kavanaugh said. “We,re really looking forward to doing more live performances at the theater.”

Timberlake has donated a sound system to the theater for concerts. 

Timberlake said he and Kavanaugh may try to set up workshops for people who want to work on songwriting, or for bands to come and practice. He thinks it’s a great opportunity for people to come and showcase their music.

If the workshops become part of The Gem, Timberlake said he could see Bethel Area Arts and Music becoming involved. He said they could rent the equipment at The Gem to BAAM members for less than going rates, and hopefully get more people to join BAAM. 

The goal is for music to reach as many people and places as possible.

The Bethel Library became the second organization to join. The library will put a barcode on the guitar so it can be checked out.

For Timberlake it’s about seeing more people emerging themselves in the world of music.

“It would just be really neat to see more bands playing, more kids getting into strapping on a six string and making some noise,” he said.

Ross Timberlake, left, and Wade Kavanaugh hold a guitar to be displayed at The Gem Theatre in Bethel. Timberlake’s retirement project is to meld business and the arts by putting some of his 30 guitars in area businesses for display and use. (Sam Wheeler/Bethel Citizen)