Tobias Music

Years ago I was at Guitar Center shopping for my first acoustic and began mingling with another shopper. This guy obviously knew waaay more about guitars than I did. He leans over and whispers «Check out Tobias before you buy». It turned out to be excellent advice. I dont remember if there was a price difference between the two stores, but to be honest, it wouldnt have mattered. I was treated with such respect at Tobias that my decision was easy. I left there that night with a new Taylor and some new friends. I still love to stop in because the place is so nice and so inspiring. THIS is the place if youre looking for a guitar.

Great staff and great products!!! I would highly recommend this store to any acoustic musician in the area!!!

It is not often that you have nice people, great expertise and great prices, but that has always been my experience with these guys. I just had an old mandolin fixed for my son. They brought an expert in to look at it and only charged me a small amount. I had to leave a review after another great experience.

I love this store. Paul was so helpful. His Dad changed my guitar string. How refreshing to see a family business. I will be back.

What can you say that hasn’t already been said?
Ken and Paul are super personable and helpful and knowledgeable.
Their prices are respectable.
The store is newly remodeled and has expanded into the store next door! Absolutely beautiful.
Now if they could just level the ugly-​green chicken shack next door and make room for more parking… :)

My First Guitar — My boyfriend and I went to Tobias to pick out my first guitar. We had the best experience here! They truly listened to us and pulled several guitars for me to try out. They left me alone with the instruments for as long as I wanted, but were immediately available for any questions. No sales push, but plenty of good information. I chose the Air Lutherie Folk CW Cedar and I am in love with it! We will be back for future purchases. I highly recommend this place for an informed, enjoyable, buying experience.

Great store for all things guitar. Ken and Paul are some of the nicest guys in the business. Plus, they know their stuff. If you are looking for a great guitar, at a great price and want to be treated exceptionally well, look no further than Tobias Music!

Stopped in here on a recent Saturday to check out the selection of Martins and Taylors as well as used guitars. Had my own Taylor along for a possible trade-​in depending on what I found. They have a nice selection of used guitars in very good shape and fairly priced. Their stock of Martins and Taylors (as well as Santa Cruz) is incredible including some beautiful custom instruments. Anyone with $ 3−5K to spend would feel like a kid in a candy shop. That, sadly, is not me. BUT… and, for me, this is the best part… You don’t have to have that kind of budget to find a great quality instrument here and TO BE TREATED WITH COMPLETE RESPECT by owners, Ken and Paul Tobias. They pointed me in the direction of some high quality instruments at lower prices. They were available and helpful but also let me take my time trying out the instruments, finding the right one for me, and making my decision. In the end, they gave me a fair price on trade-​in on my Taylor, and I have two new guitars (neither Martin nor Taylor!) that I am thrilled with!
I will be returning here for any service needs on my guitars from here on out as well as when I’m ready to purchase something new. These guys know their stuff. They are down-​to-​earth, kind, and respectful.
Thank you, Tobias Music, for a wonderful guitar-​buying experience!

Great guitar shop! Best customer service I’ve ever seen in a music store. Ken and Paul really know their stuff and their low pressure, friendly approach made new guitar shopping a really awesome experience. Bought a new Taylor here after visiting about every other dealer in the Chicago area, and I’ll be back for any future purchases. Great prices too.

I brought my guitar here to be fixed, and received the best service ever! They actually weren’t able to fix my poor guitar, but I feel they went above and beyond what I would have expected from a guitar shop. When I’m ready to replace my broken guitar, this will definitely be my first stop!

Was here for the first time last night, buying my child her first guitar. What an amazing experience. Founder Ken and son Paul are incredibly personable and helpful. No hard-​sell, no up-​sell. We found a beautiful Walton guitar at a reasonable price. We ended up staying another 45 minutes just chatting, and checking out the newly acquired and remodeled space in back. Tobias also has an all-​star lineup of teachers. I would come back here in a heartbeat!

Helped a friend buying his first good guitar and stumbled upon this place. Guitars were well set up and maintained. Prices were fair. Not a huge selection but they had several excellent guitars. My friend ended up returning and buying a great Taylor guitar.

This is a great store. I’m not a musician but I’ve purchased gifts here, and I’m totally impressed by the friendliness of the staff and the general good vibes the place gives off. I hope to have the opportunity to shop here again.

Father and son owners Ken and Paul Tobias are just the best. They carry the finest Martins and Taylors, but this is also the place to take your kid for their first acoustic. The Art & Lutherie guitars are about the only all-​wood (not composite) entry-​level ones you can get anymore — I’ve sometimes played my daughter’s more than my own Martin. The shop is not large, which works great, unlike at big box stores where you have to compete with the sounds of shredding. No pressure, just friendly, knowledgeable service.

I have been in a lot of music stores in Illinois and other states. There is nothing else like Tobias. Paul and Ken Tobias’ comfy and functional shop is the confluence of quality, great service, and fair pricing. If you need something done to your guitar or you need any accessory — you wont’ be «nickeled and dimed» here.
Tobias music’s cornerstone is built on trust and fairness. It’s the perfect balance of keeping the pressure off of you when you’re shopping — but providing prompt answers and service exactly when needed. From my experience, I highly recommend their repair services (I had a 1964 twelve-​string successfully rebraced), and their pickup installations. The latter are always completed in a cosmetically and acoustically flawless manner.
Whether you’re a beginner (they have some really nice Waldens here) or seasoned guitarist (see the Santa Cruz, Taylor and Martin models) — there’s something here for you. I’m pleasantly mystified by how many guitars they can fit in this place. And they always have something interesting and exotic to show you.
I learned of this shop about 3 years ago. I only wish I’d have known 20 years sooner.