EmPATH unit to bridge behavioral healthcare gap in region
Builds on the past, offers a glimpse into the future
April 13, 2026
MINOCQUA – Frank Coffen said, for him, guitars are more than a blend of wood and metal – they’re meant to be both played and appreciated, a philosophy that defines Island City Acoustics.
“It’s a very intimate thing, playing a guitar,” he said. “Each guitar has a personality, an individualism. It vibrates against your body, the neck and frets and strings react under your hands. Unless you can feel that instrument, how can you tell it you like it?”
Recently opened at 201 Front St., Coffen said Island City Acoustics occupies a building originally designed for entertainment – the 1927 Isle Theater for Talking Pictures.
It has since returned to those roots, he said, hosting lessons, open mics and jam sessions, while welcoming musicians of all ages and skill levels.
Striking a new chord
Coffen said the story of Island City Acoustics dates back several years, when he and his wife, Sylvia Knust, began exploring a new business venture.
A master carpenter for 31 years, Coffen said a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes prompted him to consider a change in occupation.
“I really didn’t think I could be up on ladders doing carpentry work all day,” he said.
Rewinding a few years, Coffen said their interest in musical instruments was sparked during an unexpected stop in Sheboygan.
After their van broke down and forced an overnight stay, he said they visited a local club, where a three-piece bluegrass band – featuring guitar, mandolin and banjo – was performing.
“I found myself just fascinated by the instruments,” he said. “On our way home, I bought a mandolin.”
That experience, Coffen said, became the couple’s gateway into music, leading them to discover an entire community of “closet musicians.”
“I found out that a lot of my friends played guitar or banjos or other instruments,” he said. “Our whole mountain bike group was full of musicians.”
Knust said it was a group that is often underserved by traditional music stores, which tend to focus on electric guitars, amplifiers and related equipment.
“We thought it would be cool if there was a music shop in town – and it should be all acoustic, with no electric instruments,” she said. “We talked to some friends, and everyone seemed to think it was a good idea.”
After purchasing the building in May 2025, Coffen said they sold their home, moved into an adjoining apartment and began extensive renovations.
A little bit of everything and then some
As their idea took shape, Knust said they traveled across the country in their van, building a collection of used instruments and connecting with small instrument companies.
“We learned a lot along the way,” she said.
Though the acoustic guitar market is largely dominated by the “big three” – Fender, Gibson and Taylor, and the store carries used and vintage models from those makers – Coffen said the acoustic marketplace extends far beyond those well-known names.
“We really wanted to focus on other makers,” he said. “There are small companies in the U.S. that are producing excellent instruments, and they often have their own personal story to tell.”
Topping that list, Coffen said, is Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Company out of Hindman, Kentucky – which is affiliated with the Appalachian School of Luthiery, the Appalachian Artisan Center and the Museum of the Mountain Dulcimer.
Unlike traditional manufacturers, he said, Troublesome Creek operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to teaching people in addiction recovery how to build guitars, mandolins and dulcimers.
“They are the only nonprofit stringed instrument company in the world,” he said. “Their mission is to support addiction recovery by teaching them to become some of the best luthiers in the country. We carry their Uncle Ed dulcimers, their beautiful Honeybee mandolins as well as new round back carved mandolins, Loretty Banjolyns – along with several stellar guitars.”
Another standout maker, Coffen said, is Tonedevil Guitars of Sandpoint, Idaho – which specializes in world-class custom guitars, mandolins and eye-catching harp guitars, each built by brothers Anthony Powell and David Powell.
“It has been a pleasure to get to know [them],” he said. “The two of them have been so kind and helpful with a newbie like me getting into the music industry.”
Iris Guitars – based in South Burlington, Vermont – Coffen said, offers handmade guitars meant to serve the everyday musician.
“They are stunning,” he said. “Not only are the natural guitars beautiful, but the colors on the two types of sunburst are so vibrant, it’s crazy. And they sound amazing.”
That same spirit of craftsmanship, Coffen said, carries through to Gold Tone, based in Titusville, Florida.
“[Gold Tone creates] basically anything you can imagine,” he said.
That lineup, Coffen said, includes unusual instruments, such as a banjo bass, a manditar – an F-style mandolin-bodied guitar with a mandolin-scale length – as well as composite rim banjos and resonator guitars.
“Gold Tone has been a fantastic company to work with, and anything I ask for I usually have it in four to five days after I order it,” he said. “They have a huge line of what they call ‘Folkternative’ instruments.”
Island City Acoustics is also an authorized dealer for Eastman guitars and mandolins, which Coffen described as “amazing instruments,” and offers Blue Ridge and Bristol guitars – supplied by Saga Music of San Francisco at accessible price points.
For players seeking something more unconventional, Coffen said Klos Guitars of Provo, Utah, manufactures full carbon fiber guitars, mandolins and ukuleles that can survive extreme humidity, moisture and temperature changes – making them well suited for camping trips, days at the cabin, winter bonfires or time on the water.
“Their guitars are also collapsible, so you can fit them into the convertible bag they come with and take them with you, especially when traveling,” he said. “We visited them on a road trip, and they were the first company to help us get started on our journey to open our shop.”
Closer to home, Coffen said Island City Acoustics carries several custom guitars crafted by Andrew Madsen of Madsen Guitars in Neenah.
“His knowledge of guitars and luthier skills are, to say the least, incredibly impressive,” he said. “His guitars are gorgeous.”
For banjo players, Coffen said Island City Acoustics carries instruments from Pisgah Banjo Company (Asheville, North Carolina) and Deering Banjo Company (Spring Valley, California).
“We have three Pisgah models in stock: the Roscoe, Dobson and Wonder,” he said. “They are truly works of art, and the sound of it is unlike any I’ve ever heard. I had no idea a banjo could sound like that. The tones seem to give me a sense of history reaching deep back in time.”
Another supplier, Coffen said, is Deering Banjo Company, whose instruments are handmade in California and include a range of styles, including resonator banjos.
“We drove out there and met with them to ask if we could carry their banjos in our shop, and they said yes,” he said. “These banjos play fantastic and are set to sell at a pretty darn good price point.”
Knust said the shop recently introduced a line of Kala ukuleles – which are available from soprano to baritone in laminate and solid wood options.
Hanging near the front window, Coffen said, is the shop’s only electric guitar – “Eddie,” a one-of-a-kind instrument crafted in the shape of a canoe paddle by local resident Parker Schultz.
The pickguard, he said, is designed to resemble a fish, while the nut at the top of the neck is carved from deer antler.
In total, Coffen said the shop’s inventory has grown to more than 150 instruments, each varying in price point, materials and construction techniques, and all available for customers to try.
He said customers are often surprised and even startled to learn they are encouraged to play any of the instruments in the shop.
“That’s the only way they can find one they’ll love,” Kusut said. “We only ask that players take extra care with things, such as zippers and belt buckles.”
In addition to its expansive selection of instruments, Coffen said the shop also carries a range of accessories, including strings, picks, straps, tuners, music stands and cases, along with T-shirts, hats and other merchandise.
“We’re keeping an eye out for other fun stuff to have at the shop, including acoustic instrument-themed mugs, earrings, cards, bookmarks and other gifts and collectibles,” Knust said.
Strumming together
Coffen and Knust said growing the business means expanding its customer base, with new players playing a key role in that effort.
To support that goal, they said instructors Perry Smith and Bryon Black offer basic and intermediate lessons in two private rooms off the main showroom, using loaner instruments.
“You shouldn’t have to buy a guitar before you even know if you want to play it,” Coffen said. “We are also working with community partners to grow the availability of lessons for more types of instruments and skill levels.”
Regular jam sessions are also part of the mix, Coffen said.
Wednesday night jams, he said, draw players of all skill levels and may be expanded to additional nights.
Knust said the shop also hosts Sunday afternoon “Artcoustics” events, combining music with art at the nearby Earth Goods arts and crafts store.
“We believe playing together, regardless of skill level, is the best thing for motivation and support,” she said.
“You watch people play, and all the sudden, there is a big smile on their face,” Coffen said. “People tend to open up. You have to love what a guitar can do.”
Knust said that love even extends to the business logo, which features a canoe floating on a lake, filled with a guitar, banjo and mandolin.
“Our logo showcases our favorite acoustic instruments so far, our adventure lifestyle and our love for our island city,” she said. “It’s also a reflection of what we hope to encourage – playing more music, anytime, anywhere, any skill, whether it’s while sitting on the dock, relaxing at your favorite local hangout or while on a paddle. We plan to do a lot more of that ourselves.”
Island City Acoustics is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Coffen said hours and the jam session schedule are subject to change, so for the most up-to-date information, visitors should check islandcityacoustics.com.
