Dont be put off by the quirky appearance of the store! They are focused on producing the best sound from any stringed instrument. Ive been going there for 8 years for my daughters cello needs. The quality of their cellos and bows is superior. They are also able to repair damage, re-hair bows, and order cases and supplies. The owner, Ken Stein, is a perfectionist, in regards to making every string instrument sound and look its best.

We have bought all of our instruments here, along with accessories. Paul is the best when it comes helping you choose an instrument and Mr. Stein helps keep the instruments working. Wouldnt go anywhere else👌👍

Great service.

Really outstanding shop, I got my player grade cello, bow, and case from here two years ago and I couldnt be happier. Not only are their products of incredible quality, their help with everything was outstanding. From the rent to buy policy to taking the cello and bow home to make sure it was the right fit, it helped me end up with a perfect fit (My cello easily sounds as good as cellos 3 to 4 times the price!). Kenneth is also as kind and helpful as can be, he has repaired a fingerboard pop, back seam opening and stuck sound post all free of charge over the past two years. This is the only shop I would consider doing business with, thanks guys!

Paul was incredibly pleasant and knowledgeable. He was also super helpful when we got lost. Loved the early morning availability.

Very good Food

Amazing! My daughter is starting at a music institute later this year and we were looking for a professional-level instrument. While every other shop in Chicago-land simply saw dollar signs as we walked in the door, Ken worked with us to get us what we needed at a fair price. After visiting just about every shop in Chicago-land, it was refreshing to find a shop that had our best interests in mind and worked hard to find us a wonderful instrument. This will be the only shop we will use from now on. Thank you so much Ken!

Ken and staff are professional, helpful, and courteous. My daughter started with the rental program with the option to use a percentage of rental payments toward a new violin purchase. Great program and quality instruments. We thank her violin teacher for guiding us to Kens shop. Our family highly recommends this business.Daddy Dave approved!

Paul and Ken both bent over backwards to make the violin we were interested in buying much easier to play. I had brought in another violin that is much easier to play, and Paul had it analyzed and quickly figured out what it was. Ken shaved down the neck and adjusted the fingerboard. He replaced two of the strings. He gave us a discount. He tracked down exactly who made the violin. We also got a letter stating the value of the violin for insurance purposes. His entire staff was helpful. What a great experience!

I couldnt be happier with the work done by Kenneth Stein and his colleagues in Elmhurst. He cut a new bridge for my cello recently and adjusted the soundpost; the ringing notes on the instrument are now like bells. Its amazing. Ken also helped me select the best strings for my cello. Hes previously done minor work on my instrument but I was splitting my time between his and another store that was closer to me; Ill never bring my cello anywhere else now! Thanks to Kenneth Stein Violins!

I am a professional cellist and have been performing and teaching for over 15 years. I have always had an excellent experience working with Ken and all the staff at his violin shop! He is very fair and honest and knows how to make an instrument sound its best. He also has a great collection of fine bows. I send my students to him for their rental instrument because he has the best rentals available in town. It makes a big difference for a student to have a decent instrument to play on. Kens ability to set up an instrument to work well and sound its best is top notch! He also offers a great deal on getting some credit towards he purchase of an instrument for rental payments.

Highest quality stringed instruments and service in the greater Chicago area.

Very knowledgeable, have amazing violins and cellos and accessories. Make sure to make an appointment though, that isnt super clear from their website

I have purchased a total of 4 violins from Kenneth Stein Violins. Prior to purchasing, I rented from Kenneth Stein Violins. Mr. Stein and his team have always been willing to work within my price range to provide instruments that both my daughter and my daughters teachers have found to be quality instruments.A few years back, my daughters violin was accidentally destroyed. Ken worked with us to make sure we had a loner, completed the necessary insurance information and then worked with us to purchase a replacement violin -- all over the Thanksgiving weekend.When my daughter changed teachers, the new teacher felt it best to play a 3/4 size violin rather than the full size we owned, so once again Kenneth Stein worked with us to make it happen.If anything happened to any of our violins, Kenneth Stein quickly fixed the issue. If the issue were to take more than 24 hours, a loner was always given to us. Most of the time, we spend an hour at Starbucks and the work is complete.I have always been very happy with the service, knowledge and attention to detail at Kenneth Stein Violins. I highly recommend.

Our family has 3 instruments from Ken Stein--we own two violins and rent one cello. I am most impressed with his willingness to listen to and work with young musicians. My eleven year old daughter just graduated to a 3/4 size violin and after trying 5 or 6 instruments chose one, but with some reservations. Ken listened to her comments and took the time to make adjustments to her satisfaction, and encouraged her to come back for more once she got to know her instrument. Similarly, my seven year old son is playing on a rental cello, and Ken made adjustments to his 1/4 size instrument to improve the sound to my sons ear. I am grateful for the attention he gives to young musicians. We are certainly not his most valuable clients, yet he treats us like we are, and we appreciate that.

I always recommend Stein violins. The rentals are the best I know. Ken personally cares that any given student have an instrument that will allow him or her to develop a beautiful tone. He will not sacrifice quality for profit and runs his business with the good of the community as first priority.

Ken, is the owner and Luthier of the place and personally maintains all the instruments. We had very nice experience since they have details of all the instruments in their possession. They are detail oriented and great customer relations.

Ken does very good repairs and restorations, and has a very comprehensive knowledge of violin making and identification. I think what he does best that most people dont realize is working with students/players, their parents, and their teacher to get them the best possible instrument for their price range.

They were able to fix my daughters cello

I am a long-time customer of Kenneth Stein Violins.....more than 30 years. Ken has done major work on my viola as well as the usual maintenance of the instrument and bows. He is a dedicated, accomplished craftsman with a great commitment to fine work for the benefit of instruments and their owners. I am grateful to have access to his shop and all the fine services it offers.

While Ken does excellent work, if youre a young professional or a professional and actually need your instrument, I would suggest that you go somewhere else. Ken has much difficulty keeping to a schedule and over the past 4 years has not once returned a violin to me on the date he promised. Im sorry to say that we are moving our business elsewhere.

I am a professional cellist living and teaching in Chicago. Ken sold me a beautiful cello recently, and his customer service was excellent. Highly recommended.

I rented a violin from here and I purchased one. They have an amazing policy where some of the money you use to rent goes to purchasing your new violin, up to $1000. I was able to get my first violin to own from here and it is a beautiful Strad model by W.C. Ehrmann from 1902. It was a little rough around the edges until Ken touched it up for me. They are super patient and are very helpful when you are trying to find your perfect violin and bow, and give you a variety of options in your price range.

Simply the best. fair, honest, professional and compassionate. everything the professional or serious musician could want.

The best string instrument shop and repair, for beginners and experienced players.

I went in to get a string replaced on my violin and the girl said they didn’t carry the strings I had. She went to get an opinion from the guy in the back and he came out to help. He told me what string he recommended but he refused to touch my violin to put the string on because it had a crack. I said it had been there since high school (7 + years ago) and then he told me to put it on myself. He told me he could maybe glue the crack for $70 and I said no thank you but also asked what kind of glue he uses. He responded with “don’t do it yourself.” I told him my old orchestra teacher could do it for me and he said “well then he’ll know what kind of glue to use.” Again, I asked him what kind of glue he uses and he hesitated and told me it was violin makers glue. Overall, terrible customer service. The man was very condescending and rude. I will never return.

They deal in high quality instruments for a variety of price ranges, and Ken has always made sure our family receives considerate and detailed service

Great service, they also carry strings and suzuki books

Ken is brilliant - my go-to guy for viola adjustment / repairs.

We love the service and quality of instruments here. We have purchased two violins as our son grows and will be returning for a third.

Ken has always had a nice selection of quality violins in every size, especially useful as Serena moved up the Suzuki ladder. She still takes all of her bows to him for rehair when shes in town.

They are totally disregarding customers time. No reschedule when they cannot deliver what promised; no even a phone call to inform.

Kenneth Stein was rude and very dismissal towards a small selection of my Grandfathers violin collection. He even went as far as saying other professionals that wrote appraisals were completely wrong and acted as if he knew everything, yet continued to say he was not the top for this kind of thing. Walked out with a very bad taste in my mouth. Even if my Grandfathers collection is not what we thought it was, he could have better manners when dealing with people. I had made the appointment being told he would take the time to look at the instruments and when I got there he was surprised to have to take time from his desk to look at them. Then tried to talk me into donating them to a school of his choice for a tax write-off. Would not recommend anyone to bring their collection to him. There are better people out there that will take the time to look at them and treat you with respect.

Great shop in the nice neighborhood community of downtown Elmhurst, well worth the drive.

The people are grate change my strings while I waited

Not responding even after promise to call back

Excellent service.