Ax in Hand

Yes it is still in town but it’s not the Axe in Hand of your youth. I too remember climbing the decrepit stairs. The smell of old wood and cases. The vintage guitars on the walls. No, that Axe in Hand is long gone. Now it’s lower end budget guitars in a modern storefront across the road. I really miss the old shop. That was an amazing place. When the owner passed years ago his kids sold off all the good stuff and started over with gear aimed at the starter player.

Was in talks with the owner about buying a half-​stack. Price was steep and when went to test it out wasn’t working. To my knowledge the tubes were shot but it is tough to trust someone charging top dollar for something almost in an «as-​is» condition. When I became skeptical about the head I asked to purchase the cabinet instead and was greeted with a bit of a sour grapes type of attitude. The cabinet was then not for sale without purchase of the head. Owner is a good guy but that thing is going to collect dust without proper maintenance to sell it. Not going back anytime soon but not suggesting everyone avoid it.

We love Axe in Hand! We have been going there for many years. The young men that own it are honest and are so knowledgeable about the equipment they sell. We bought a electric guitar @ guitar center for our then 12 year old son. After driving an hour not once, but too many times for the guitar we bought with a warranty. We took it to Axe in Hand and they repaired it for free. They were local, they actually fixed it and they did it for free! Needless to say our son is now eighteen. in the last six years we have made Axe in Hand our place to go. We have bought a bass guitar, a drum set, anything that goes with these items. Also if they don’t have it They will hunt it down! All work has been done there. We have made friends and have shared many laughs. If you are looking for a place to shop where you will be treated the way you should. You need to go to Axe in Hand You Will Not be disappointed!

Holy shit — It’s still around?! That is awesome. I bought my first electric there (DeKalb) in 1975. A sweet Gibson SG Special cherry finish. I was in high school and they put it on layaway for me, letting me come in whenever I could to make payments and let me noodle around with it. Still one of the sweetest sounding guitars I’ve owned or played.
Staff was always friendly, helpful, and let me just kinda snoop and poke around.
Can’t tell you how cool it is that they are still around! 35+ years — they are doing something right! Two thumbs up!

I’ve bought a guitar, an effects pedal, and other random stuff from Ax in Hand, and had a guitar repair done there. Great staff. They’re very honest with used gear and repairs and don’t try to rip you off.
It’s a nice family-​owned store. I heard that they were the first guitar store in the Midwest to specialize in vintage gear. In their heyday, they were the go-​to place for that sort of stuff.
Which sorta leads me to my only complaint; I think their current inventory is just so-​so. It’s mostly mid and low range gear which is cool, just not stuff that I found particularly interesting or unique. And for a store that allegedly built their name on used gear, I wish they carried more of it. If you check in regularly, pretty sweet stuff comes in sometimes. They do have some really special guitars in the store, but they’re not on display, you have to ask.

This is one of the best places to get new, used and vintage guitars and Bass’ and equipment. Check this place out they have 2 location one in schaumburg on Wise Road and in DeKalb, Il on Rt.38 (lincoln Hwy).
These guys are the best, family owned by 3 brothers who took the store over from their dad. They know alot and rock.