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Old Town School Music Store

The Music Stores With A Mission

Services offered by the Different Strummer

Rentals
We offer instrument rentals to complement our classes. Some items are available for non-student rentals; call for details. Click here for rental program details.

Repairs
We can repair most anything. Bruce Roper is our long standing repair person, and you can link to his site here.

We also do in-house restrings, either overnight or while you wait if it is not too busy. Guitars, banjos, mandolins, violins, ukuleles; call for other instruments. Strap buttons can also be installed while you wait - in most cases.

For violin repair we recommend Paul Wargaski. He is a fine local builder and orchestral string repair person who also handles our fractional violin rentals. Visit his site here.

Mail Orders
Need something shipped? Visit our Ebay store or call is at 773-751-3398.

Tuning
Need help tuning? Bring it in! We like a challenge. If you like a challenge, check out this exhaustive alternate tuning guide (pdf).

Old Instruments
We have several options if you have an old instrument around the house that you no longer need.

  • Trade-in: We will value your instrument for trade in, so you can buy a new instrument.
  • Purchase: We may also make a cash offer for your item.
  • Donation: You may also donate your instrument for a tax deduction letter. We either find a great home for your instrument in the school or use the proceeds from donations to fund our financial aid program and other programs at the Old Town School.

Returns
Any instrument may be returned for a refund within 10 days of purchase, or exchanged within 30 days of purchase, provided it is in the same condition as when it left the store. Consignment, used items, mouth blown instruments and opened books/CDs/DVDs are not returnable.
Please note you may be charged a restocking fee on certain instruments that are returned.

Layaway
We do offer a layaway program. Generally, we require one-half down on the instrument, non-refundable, balance due in 30 days. Individual terms may vary, ask Tony!

Musical opinions
We offer a wide range of opinions on most musical topics, available for free every day.

 

Acoustic Guitars - Electric Guitars - Amplifiers - Banjos - Mandolins - Fiddles - Ukuleles - Keyboards - Woodwinds - Instruments from Around the Globe - Books - CDs - Hand Drums - Percussion - Rentals - Repairs

TWO LOCATIONS

Lincoln Square

4544 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, 773.751.3398

  • Mon - Thu, 10am - 9pm
  • Fri - Sun, 10am - 5pm
Lincoln Park

909 West Armitage Avenue
Chicago, 773.751.3410

  • Mon - Thu, 10am - 9pm
  • Fri - Sat, 10am - 5pm
  • Sun, 11am - 4pm

Click for directions.

Old Town School Recordings

We've got our very own recording label! Several CDs are now available featuring our talented teachers and other friends of the school. Available at Bloodshot Records, the iTunes Store, Amazon.com, and both of our Different Strummer music stores.

Click for more about Old Town School Recordings.

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Gift Certificates from Old Town School