The Drum Pad

Happily retired and CLOSED after decades. Good job.
No idea where to tell you go to for drums now, not my arena but this was an excellent shop.
I had friends from around the country fly through Chicago and drive out not to visit me, just to visit the Drum Pad. Best Wishes.

I was very impressed with The Drum Pad on my first visit today! Dan was very helpful and fixed my drums on the spot. They also are very fair with pricing. Now I know where to go when I upgrade my son‘s drums. Customer service and knowledge is top notch at this place.

Have been going here sporadically for about ten years. Came in today to get my double bass pedal repaired and new beaters added. Great customer service and staff. No pressure in sales.

This store is like a candy store for drummers. You won’t believe how much money I spent here when my son was in junior high and high school.

OK, so Guitar Center — bad place. Let’s put it this way and into short terms, I bought a drum set from guitar center years and years ago when I first started playing. In 8^th grade, I bought the worst piece of crap I’ve ever put money into. Basically the kit’s lugs and nuts got stripped, and the entire kit became impossible to tune/​play on. I was tired of it; I went to guitar center and they said they’d order the parts — they never did. I was so fed up, that I went to my friend and he let me try out his Mapex kit. He let me try it out, I fell in love and he told me to go to «the drum pad» in palatine. I go there, and I was immediately shocked by all of the crap they had in the store. It was a wet dream in a drummer’s world — really. So I went over the kits and prices and colors with the guys in the store. They ordered me my Mapex Pro M fusion kit for me. I got it in 2 weeks — and I fell in love.
Now, fly back with your delorean into recent times (today for example.) I have gone back numerous times; I literally bought heads (which they always have in stock) for my bass drum. I had to get «O» rings for them, for my live and studio recording time. They were not only happy to place the «holes» in my drum head for me, but they didn’t charge for service. Which actually — is amazing. The knowledge these guys have at the store, and the service is the best I’ve ever had. I’ve literally bought bass drum heads and come in with them, and they still put a «hole» in there for me. Great service, great staff, will order for you, and best of all — great store. Really, if you’re a drummer, don’t go to guitar center where they rip you a new one. This store will be the only place you visit — period.

I am not a drummer. I have spent many hours at The Drum Pad.
The customer service here is quite possibly some of the best I have ever encountered. Victor, a mainstay employee (has very long, beautiful hair) is incredibly helpful. He also will order pretty much anything you need and knows the instrument catalogs inside and out.
If you are a novice or experienced drummer, or have a kid that wants to take up the drums, go to the Drum Pad. You’ll get a lesson in equipment, a great selection of choices, and you’ll leave with a great big smile on your face (even if you weren’t the one who wanted to go there in the first place!)