Chicago Music Store — Local services in Tucson

The Chicago Store in Tucson and I go back very far in time. At age twelve I purchased my first guitar there, but not my last. By now, many decades later, I've purchased several saxophones, saxophone mouthpieces, an upright piano, one bass clarinet, two drum sets, two accordions, various amplifiers, and a plethora of music books and multiple accessories--all of it top quality musical equipment.

When I was twelve the store was just west of Fox Theater on Congress Street, although this was not it's original location in the Old Pueblo. I knew the late owners, Phil and Joe, since those distant days when I purchased my first guitar and saxophone. Then sometime in the mid- or late-sixties the store relocated to the southwest corner of Congress and Sixth Avenue and drove a thriving business in southern Arizona, northern Mexico, and supplied Tucson's public schools with rental instruments.

Time brings many changes and the store has moved again. It now sits across Sixth Avenue from the decades-old location. The quality of the musical instruments and friendly assistance haven't changed over time, regardless of relocation. The store now sits across Sixth Avenue and about 100 feet south of where the giant location stood not long ago.

I once read that Chicago Store was the largest music store in America, with many famous names stopping by to shop, and I've never seen a larger store, although I've lived in nine states and several large cities, including New York City. If you're a musician, shopping at Chicago Store is a must, because their prices are very fair and there's nothing they can't get for you very quickly, assuming they don't have it in stock at the moment.

The east side location, on East Speedway Boulevard, has more instruments and just about all the printed music you'll ever need. Joe's son, Mark, whom I remember seeing with his dad since he was about eight or so, is the proprietor of the downtown location. His expertise is wide-ranging when it comes to musical equipment and there isn't much he doesn't know. If you're a musician, regardless of age, it's very worthwhile availing yourself of this musical resource in the heart of downtown Tucson...

(I just read some of the raunchy reviews, which in my honest opinion the store, in any of its incarnations, doesn't deserve. I've never experienced anything negative in this store since first going there at age twelve. Good luck finding a better store with better...

So I returned to Tucson after 20+ years and a lot has changed. Chicago music store skimmed down from the corner brick and mortar super store to a scaled down Store front and that’s just fine. And the staff pleasant enough.

I was in the market for a telecaster and they had a few that looked promising. I picked one up and reached in my pocket for a pick, and shockingly, had none.

I asked the associate for a pick who said “sorry, no picks are allowed.”

Let that sink in. This wasn’t a vintage, artist owned, custom painted or even an American telecaster. It was a MIM standard and they wouldn’t let me play the guitar with a pick. I laughed at first because I thought he was joking but then I saw they actually had a SIGN stating no picks. They were dead serious and were trying to sell guitars without letting guitarists pick at them.

2 stars for surviving the online wars and guitar center and the nice guy who was embarrassed at this obvious bizarro policy but who tried to sell it to me by telling me I could plug it in to an amp. yeah that’s like trying to sell me a tv with the sound muted. Naw bro, I’m good...

I just moved from Nashville where my local music shop had a 68 Gibson j45 that I played like I owned it because as they said when I first inquired about the guitar and cost (6 grand), “play it. That’s why it’s there.”

Cmon on. You’re damn near a Tucson institution for gear. Policies like that alienate musicians and nothing more. I don’t even wanna know what happens if you wanna try to play the drums... Jazz sticks and a timer no doubt.

Ugh. Someone correct me and tell me that was a prank on me or something dumb they only did...

update* mark the owner reached out immediately following the review and explained what had happened with a mix up, he told me to bring the saxophone in right away. Within a few hours of having returned the saxophone I got a call back saying it was ready. And indeed this time the saxophone was cleaned and repaired as I was expecting. A+ customer service.

Really unfortunate experience. Took my Alto saxophone in to be serviced and cleaned. Was initially told right off the bat it would cost 2500$ and was better off just buying a new one. Shocked, I explained it played pretty well and only needed a few pads replaced. After the saxophone was inspected I was told its in pretty good shape and it could be done for 150$.. 2 days later I got a call letting me know my saxophone was ready to be picked up. I went and grabbed it and without inspecting it, paid for it and came home. Upon opening it, I was a little worried to find my reeds down in it, some empty reed plastics (trash still in it). I started looking it over and was pretty sad to see it was minorly cleaned, the only cork I can find that was replaced is over sized. The pads we discussed replacing and cleaning are neither. Another cork doesn't even contact the key in which its supposed to hold down. The mouthpiece cork never had grease put on it. Ive called back and asked about a work order or bill in what was done to the saxophone and am waiting for that to be emailed, as they generally don't document work performed. Ive called 2 other stores and explained what work needed to be done and both have come in sub 200$. Please shop around before entertaining...