Think of us as your Roadies

David Kalt

Tour Manager

David, an amateur electric guitar rockstar, took over the Chicago Music Exchange in 2010. After working with electronic trading systems for the last decade, he really digs being able to come to work surrounded by his true love, vintage guitars.

Favorite Guitar: Fender Stratocaster
Best Concert: Tom Petty at the United Center in Chicago (2010)

George Coutretsis

Sales Manager: Hollowbodies, Vintage & Boutique Amps

Born and raised right here in Chicagoland, George has been on the team here for 4 years.  When he's not putting the perfect archtop in your paws, you'll probably find him at the golf course by day, and among the punk rockers by night.

Favorite Guitar: 1961 Guild Starfire II in Emerald Green
Best Concert: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Vic in Chicago (2003)

Daniel Escauriza

Vintage Manager

Native of beautiful Paraguay, Daniel not only makes our store bi-lingual, but also a place of vintage perfection, researching, studying, dating each and every piece that walks in and out our doors.  If you're looking to buy, sell, or trade vintage, Daniel will always be involved.

Favorite Guitar: 1965 Fender Jazzmaster with patent number Gibson humbuckers, refin Natural w/ eagle burned onto the back.
Best Concert: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings at the Vic in Chicago (2011)

Brian Westfall

Sales Manager: Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Vintage & Boutique Amps

The self-proclaimed Gretsch guru and admitted "delay pedal junkie," Brian has been with us for four years and still geeks out on every vintage case he opens. While he's not here gabbing about milliseconds on vintage echos or the sonic benefits of nitrocellulose finish, you'll find him working the Chicago circuit with one of his two, fine, rock n' roll bands.

Favorite Guitar: 1961 Gibson ES-335 Cherry
Best Concert: Extra Golden at the Empty Bottle in Chicago (2009)

Joel Bauman

Gibson Electrics & Boutique Amps

Calling Kalamazoo, Michigan home, Joel grew up a mere ten minute drive from the original Gibson factory.  Connoisseur of fine yacht rock, and blood that pumps for Detroit sports, this straight-shooter will put the right guitar in your hands every time.

Favorite Guitar: 1960 Les Paul Special Double Cut TV Yellow w/ Factory Bigsby
Best Concert: Tie: Smashing Pumpkins at the Metro in Chicago (2000) |or| Mastodon, Metro (2006) 

Dan Wean

Acoustics

Playing guitar since age 7, Dan W. is our resident acoustic specialist.  Before joining our team, Dan spent ten years in the Chicago recording scene working with producers like Sean O'Keefe, and artists like Rod Stewart, the Walkmen, and Van Ghost.  His ears are tuned to find the tone you want!

Favorite Guitar: Gibson J-45 Acoustic
Best Concert: wilco Civic Opera House Chicago (2011)

Alex Chadwick

Fender Electrics

Singer, songwriter, journeyman, and poet laureate, Alex has spent the better part of his last fifteen years playing guitar, and his last ten putting the right ones in your hands.  With a habit for making any guitar sound exemplary, Alex is our man for Strats, Teles, and vintage Fender bass.

Favorite Guitar: 1974 Fender Stratocaster Mocha
Best Concert:  Levon Helm at Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN (2008)

Marc Najjar

Bass Guitars

When it comes to low frequency, this man is no slouch.  A veteran of both tuba and bass, Marc, a Louisville, KY-native, first came to Chicago to study music education.  Experienced session musician and performer, his knowledge of the Frank Zappa catalogue and unconditional passion for beets has led him here to serve you with unmatched enthusiasm and candor.

Favorite Guitar: 1966 Fender Jazz Bass Shoreline Gold
Best Concert:  Herbie Hancock and the New Headhunters (2005)

Aryeh East

Repair Shop Manager

Coming to us from LA via Memphis, Aryeh is our luthier and "guitar super-nerd," ensuring every guitar here plays to the absolute highest standard.  When he's not installing your new pickups or resetting a vintage neck, expect to find him shoegazing and building, well, anything he can.

Favorite Guitar: Fender Esquire
Best Concert: Slayer at the Boathouse in Norfolk, VA (1998)

Darryl Chabbot

Guitar Tech

"Musician, producer, engineer, guitar tech, pedal builder,mad scientist, in-store comedian.....this long-winded "man of many hats" is on a mission to do whatever it takes to help you achieve your sound. Hailing all the way from the birthplace of Rock & Roll, Darryl is more than happy to talk with you (for hours on end) about that perfect pickup combination or pedal mod to help you turn the sound you hear in your head into reality. From fretwork on your Telecaster to Wah Wah mods, his OCD will definitely work to your advantage."

Favorite Guitar: Fender Jazzmaster
Best Concert: Dinosaur Jr Subterranean, Chicago, IL.

Phil Glodek

Guitar Tech

A guitar player born and raised in La Grange, Illinois; Phil Glodek is a connoisseur of after market guitar parts with his specialties lying in "off the cuff" fabrication. Whether you're seeking new T-Saddles for your Tele, or drooling over a new bone saddle for your Martin D-18; Phil is always happy to craft and/or install the parts you need on your guitar.

Favorite Guitar: Fender Broadcaster
Best Concert: Radiohead Lollapalooza 2008

Brian Carstens

Amplifier Repair Manager

At the beginning, there was an early '60s red Supro emerging from hibernation in a familial attic. After that, Brian never really put down the guitar. Although originally from Grand Rapids, MI, it was clear that was no place for a musician and ran off to indulge in food, wine, and quest for tone, in Chicago. Now you'll find Brian whenever you've got amp work to be done, from a rebias to robust modifications.

Favorite Tube: 6V6. I love the warmth and fat tone it produces.
Best Concert: Soundgarden warm-up gig at the Vic in Chicago, IL (2010)

Rob André

Drum Shop Manager

An independent Chicago drummer with a reputation for hard work and always playing a "really sweet kit," Rob spearheaded the new drum shop from scratch and is now our go-to guy for everything percussion.  Musically, you'll find his work on recordings from artists like Remington Pettygrove and Bright Like Japan.

Favorite Kit: Sonor S-classix
Best Concert: Brian Blade Fellowship at the Chicago Jazz Festival (2010)

Ryan Quilty

Drums & Percussion

Since his first kick drum made out of cardboard and duct tape accompanied by assorted pots and pans, Ryan has been a drummer for virtually his entire life.  A lover of instrumental rock, featuring of course big drums and cymbals, he specializes in 60s and 70s vintage, with a focus on Ludwig.

Favorite Kit: Late 70s Ludwig Vistalite 3-Piece Blue w/ Ludwig Black Beauty Snare
Best Concert: Hum at Double Door on New Years Eve in Chicago (2009)

Matt Margeson

Drums & Percussion

West Philadelphia born and raised (yeah, we know) Matt drummed from age 12 right through his degree in Jazz Studies from the IU Jacobs School of Music. Composer of electronic and hip hop, Matt loves performance and simply enjoys involving himself in a huge array of musical worlds.

Favorite Gear: Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals
Best Concert: Elvin Jones at Painted Bride Art Center on New Years Eve in Philadelphia

Jeff Lyman 

Shipping Manager

Jeff ships anything, anywhere, any time, and by any means necessary. A lover of all guitars, both electric ones and the ones that make noise on their own, Jeff promises when he sends them your direction they will be packed with the utmost attention and care, everytime.

Favorite Guitar: "I don't play favorites!"
Best Concert: Grateful Dead (Jerry's last four shows) at Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, MO and Souldier Field in Chicago (1995)

Jimmy Jawicki

Shipping & Receiving

Born into a family of musicians and producers, Jimmy has always felt a strong connection to music.  Though currently working on a degree in Computer Science here in Chicago, he is 100% dedicated to getting you the right gear, faster than anyone else in the business.

Justin Cape

Shipping & Customer Service

Joining us from Ohio via New Orleans, Justin prefers any instrument beaten with a stick. Without explanation he finds hilarity in fish sandwiches, and intends to be a stalwart here until the Bears wise up and draft him to play the line. In the meantime, he'll be taking outstanding care of every one of your orders.

Favorite Cymbals: Zildjian K Series
Best Concert: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at United Center in Chicago (2000)

Matt Kashuda

Sales & Customer Service

A former Wisconsinite organic artisan baker, this Chicagoland native returns from the land of aged cheddar and waterparks with a fire for thick mahogany and tubes, on an endless search for tone. A tried and true Hawks fan, he's ready to simplify your buying experience, start to end.

Favorite Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop
Best Concert: Pearl Jam PJ20 at Alpine Valley (2011)

Chase Paul

Shipping & Customer Service

As a hoarder of both fine effect pedals and exquisite cakes, Chase brings a multifaceted music industry skillset to the table and eats it too. The only thing that might outweigh this native Chicagolander's love for musical instruments is his affinity for peculiar socks.

Favorite Guitar: 1960s Kay Galaxie
Best Concert: City and Colour at Park West (2011)

Ryan Lodge 

E-Commerce Director

An online retailer by trade, Ryan's always sold what he's passionate about from movies and music to beer and wine and now guitars. As a collector of 60’s pawn shop gems he’s spent hours searching for the perfect guitar, now his goal is to make that ever easier for you to do.

Favorite Guitar:"Any and all supro, silvertone, harmony, airline."
Best Concert: Thee Headcoats at Empty Bottle, Chicago

Dan Bordonaro

Website; Effects, Guitar Accessories

Aficionado of time-based effects, and arbiter of guitar accessories, Dan B. has been working in music retail since the ripe young age of fifteen.  Uncomprimising fan of the Buffalo Bills, this almost-Canadian web designer keeps us looking pretty, with customer service always in mind.

Favorite Pedals: Electro-Harmonix POG 2 >> Malekko Omicron Vibrato
Best Concert: The Sheila Divine at the Tralf in Buffalo, NY (2001)

Omar Rashan

Photographer

A picture's worth a thousand words, but we happen to believe a picture of a guitar is worth quite a bit more. A local Chicago photographer and musician, Omar has an all-encompassing appreciation for the arts, and enjoys the tools of the trade, whether it be guitar, camera, or in our case, both.

Favorite Amp: Ampeg V-2
Best Concert: The Horrors at the Abbey Pub in Chicago (2007)

Chris Hershman

Film Producer

A fine film director and an absolute gentleman, Chris brings high-defintion motion picture to the instruments you love. Although this "bad boy" dreamer claims he can bench 220 pounds, we know he'd rather be cycling down Lake Michigan or sipping wine beneath a tree with his boom box tuned to NPR. Do yourself a favor and keep an eye for his work.

Favorite Bass:"My early 70s Gibson Ripper."
Best Concert: Maserati at Bottom Lounge in Chicago (2009)

Deb Jawicki

Operations Manager

From Recording Studio Manager to Record Company Executive to Operations Manager here at Chicago Music Exchange, Deb's been in the music biz her whole life.  Toss in singer/songwriter, recording artist and vocal coach and you get the whole picture.

Favorite Mic & Preamp: Neuman U87 & Universal Audio LA-610 Tube Preamp

Rosie Castrejon

Accounting Assistant

Numerical whiz and local maven of Spanish rock and roll, Rosie says simply, "numbers are my thang." With experience in radio, a passion for music media, and a history of blading down the lake in Lincoln Park, her gracious and companionable attitude is our most ideal complement.

Favorite Guitar: Fender Adam Clayton Signature P-Bass Gold Sparkle

Teddy

Mascot

Always a joy to see trotting about the Chicago Music Exchange showroom floor, Teddy is more or less our in-house jack-of-all-trades.  When he's not staring at you while you're eating, you'll most likely find him posing with rock stars as they pass through our doors.

Favorite Guitar: Anything set up with catgut strings
Best Concert: T-Bone Walker