Been dealing with Shel and Alan for 13 years.
Hands down the best distributor I’ve ever worked with.
By far, the highest margins for the retailer in the business.
I used to buy a lot of smalls from Musicorp (doesn’t everybody?).
Increased my margins substantially by switching to Perfektion.
Same quality products for much, much less.
Credit terms are flexible and available. All you have to do is keep your word and pay, and the possibilities are endless.
I’d give Perfektion 6 stars if I could.
Awesome store! Would visit again!
I have been dealing with Black Mountain Music for over 4 years now and I guess Scott Johnson the owner of Black Mountain Music closed and switched over to Perfektion Music as a representative at some time last year. And now I guess Scott Johnson is no longer representing Perfektion Music either. Now the truth is that I have never dealt with Perfektion Music directly and I understand if they do not know me nor my store. I guess the strange part of this is that when I asked if I could get a 30 day net. payment plan like I had with Black Mountain I was told they couldn’t find where I had done business with Scott Johnson before. Then the person on the phone asked me if I could call his grandfather in Texas as he is down there for the Winter. I find it strange that a company would need me to call their grandfather, who essentially is on vacation to find out if I can get credit with them. I would think they would have denied me or had me fill out some paperwork. I am not sure I want to do business with a company that has no one at the helm on a regular basis and has to ask a customer to call someone not on the premises. I would think they would have at least called the grandfather himself and had him call me, but it sounded more like he wanted me to ask permission for him to do business with me. Interesting!!!
2. PJLA Music Sales & Marketing
Address: 22159 N Pepper Rd, Lake Barrington, IL 60010 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
I bought a trumpet from PJLA Music a PHAETON Trumpet PHT-2040 Black Chrome Onyx plated finish with 24 K Gold Plated finger buttons, top/bottom caps & water keys. I have been playing trumpet for 40 years and I have never had a better horn then this. I got it and starting playing and it played freely and was open and the horn allowed me to do as i wished with it and truly went over the top with its performance.. Thank you for my Horn!
3. Offbeat Music Store
Address: 3 S Old Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Staff is very friendly and knowledgable .. Live the record room in back !
Went in yesterday to check out some guitars.Very comfortable and cool atmosphere. Nick greeted me and took the time to go over different options (Electric Guitars) comparing the brands and different styles.
I finally found the one I liked most that was within my budget and with great sound. Nick was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable on the products. Would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for lessons or purchasing music accessories
I will be back and thanks again Nick for all the help!
I’ve taken guitar lessons at Offbeat and purchased a great quality electric guitar (Sterling by Musicman) for a great price several years ago. Nick upgraded it with new pickups, knobs, and tuners and it’s even better. Also picked up an amp at Offbeat and always leave satisfied. Jim and Nick are great!
Music store with a nice selection of instruments. Some vinyl and CDs too, although it has very few, if any, hidden treasures. 2 stars removed because the one employee and 2 of the customers were not wearing masks when I visited. I would have spent more time and money here if they were. Stay safe, everyone.
Friendly people
I was very dissatisfied with this location as they don’t offer any instruments that would allow the user to produce the sounds of Echolocation
4. Musicians Discount Store
Address: 27990 N Converse Rd ste a, Island Lake, IL 60042 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Very nice and knowledge personal. Bought here new Ovation guitar from Jeff for unbeatable price and even got a personal adjustment. Cozy little place with professional service and personal touch. Highly recommend!
Very friendly and knowledgeable
Great store. Amazing guitar selection and knowledgeable staff.
Legitimately told you a price then followed it up with a cheaper price if “you take it home today”.
I’m sure this place is great but I wish I didn’t have to make an appointment just to look around. Not a great business strategy in my opinion.
Horrible experience. They don’t care about their customers. First, took 4-5 business days to ship. Then product was defective but they said it was fine. Returned the product and had to fight to get a refund and then they charged me for original shipping which was free in the first place. Never again.
Marshall was extremely helpful with finding the guitar that was right for me. Highly recommended!
Had a nice conversation with Marshall about the feasibility of a headstock repair on a classical guitar. He was very knowledgeable on all aspects including the provenance of this 30+ year old instrument. It was a real pleasure speaking with him and appreciate his generous sharing of his expertise.
This was my first visit to their shop ….I brought my Martin dcpa5 in for a set up, to include a truss rod, nut and saddle adjustment. My wife and I spent the morning sharing stories with Richard and Marshall about musicians we all knew and interactions with them. Richard gave us a tour of the shop and a really cool history/tutorial on making guitars. It wasn’t just taking my guitar in for a tune up, it was making new friends. I will definitely be back and will steer my fellow guitar players to see Richard and Marshall if they need some work done.
7. Brune Music Studio
Address: 25139 N Pawnee Rd, Barrington, IL 60010 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Stephanie is an excellent instructor. Both my girls, ages 12 and 13, have taken lessons with Stephanie for a couple years. They are inspired by her musical ability and love for music. They have reached a skill level where they enjoy practice – I don’t need to harp on them to get in their piano time. Throughout the day the piano calls to them and I hear them practicing new and old pieces they’ve learned. Stephanie has helped make piano fun while challenging them to grow their abilities.
Stephanie is so patient and she keeps our daughter engaged. We have been taking piano lessons for years now from a beginner and our daughter looks forward to her lessons every week! (though practice is still another story 🙂 )
Our son loves learning from Stephanie! She is patient with him and he is making great progress on the piano!
This is a top notch guitar shop. Buddy and his team live and breathe music, therefore, provide the best customer service! I have been purchasing gear, as well as having gear repaired at this shop for years. When you have quality guitars like a PRS, Gibson or Fender, as well as boutique amps like a Fuchs, or high-end Marshalls, you take your gear here. If you want the best, and I will add, at great prices, this is your shop. When people have passion for what they do, it is evident. I recently brought my Fuchs ODS to get re-tubed and biased. Buddy’s tech, Patrick, did a phenomenal job with this amp. It sounds like a brand new amp. I won’t take my gear anywhere but Dr. Woods. Like I said, top notch shop. Quality shop, musicians, and people. Keep on rockin’ Dr. Woods!!!!
been coming here for years great store
I have been a customer of Dr. Woods for three years. In the course of my time here I learned how to play the drums and play weekly in one of his adult ‘rock you’ setups.
i look forward to playing with Buddy and the rest of the band every week and it is my mental release from my normal 9 to 5.
If you ever considered learning to play, even as an adult like me, here is the place and now is the time.
Very friendly, asked for advice on a project gave great direction. I will definitly come back to give them my business.
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.
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.
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
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.
11. Guitar Humidor LLC
Address: 23366 N Chesapeake Dr, Lake Barrington, IL 60010 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Amazing inventory and fabulous staff led my Shawna.
Shawna is the best! Very helpful and knowledgeable, and made the process seamless and smooth!
Oboe Chicago is the best place to buy oboes, and even oboe accessories. Shawna is extremely knowledgeable and super super helpful, in helping you find the right oboe for you. She spends quality time making sure the oboe is the correct one for you. Shawna also goes above and beyond about explaining the process of getting the oboe. She is also an amazing musician and an incredible teacher. 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
14. Knight Music Academy
Address: 106 S Wynstone Park Dr Suite 101, North Barrington, IL 60010 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
My son has been a student at Knight Music Academy for 5 wonderful years and the Laura and the staff there are outstanding. They take the time to identify each child’s strengths and weaknesses and work to provide a great learning environment that is age appropriate. They do their best to accommodate ever changing schedules and they host holiday recitals which the students and family love. Their rates are reasonable and the teachers are highly educatedin their fields. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who loves music and wants to learn how to play piano, guitar or percussion instruments.
We have gone to Knight Music Academy for 6 years and we absolutely love it. Laura is wonderful with my kids and it makes me so happy to not only have my kids develop such a love for music, but also to have an excellent musical education. We highly recommend this music school.
We are extremely appreciative of Knight Music Academy! Laura does a wonderful and professional job at running it smoothly, and ensuring all our needs are met. The environment is always pleasant, clean and welcoming. My child has been taking piano lessons here with Mrs. Park who is a very kind and supportive instructor. Knight Music Academy is highly recommended!
Disappointing Experience for my Child
I enrolled my 6-year-old child at Knight Music Academy with high hopes for a positive learning experience. Unfortunately, my experience with the owner, and the piano instructor, left much to be desired.
On multiple occasions, I observed displaying rudeness and impatience towards both students and parents. This behavior created a tense atmosphere that was far from conducive to a productive learning environment.
Moreover, demonstrated a lack of patience when working with my child. Instead of providing gentle guidance and encouragement, there were instances where my child felt discouraged and hesitant to continue with lessons.
These experiences had a notable impact on my child’s enthusiasm for learning piano. What should have been a joyful exploration of music turned into a source of anxiety and reluctance.
Expectations vs. Reality
When I initially enrolled my child, I anticipated a nurturing and supportive environment where a love for music would flourish. Unfortunately, the reality fell far short of these expectations.
Suggestions for Improvement:
I strongly recommend that Knight Music Academy invest in training for their staff, particularly in areas of effective communication, patience, and professionalism. Creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere should be a priority.
Conclusion
In sum, my experience at Knight Music Academy was disappointing, primarily due to the demeanor of the owner and instructor. While there may be positive aspects to the school, they were overshadowed by these significant shortcomings.
Sign Off:
Thank you for taking the time to consider my feedback. I hope this review serves as constructive feedback for Knight Music Academy to improve and provide a better experience for future students.
15. Daddyo’s Framing Music Memorabilia
Address: 121 S Main St, Wauconda, IL 60084 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Outstanding place!
I have all my framing done there and every so often you can find a rare gem of old record with all the original inserts for a very reasonable price!!
Kelly has framed many pieces of art and memorabilia for my home and office. He has a great eye for putting things together and making them look amazing!
Cool stuff
Nice selection of vintage vinyl records. cassettes and posters.
They have some cool things
Great selection of music. Very cute vinyl record bowls too.
This is why I buy vinyl online. Drove by at 1:30 on Saturday, door was open. Came back after lunch, and the door that says 10-5 on Saturday was locked and shop was dark. All three of us wanted to shop vinyl but he can’t even keep his posted hours.
16. Resolution Guitar Repair
Address: 83 W Main St Ste 204, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Great guitar repair and custom shop. Ken is a class act. I highly recommend his customer service oriented guitar repair and custom shop. Ken is always ready to repair, re-string, or customize your acoustic or electric guitar. He takes great pride in his work, and it shows. Ken also puts allot of fine detail into his work by scrutinizing every minutia of finite calibrations and settings whether its for you electric guitar or fine adjustments to your acoustic guitar. I highly recommend his services . Five stars from me to ken at resolutions Guitar Repair
Superb set-up, very fair price, finished sooner than promised. What more can you ask?
Give him your business.
I have an acoustic guitar that I got in 1975 that had great sentimental value to me. Over the years it developed many issues. Ken used his talents to refurbish the guitar and when he was done it had its original appearance and better sound quality. I found Ken’s work to be excellent and reasonably priced. He is a true craftsman and a pleasure to work with!!
17. Piano Trends Music Company
Address: 35 Berkshire Dr, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
We are lucky to have options for local availability of music and related supplies. In addition to the great customer service, what sets Piano Trends apart from other local vendors is the connection to the music community in our area. They have created an environment both virtual and physical for sharing experiences and expressions of sound at all levels. Whether your kid just began recorder or your livelihood depends on your creation of sound all are engaged as members of this community.
Piano Trends offers so much from music lessons to instruments and beautiful pianos. The instructors are talented and the owners Tim and Bobbi do so much for the community. And I love Tim’s six day a week musical cheer up, LIFTING SPIRITS.
I love my piano salesman. His name is Jason Bruno. He is an excellent music teacher also. Without him, I would never have developed my smooth legato. Also, he knows that life without music would Bb and he lives by this creed. He is my friend in music, forever.
Friendly service. A wonderful local business.
Very nice selection.
Bought a beautiful piano paid cash … husband walked out needed money for kids paid piano trends to sell for me they refused to answer or send money I even paid for them to pick up in same town for 300. Now and then they refuse to respond to me
Worst place ever. Waist of time and money. I would not recommend this place. Stay away from this place.
18. Scotch Tape Studios
Address: 28729 N Harrison Ave, Wauconda, IL 60084 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
19. Sam Ash Music Stores
Address: 1305 W Dundee Rd, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Sam Ash music stores have some of the best people in this business. They always offer the right suggestions that have always helped with my decisions.
Always a pleasure to shop at the Buffalo Grove Sam Ash. The staff are helpful and great to talk with. Even if it weren’t so close I would go out of my way to shop here.
Really helpful guys in the drum department, got a new set of heads at a great price.
Good store
Sam Ash employees do not harass the customer into making purchases. My experience has been very positive and I have found the sales people to be very helpful in their attempt to satisfy my musical needs.
Great prices on new products since they have a policy of price match, however the behavior behind the scenes is not so great. the IT and check out takes way to long. all in all i do go here, but only if i have to get something new i cant find anywhere else.
Crazy high prices on accessories. They don’t put price tags on anything except guitars. That’s because no one would even pick it off the shelf if they knew how much they charge. Way to gouge your local musicians!
I used to love SamAsh and swear by it. I’ve bought 4 guitars, countless effects pedals, tons of gear, everything from them in the past. But my few past large purchases the employee that I had working with me brought out the wrong gear every time when I was in the check out process. Twice he brought out the wrong pedal and once the wrong guitar and yet he still tried to tell me every time it was the item I had been testing on the floor when clearly it wasn’t. Honestly, he brought out a Hohner bass guitar when I was playing a Epiphone Sheraton guitar on the floor. These salesmen didn’t know squat and hopefully they were fired, but needless to say I only go there now for strings. I’ve moved onto a much better and more educated music store.
I’ve always had a super good experience with Sam Ash specifically this one at Buffalo Grove. I’ve taken/ sold multiple instruments here throughout the years after upgrading and wanting to get rid of my used equipment. I’ve never had any problems (until now) and the staff had always been kind and had always taken care of me. Today I came in to potentially sell one of those said instruments, when I was immediately degraded by management. Not only was I told that the make and model of my bass was not correct information, I was also told that my price range was off and that I needed to do research before trying to sell my instrument…….
I have been playing bass for 18 years now, so to have someone who doesn’t even play, or know anything about basses (he straight up told me he was a drummer and didn’t know a lot about bass) tell me that I am wrong about my own instrument was completely degrading and frankly insulting. He even made a point to tell me that he’s been working in the instrument retail industry for years now, and would know if my bass should be priced higher. I made several attempts to correct him about my instrument, all of which he did not listen too and didn’t even make the attempt to validate. It’s really hard as it is to be a woman in music, so to come here today and be completely degraded and treated as if I had no idea what I was talking about by the staff, was just so beyond insulting and aggravating.
20. Horn Stash
Address: 746 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60074 , Tower Lake , Illinois , United States
Wonderful experience! Staff was amazing and very helpful! Thank you!
Very knowledgeable & helpful.
Good for repairs.not so good on consignment
This is the worst experience I’ve ever had in 44 years as a professional musician! I wouldn’t allow any friend, enemy or student do business with this company! I recently tried out two horns. They sent them both to me, charging me 350.00 for shipping…rip-off. One horn was in such poor playing condition that it was back in the box in 5 minutes. The second wasn’t as as bad, but not good enough to keep. I sent them both back, at my expense, and was charged 15% to “restock”. These consigned horns. I called to see if there was anything they could do to not charge me for this, and was denied. So, it cost me over 1000.00 to try out two French horns. I would tell any band director, private teacher to NEVER do business with these crooks! I would give no stars, but it’s not an option.
Worst place don’t bother showing up .crappy service
Didn’t want to take the time to rent an instrument, kept pushing me aside to take faster services. I went to Quinlan and Fabish instead who were really helpful.
In response to the owner, I had no qualms stepping aside for the one customer, but then the clerk asked for a customer who had just entered the store to also step forward to take care of his needs first. That is the moment I realized my business was better suited elsewhere. The fact that the owner has time to sit and read reviews instead of serving the clients where there is clearly a need is a great sample of their business.
