Rubino's Music Sound Lighting

This place is a sad shell of what it used to be. I bought a lot of good gear here in the 90s. I walked in over the weekend. They asked what I was looking for and I said guitar pedals. She told me “all of the guitar pedals are on a boat in the bay but THEY don’t want you to know that.” Insane. Then Jim Rubino came out and told me that lots of amps have effects in them now and he wanted to sell me an amp. All of their gear is off brand or used. Just really sad. Don’t waste your time.

Thieves and con-artists! I used to be a regular customer at this store. Three years ago, Jim Rubino convinced me to order a set of Peavey Dark Matters through him. Paid him in full and expected them to contact me when the product arrived. I go to see him a few weeks later since they had not contacted me, and he tells me the product is on back order due to Covid. I ask for a refund since the product is no longer available, and he refused, stating he had already paid Peavey and was unable to be reimbursed by them, promising to get the speakers to me as soon as they were off back order. I made regular visits to follow-up with no updates or efforts by them, until about a year later when I was forced to move for work. I spoke to him and made arrangements so when the speakers were off back order, I could have someone local pick them up for me. I hear nothing for a year and a half until I move back to the region. At that time, they confirmed that peavey is now shipping again, but the subwoofer I ordered is discontinued. They also blamed me for not purchasing the speakers since “they didn’t know where I was” even though I had informed them. Agreed with them on the equivalent Peavey sub offering, but was told they need copies of my receipt so they can contact peavey to get the order corrected. This was on 4/9/24. A few weeks later, they have not contacted me yet again, so I show up at their shop. They tell me they are unable to order the speakers since they don’t have the money. I asked them what the difference is since peavey already has the original amount paid from three years ago. They reveal peavey never received any money from them, and the money I paid was absorbed into their bills, but they promise to get the money together and order the speakers as agreed. They proceed to not contact me (yet again) until I show up on 7/18 wanting to know if the speakers have arrived yet. They then go ahead and try to blame ME for not stopping by, so they didn’t order the speakers yet, but promise they have the money and will order it tomorrow. I hear nothing from them again until today 7/30 when I stop by wondering when my speakers will arrive. They then tell me they don’t have the money, they don’t know when they will in order to purchase the speakers, and I’ll just have to be patient. It has been three years, and countless lies and gaslighting. Jim even threw in a racist comment about Peavey being a Chinese company keeping their money when the “story” was that they had paid peavey but the product was on back order. I am now stuck with the prospect of having to use the judicial system to be made whole. I have given this business three years of good faith and patience, just to be stolen from, lied to, gaslit, and even threatened with a voicemail saying if I sue I will get nothing. Avoid this business at all costs! This is not a music store, this is a front for con-artists and thieves!

so glad I found them again! The store is just awesome, you cannot beat their prices! The teachers are amazing. And the owners are just the best people around. Such great stories from the old days. They were even on the tonight show with Jhonny Carson! The best music store in Northwest Indiana! They can fix and customize just about anything! They even found a musicman amp for me!

Paid cash for a used bass here. He convinced me it was a custom built one of a kind Peavey. In the noisy store it seemed great. Took it home and there were some issues with the electronics. I tried to return it because of how much I spent and he outright refused to take it back. I ended up selling it on EBay. He would not work with me at all. He kept saying I couldn’t return it because I paid in cash.

I changed my review from a 4 to a 1. The main reason I came to this store is because my husband and his family came to Rubinos years ago and they had good reviews then. But now, we ordered what was supposed to be the best microphone set for our church, advised by Jim of course, but in a nutshell, it was the total opposite of best. Our equipment lasted only a few weeks and is now totally useless! We ordered and paid Hundreds of dollars, because we were told these mic sets were going to be worth it and last! 🙄 Also, if you don't have your receipt with you, he Will try to jack the price up as well. We decided to take our business to Guitar Center and received Better results!