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Staff Picks
We're the luckiest musicians in the world! We have our hands on the GREATEST GEAR that has ever existed. We build it, we buy it, we play it, and of course we sell it. We all have our favorites and good reasons why. We'd love to keep it a secret and have all of the magical tones to ourselves but that would be CRAZY! Staff Picks is where each of our experts shares their FAVORITE GEAR! It's always changing, always updating with the latest and greatest. Enjoy CME Staff Picks!
"The Murphy Lab aging on this SG makes it feel like a baseball glove that is broken in just right and gives it a really unique color. The underwound Custom S Buckers keep the tone bright and clear even when getting pretty heavy on them."
Help us help you, by contacting us today and let us know what you are looking for! We are here to help make your next dream piece of gear a reality!
CALL US NOW!"When this beauty hit the shop it took me to a special place. One riddled with wooden panels, cigarette smoke, and a faint taste of scotch on the rocks. This 'CME Spec' SG brings me back to an era I never knew I needed to live in, and I'm here for it. Our Custom "S" Buckers have this baby singing to the high heavens no matter the amp. Not to mention the aging, masterfully done by Tom Murphy and his team, flawlessly ties together an intense feeling of nostalgia. No need for a time machine with this axe by your side."
Shop Gibson Custom Murphy Lab"How low can you go? This Baritone guitar spits, growls and bites, just what I need for my Psy Spy Instro Surf band SECRET AGENT!
With the Heavy Relic Aged Black, it looks like it toured around the world and the Custom Shop TV Jones Magna'Tron pickups which pairs perfectly with the baritone register, and impeccable quality Master Built by Chad Henrichsen, I am riding high with this one!"
"If you have ever had the chance to play a Sandberg you know there's nothing out there quite like it. Made in Germany, the craftsmanship is truly top tier. I love everything about this bass, from the unique yet comfortable body shape to the shiny gold finish that's sure to catch eyes. The Delano pickups guarantee a full bodied sound while the built-in preamp lets you hone in on your own distinct tone. There's so much to love about this brand that's worth exploring. You might just find the bass of dreams!"
Shop Sandberg Guitars"In an age when amps are getting smaller and lighter, or people are opting to bypass an amp altogether to go direct in, this spits in the face of convenience for the sake of tone. The antithesis of "less is more". 200 watts of earth shattering tube power. It weighs as much as a small bus and can be heard from the International Space Station. It's about as practical as a bucket full of holes, and that's exactly why it's awesome. "
Shop Marshall Amplifiers"The first thing that stood out to me about this guitar is the unique colors. Normally, I'm pretty traditional when it comes to guitar colors but the matte white finish underneath of the glossy, cool, blue finish was something I couldn't take my eye off of. When I picked it up, it played so smooth, too. The neck is a bit wider, and I'm a small hands guy, but I didn't feel like I had to strain my little fingies to play this bad boy. Super cool guitar!"
Shop Vintage & Used"For a guitar player who doesn't know anything about synths, the Model D is maybe the single best instrument to figure out what electronic sound synthesis is all about! Turns out, you have to plug it in first, though!"
Shop Moog Synthesizers"Nothing beats a vintage Gibson acoustic, also can be used as a a perfect baseball bat!"
Shop Vintage & Used Gibson Acoustics"My go-to snare drum head! Very durable which stands up to my heavy hitting. These heads also have a built-in overtone dry vent control design so moon gel is not really necessary. Not much more I would want in a snare drumhead!"
Shop Evans Drumheads"I can say with full confidence, Olive this guitar! Now that the pun is out of the way, I bought one a year ago and haven't been able to keep my hands off of it since. Between the matching olive headstock, the tortoise pick guard, and these vintage '65 pick ups...this guitar packs a real punch. It became my favorite guitar in my collection in no time. Don't hesitate on grabbing one!"
Shop CME Exclusive GuitarsNow introducing the Chicago Synth Exchange - Synth 101 Soundboard Blog! In addition, to our ongoing Synth 101 series of in-store seminars hosted by our resident Synth expert, Roland Chira, which covers everything from the basics of sound synthesis to the virtually endless variety of sounds and functionalities available from synth products in the store—along with an audio demonstration, so you can hear each of the sounds you can create, yourself—we’re devoting a section of CME’s Soundboard Blog to provide an additional online resource and reference for all musicians, on the fundamentals of sound synthesis!
Read moreFurther proving the brand’s namesake claim, the new Gamechanger Audio Motor Synth MKII offers electronic music makers the world’s first analog synthesizer that lets you see being generated using electro-mechanical oscillators! Shop yours today at Chicago Synth Exchange!
Read moreWhile Castedosa Guitars have already caught the attention of musicians and guitar makers, Chicago Music Exchange is one of the few dealers internationally where guitar players can get their hands on one! Come try and hear for yourself what the next creative evolution by a renowned guitar builder sounds like!
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