Vic’s Drum Shop

Just a heads up, the parking stinks, leave plenty of time so you can drive around for a hour. Never made in the store. Very cool.

What a place. Now I’m not a drummer, but I took a 1928 Ludwig 14″ snare needing a new skin, in for repair. Perfect job done by professionals in a timely manor. And I got the tour of this amazing establishment from the owner himself, Victor Salazar. Five stars seem light. They deserve many more…

Can’t say enough about the service at Vic’s. I’ve shopped at multiple Guitar Centers in the Chicago area (poor to ok service), and the drum shop at Chicago Music Exchange (ok service) and neither compare to Vic’s. And not just in the service department. Vic’s is the biggest selection of drum gear you’ll find in the city (hell, probably in the state), and they usually beat everyone else on price as well.
I’ve dealt with Vuck and Sam personally and both were super helpful getting special orders and other not-​readily-​available gear for me. Vook and I had a long chat about Chicago hip-​hop and a mutual love of Coheed and Cambria. Really can’t say enough about Vic’s and they’re awesome employees. Thanks!

I love Vic’s Drum Shop!!! He always offers clinics with top drummers from a wide variety of backgrounds! The store is a functional interactive museum with everything on sale, specials are offered every month! I got the grand tour and everything is organized and easy to find. I’m confident after one tour, to walk in tomorrow and find what I’m shopping for. Anything you want to play, touch or look at is with in your reach and his friendly staff is wiling to be of service at all times! Vic is a Master Drummer and a Master drum store owner and manager. Report to him for all your drumming needs. Also, every room is sound proofed and is organized according to instruments, cymbals, precision, shells, ect.
I’ll be shopping here for all my percussion needs, they’ve got their stuff together nice!

I didn’t know what to expect from this place. It’s out of the way from wherever you are. There’s no storefront. I hadn’t heard of this place before.
Turns out it’s one of the biggest drum shops in the US. They have everything. Actually, that’s part of their philosophy — have one of everything so you can try everything before you buy.
One guy gave us a extensive tour, which was super fun. The dude was so stoked about drums. Excellent service. They were name dropping like crazy, apparently a lot of big names come in here and it sounds like they host clinics/​master classes on a monthly basis.
As a guy who plays vintage drums, this place isn’t exactly what I’m looking for. But, if you want to see the cool new stuff, this is the best spot.

Stopped by completely on a whim with my 10 year old who is interested in drumming. Vuck gave us a 45 minute fact-​filled tour of the store which is like a Disneyland of percussion. My daughter really loved the experience and I appreciated the time and effort on Vuck’s part to educate me who in the end has to pay for the drums. Didn’t give it 5 stars only because I don’t have anything to compare it to but if we choose to start drumming then I will definitely come back to make our purchase here.

I started drumming 14 months ago. Though a beginner, within a minute of walking in the place Vic introduced himself to me and Vuch took me on a tour. This is drummer heaven! No one is selling on commission; they are «advising on passion!» Though still a newcomer to this whole world, I felt welcome and invited. I could spend a lot of time here.
The quantity of items is overwhelming. All price ranges are represented. There are starter kits and there are top-​end professional kits going for many thousands of dollars. All of the showrooms are meticulously set up and soundproofed so that in the cymbal room or the snare room, you only hear what you are doing.
There are adjoining studios with drums set up so you can practice or try out a kit for as little as $ 5.00 an hour. All of the prices from sticks on up were fair and reasonable.
As I was leaving Vic shook my hand.
I gained an education. I gained some friends. I have a «connect» in the drum business. As they are such good guys, Vic and his staff deserve our support. Treat yourself and visit this «Temple of Drumming!»
Phil Prossnitz
Attorney-​at-​Law
Woodstock, Illinois

Saw Florian Alexandru-​Zorn put on a clinic here. So much great gear. They have one of everything there. Vic created something special.

By far, the best source for any products or advice for drums. They have a knowledgable staff and a huge variety of products. I will never go to a certain well-​known music chain again for my drum gear. Not to bad mouth those other guys, but you walk in those shops and you get sales people who clearly are just selling drum heads until they get famous. It feels good to walk in here and not think I’m just being sold gear because someone makes commission. Vic’s actually cares and they know what to recommend and why. Best drum shop ever.

Had a cab drive us out to Vic’s because it is a little out of the way, but worth every minute of the cabbies search. Staff is exceptional. Vic personally introduced himself, was given a tour by one of his employees, Phil, who really knows his stuff. Everyone who works there is a working musician/​percussionist so they can answer any and all of your questions.
Soundproofed rooms for trying out ALL of the equipment, (some things you never knew existed in the small percussion room), and the most beautiful selection I have ever seen. Largest Drum store in North America? I don’t doubt it.
Thanks for the ride back to the train Phil. Will definitely be back when we are in town.

This is a haven for drummers. The staff here is top notch and very helpful. The selection of snares, cymbals and drums was beyond any drummer’s wildest dreams.
I was able to set up drum lessons very last minute with Phil Brines, their head instructor, who was able to tailor to my special requests for two days while I was on vacation. Phil was able to get me going on Gary Chaffee’s Pattern book series, whom Phil was also trained under.
Phil also played the sales person as his expertise was very helpful in my purchase of a snare drum and hi hat. Coming to Vic’s is a MUST for all who are passionate in drumming, whether to learn or to meet your drum needs!

Just to let you know, I’m going to rave about Vic’s Drum Shop for this entire review. It’s the real thing. If you’re a drummer, you don’t need to go anywhere else but Vic’s. The selection is huge — drum kits, cymbals, gear, world percussion, and all kinds of accessories. Customer service is incredible. The staff is knowledgeable, patient, and helpful. They really take the time to get to know the kind of music you play so they can help you get what you need — whether you’re making a major purchase or just buying a new drum head.
A couple weeks ago, my band was rehearsing down the hall (Vic’s is part of the Music Garage rehearsal studios). In the middle of rehearsal, my hi-​hat foot plate broke off. We were paying for rehearsal time by the hour and I needed help, fast (unlucky for me, I didn’t have any tools with me that night). I took the hi-​hat stand into Vic’s and within five minutes they’d fixed it for me – all the while helping me figure out why the plate broke in the first place and how I could prevent it from happening again in the future.
Another reviewer described Vic’s as a «drummer’s paradise,» and a different reviewer said it’s a «drummer’s candy store.» Those comments are right on the mark. I’ve never seen a greater selection at a music/​drum store. And their customer service is the best I’ve ever experienced.

I discovered this shop when looking for a High Hat clutch. I’m a young drummer (19). I googled music shop and got a bunch of record shop. I then googled ‘drum shop’ expecting no results, as I thought we had no such thing, when I discovered Vic’s drum shop, much closer to my home than Guitar Center or Sam Ash, and what a selection. I have been there twice, and both experiences were to be remembered. I bought the nicest clutch I’ve ever owned, it never loosens up… I then visited the other day to pic up a 20″ bass drum batter head. I never really bought bass drum heads before, and the guy John was very helpful, pulling out all these heads and showing me the difference between all the pre-​muffled head. I ended up with a Clear 20″ Aquarian Super-​Kick 2
Felt like a kid in a candy shop, any Chicago drummer should visit this place

Vic’s seems to have been very thoughtfully created, with real attention to making the experience ideal. And they succeeded. It’s like a Drummer’s candy shop.
I went snare shopping last weekend, not even realizing that Vic’s is set up perfectly to do just that. They have a small sound proof room with maybe 5 or 6 snare stands set up and about… I dunno…50 snares for you to conveniently set up and compare against one another. I think that the awesomeness of the privacy component really helps… you don’t have to worry about who’s judging your chops or your selections – you get a quiet spot to compare a huge range of brands (Tama, Pearl, DW, Ludwig, Gretsch, Sonor… more), depths, and materials. awesome.
2 Rooms packed with cymbals. Wow. That is a pretty serious selection opportunity. I wasn’t really looking for new cymbals so I didn’t get really into the particular options they had provided, but I can only assume that all bases were covered. …how could they not be.
Theeen we went up to the drumset room. Selection and quantity was out of hand. So many drums. Pretty big room – probably the size of most locally owned music shops – and completely devoted to complete drum sets. Even had a couple of brands I was unfamiliar with (I have a gear obsession, so that’s saying something… I like to know what’s out there!). Selection was great (I gotta mention one kit… they had a maple DW kit with a mirror chrome wrap for $ 750. My first kit was a basswood pearl export that I bought for $ 720 or something ridiculous. …knowing that there are drums out there of this quality for this price… WHY DID I BUY AN EXPORT YARRRGH).
Anyway, that was the extent of my contact with the shop. Drummer’s paradise.
Should probably mention that they stole a Drum Pad employee who really knows his stuff. Good for Vic’s, because this guy is a real asset.
ALSO, apparently I met Vic without even realizing it. Extremely nice guy, obviously excited about drums, and knows his stuff. That’s who you want to be buying from, right?
I guess they also offer furnished and unfurnished practice space, as well as studio space! Great services to offer, if you ask me.
This kind of establishment seems really rare to me – it’s worth making an intentional effort to support its existence.

I’ve started writing this review several times, only to start over again because I want to be able to provide the same attention to detail and excellence that was delivered to me at Vic’s. In short, the amazing selection of products is only out done by perhaps one of the best customer service experiences I have received in any musical or retail environment. Given the astonishing selection of drum/​percussion equipment and accessories, this is no small feat.
It’s easy to lose an entire afternoon just playing with all of the toys in any one of the shop’s multiple. Regardless of one’s musical background, I’m fairly confident in saying that Vic’s is going to have what you need and then some.
Really though, the passion for drums and caring for their customers is why Vic’s is my new favorite musical shop in town. Vic seems to know every big name drummer in this country and beyond. Seriously. But it’s not that which impresses me the most. It’s the fact that he spent well over an hour of his time helping me put essentially $ 20 worth of random parts on my snare drum to help me get the sound I needed. I was actually so desperate in my search that I intended on buying a $ 500+ snare drum, only to have him postpone a meeting to work with me on my issue. Ultimately his amazing knowledge was the best solution. He even changed and tuned the head of my drum for me! The fact that I’m not a big name, but just a local jobber with small pockets was irrelevant to him.
Honestly, I could go on and on about how fortunate Chicago is to have both a great shop and a personable knowledgable staff running it. If you need anything from a simple cymbal felt to an entirely new kit, this is hands down THE place to go,

Stop reading reviews and GO TO VIC’S! Vic’s Drum Shop is a slice of drummer heaven. Cymbals, sticks, kits, heads, snares, pads, hand percussion, electronic kits and anything else I’m forgetting — they have it (or can ordert it). Victor, his staff, the selection, the layout of the shop, the drummers coming in and out, the overall atmosphere — second to none. If you’re a drummer, you will LOVE this place.
Also, Vic’s Drum Shop will put on drum clinics quite often. Stay up to date on when the next one is! You’ll get to see the best drummer’s in the world coming to Chicago. That should tell you all you need to know!

You won’t find a better selection, lower prices or friendlier staff anywhere else. I guarantee it. The showroom is jawdropping and you the largest cymbal selection I’ve ever seen. Vic’s really put together from a real love and passion for drums and hte drumming community and it shows. Don’t go anywhere else.

Vic’s is the only place to buy anything percussion related. Everyone that works there is knowledgable about every product they sell. Since they only sell percussion equipment, there is no chance you’ll get someone from a guitar department trying to sell you a drum kit (looking at you guitar center). They also have everything, so they probably have the weird part that you don’t know the name of. It’s great to see the owner in the shop every day, and he clearly loves what he does. Try and find that at a big box music store.

This is literally the best shop available with everything you can imagine for drums. Amazing staff, amazing facility, and amazing prices!

Wow! The place for drums and those that love knowledgeable and dedicated musicians. This place has it all, and a staff that understands you and the music. No place better!