Tons of new and used guitars in the store with more able to arrive in a few days. I'm not an expert and the associate was very helpful answering my questions. He wasn't pushy or trying to sell me a bunch of useless addons. I ended up getting a used Fender and love it, the condition is pristine.
Very good bequest, expensive for the humble pocket, much dream instrument. You have to go.
I wanted to thank Zach at CME for helping secure a very rare pedal. The Logan Desert pedal was just released and only 100 worldwide were made. I called the business and the next day Zach called me and then right away he contacted the distributor and was able to get me the pedal. I am very grateful to Zach and will definitely will be buying more pedals from them. Highly recommend CME
Outstanding selection of used and vintage guitars and amplifiers. They also have new guitars.
Awesome, massive store with super helpful staff! I bought my first guitar ever, and Nick was patience and very informative.
Guitar porn of the first order
When I buy my next guitar it'll be here
Everyone was really happy to be at work when I've been there getting drool all over everything
Wonderful place for guitarist and bassist with repair situations or new and used purchases needs, including pedals and amps. A great place to spend a few hours, bring some money!
So many guitars, amps, pedals, etc. I could stay for days but only had an hour. Great selection. Nice staff. Best shop if you have the budget.
Top notch service sold a few items looking to go back buy a few more
I have a mic I want to sell but I don t have a state I d at the moment. Would I still be able to sell my mic
Heaven on earth if your a musician. Staff is extremely knowledgeable
Definitely check this place out. Great staff, sexy store. Cool vibe in general. Almost overwhelming with selection. Seems pricier than the internet options but I needed an amp that day and I got it. I'll have to come through another time and play around more. The shopping experience might be worth the extra cost.
This is a guitarist's heaven! Beautiful showrooms with a gorgeous collection of stringed instruments.
I, however, am a drummer. Still enjoyed my time here, but had way less to see or play. If you're looking for drums, go to Vic's.
I have been buying equipment for them for about 3 years, their staff is the most helpful staff people in my experience. They always go above and beyond trying help me and answering all my questions. I always love going there when I'm in Chicago! Thank you Chicago Music Exchange!
I was visiting the store, I loved it. Very well organized and great prices, very attentive work staff
The best guitar shop in Chicago, and I've one if the best in the country. On this night, I got to see Paul Reed Smith compare a prototype he brought to a 1960 $285,000 Les Paul and then compare one of his Silver Sky models to a $28,000 1957? Fender strat...good times
Cool dudes with cool prices and even cooler drums. Always a must when you're a drummer visiting Chicago. The shop dog is pretty cool too
Amazing spot to visit! Friendly and knowledgeable employees and a huge assortment of instruments.
This is probably the best music store in the country :D
Hands down, best guitar shop in Chicago! So many new and vintage guitars; the place is basically a museum.
Ordered a gig bag for my seagull folk guitar and it arrived in two days, with free shipping. Can't beat that with a sledge hammer. Excellent Service and Product.
Knowledgeable staff and always friendly and ready to help
every time i walk into this place i feel like I'm not supposed to be there
Absolutely outstanding and incredible guitar shop. Best I've ever been to. Unreal selection of every kind of guitar you can imagine. Super helpful, friendly, and patient staff.
Everything about The Chicago Music Exchange is excellent
Lot's of fun. Didn't have time to buy anything but next time I'm in the area!
So many guitars! Great staff! Wish I had more time to spend there!
Previously, I posted a 2 star negative review because of dismally poor service that I've previously received at the store. However, in my visits since, the service I've received has been vastly improved. The selection of instruments and accessories is like nothing I've ever encountered before from a brick-and-mortar retail store, and the atmosphere of the location is second to none. If you aren't able to make it to the physical location, online transactions have been just as top notch, with a representative often sending me messages to check in on my satisfaction with purchases. I would have updated my review to a full 5 stars, if not for their poor first impression. However, CME has gone a long way in earning back my business and I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone looking to satisfy their music needs. The selection of awesome guitars, basses, drums, and gear is still vast and diverse, I just hope that customer service continues to improve!
I love this place. I sold them a guitar that I wasn't playing (got a great price on store credit) and bought a guitar that I've been playing ever since. They have a great selection of new and used guitars. Their acoustic room is sensational. Carl, the salesman in the acoustic room, was a great guy; very knowledgeable and helpful.
It's hard not to get caught up in the acoustic room or the main room with all the new guitars. I recently purchased a Taylor for my son and the guys at the store were BEYOND helpful. They even gave me a good deal by covering taxes, stringing up the bad boy, and giving me a free set of strings. Mind you, I was getting a very expensive guitar... so maybe that's why. Screw Guitar Center, this is where it's at.
Bought a wah pedal. Ask for Phil. He was a great help.
Bought a set of pickups for my son's birthday 2 weeks ago.
They were supposed to ship to me in Rockford IL vis USPS.
Rockford is about 80 miles away so shipment usually only takes a couple of days. USPS tracking only shows that a label was created but 2 weeks later no sign that they were ever picked up. Tried several times to get my money refunded but they just keep telling me that they are sure that they were picked up by USPS. Asked again for a refund but am told that I have to return them first even though they have never been shipped.
I will never do business with them again.
This store is amazing. The bassment is awesome. There are so many basses and the guy down there (Mark) is very nice. I totally recommend going here if your a guitarist or bassist.
I bought my first guitar here last week, and I will definitely be returning to this store. I arrived an hour and a half before closing time, and that time flew by. Shelby was the associate/guitar expert who assisted me in finding my perfect match. He was very patient, encouraging, knowledgeable, and funny. He took the time to understand exactly what I was looking for in an electric guitar. He presented several options in addition to the list of guitars I had prepared in advance. My heart skipped a beat when he brought up a semi-hollow body Gretsch Streamliner in Brooklyn Sunburst. Everyone at the store seemed just as excited as I was about my guitar purchase. I had an incredible experience here. Everyone who has played guitar, wants to play guitar, or just loves guitars needs to go to the Chicago Music Exchange. The selection and inventory are overwhelming, the staff is memorable, and the space itself is beautiful.
I was looking for information on a Martin M-36 and came across a link to
the Chicago Music Exchange. Karl N. came on a chat session - he was very helpful, knowledgeable, and gave me a great deal. They set up the guitar with a new set of my favorite strings, and did an awesome job packing it for shipment. He even did a follow-up contact to make sure it arrived in good condition and I was happy with it. Highly recommended and the first place I will go for my next music purchase.
I came in to buy some guitar strings yesterday and the male employee asked if they were for a full sized guitar. As a 24 year old woman I felt belittled/infantilized. Please let the men who work there know not to ask adult women that.
In the past I've had a lot better experience with the employees. Before covid it was one of my favorite places to check out guitars.
It's the best music store ever, great experience. The employees are the best and very kind. Great walls of guitars, gibson, fender, epiphone, Martin, etc... It's a little bit far from the loop but when you get there you'll know that it was worth it.
A selection purely out of a guitarist's dreams. The staff are super friendly despite how busy they are kept, and they let you try anything. Bottom line, probably in the top 10 music stores in the country. Easily.
I was in guitar heaven. The staff was very friendly and exceptionally helpful. It was a great experience.
If you died and went to music store heaven, it would be called Chicago Music Exchange. Bring cash lol!
I've commented once before that CME is a fantastic store, but I especially want to commend a guy who works there by the name of Alexa Latus, a great professional, kind and at all times wants to help the customer, Thanks Alex!
Absolutely amazing, this is what all retail should be like. Great selection of basses. I was encouraged to play whatever I want, from a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass to a $9,000 vintage p-bass. The new synth/keys area is great. Good selection of new and vintage synths, tons of fun to play with. Cory was more than happy to take the time and set up an Oberheim Xpander for me to try even though I wasn't able to make the purchase. Tons of fun and great staff.
Place is amazing. Staff is really nice. I dealt with Carl in the acoustic section. He was a great help as I'm more of a beginner. Am super happy with my purchase and never felt intimidated being there at all. Great experience.
very help and courteous staff, prices are market value but the instrument you get well also be of great value, they don't seem to carry any item that's not worth playing overall very happy.
This place is great. I live in the Bay Area and still this was the closest place that I could try a Milkman Sound amplifier, which are practically made in my backyard! This place has incredible stock, super friendly staff, and an awesome facility.
Really helpful staff and an amazing store to browse.
A great selection of guitars and accessories. Very knowledgeable staff. You can easily lose hours here without noticing.
So awesome! A beautiful boutique drum shop right in the city, full of amazing vintage kits, expertly inspected for sale. An essential stop every time I'm in town.
Great service, the staff couldn't have been nicer. Sold a guitar for twice the price offered elsewhere. Highly recommend you check out this store.
I sent a request for them to make an offer on a couple of basses and got no reply. They could of said yes or no. They just left me hanging.
I guess there way of saying no, is to not reply back to you.
I had an issue buying a guitar from Chicago Music Exchange (CME) through another vendor. CME stepped up and made it right. Classy organization. Thank you for all you did correct a bad situation.
it's huge. it's amazing. best big guitar store i've ever been to. love the basement ("bass"ment, get it?).
Be careful, these guys are kinda good at selling guitars.
Hands down you already know how it is. You get treated like a king, you tesst drive all the cool things. And you walk out with 10 other things.. I would live here if I could.
I know someone that lives above the place and they play good music when they trying to sell something.
So much to choose from. If they don't have it, you don't need it.
Very cool store with a great selection. I like that they either make you use headphones or an isolation room to try out electric guitars or amps.
toys R Us for guitar players. awesome axes.
basses too. its must if u live guitars or amps.
Chicago Music Exchange has an enormous selection of new and used guitars and amplifiers.
The staff is friendly and informative without being pushy.
The new used guitars are mixed together and labeled with color tags for general distinction.
What s fun is you never know if the guitar you grab will be a $600 Mex or a $7500 relic.
If you a looking for a low cost starter guitar or a travel guitar they have a decent selection.
For those with an unlimited budget, it s the ultimate toy store.
Great knowledgeable service (Kyle in drums was awesome), it's a local business, and the store is beautiful too!
Great store amazing selection of equipment and friendly helpful staff. Also a great place to trade in gear.
We had a really great experience working with Jason at Chicago Music Exchange. He was extremely positive and polite, worked with us to get exactly what we needed at a fair price, and ensured everything arrived in perfect condition, all with excellent communication along the way. We are now loyal customers! Thanks, Jason!
Best guitar shop in Chicago area, sales team is really friendly and know everything about the products they are selling. Alex the manager is a great guy, and Drew is my guitar guru, such a great Dude, who knows everything about Fender and Gibson. Matt and Shelby are my guys for guitar effects, they just know everything!
Huge Guitar store. They had a very hard to find Les Paul on the floor ready to go.
Amazing selection of guitars. Pricey but unmatched display of instruments
Theres rooms to test the guitars, amps, and pedals and it's great!
They have alot in stock and helpful staff. The luthiers are great at what they do.
Amazing store with vintage and new instruments. Can be quite crowded on weekends...
I had a guitar that needed repair. They were able to take care of me quickly at a lower cost than I expected.
Excellent service - above and beyond. When you call you talk to a musician - highly recommended!!
Went to get a first guitar for a kid. I almost bought online but nobody in the house really plays guitars so figured I d check local human shops. So glad I did. Karl in the acoustic section was super helpful in selection. He sold me one of the cheaper 3/4 guitars, not bc of price, but bc he listened to my description of the kid and based his recco on size and materials he thought would stand up better to the trials of the kid described trying it out as a first guitar. I was out the door in 20 minutes, including him restringing it with strings he thought better suited to kids fingers. If kid sticks with it, their next guitar will certainly be purchased here. Awesome store. Great service. Excellent selection.
Just an enormous guitar store. Crazy selection of quality guitars and amps.
Great guitar bass and drum shop. Knowledgeable and nice staff. Great place to pick up a unique instrument and sennheiser microphones
Way surpassed my expectations. Incredible selection of Gibson Les Pauls , Fenders Strats and Tele, new and vintage. Great amps, Great acoustic guitars , Taylor, Martin,Gibson and more. The staff was very helpful,knowledgeable, and friendly. They
just let me play whatever I wanted with no pressure. The prices were not discount, but they were not unfair. I hope they make good profits so they can stay in business and stock all these awesome guitars. I didnt make the big purchase and buy a guitar , although I found a couple Im wishing for. Did buy about 350.00 of stuff for the privilege of getting to play these guitars and appreciation of the store . Would highly recommend a visit to this guitar store, you won't be disappointed. I stayed 3 hours and wish i had longer.
chicagomusicexchange.com
