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Old Town School Music Store
Category: Shopping Musical Instruments & Teachers Musical Instruments & Teachers [Edit]
4544 N Lincoln Ave(between Sunnyside Ave & Wilson Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood
(773) 751-3398
- Nearest Transit:
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Western-Brown (Brown Line)
Damen-Brown (Brown Line)
Rockwell (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30 am - 8:30 pm
Fri-Sun 10:30 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
12 reviews for Old Town School Music Store
12 reviews in English
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Review from Lakshmi R.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2010
I can't say enough good things about this place. The guys who work here are nice and helpful, they get you set up with a guitar and amp and leave you alone to strum awkwardly. I love that. Because I always feel self-conscious and I don't need no dudes thinking I'm a girl who can't play music. I'm just shy, okay?
Great atmosphere, good prices. I love my new Danelectro Dead-On 67 and I'll be back here to buy new strings and a tuner very soon. -
Review from Tony S.
Los Angeles, CA
7/24/2007
I picked up a ukulele at another giant music chain, and not only did they not know what they were talking about , the instrument was a P.O.S. Frustrated I went to a Different Strummer, and the staff is so helpful, and know a lot about various intruments.
The prices are very good to. If you are looking to start or have been playing awhile, you should definetly go here.
Plus being part of Old Town School of Folk Music, they are right there if you are taking classes.
Hooray! -
Review from David P.
Chicago, IL
6/15/2007
What? A music store without pretentious sales guys? Only in Lincoln Square.
I feel mildly guilty in saying that every time I've purchased an instrument at--AHEM--a certain discount-priced, nationwide superstore chain, I always take it to the folks here to troubleshoot and inspect it. And there's always something to be improved upon or corrected (action set too high, etc).
It's not that the fine folks at Different Strummer don't have a great selection. It's just more targeted to the acoustic or folk audience, which is perfect considering they're housed within the Old Town School of Folk. But I tend to like flashier instruments, and I tend to make music more experimental, maybe. But the guys here always turn my deep-discount chain-store guitars into quality, highly playable instruments.
I buy all other gear here, though. And it's really hard to walk in here and not try to convince yourself that maybe your music needs more djembe, conga or ukele. A wide selection of interesting items.
I basically love these folks and try to support them when I can. -
Review from S. M.
Naperville, IL
12/28/2008
Are you in the market for a dulcimer, steel guitar or ukelele? Trying to find a good tongue drum and coming up with zilch? Did you smash your banjo at the last bluegrass fest trying to become the Pete Townshend of Folk and now find yourself in need? Different Strummer can provide for all of these musical desires, and more.
The walls are lined with so many types of instruments that I, as a musical novice (I can play a lap harp by ear, that's it), do not feel qualified to even try to extrapolate them all. Lots o' guitars and other stringed things ring the room -- acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, dulcimers, banjos, fiddles, and ukes, plus amps. There's also an assortment of percussion, flutes, and keyboards. They do rentals as well, & repairs and tunings on your instruments.
There is also an abundance of CDs, including a local section, lots of Putumayo, etc. The Old Town School has 4 of their own albums out too.
I brought my visiting brother here (he used to play violin and now plays guitar) just to check it out (I also wanted to see if there was an Old Town School album that I didn't have, but they still have the 4). It's an impressive selection, but of course rather specialized. The one staff member we interacted with was friendly and knowledgable, a departure from the typical attitude one gets from the music "intelligentsia". How refreshingly Different. -
Review from Sarah C.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2009
I absolutely LOVE this place. i've bought my violin there, my strings, and tuner. OH and two music books! They are soooo friendly, very instrument savvy (People keep saying "knowledgeable" so I had to switch it up) and just great to talk to. the atmosphere is so warm and inviting. No snobby pretentious people here folks! Just some wonderful people who are willing to give you the attention you need no matter how big or small the question is! :)
I plan to head there again while signing up for lessons :) -
Review from R R.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2011
Great store with competitive prices. They only carry the good stuff so they can afford to be small. Guitars, mandolins, percussion instruments I don't know the names of, and even kid's instruments. Numerous method / style books and DVDs that I've only seen in catalogs or online for various instruments are also there. They have a repair shop that I'm told is good but I have yet to use them myself. I'm one to over research before purchasing something and when I ask them questions their responses were always thoughtful and logical based on what I had learned. At other stores they might be tempted to just "wing it". So I feel they can be trusted for advice. I've seen them have the patience of angels with mothers confused about their child's instrument.
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Review from Heather S.
Chicago, IL
12/23/2009
Okay selection of books, not huge but lesson books are overpriced. I'm a music teacher and I paid $29 for a piano lesson book I get for $16 at Rossi Music.
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Review from Bev B.
Buffalo Grove, IL
12/30/2008
OK, you're only going to buy stuff here if you're going to buy stuff here anyway. You're not going to happen in off the street and find something for Aunt Marge. You're going to go to this place with Aunt Marge in mind, and you're going to find something for her.
Now, having said that, places like that can get away with murder. They can sell lesser quality stuff trading on their name. Or they can sell more expensive stuff trading on their name. Or they can sell lesser quality more expensive stuff. Because, really, it's the Old Town School. And while I'd hate to give a great review based on the fact that you don't get screwed, that's largely what I'm doing.
Except they have a remarkable selection.
So, if Aunt Marge who needs a new acoustic banjo, you know where to go! -
Review from Bryan S.
Chicago, IL
7/11/2007
I was pretty disappointed with this place. They carry lots of really nice instruments made by the top manufacturers and some really good music, but I was always unhappy with the staff. I was just recently in the market for a new acoustic guitar (because I had just recently moved and the movers stole my old one) and I was relatively certain that I wanted to buy one from a smaller, more local shop. Every time I went into this shop, I would ask them if they had a "best bang for your buck" type guitar within my price range (they had many guitars within my price range) and they would try to sell me something $200-$300 more than I was willing to spend. This happened on four separate occasions. I finally got frustrated with these guys and I bought a guitar elsewhere. They do have a lot of nice stuff . . . perhaps the trick is not to ask any questions while shopping here. I would give them 2.5 stars if I could.
Update -
I think I gave these guys a bum review my first time around. I've visited this place on a few other occasions and I found the staff to be rather knowledgeable and friendly. I'm sorry Different Strummer. I underestimated your friendliness. -
Review from Ish Z.
Chicago, IL
5/28/2009
All kinds of instruments in here. Rentals for classes are nice. The hours aren't great but then again they probably don't see a whole lot of walk-ins. I like how you can actually walk right up to all the different strings they have and not having them behind the counter (I like to know the materials and string widths).
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Review from Anum A.
Morton Grove, IL
8/25/2005
Different Strummer has many instruments and instrument accessories as well. Not only that, but they give lessons for certain instruments for a lower price than many other places. Also, their employees are well trained and they have answers to all your questions.
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Review from J H.
Chicago, IL
2/16/2009
I started by renting a guitar here for my first lessons. At $55 a crack for 8 weeks, it made more sense to buy something. The staff was friendly and didn't mind helping a beginner like me. I didn't want to spend a lot (i.e. over $300) and was directed to a small collection of sold spruce-top guitars. I was left to play with them a bit and make my own decision. I ended up buying an Alvarez and they told me how to care for it. I didn't feel intimidated in this store like I had at more "hip" places or large chain store.
