I worked with Dave over the phone to buy an Eastman guitar. He was a pleasure to work with. The guitar came shipped in the case with very good foam padding between the guitar case and the shipping box. Would have no problem recommending Dave and this shop to anyone.
Dave maintained an open line of communication and kept me updated on his incoming shipping status for the Eastman I looked high and low to find. Excellent customer service.
Dave is outstanding. Listens to what you want and let’s YOU decide.
5. Rocco Z Music, LLC
Address: 3103 Lincoln Rd, McHenry, IL 60051 , Bull Valley , Illinois , United States
I hired Rocco Z Music to DJ my wedding in January 2023 and I couldn’t be happier with my choice! Rocco LOVES his job and it shows in his work. He has a high amount of energy, which kept the party going all night long!
When we first reached out to him, he scheduled an in person meeting consultation with us, which was way more personal than any other vendor we contacted. We very much appreciated his willingness to meet in person and get a full understanding of our expectations.
On the day of the wedding, all of the specific songs I chose were played at the correct times during the ceremony and grand entrance into the reception. He pronounced all of the names of our wedding party correctly, which was super important to us and our wedding party. The set up is also lovely. Rocco has lights and special panels to blend into the scene of the venue and hide his equipment. Many of our guests had wonderful things to say about Rocco Z Music. The quality of music was crystal clear all night.
Rocco and his team are great at what they do and you won’t regret your decision to hire them for your event, ESPECIALLY if you are in the McHenry area! I’m going to have to renew my vows in 2 years just so I can hire Rocco Z Music again! Highly recommend! Thank you Rocco and Danny for making our day perfect!
I played on drumline for Mchenry and Rocco was our instructor. He was a phenomenal teacher and made things fun! Most recently my wife and I hired him to DJ at our wedding. What a hit that was. Everyone had a blast and told us it was the best wedding they had ever been to because the music mix was so good. Everyone was on the dance floor all night. I would highly recommend Rocco for any music needs
I purchased two drums from Rocco recently for my recording studio. Not a small purchase either, a 40” vintage Ludwig mahogany concert bass drum with stand and a 32” copper Ludwig Symphonic Timapni. Both drums are in remarkable shape, the bass drum was completely refinished and rebuilt by Rocco and is a work of art with a sound to match. This guy is good. The Timpani is in awesome shape and cleared and tuned with no issues after a 600 mile ride to my recording facilities in Nashville from his shop. Rocco went out of his way to make sure everything was as it should be and ready on time and even helped out with some of the travel to make it possible to get the drums to TN under the extreme conditions we are all dealing with in our country right now. I highly recommend doing business with him if you have any drum or percussion needs.
Hasn’t returned any emails or phone calls. Answered the phone once. Said he’d get back to me after the school season started. Crickets
6. Pearl Street Music LLC
Address: 3421 Pearl St, McHenry, IL 60050 , Bull Valley , Illinois , United States
The young lady was very helpful .Even though she didn’t understand what I was totally what I was doing.She did a excellent job and we found what I needed. Thank you young lady.
These guys are awesome. They fixed my wife’s keyboard just in time for her birthday and it was very reasonable.
You helped me fix my mothers guitar and did an amazing job. Pearl Street music is my top 3 places i love to visit in McHenry. Thx again ❤
good prices on used drum gear. would like to talk to the owner who’s a drummer. the young man that works only on Friday isn’t knowledgeable about all the inventory. don’t pop in if you’re in a hurry. nice place.
Brought my new guitar in for a set up. Assured that it would be done right in 2 weeks. Called after 2 weeks and was told they hadn’t even started on it. Will never shop here again. Couldn’t be more disappointed.
Only been at the store 3 times. 1st visit was ok. 2nd I asked for a guitar cable to try out an amp. The owner refused to provide one even though I said I would keep the volume down. 3rd time I was allowed to play a guitar for a while at low volumes, then the owner rudely placed his hand on the guitar and said “You need to leave.” What’s the point of having a business if you don’t allow customers to try out your instruments? I will never do business with them again and will happily give my money to another music store.
I had a music lesson scheduled for 1/8/20 at 6:30pm I had a morning Dr.s appointment in Milwaukee The original scheduling would have allowed me plenty of time to got to the store. unfortunately The Doc found something worrisome and need me to stay for tests that is when I called to try and reschedule and this saga began. This store literally stole 3 lessons worth of my money with out remorse…because I had a medical emergency!
It is very unfortunate that this store is not run like a local business servicing their neighbors. I have been going to Pearl Street for years. I have bought several instruments and accessories, including a previous owners personal guitar. I nave taught myself a bit and can play a bit but I decided to get some polish with lessons. I bought 5 lessons and took one that night is was great. The teacher was awesome. The following week I had an appointment in Milwaukee but was scheduled to be home for my lesson. Well the Doc found some stuff that need further attention. I called The store to reschedule my appointment but the told me I would be charged full price. I explained to deaf ears about the issue, nope, you lose the lesson, You can start back up with your remaining lessons next week. I don’t care about the money but when a small, local business is this inflexible with it’s neighbors then would rather go big box and get the pricing.
So I got a call from the store and The owner tells me there is no refund or reschedule. I had asked him to refund the remaining balance on my account he said that I have to give 2 weeks notice. so he now has taken 3 lessons fees for absolutely no services rendered. In the Us code it is defined as theft.
Please see attached voicemail transcript to see how this store treats a medical emergency.
Here is the voice mail transcript from ken the owner (I believe).
“Hi this message is for Gary this is Ken Pearl Street music um on the oil over here and __ signed up for lessons with Nate and then um we paid for the month and then you didn’t show up today I heard you want to refund because you were upset um about um our policy um but we have a contract that you signed so I mean you know about ___ policy it says it on the contract right on the contract it says anytime student _______ _ lesson then um you don’t get a refund for that lesson iMessage within 24 hours and um yeah that’s just how that works um it’s in the contract we can email you the contract that you signed ____ that says that that’s fine if you want um and if you wanna refund um for the rest of the lessons for the month um it also says on your contract that you need to put in a two week notice when you wanna quit so you would always for two more lessons anyway so I would say why don’t you just finish out the month and if you want to put in your two week notice um starting today that’s fine um but yeah he signed a contract um that you’re fine with canceling the same day and not getting credit for it and ___ also signed a contract I said you have to give it two ____ notice before you quit so um yeah those are store policies if you can give us a call back or you can email me Pearl Street music at att.net if you have any other questions or concerns um if I have your email um I’ll look and see if I have your email I can just email you the contract that you signed OK and we’ll talk then thank you bye-bye…”
Charis is a wonderful, patient teacher. She is also so great about my ever changing schedule. Highly recommend.
My daughter has been taking lessons here for a few years now.. She is a wonderful teacher and flexible with how she teaches each student. She wants them to have fun and challenge themselves .
My daughters have taken lessons with Charis for 9 years. They would still be taking lessons with her is they hadn’t grown up and gone to college. She is a wonderful teacher. She taught them to read music, theory, and an overall love of music. She encouraged them with the piano as well as their band instruments. She also helped them to play duets. She never cancels lessons and is always on time. I would highly recommend her as an instructor.
9. Siren Records McHenry
Address: 3902 Main St, McHenry, IL 60050 , Bull Valley , Illinois , United States
Great selection of albums and any stereo component .Knowledgeable staff for trades ,repairs too.
Brings back memories of my days spent in the local record store of my youth. Very nice variety of genres plus great personable service. They also sell period stereo equipment. Looking at everything in that store I can recognize 90% of it. Beautiful experience.
I had a terrific experience at Siren Records McHenry!
I brought in my turntable for repair and their customer service is outstanding. A very friendly staff who are very knowledgeable and explained all my options to help reduce costs on the repair without sacrificing the sound quality. They kept me updated on the repairs along the way which was greatly appreciated. And check out their vinyl! Great selection of all types of music and are “haggle friendly”. CHECK OUT SIREN RECORDS MCHENRY!!!!
If you want old vinyl you need to visit this record shop!
Awsome!
Old time record store. Very cool.
I cannot stand places that don’t price upfront. I would spend all day at this place digging if they were clear on their prices. Instead they will look up each one online to see what to charge. Make sections, $1.00, $3.00, so on. To the owner, this is constructive criticism. Maybe I’ll give this place another chance if I’m in the area. Thanks
Second time going here owner not friendly does not greet me. After a few minutes finally asks me if your looking for something ask so i processed to ask him why there was 2 prices on the album (10 dollar difference) tells me we dont take off old ones and tells me it is what it is real nice!! Sharpies do wounders if you dont want to take them off but not too offer atleast 5 off the price just to say it is what it is great customer service I will never return and never pay your high prices so many other mom and pop shops to shop that give you a at home experience avoid this place!
Anyone who says they have fair pricing clearly has never been to any other record store. Please do go there look around and then try Reef Records down the road or Black Circle records in Lake Geneva (well worth the trip). You will never go back here again
10. Mike’s Brass & Woodwind
Address: 3607 N Chapel Hill Rd, Johnsburg, IL 60051 , Bull Valley , Illinois , United States
I went to get my boyfriend a guitar and they helped me pick it out the Service was awesome the prices are so good definitely recommend You should go check it out
Took a saxophone here that my brother played in the 90’s so my daughter could use it for her first year in band. It was in very rough shape and needed a lot of cleaning a repair. I was shocked when I picked it up. It virtually looked brand new!! Mike did such an amazing job and helped me get everything I needed to get my daughter started off on the right foot. THANK YOU MIKE! Will definitely take any/all instruments here for future needs! 5+⭐️
Excellent, accurate, quick service. Friendly and helpful.
You would of thought they would be more customer oriented. They didn’t seem interested that we even came in.
From the moment I stepped foot into the store, I was greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff at Mike’s Brass and Woodwind were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about music. Their dedication and expertise were evident in every interaction, making my experience truly memorable.
What sets Mike’s Brass and Woodwind apart from other stores is their commitment to personalized service. The staff took the time to understand my specific requirements and guided me in choosing the perfect instrument that matched my skill level and musical preferences. Their attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile made a world of difference in my decision-making process.
Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised by the store’s dedication to ensuring the instruments are in top-notch condition. Each instrument was meticulously maintained and showcased its true potential. The store also provides a wide range of accessories and spare parts, ensuring that musicians have everything they need to enhance their playing experience.
The combination of a welcoming ambiance, a vast array of instruments, knowledgeable staff, and a commitment to excellence makes this store a treasure trove for music enthusiasts.
Very helpful
We went to fix, my trumpet, they didnt, they actually made it lead to a broken trumpet, now we need a new trumpet, and we dont know where to go!
11. Dr Woods Guitar Emporium
Address: 304 Lincoln Ave, Fox River Grove, IL 60021 , Bull Valley , Illinois , United States
Great customer experience at Dr Woods! Buddy and team were super friendly and helpful.
Large selection of guitars and great atmosphere. Highly recommend.
Dr. Woods rocks. Great local business run by a great guy.
I bring my guitars in to Buddy at least 4 times a year to get setup and intonated, and they always come back sounding great. The rest of my band does the same.
Buddy is an expert musician. His advice, insights, and customer service are worth the visit. I support this local shop because they offer value that I can’t get from the web or a large chain.
A very helpful and knowledgeable staff. A relaxed atmosphere with some really great looking guitars.
Very friendly, asked for advice on a project gave great direction. I will definitly come back to give them my business.
I called 45 minutes before they closed and was there about 25 to 30 minutes before they closed to get a guitar pick the lady with a dog looked at me walking out locked the door and got into her car and left mind you there was still about like I said 25 to 30 minutes left so if you’re gonna close at 8:30 put it on your page on Google that closing is at 8:30 and I’m still gonna buy a pick tomorrow because you’re the closest but that will probably be the last time I’m there and I will be returning the saxophone either Friday or the third
I debated posting a review or not, but I think I should if it’ll keep someone from having a bad experience. First off, the employees are super kind people. Couldn’t be happier with the staff. But unfortunately the work I received on my guitar was really poor. Took a guitar there, first time bringing them one of my instruments. Was told I could expect a turnaround in under a week. Ended up waiting almost 2 months. Honestly not a big deal, happens a lot with instrument repair. Got the guitar back. Took it out to play it and the truss rod cover is missing. Find it in the case and put it on. Turn the volume knob, it falls off. Have to spread the top of the pot and reinstall it. Start playing and there’s a weird oscillating noise from the amp. Find the output jack totally loose, have to take off the cover and tighten it. Screws for the cover are stripped in the body. This is a new guitar by the way. Notice the G string sits higher off the neck than all the others, very noticeably. Figured they would fix this when doing a setup but I guess not. Had to file the saddles out myself. Should have just done the job myself at this point. Ended up taking the guitar apart to make sure the wiring wasn’t as bad as the assembly and setup. Got it playing good now, but after paying for someone else to do it and then having to do it myself, it wasn’t worth it. I figured the extra time taken would have meant it was 100% ready to go when they called but apparently not. This was a mid range guitar so I’m not terribly upset about it, but if it was something really nice I would have definitely been upset. Take this into consideration before dropping off your favorite axe. Hope they learn to slow down and do quality work.
Its a long story. In the end it was a bad experience.
I think if I didn’t check up with them things could have been much worst.
I’m not doing any business with them and advise the same.
12. Holly O’Hair’s Music Studio
Address: 9417 McConnell Rd, Woodstock, IL 60098 , Bull Valley , Illinois , United States
Amazing teacher. Both my children are able to read and play music in the short while they have been with holly.
My son started piano lessons with Mrs. Holly right before his 6th birthday. Holly is very patient with him. She is great with the little ones. My son loves music, playing songs, and making up his own lyrics so this is the perfect introduction to music for him to learn notes, and an instrument. We love watching him perform during the recitals and it’s great that the children are able to be involved with something so magical.
My son (8) really enjoys his piano lessons at Holly O’Hair’s studio each week!
Very awesome , knowledgeable business with tons of integrity!
Lots of items to select from and knowledgeable staff.
Great customer service! Friendly, helpful. Best service at a music store I’ve visited
a nice local music store. offering hard to find physical media based music and being one of the very few places where you can still purchase vinyl.
Great deals. Its s great way to kill an hour because there is so much to look through
Great record selection. I was given a fair price on my box of vinyls.
Way over priced ok selection
Only looking for Rock..
Real bummer- back wall FULL of 45s but they won’t even let you look thru any of them and said they won’t get to them for months.
Not the best customer interface. If you want 45s go somewhere else!
15. The Records Department : Woodstock
Address: 101 N Johnson St Suite 1C, Woodstock, IL 60098 , Bull Valley , Illinois , United States
First off very excited to have a record store in town. They were super friendly and very knowledgeable. Can’t wait to go back for more records. You gotta check it out.
Amazingly well curated selection of records, and some of the nicest people I’ve met. I also love that they highlight local musicians and carry their music!
A treasure in the heart of Woodstock run by the nicest woman ever!!
Awesome wood working supply store, large wood selection, tools and knowledgeable staff
I am a commercial Arborist and send all of my clients/friends to Bull Valley Hardwood. They go above and beyond the call of duty to educate and inform, awesome staff and great people. Family owned and operated, this is the only shop you will need for custom projects! Highly recommend a visit.
This is a great place to purchase hardwoods in the area. The selection is great and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Would highly recommend to anyone who needs materials for their next project.
Nice place. Good assortment of hardwoods, woodworking equipment, supplies and finishes.
Very nice staff. But their prices are about 1.5-2x higher than the other hardwood retailers in the area.
Could easily get 5 Star, but I can’t after just one quick visit. I’ll update. Decent to great selection of hardwood and they stock quite a bit of power tools.
absolutely a terrible experience. They are supposed to be an authorized dealer for the Laguna product line. Disappointing all around. Zero customer service. No replies to email or phone calls. Nowhere does it say the item is shipped by the manufacturer. Their competitors (like Rockler) stock these items. By the way, this was a $1900 order. After no shipping info, I asked for an update by their email system. Nothing. I called and asked for an update and was told the internet manager would get back to me promptly. Nothing. I wrote and asked to cancel the order. Nothing. I called and asked to cancel. Nothing. Only when I wrote and said I wanted the order canceled and that I would advise the manufacturer of their poor representation did the owner finally call, but blaming me for being impatient. (you read between the lines) He said my first two emails went into spam. Seriously? All I asked for was an update on an order placed three days before. Have to hope there are issues here I don’t understand. Sad though. I’m hurt and disappointed with their response to this complaint, but not surprised after speaking with the owner who told me straight out he didn’t want my business. Asking for an update on an order placed three days ago is not being unreasonable. Getting no answer after three emails and two phone calls is. Try to blame your poor service on me if you want, but people know better. One day I gave you. Two days I gave you. On the third day I gave up on you.
Update: After two phone txt and two emails, still no email confirmation of refund. No way to run a company.
