My son started double bass with his school orchestra, and wanting to practice at home, we decided to rent an instrument to try it out. A440 was exceptional at explaining (over the phone and in person) their store credit for rentals system. They presented us with an excellent introductory double bass at a parent friendly rental price. Also, we had a nice experience visiting the shop and seeing several vintage double basses! Thanks A440 read more

A 440 Violin Shop - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They did such a good job repairing my violin we found when moving my mom into her new house, it was broken and needed so much extra love, I asked them to turn it into a wall hanger so it's beauty could be respected. They made it look playable too and I cannot get over how good they did. This is my new shop I will go to, and it's so convent for me too being about 5 mins away from my work! I will continue talking my violins here, I have 2 in my collection that I actually play so this was a fun thing to have to just have in my collection since it was a strad copy were not fully sure where it even came from. 20/10 reccomend. read more

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I really liked this place. The people are knowledgeable and down to earth. I went to buy a sponge for my daughter's violin. The people there helped her understand how to attach it. Good service, good selection and good people. read more

We stopped by to drop off my daughter's violin for repair. What a great feeling when you walk in. If you like string instruments, this is a fantastic place. The staff knew that business very well. They took the time to look up the make of my daughter's violin and show us the maker's profile. I was very impressed that they took the time to have that information. read more

A 440 Violin Shop - Front entrance counter. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Truly amazing! And I cannot recommend them enough! They took a violin in such disrepair and made it look like absolute perfection 10/10

This place is absolutely wonderful. The people that work there are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. They do rentals and sales- give it a try. read more

1st off I would like to say, if you want down to earth family brick and motor type relationship LOOK NO FURTHER!! Not only did I get the DB of my dreams I became better educated and stuffed by the awsome lunch provided by the owners...they made a lasting impression on me and reinforced my core beliefs..people are good. Thanks. I'm buying next time guy and thank you guys much. Sincerely Blaine J. O'Neil read more

A 440 Violin Shop - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Our favorite string shop in Chicago! Always knowledgeable and kind, never snooty or hard to get ahold of. We love their bass repair. Yumi is so nice and has helped us out of a few jams in there bass ER for such reasonable prices. When I went to Semans, they were really reluctant to let me try the violins unless I gave them a price range, and they made me feel uncomfortable. At 440, I'm always encouraged to try whatever I want, "because the instruments want to the be played." Perfect gorgeous people. read more

Michael and his staff at A 440 are amazing. I have been renting a violin from A 440 for my son for the last school year. They are friendly, easy to work with, have reasonable rental prices and offer great support. Parking in their area is easy to find and free! They have been very accommodating with our rental agreement, allowing me to extend our rental slightly to match my son's school year. I couldn't be happier. I have and will continue to recommend their services to all! read more

I took 2 violins in for some general repairs and were very pleased with the results. The shop promised me they'd both be ready within 6 days. I called at 5 days and they said the violins were ready for pickup. I am satisfied with the professional service and reasonable pricing. I would definitely return to this store if I need any repairs. read more

I recently visited A440 after discovering a crack in the top plate of my violin under the chin rest. I was worried it would take a week or two to repair and be expensive but it wasn't and they had my violin back to me within a few days! I also got the worn out thumb grip on my bow replaced and when I got home I discovered they had used a snakeskin leather instead of your typical plain black. I was surprised and pleased that they gave this extra attention to detail! The new thumb grip matches the coloring of my bow and instrument and I can tell it's more durable. It's a small upgrade that I appreciate! I will definitely be back for any future repairs and shopping. read more

What a lovely shop . . the beautiful cellos and violins create such an old world atmosphere. And Andrew could not have been more welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. A truly delightful (and informative) experience for a neophyte musician. And for the advanced musician, this has got Ro be a great place to talk shop. Truly, a gem for all your musical needs. I am adding 5 extra stars read more

(I'm officially going to feel old with this next intro. However, I--like time--must march on. . . ) When I was younger, there were lots of shops like this. Back in the day, I would take my fiddle to a local guy named Lazlo Pinter (R.I.P.) he was old, eccentric, and he had a lovely shop. His cat used to curl up in my violin case while he did minor repairs while I waited, and I think that speaks volumes about the vibe of his shop. He died more than a few years ago, and I recently decided to get my fiddle seriously tuned up. While there is no shop cat there is every bit of charm in this store. The owner; Ms. Roberta Guastafeste is charming, 82 years old, and routinely goes hiking to places like Patagonia and the Andes. Which more than makes up for the lack of a cat in my view. After all, good chit chat and reparté--like the craft of violin making--needs appropriate conservation if you ask me. As for the service, I had a major overhaul done on my 100 year old fiddle here and I was blown away by the quality of the service. Their in-house luthier; Mr. Koo Young Chung got the action and intonation of my fiddle dialed in perfectly. Additionally, he's crotchety and has a wonderful sense of humor. Musicians and luthiers tend to be eccentric by inclination (default?) and it's nice to see that there are still places in Chicago where the people stay true to this fundamental part of the scene. In the end, this is a wonderful shop, with a top notch luthier, excellent customer service, and a staff that's as good to chat with as they are to shop with. Brava! read more

I've been going to A440 since 1999 when I purchased my first student-level instrument. I also bought the professional-level instrument I currently play at A440. The owner, Bobby (Roberta Guastafeste), has always been very welcoming and knowledgable - not to mention a great character. Additionally, Bobby was a world-class cellist and knows her instruments well. Whether you're joining their rental program, investing in your first instrument, or looking for a a professional level instrument, this is one of the best resources in Chicago by far. They also flawlessly repaired a very devastating crack in my cello. Also has great atmosphere and that classic violin shop smell of aged wood. read more

My daughter is taking orchestra in high school this year, and has decided upon the cello. Since I've only played the piano and a couple of wind instruments, I know next to nothing about the needs of string instrument players. However, it was clear from the first day she brought her cello home to practice that we needed something to keep it from slipping on our hardwood floor. So, my daughter found out that there's a gadget called a pin holder that does just that. The problem was: where to buy it on a Saturday afternoon? I knew that finding supplies for an orchestral sting instrument from a brick and mortar store might be tough. I called the Old Town School of Folk Music, since I have come to rely on their helpful advice in so many instrument-related situations, and though they didn't have what I was looking for, they pointed me to A 440. A 440 is a small music shop that caters to the needs of string instrument musicians and students. I called and they knew exactly what it was I needed, and told me they carried a variety of them. Fantastic! Within an hour, I had the object that will make my daughter's cello practice time less slippery. On the package, it's called the "Best-Way Non-Skid Rubber End Pin Holder" and it also says, "Relax While You Play". Thanks, A 440, for being not downtown or in the suburbs and open on a Saturday afternoon. My daughter will let her classmates know that they can get their string instrument supplies from you! read more

I traveled from Texas to view some fine instruments at A440 that were being sold on consignment. This place is the real deal. I found Roberta/Bobbie to be very helpful, knowledgable and honest as well as delightful. She listened to what I was looking for, showed me what she had in stock, and gave me good advice. She also understood that I had a budget to adhere to and she was very respectful regarding the amount I could spend. Keep in mind that the instruments they sell are quality instruments and therefore you can expect to pay quality prices. I am looking forward to my next trip to Chicago because I will surely stop by A440. I am a very happy customer and am beyond pleased with the purchases I made at A440. Also, this is the first music/instrument store that I have been to where I was not ignored as a woman. Many female musicians can attest to the fact that often times music stores cater to the male clientele while ignoring female customers, guitar shops often being the worst offenders. At A440, the vibe was completely different. There were male and female customers at the time I was there and as far as I could tell, all of us were being treated with the same amount of respect and all of us were acknowledged as fellow musicians. I felt very much at home at A440 and it was a thrill to shop among so many beautiful instruments, strings being the main focus of this store. If you are looking for something specific (i.e. hammered dulcimer, recorder, viola da gamba) give A440 a call because they might just have what you need on consignment. P.S. How honest are they? The instruments I happened to be interested in were on consignment from a religious order of Catholic sisters. If the sisters do business with A440, that's a pretty strong recommendation regarding the integrity of A440s business practices. read more

I took Babygirl to be measured for her violin and we had an excellent experience. "Grandma" Bobbi measured her, took the time out to get to know Babygirl and just made sure we had a very positive experience. Babygirl's pretty enthusiastic to begin violin lessons, and working with A 440 has added even more to her excitement. read more

Yes, those student violins are pretty shabby. Agreed. Then again, student violins = kids who probably aren't really serious so spending a lot of money early on is pointless. I think it would be nice to say it's my violin that sounds like garbage vs. my technique. Anyway, the staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. You can try out whatever they have, even if they know you can't afford it hah. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but it's definitely not a corporate business either. It's a woman's house I believe, and she's really nice. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Needed some repairs on my cello and they did it for the quoted price in the time stated.

Have been a loyal customer for over a year now. I currently rent a viola and I am truly satisfied with my experience with A440. The customer service is very good and welcoming. They truly care about their customers and their instruments. I can call anytime during their working hours and Andrew or Michael always finds away to help me with needs. They also give very fair prices and are very understanding and negotiable. My highschool has been working with A440 for a very long time. I highly recommend this place to anyone with any sort of experience with a string instrument! read more

New to the classical music scene I was worried I would be totally overwhelmed going into A440 with a new violin for a consultation but Andrew was beyond helpful and honest. He gave us multiple options (money-wise which was really helpful!!!) and broke it down in a simple way that even a violin newbie like me could understand. They seem to have everything you'd need here including very informative/knowledgeable staff - I'll definitely be back for anything violin-related thank you!! read more

I only went in for a minor repair and was nervous about the cost since I'm a novice cellist and wasn't sure what to expect. I was greeted by a lovely older lady who attended me right away. The peg for the D-string wasn't sticking and the fine tuners were extremely tight. I imagined it would be a lot of work and very costly, but to my surprise, it was a quick fix and a tiny fee for a new string I needed too! I left very happy and satisfied. Will come here again :) read more

I have rented violins twice for this location for my son and I will always go back. The service is great and they are affordable compared to other rental places. Insurance comes with your rental and they are very nice about repairs. They will automatically charge my credit card, so I never have to worry about the payment. People are friendly and welcoming!! read more

My daughter has broken the scroll on her viola and I was looking for a place for repair however we were only in Chicago for a short vacation. Luckily, we found Michael through Yelp. Thanks for his speedy, reliable, and reasonable service. We will definitely return when my daughter needs an upgrade or service. read more

Been a customer of A440 for nearly 3 years. They were referred to us by my daughter's violin teacher. Cost to rent violin n insurance is reasonable, very friendly n accommodating upon adjusting violin. There are other shops closer to our home but, the service provided and price is well worth the travel into the city. read more

I went in today to buy strings and they had exactly what I needed - Dominants and a Pirastro E string. I also bought a rubber practice mute for $4. They were friendly and quick and I liked the homey feeling of the shop. I have no idea about the quality of their instruments or anything else, but for North siders who need good quality accessories, it seems great! read more

I had my 150 year old French Violin serviced by Mr. Chung (new bridge and sound post). My violin sounds warmer and better than ever. I'm very happy with it, I will continue using this luthier as long as I'm in Chicago. On a different occasion I bough an expensive German bow from them, I played it for a couple of days and changed my mind about the purchase. I went back to A440 and they returned the bow with a full refund no questions asked. My husband bought a Cello case from them and they even gave him a discount by training in his old one. No complains about the quality of the services I have received from them, they are always friendly and try to be as helpful as they can be. Update: I have continued to use A440 for the past two years for all my violin repairs and maintenance needs and they have never disappointed me with the quality of their work. I have also acquired multiple violin bows from them, which are a dream to play. I highly recommend them. read more

I was looking for a good quality student bass, and had heard about a440 from Jason Heath's podcast. I was able to find a beautiful and good quality instrument here, and I cannot recommend this place highly enough. The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, and the instrument was exactly what I wanted. I will definitely be back in the future read more

My mother-in-law was visiting from out of town and wanted to bring a violin she was considering buying into a violin shop to get a professional opinion. I felt a uneasy about asking someone to give up their time for no benefit on their end. Thus, I couldn't believe how nice Greg and the other guy working that day were. They spent a generous amount of time checking the violin out and giving their honest opinions on it. Great knowledge, great service, genuine kindness. I also play the violin and will be returning to A440 next time I need a service. Thanks so much you guys! read more

This place is a total SCAM. Do not go here. They sell fakes. They give you a verbal guarantee that you can return your purchase and either get your money back or more because of appreciation. This is not true. I have shown my violin to multiple professionals who all agreed that I was sold a fake. If I could, I would give them 0 stars. They also have made relationships with some teachers in the Chicagoland area who refer unsuspecting students here. Please think twice and be aware before you make a purchase. read more

As a professional, I've found A440 to be a great resource for my needs. I've bought a fine bass, bow and many sets of strings from them and have had a good experience each time. I've also recommended them to my students, and Mike went so far as to bring instruments out to one student's house for trial. The shop is owned and managed by a professional cellist and her pro musician son in law. Good people. read more

This violin shop is very poor. The inside of the shop looks like a disaster. It may be in an easy location for Chicago North-siders, but their student violins are in awful shape. The service is also terrible. They chewed me out three times in 20 minutes about the same thing for something we did not even do. I am an adult and I do not appreciate that kind of rudeness. They are crabby and there is no attempt at customer service whatsoever. Their violin always sounded squeaky - like a very low-quality student violin.. Our violin teacher recommended Midwest String Rentals at 220 S State St. It is downtown, yes, but just off the red line subway. They have excellent customer service, and I cannot believe the difference in sound quality between their student violins and A440's. They replaced our strings for free, and they actually have expert violin makers as part of their staff. Also, a good percentage of the cost of our rental violin will be applied to the cost of a purchased violin when we decide to do so later this year. Another store which has a good reputation and is on the North side of Chicago, so accessible by car (and is not far from A440) is Old Town School of Folk Music. Don't go to A440, unless it's just a quick trip inside to buy a shoulder rest or the like. read more

This used to be a great shop, and I'm hoping it will be again. There in October 14 for new strings. Poor job plus left my violin sitting out on the counter--on top of its case--for most of the day, I assume. Months later I am still correcting the windings that were done. The owner, who always did such a fabulous job, was not around. Did the store change hands? read more

I had a bad experience with dishonesty at A440. They misplaced the paperwork for my daughter's violin, which we had rented to own and then paid off (the same day we rented to own my older daughter's violin, of which they had a record). When I went to exchange our little one's for a larger size, they looked endlessly for their own records, and then, unable to find them, only credited me for half the value of the violin we'd first rented and then bought. Even though they recognized the violin, case, and tags, as their own. I was with my child, tired and slightly distracted after a long day, and also dropping off another instrument for repair, so wasn't paying as close attention as I apparently should have been (also I trusted that they were honest). When I returned home and chatted with my husband, he was baffled that they had charged me $240 for the new violin. He called them to ask why they'd credited us only half what the violin was worth and they first argued that equity doesn't count (?) and then had no answer. He returned and they refunded part but not all of the difference - because it was their fault/mistake. I found this deeply irritating and also humiliating, but I thought I'd let it go since they refunded the difference when my husband argued it. Then today, looking through receipts I noticed that on the first dishonest bill - when they charged me the additional $240 for the new violin (which should have been free, as a trade in of equal value), they also doubled the tax they should have added to that bill. So another dishonest and, in my opinion, advantage-taking gesture. If you plan to do business here, be very very careful when you check out. read more

Agree with the 11/13/17 poster regarding her experience at A440. Be wary of this place. They are not on the up and up and you can feel it throughout your buying/consultation process. Check your receipt! Get second opinions regarding work that they suggest be done to your instrument. Check your receipt! There is one guy there who seems to be a bit more honest but....there is one guy there who literally looks at you the way a shark looks at a piece of meat and you can see the wheels turning as to how he's figuring out how to sell you every expensive thing under the sun! They overcharged me for work done (that I should have gotten a second opinion on but again...it's a violin shop..who thinks they are going to get scammed!) then I found they messed up my instrument upon pick up and it hasn't been right since then...all the while trying to sell me a $1000+ instrument along with a $400+ bow. Be wary. read more

We live in Western Illinois and were in search of a good violin for our son. We received instruments from many places. But Mike at A440 went above and beyond to serve our needs. He went so far as having a violinist play the instruments while I listened through the phone. He hand picked a beautiful instrument and very nice case. It was delivered to our home in Macomb (300 miles from Chicago) the next day!! I cannot say enough about the customer service Mike provided!! Please give A440 a try. read more

I've been taking my violin to A 440 for the past few months, and I've been nothing but impressed with how Michael and his staff have taken care of my violin. Quickly diagnosed and fixed a sound post issue which made my fiddle sound infinitely better; and they were very patient fitting me with a new chin rest that makes all the difference in the world as far as comfort. Excellent all-around customer service with reasonable prices. Wish I had known about this place sooner, but I'll be taking my violin to this shop for years to come. read more