Chicago Music Exchange Reviews

Always accommodating and knowledgeable staff! The best

The drum shop should accommodate left handed player not be uniform in just right handed sets only.... what a ridiculous comment by the Drum Shop Tech

If you love guitars this is the place to be. Amazing selection of new and used guitars and amps. Staff is there to answer all of your questions. Even the dumb ones.

The best. Hooked me up in the repair shop multiple times.

Took my bass in to get new pickups installed and everything was top notch. I did not know that the repair shop works by appointments but Phillip was extremely helpful, took on the project, and got me set up. The installation was completed on time when he said it would be and I can now enjoy the powerful yet crisp tones of the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickups. I look forward to getting future repairs and instrument work done at CME. They do great work, just make sure to give them a call beforehand.

5 stars if you are a guitar lover! The focus is definitely on guitars. All the major brands are stocked, and there is a great selection of vintage guitars to choose from. A relatively smaller selection of amps, including some vintage equipment. The staff is friendly and helpful, and you can try out what's in stock. A relaxed vibe in a tastefully (and artfully) arranged "showcase."

You already know. This is one of the premier guitar shops in the U.S. They have an excellent protocol for COVID and its actually kind of nice to make an appointment and have one of their great associates give you basically 1 on 1 customer service. Big thanks to Scott in the BASSment for answering my many questions about effects and helping me find some stuff I'll have a ton of fun with.

Basically guitar center but better, it looks and feels real nice

Hands down the BEST music store in the entire Chicagoland area. A must-visit for musicians of all kind!

Love what the guys at CME are doing over there. The service, the follow-ups, and just the right amount of professionalism (without too much) we're all still a little rebellious here after all. Highly recommend.

Selection is pretty good, and I've been to a lot of music shops around the world. I'd recommend stopping in for sure. Always worth the hunt.

Great experience purchasing a guitar online through them. Staff was very helpful and accommodating of requests. Guitar was shipped in a timely manner and was set up very well right out of the case. Will recommend to anyone in the future.

Picked up my first guitar here. Joel was super helpful in guiding my purchase and not pushy at all. Will return and recommend others.

Resistance is futile! Walls of Custom Shop LesPauls, massive collection of vintage guitars, the coolest, most recent tube amps combined with a friendly sales staff that will put you in a room with these guitars and let you play for hours....then bring you more guitars...Heaven!

The instruments are way over priced!!!
I didn t care for there service and will not be doing business with them ever again.
I must have caught them on a bad day or something. LOL
I m sure they can con someone else with there sale tactics.

Was referred here by a friend who drums because my 13 year old son just started playing and I wanted to get him a Roland V-drum electronic set to practice with in his bedroom.

Best shopping experience ever! Got an amazing tour of this expansive facility dedicated to drummers! No sales pitch or being pushy. I knew what I wanted and could have made this a 5 minute trip but spent about 45 checking out all the cool rooms they have with amazing selection

All of the workers are drummers so they know the product and will take the time to talk about your preferences and guide you if you don't know anything.

My son wasn't able to come today but I'm going back this weekend just to show him this drummers wonderland. And will probably pick up more sticks because WHY NOT!

Walking in there is like walking into heaven if you're a musician!!... I ended up getting a beautiful White Falcon that was used for a great price with a trade in. They give you a pretty good value for trade ins... what's to be expected of course they have to make money too.

This place has guitars I've only read about or dreamed of... Now my dream is a reality!!! Got the guitar I've always wanted. See Brian W, very good customer service

This is a fantastic destination for guitar and bass lovers. Top quality guitars, new and used. Plenty of vintage mojo to take for a test run. Staff is friendly, helpful and willing to indulge your need to riff it out. Don t be afraid to plug in. Pro tip: take your jacket off in while in the amp closet, it s hot in there.

One of the best Guitar shops in the midwest for sure.

Came here back in 2016 with a group because someone else brought it up and I love music stores. Spent probably over an hour in there that day. It was a given that the next time I was back in the city I'd HAVE to stop by, and enjoyed it just about as much again. Friendly people, more expansive offerings than most Guitar Centers I've been to (in all departments), and just a nice vibe. Plus it's like 2 mins walk from the L so if you're in the city, this is a MUST stop.

Great product variety. Super knowledgeable staff. Highly recommended!!

Super friendly and knowledgeable staff, great guitars.

I can't express how sweet this place is. Pictures dont do it justice.

Awesome experience. Just bought guitar #3. Other two were as described, perfectly setup, and arrived quickly and safely. Great communication, fast email responses. I will continue to use CME to help fill out my collection. I really wish all online retailers were as descriptive on condition of used/vintage guitars as CME, as well... (looking at you Norman's). Really helps!

Great service!! Props to Adam for taking the time to help me find the right cymbal

This place is a glorious crackhouse for everything awesome. Guitars that are worth more than my life and a setting that is warm and not douchey at all. The clerks are there if you need something, but not hovering, in any way. Love this place.

Literally the best musical instrument store I've ever been to. Ever. The customer service is unbelievable and the selection is crazy.

I would give 5/5 stars to Chicago Music Exchange just for their selection alone. There are so many brands and models available here that you will not find at the big chain stores. They also have an amazing selection of vintage gear. All of those things aside, though, I can honestly say that the help I got here from the employees is better than any experience I have had at a guitar shop before. The staff reached out, asked if I needed anything, secured a practice room for me, got me set up, and let me jam out on some awesome amps. If I lived in Chicago I would shop here exclusively, and I will absolutely be ordering my amp from these guys next month.

I had previously done all my business at a local Big Box Guitar Store, and was looking for a Telecaster. They didn't have what I was looking for, So I went to Chicago Music Exchange. Salesperson Geoff Tinta came to my aid immediately after I stepped in. Even after he could not locate the the Butterscotch Telecaster on display, he offered to check the warehouse, and found exactly what I wanted! Geoff's knowledge, and Customer Service is tops!!! Look for Geoff Tinta when you shop here! Chicago Music Exchange ROCKS! \m/

Only one experience with CME so far, but that one was a great deal on a new Gibson "floor model .

It's a big, beautiful store with multiple levels and rooms of instruments. I do wish there were more amp rooms, and that there was a more established queuing protocol for the rooms that are presently there.

Amazing and huge selection available. Wide open store and employees are open and willing to help you out.

Karl helped me pick out my first Collings guitar. He is incredibly professional, knowledgeable, with an impeccable sense of customer service. CMX is a top-notch destination if you re looking for high-end guitars and service. I would highly recommend anyone shopping here!

I recently purchased a really nice Jaguar from CME and I couldn't be happier with the experience. If you need anything call SHELBY. Incredibly prompt and professional. Made sure I had what I needed and that I was happy. I feel like more than anything they want you to be happy with your experience. They really brought the joy back to purchasing gear. I live in Austin Texas but CME is my store!

Pretty cool place to be. They let you test the instruments which is awesome!

Expansive guitar selection and a great crew. I wish it was my local store.

I called CME about a vintage Strat and Alex Latus answered the phone. I was blown away by how great this guy was! He went out of his way to help me with this purchase and I couldn't be happier. I ended up calling him a few weeks later to purchase a CS Strat. Super happy with Alex and my experience with CME. I will be back for future gear needs.

Excellent service from Karl as well as everyone else on staff here. A huge selection of instruments and places to sit and play. Everyone was super friendly and helpful and went above and beyond to help us choose a guitar. Will definitely return.

Been playing guitar for 40 years, and buying and selling guitars that whole time. Best guitar store I've ever been in. Period.

Best music shop I ve ever shopped. Most knowledgeable, accessible, and friendly staff. A must visit for musicians in Chicago.

Awesome guitar store. They welcome you in and encourage you to play whatever you want. Walls of cool vintage guitars and new too. Don't miss the acoustic room and check out an $8K vintage Martin.

If you leave this place not having found the right guitar...you re not going to find it.

1975 Martin D-41.... Best place to buy music gear hands down, very professional sales team and fast shipping. If your looking for quality vintage instruments look no further you found it! Thank you for making a difference.

Excellent equipment costomer service is great, however trying to get a deal on your use equipment is like trying to pull tooth.,

Huge selection of guitars and basses with excellent service and repairs.

Greetings from Toronto, Canada. I am going out of my way to post a review here. I just came back from Chicago Music Exchange and I have to say that the service I received today was top notch. I spoke to Karl Neurauter who went out of his way to help me when I inquired about purchasing a guitar. When I told him that I was from out of town, he was very generous to let me see some wonderful guitars that I probably won t see back at home. He was also very nice and patient with me when I asked him about some effects pedals they may have that I can t get back in Toronto and he spent with me as much time as I needed. I ended up buying the Daredevil Bootleg Delay and I am very satisfied. I thanked him for his great service and for making my trip to Chicago that much better and it deserves to be mentioned here. I am definitely coming back to this place when I am in town again and I am definitely recommending CME to all my musician friends when they tell me they are going to Chicago. Thank you Karl, and thank you Chicago Music Exchange!

Very extensive inventory and kind, knowledgeable, staff.

What a cool store! Lots of great guitars and things!

AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Purchased a Boss TU-3W from them via Amazon. They listed a NEW PEDAL. I received a USED PEDAL. Battery was connected, cut tape seal on box, no plastic over pedal, no warranty card, no manual.

Do not buy anything from these leech like sellers. You just get hosed.

Took my guitar in for a new set of pickups to be installed. When I took my guitar home I found that it was missing several screws from the back plate and one missing screw for the pickup selector. The back plate was all cracked and after a week the bridge pickup stopped working. When I took a look at the inside I could see it was a terrible soldering job that I had to fix. I am greatly disappointed in the poor workmanship and will never take any of my guitars here again.

This place is never open. Including Sundays the best day to hit any guitar shop!!

Best vintage giutar collection on the E-coast.great place to do business. New , used , vintage they have it all. Great place to shop.

Absolute must visit. Bought a Les Paul with complete confidence in the knowledge of the staff and their honest straight forward attitude. I appreciate everything they do

Google is tough. Character limit is harsh. The gist? CME sold my customer ordered, deposit made guitar to someone else. No phone calls to me, no contact of any sort.

Before I say anything else, I truly wish I was writing the complete opposite of this. I am so jealous of the positive reviews, the people that had a good experience, and those that will shop again at Chicago Music Exchange. Sadly, I get to be a part of the one percent that was treated like absolute and utter garbage at the end. I wish I got to sit here and write a glowing review of the new Nash guitar S63 that I wanted so badly but that just isn t the case sometimes. I m not sure how this review is going to come across, so maybe use it as a guideline of how not to let yourself be treated. Here is a timeline of my experience with Chicago Music Exchange.
September 2018 I initiated contact with Chicago Music Exchange through the online portal, I was connected to a salesman. I spoke of my interest in a Nash S63, rosewood neck in Lake Placid Blue over Three Tone Sunburst. I have a maple neck Strat and I have wanted a LPB with rosewood ever since I saw Jimmy Page play it on the DVD for How the West Was Won. The salesman and I traded some comments and questions, and I asked him to work me up a price. He came with a few days later after consulting with the special orders department. On 9/22 he sent me a sales order with the specs and I called him the following afternoon, per his request, to put down a deposit of $1250 in line with company policy. We had a very pleasant conversation on the phone and he told me three to five month lead time. Sounded great to me, this was my first custom guitar purchase and, as a result, I wanted to do it right. I asked for no price breaks and did not care about the lead time. This was going to be my guitar and I was willing to wait for it.
Feb 1st I sent the original salesman an email that morning. He was so professional and pleasant, it was supposed to be a great day for me. Well, as I left work, I had not received an email. Alarm bells go off. So I called Chicago Music Exchange shortly before their closing time. Immediately understood this was not going to be what I thought. Here is a short list of the phone calls over the next five days.
Feb 1 PM Call and am informed immediately that my salesman doesn t work there anymore. No problem, that s how it goes. Manager tells me he needs a few days to figure out and that he would take control of the situation and call me first thing Monday. I immediately called my friend and told him that I think they sold my guitar to someone else.
Feb 4th No one calls me first thing Monday. I call Chicago Music Exchange around 3 pm, I am told by the manager that was going to take full control that he had passed it off to someone else and they would call me. They didn t. I called back a few hours later and the inventory manager tells me he has bad news. My custom ordered, deposit made, five month lead time guitar had been sold to someone else.
Feb 6th Two days later, I have to call Chicago Music Exchange yet again to get answers. No one has called me. No one has explained anything to me. The inventory manager was in some sort of meeting when I called, around 3 pm. I am told that perhaps, just perhaps they could get the guitar to me in a minimum of four weeks but there would be no price difference. They didn t have lots of sway at Nash as it was put to me. I called back at 5:30 and am told by the Bass Guru Sales Manager that he had been paging the other manager for two hours and didn t get any response. Paging? Is this 2002 all over again? I stop this manager mid sentence and tell him I want my money back. He says OK and hangs up on me. I kid you not, I had to call back and give this rude guy my bank info so he could process my return.

Holy smokes, this place is amazing! So many guitars and basses. The people walking around the floor were super helpful but not annoying, and the try-out rooms were all nicely set out for you to pop in and play a guitar. Can't speak to prices or guitar techs as I didn't buy anything or have any work done, but everyone seemed very nice and helpful.

One of the biggest and comfyiest around, in the states...

Great staff! Even if I didn't know the proper terminology they understood what I was looking for .

Hip spot to buy music related goods. Knowledgeable staff and clean space.

This is an excellent musical instrument store with an excellent selection, including many high-end, and some vintage, offerings

The guitar Mecca of the U.S. and don t be fooled! The staff here are unbelievably amazing. There is absolutely NO pressure to sell and they don t bombard you!! TAKE NOTE OTHER GUITAR STORES! Their selection is second to none and they have an incredible selection or new, used and vintages instruments and competitive prices. Honestly, their business model and how they treat the customers is second to none. If you want to play a vintage instrument, you can! Just be respectful and jam away. Love, LOVE THIS PLACE.

Go-to place for all my guitar needs. Worth the trip from the suburbs to the city just to experience this store itself.

An unbelievable display of dreams guitars. Nice guys to boot!

The people here were very knowledgeable and ready to help a new player. I walked out with a great deal on an amp for my new guitar and am happy I asked them pros for help. I highly recommend anyone new to an instrument go and ask some questions.

Every make, model, color, or style guitar you could want. It was a joy just to browse the selection.

Just bought a 2014 Yamaha NTX700 from this store on Reverb.
There are not enough words to express how happy I am with this purchase!!! Not only did I get a super buy, when delivered I was amazed at how well the guitar was packaged. Every square inch of space between the guitar case and box was filled with styrofoam peanuts.
I opened the case to find that the guitar was nicer than described and was even sent some extras.
One of the most satisfying purchases of my life!

Wasn't the one looking for a guitar, but still ended up having a great time!

I have been in music stores all around the world and this probably has the best guitar collection I have ever seen holy smokes.

I bought my Taylor 144ec from CME. I am loving it. When i went in I was Immediately attended by an employee. I was offered help to find a perfect guitar for me. They tuned my guitar and gave me a gig bad. I would recommend this store.

Friendly sales staff in an incredible showroom. A must see for musicians going through Chicago.

Really solid selection of instruments but the staff sort of sucks. Only Marc in the basement ever seems to be helpful and nice. Seems that because I m young they don t take me seriously when I want to check out instruments. I often get told to leave the demo room as soon as I enter so someone else can look at something they may purchase even though I have purchased instruments here. Also bought my Ric 4003 from here and asked to have flats put on and when the bass arrived the nut was never properly dressed and the strings were hanging on top of the nut instead of in the groove. Not worth the drive these days. I can go to Billy O s in Griffith, IN and get great service and have my instruments set up the right way.

The best toy store for musicians all quality. Very knowledgeable staff cool people to work with love it here

I have a1960 Lee Paul beautiful when up I,ll show Rick have a wonderful weekend also

Outstanding selection of guitars and synths including plenty of classics and lots of hard to find stuff

Nice place, nice guitar collections, nice people. Maybe there are just so many people buying from them for whatever price they claim to be the best they can do. I don t see them really care if I buy or not.

Two hours after I left the store, I was able to buy the exact same guitar from another dealer for $800 less than the best price in total.

Honestly, being straightforward with your customer on the pricing doesn t hurt you, and nobody likes to haggle back and forth. Anyway I am happy with my purchase at the other dealer and thanks for the great services.

You can try guitars and batteries in the rehearsal room inside. Never seen all these tools all together.

I am always very pleased when I purchase here, in fact recently the manager helped me get drum practice gear right before the quarantine so I could stay occupied and sane haha. What a great customer service experience with that, thank you. I've also received great help from Mark in BASSment previously as well when I purchased my Dunable Bass.

The inventory, service and space is unbelievable! Far better experience here than any of the nationwide retailers. This is how a music store should be. Great selection and the used vintage equipment is in great shape. This is a favorite of mine, for sure. Pricing is competitive. Parking can be difficult, though it is definitely worth it. Selection is fantastic.