The Showroom
THE SHOW ROOM
The Showroom is the heart of the Chicago Music Exchange. From the moment you walk in, you know that this is more than just a music store. It's an experience, a place to explore and enjoy limitless possibilities.
You might notice our Les Paul Wall, covered floor to ceiling with Gibson Custom Shop and USA models, rare vintage pieces like our real 1959 Burst, and exclusive custom builds that you'll only find at the Chicago Music Exchange, like our CME Spec line, thoughtfully designed with our favorite historic specs and Custom Bucker "S" pickups.
Or maybe our extensive stock of Fender, including everything from new and vintage amps to a wide range of guitars for all budgets, like our CME Exclusive lines, our carefully specced Chicago Special Custom Shop models, one-of-a-kind master built instruments, and a collection of vintage and used guitars spanning from pre-CBS treasures to accessible, player-grade pieces.
Our effects counter could sweep you up with a veritable sea of the industry's newest and most exciting effect pedals, intermixed with a curated selection of sought-after vintage models.
Or you might want to have a seat on one of our couches, take it all in, and just be.
Whatever grabs you, we're happy to have you in the Chicago Music Exchange Showroom. Take a look around. Stay for a while, and if you need help, just ask.
THE ACOUSTIC ROOM
The new Acoustic Room is a dedicated, climate-controlled environment where we house all our acoustic instruments, from major brands like Martin and Gibson to independent builders like Huss & Dalton, Collings, and Santa Cruz, as well as folk and bluegrass instruments like resonators, banjos, mandolins, and ukuleles.
The Taylor Experience, an interactive guide to Taylor's complete product line, allows you to sample the endless body and tonewood combinations Taylor has to offer, and in the Vintage and Used Acoustic Room, our vintage Gibsons hang side-by-side with pre-war Martins and National Resonators in a collection that spans over 100 years of music history.
THE BASSMENT
Below the main Showroom, the BASSment booms with all things bass, like our CME Spec Fender Custom Shop Jazz and Precision Basses, our exclusive La Bella "Chicago Style" strings, new models from Gibson, Sire, and Rickenbacker, an ever-changing selection of curated vintage pieces, and everything else you need, like amps, effects, cases, and accessories.
THE VAULT
We’re proud to open The Vault at Chicago Music Exchange—a curated, in-store showcase of our best vintage, used, and collector-grade guitars. Once hidden in our upstairs vault, these treasures are now available for players and collectors to explore in Chicago.Experience museum-worthy pieces in person, seven days a week. Whether you're a serious collector after a vintage Gibson, a player investing in a one-of-a-kind Fender, or just curious, The Vault is your must-visit destination for rare guitars.
CHICAGO SYNTH EXCHANGE
The Chicago Synth Exchange is our newest addition. Here, you can demystify the modular monster and program your dreams into reality with a carefully curated collection of 'boards, boxes, booms, and bips from top brands like Korg, Roland, Moog, and Teenage Engineering. Our experts make synthesizing easy. They can guide you to the gear that'll have you cranking out tech-savvy tones in no time.
CHICAGO DRUM EXCHANGE
While connected to the main Showroom, the Chicago Drum Exchange stands alone. CDE carries the best in new, used, and vintage gear, with exclusive kits, snares, and hardware created in partnership with the industry's top brands like A&F, Ludwig, Gretsch, and DW, and our deep selection of cymbals and percussion accessories offer endless color to keep your kit varied and vibrant.
Related Posts
Bad Cat Amplifiers | CME Exclusive Mod Shop Hot Cat 50
Dating back to 1999, Bad Cat has brought in talent from all corners of the amp world, most notably Matchless founder Mark Sampson. Their dedication to building Class A amplifiers with a British-inspired growl has drawn praise and use from players as varied as John Rzeznik, Nick Johnston, and Bonnie Raitt. That's why we're excited to team up with Bad Cat on our newest CME Exclusive amplifiers: the Bad Cat Mod Shop Hot Cat 50 1x12" Combo Amp and Amp Head in Black Levant. We started with the Hot Cat 50, added Marshall-inspired visual touches and a gold chassis, then built in a vintage/modern gain switch and EC Collins Pinstripe Grill Cloth for a tone-shaping experience you can't find anywhere else. Call us today at 773-525-7773, chat with our sales experts, or come into our Lincoln Avenue Showroom to grab yours!
Read more
Introducing | Recording King Guitars Is Back!
One of the most trusted names in value-packed vintage instruments has returned.Recording King, first introduced in 1929, built its reputation on incredible value and a direct line to Gibson's own craftsmanship. Now, with St. Louis Music behind it, the brand is back — flattops, parlor guitars, and resonators, all built with period-correct specs and all-solid tonewoods. Call us at 773-525-7773, chat with us online, or come into our Acoustic Room to be among the first to play them!
Read more
EarthQuaker Devices | 2026 One-of-A-Kind Series
For the fifth consecutive year, Chicago Music Exchange has partnered with EarthQuaker Devices to bring players a collection of one-of-a-kind pedals featuring exclusive, never-before-seen graphics. Built from EarthQuaker’s trusted circuits — the same pedals relied on by musicians worldwide — each piece in the 2026 collection carries a unique visual finish you won’t find anywhere else. Since 2022, this annual collaboration has given players an easy way to put as much personality into their pedalboard as they put into their playing. Once these one-of-one EarthQuaker pedals sell out, they’re gone for good, so shop the 2026 CME Exclusive collection today.
Read more