Editors note: This is the second in a series of articles highlighting businesses that opened in downtown Cedartown in 2005.

From the moment you meet him, it is obvious that 41-year-old Jody Reece has a love for stringed instruments. Picking up an acoustic guitar and playing bluegrass tunes while describing his new business, Dugdown Music, 512 Main St., Reece said that his store is unique to the area.

Dugdown Music, which opened this past July in the building formerly occupied by the Cedartown Welcome Center, specializes in the buying, selling and trading of stringed instruments, such as acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukaleles and their accessories.

An exceptional player at all the aforementioned instruments, Reece also gives lessons to those wanting to learn how to play. Reece explained that he has always given lessons and currently gives as many as 20 a week.

He also repairs vintage stringed instruments. Some of the instruments currently at the store are from the 1920s and Reece emphasized that he is very interested in buying vintage instruments.“I’m here for a variety of reasons,” he said.

Reece, who resides in Polk County with his wife and four children, is also in his 18th year as a Cobb County firefighter. Because of his work schedule as a firefighter, Reece said that potential customers should call ahead for store hours.

And while Dugdown Music is primarily a music store, it is also a haven for fans of bluegrass music in Northwest Georgia. Two Saturdays a month, Reece said that area bluegrass musicians gather and hold bluegrass jam sessions at the store. The sessions have turned out to be popular, with as many as 20 to 40 people cramming themselves into the relatively small area on a given Saturday to play along or just listen.

Primarily known as a banjo player in the bluegrass community, Reece also performs at different functions throughout the area. He also hosts a website called the Bluegrass Forum, accessible from his store website at www.dugdown.com, where bluegrass musicians can network.

Reece said that his enthusiasm for bluegrass music stems from its raw, stripped down sound.

“Its real,” he said. “I can’t get that same feeling from Nashville country or modern rock n’ roll.”

For more information call (770) 748-5998 or visit www.dugdown.com.