I’ve had all three of my Mark VI saxes worked on here. Great people, thoughtful and prompt customer service, and AMAZING repair work. You won’t be disappointed…I certainly never have been!
We have always had the best service at Carl’s. They are always friendly and helpful. Recently they rushed an instrument cleaning for us so we wouldn’t be charged more by the rental company, and when we picked it up, quickly fixed another of our instruments while we waited. I have stopped shopping around to see if there are better prices elsewhere because their unbeatable service is worth whatever they charge!
Carl’s does exceptional work, they are very pleasant to work with and bend over backwards to keep musicians playing! 10/10!!
Very knowledgeable very friendly. They treat us beginners with the same respect concert veterans
Super helpful and upfront with tactful explanation of options for the work needing done
4. The Music Shoppe Inc.
Address: 1540 E College Ave #4, Normal, IL 61761 , Homer , Illinois , United States
Absolutely the best musical store I’ve ever been to. Their prices are super reasonable but what really makes them stand out is their unbeatable customer service. They are always willing to go above and beyond for their customers and you can tell they aren’t just trying to make an easy buck off of you. This is how you create loyal customers!
I was treated awesome and their pricing is very reasonable. The gentleman recognized that I was looking for help, he steped forward and gave me the help that I needed. I even ended up buying something a little more expensive than what I intended, because the gentleman had a great sales pitch. Great job guys and gals!
Hope to see you out there!
Jonny D. “the turntablist”
Fantastic experience! My kiddo was ready for a step-up instrument and of course we came here! This certainly is our musical home and love the wonderful customer service. Abby was so helpful and put us in a room. She told us a little about the instruments and then left us alone so my kiddo could explore each one on her own. We had a variety of choices and Abby checked in with us to see about questions. It was a great experience for us both! I highly recommend this professional music shop!
Got the music my daughter needed.
Great variety fast friendly professional service reasonably priced items
Very helpful in the store. I wish they had more in the way of home studio gear, but it’s still a cool store.
Us as parents made a mistake about payments on my son’s sax so they did what there Right was and got it back so we went in and bought one from them paid it full out that same day we bought it they informed the music teacher to take it they were picking it up the following Friday so my son had it removed from him in front of his classmates just before his Christmas concert he was crushed at something he was looking forward in doing
we had receipt for sax which we paid cash for so with them doing this my son no longer wants to do band or music just because the people at the music shop if I could give them negative 5 star I would who would tell a music teacher to take away a sax that was paid for from a child for no reason at all I hope u go out of business?
They’re expensive, the cables and accessories they sell will usually cost nearly twice in price, just go on reverb or guitarcenter and order online instead. Saving customers money. The place is fairly quiet for a music shop and they have great service and employees though, I just wouldn’t suggest buying any accessories or equipment stuff like cables for electric instruments.
5. Old Delhi Music
Address: Contact, Urbana, IL 61802 , Homer , Illinois , United States
Excellent customer services. Nic will get back to you always within 24 hours regarding your inquiry. In addition, he seemed to have endless (and pleasant) patience with my MANY questions about which harmonium was best for me, and clearly was not trying to get me to purchase the most expensive harmonium, but help me get the one that was right for my needs. In addition, the Bhava harmonium I bought is FANTASTIC. I had another one that I bought from a well known seller years ago that didn’t even compare to the Bhava I bought. I was very impressed with the sound and quality, especially for a smaller harmonium. If you are unsure where to buy your harmonium online look no further. THIS is the store. If cost is an issue I would spend a little more time saving than buying from a cheaper online seller. You will not get better quality or support than with Old Delhi Music.
I ordered a Paul & Co. 11/3 Scale Changer harmonium from Old Delhi Music on 4th October from Canada. Since this is a big purchase for me, I wanted to make sure I am buying this instrument from someone who will be willing to take the time to answer to my questions. Nick, the owner of Old Delhi Music is a wonderful person! He called us back from the States upon missing our first Skype call from Canada. I had tons of questions to ask Nick and I just wanted to see how passionate he is or how much information and knowledge he holds about the instrument. Believe me or not, my partner and I spent a good half an hour with Nick on the phone talking about the quality of his harmoniums (particularly Paul and Co.) and we received a great deal of information about this product during the early stage of my big purchase. Later on, I had a few more questions to ask regarding shipping and duties/taxes. Nick happily replied to all my questions and I have never seen him getting tired of answering my questions!
I could have easily went to a store I know in downtown Toronto and could have bought the same original Paul and Co. from them for a cheaper rate. The only reason I was against buying one from the store/retailer here is because I did not get the same kind of treatment as a customer as I/we received from Nick. My partner and I are highly conscious when it comes to buying good quality products. Nick seemed to be a nice guy who knew what he was doing and he is an expert in finding and making this kind of great quality products available for his music enthusiasts. I mean, look at his website. Who would be so thoughtful to put all these extra information for customers on buying a harmonium on their website? Hence I did not want to give my money to the retailers here who couldn’t even answer any of my questions. On top of that they were little arrogant to think that no customer should question the quality of their products. Well, that just makes it easier for me to decide who gets the best customer service in North America selling these Paul and Co. harmoniums, from my point of view anyway.
Thanks Nick for your effort. You did a great job packing and shipping the harmonium. It safely made it here in Canada within 6 business days.
P.S. I had to pay almost $400USD just on duties and taxes. It was still worth ordering my Paul and Co. 11/3 scale changer harmonium from Old Delhi Music. I am very content with my purchase.
Namaste.
After scouring the internet and tracing the recent history of manufacture I settled on Bhava Harmoniums as the logical choice for the best possible instrument. It arrived in Australia today, perfectly packaged and flawless. It is astounding, perfect in every respect, from the finish to the deep rich bass tones. Every key action is flawless, the tuning spot on, an absolute joy to play and a privilege to own. Thanks Nic, you shine!
I received a faulty instrument from these people and when I asked to return it they denied my request. Even though it was kept in a hard case which I also purchased from them. They were entirely at fault and chose to steal from me instead of being accountable.
NEVER BUY FROM THESE PEOPLE. They will steal if given the chance.
6. Redbox
Address: 205 N Main St, St Joseph, IL 61873 , Homer , Illinois , United States
Great service. And an awesome selection. They didn’t have what I was looking for yet they still called around to try and find it. Awesome place. Definitely will be going back.
Super friendly!
Mokena is very lucky to have this gem of a music shop. Our boys took Bass guitar and piano lessons for a few years and had a great experience doing so. Bill is one cool dude who will find you whatever instrument you may be looking for and can fix any one you break. Side note: he also has a sweet recording studio across the street if you are interested in locking those tunes down. If You or your kids are looking for lessons or you’re looking for some great used or new equipment you have to give Axes a try, you won’t be disappointed.
8. Down Home Guitars
Address: 11 S White St, Frankfort, IL 60423 , Homer , Illinois , United States
My experience with Down Home Guitars has been nothing less than first class. The staff is pleasant, professional and knowledgeable. The inventory consists of just about anything and everything a picker might be interested in and they are committed to serve everyone from the beginner to the touring professional. I’ve purchased two Collings instruments from the store and Steve personally made sure that I found the instrument I was looking for at a price I could afford. I’ve toured the country and have visited many guitar stores. Down Home Guitars easily ranks as one of the best!
Down Home Guitars is an excellent place to purchase an instrument – the walls are filled with guitars, banjos, mandolins, etc. – all top quality, from starter models to the premier collectables. I have performed in the concert room numerous times and the space provides an excellent listening opportunity for any type of music. All of this in addition to the fact that Steve and his staff are very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about instruments and sound – and they offer lessons on most string instruments. I feel fortunate to have such a top quality store so close to my home – they always have whatever musical supplies I need.
Where do I start??? I cannot say enough about Steve and Molly. While deployed to Afghanistan, I saw they had a Lowden Richard Thompson Signature model at a substantially lower cost than other retailers. We went back and forth with correspondence; I phoned in my deposit and a couple days later the rest of the payment. Steve’s and Molly’s customer service was wonderful. Down Home Guitars is going to make my homecoming that much more special!! I cannot thank them enough… I look forward to do more business with them in the future!
The store carries beautiful high-end acoustic instruments. They also hold some impressive seminars and concerts. If you want the very best and can spend 6K on a guitar then this store may be for you. With a larger wallet, perhaps you will receive better treatment than I did. The red-haired owner of this store is probably the rudest retail store owner I have ever experienced. Of course, I wasn’t there to spend thousands of dollars. I simply went there to buy picks, strings, tab books, and to explore and discuss instruments with other music lovers. My initial visits were often greeted by cold, stiff, and awkward personalities. After multiple visits, I expected things would warm up, and while some staff were friendly, it was never a comfortable experience. This was especially true whenever the owner was present. Pompous and arrogant seem apt descriptions, and small talk and small wallets are beneath him.
9. Midlothian Music
Address: 15645 S 94th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462 , Homer , Illinois , United States
Love this spot! Owner is SUPER helpful and treats people right. Great people to do business with.
We bought a guitar here for my son. It ended up being too big, so we took it back in a couple of months later to see if we could trade for something smaller.
Not only was he great with my son, but gave us a FULL refund and saved us $100.
Very appreciative and will be a repeat customer for sure.
Went there to buy a guitar and the guy there was the nicest ever. You can really tell they have a passion for what they do. Very informative, friendly, and have a wide selection. Definitely my go-to music shop.
My daughter plays the trombone, guitar, ukulele and piano, they have it all and more at the best price including lessons. Midlothian Music has been around for years and have an outstanding knowledge of the industry. Their service is always courteous and friendly. Clean and organized shop with great hours as well. Highly recommend them!
I love all the products but at times the service was bad, other visits there were good service. Thanks!
I asked for an estimate to repair a leak on my daughter’s flute. With no parts needed, they wanted $40. I declined their service and the man on the phone hung up on me. When I picked up the flute, somehow additional keys were bent and leaking. Ridiculous!
I would give no stars. I bought a clarinet for my grandson, and a banjo another time for my husband. The son of the owner took care of my husband and me. I went in at Christmas time to buy reeds and the store did not carry what my grandson needed. A 3 1/2 plus Van Doren reed. The man said they don’t make those. So, I bought a 3 1/2. I had to return the box of reeds, as there IS a 3 1/2 plus reed made. I had my 16 year old grandson with me. This man proceeded to berate us as the group Chicago doesn’t use those and if what they use are good enough for them, we should tell the teacher this is not needed. We were verbally lashed IN FRONT OF OTHER CUSTOMERS. I didn’t have the receipt, but remember the discount. This sarcastic man was so intimidating, we felt lousy. I should have been rude, but, as a 16 years old, accomplished clarinetist was with me, I did not, nor am I confrontational. We left, and went to QUINLAN AND FABISH in Burr Ridge, which I strongly recommend to anyone, it is worth the ride. They had, ON A RACK, the EXACT reeds my grandson needed. So, stay away from Midlothian Music.
John Lekavich advised me to do business over the phone and outside of Reverb.com so that he could avoid their fees and I would not be charged taxes. The T5 he assured me was brand new has a broken saddle and is not brand new as advertised.
I have called all week and sent him several emails with pics of the broken saddle; he has not replied. John has not conducted himself as an adult nor a professional, and I do not recommend doing business with him nor Midlothian Music.
Vine Street Ensemble performed at our wedding and reception on 9/15/2018 and were amazing! Their choice of music definitely put the icing on the cake of our beautiful day! We received a lot of compliments on how beautiful the music was all evening!
Vine Street played at my wedding and they made my day truly magical with their beautiful music. So kind and professional! Truly a magical performance, thanks again!
Vine Streel Ensemble is a “must have” for your event! They were a true asset at our daughters wedding. Very professional and the beautiful music they played made the whole evening so elegant.
11. Dollar General
Address: 497 N Oakwood St, Oakwood, IL 61858 , Homer , Illinois , United States
The members of stuff are really friendly and have a lot of knowledge. The service is great and even in case there is a problem, the stuff and management tries their best to go the extra mile and to find a satisfying solutions.
When I read the criticism here, can we just keep in mind these people are trying their best to keep the spirit up and to provide good quality products and service for us even during these challenging circumstances where everyone is struggling.
The most important lesson I learned in 2020 definitely is : everyone is going through a hard time, we are all in this together, we all try our best ❤️
I take lessons here and tge service is spot on and everyone is nice. Great place.
I’m very happy with how much my daughter has grown as a pianist in the short time she’s been enrolled at HOM! I highly recommend them!
Staff’s kind n’ “mentorly” (that’s a word, right?). They mostly sell guitars, but I have seen a drum set, an accordion, and a few keyboards there too. Not very traditional in their approach to teaching instruments, they don’t really go over music theory. If you’re looking for a laid back approach to learning guitar, drums, etc, you’ve got a good chance here.
Waste of time.
My son has been learning piano with them for almost a year. Their teachers are also unstable. The working teacher also has a bad attitude. It’s a very bad experience!
I stopped by this shop recently to inquire about music lessons for my 7 year old son. I was greeted by the owner who had his face mask dangling half off of his face. You would think that during a global pandemic the owner would take more care in making sure the students in his care are safe, this guy can’t even wear a mask correctly. Also, all the instruments they had for sale looked cheap.
13. Wyldewood Cellars Illinois
Address: 218 E Lincoln St, St Joseph, IL 61873 , Homer , Illinois , United States
Saw a sign on the interstate for this place as we were passing through. Decided to stop and I’m so glad we did! Tracie was so friendly and the wine is wonderful! We did not leave without a purchase!
Absolutely love this place.
I absolutely love this place. Try to make it here at least 2-3 times a year. Especially in the fall for the Spiced Wine.
Cute little wine store. Lots of great gifts for wine lovers.
Not the best wine selection in the area and the tasting room is a bit run down.
Most of the wine is made with Elderberries which does not have a grape flavor. The bottles are not corked. They just have plastic caps on them. My bottle leaked on the way home.
A very different experience at this location. The gentleman was the daughters father and a renowned wine tasting judge was very friendly and knowledgeable about the wine making process and industry. The store had free wine tasting mostly of elderberries which is not a grape. Other than that it was a nice little spot to stop off at on a road trip or drive.
14. Jeeson’s Piano Studio
Address: 3202 E Bruce Acres Dr, Urbana, IL 61802 , Homer , Illinois , United States
Very clean, everything is clean. Store, showers, It’s a nice open store.
Can t be better on the road
Clean. Friendly place to stop.
Typical truck stop
No American flag. Will not be back
Even if you payed your Reserve parking, isn’t grantee, yet they can come to you and knock your door,
They will wake up you, . I don’t see my system , did you payed??? Already lost your money and your sleep time.
The Response is #. Sorry!!!!!
18. King Music Inc
Address: 670 W Broadway St, Bradley, IL 60915 , Homer , Illinois , United States
Friendly and helpful staff. Exactly what you want from a music store
Friendly, knowledgeable, fantastic staff! Great selection of instruments.
Always helpful, friendly and has great stock of gear
Being new to Bourbonnais, I signed up for music lessons in the store and scheduled lesson times. I received a note from the instructor informing me that time was double booked. Worked out a new schedule with the instructor (starting next week). I don’t have any other experiences with Kings at this time.
Very friendly folks, they’re doing something right .
Helpful and friendly staff.
Start answering your phones!!!
Small selection of instruments. Facility to small.
Trash
19. Walmart Supercenter
Address: 100 S High Cross Rd, Urbana, IL 61802 , Homer , Illinois , United States
I get what i want,when i want and the way i want it and im not greedy,selfish,self centered or ugly.
I love Walmart. I’ve shopped at other stores but I always go back to Walmart. I know where everything is. I can go in and get what I need and get out. The prices are much cheaper than anywhere else and the employees are so sweet. Its just my store to go to.
Not as crowded as Champaign Walmart.
Fast clean friendly employees
Easy in and out
Wal-Mart in Urbana have a lot of camaras it is understandable but they also got a guy that is watching every move all Wal-Mart customers are shopping looking etc. What is disturbing is the way he does it stocking them like animals being hunted wow.
Customer service that I was given was very awful.. Some of employees need to take a course on customers service…
Very disrespectful
20. Redbox
Address: 497 N Oakwood St, Oakwood, IL 61858 , Homer , Illinois , United States
