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The CME Collection | Artist Editions & Signature Models
“What’s in a name?” If you were to pose that question to our gear experts in regard to the now larger-than-ever assortment of premium artist editions and signature models on the showroom floor (or in our CME Vault), a one-word response will almost always suffice, reminding us why we play guitar in the first place: “Inspiration.”
Any guitar player who loves instruments as much as we do probably remembers the moment they picked up a six-string and—for the first time—experienced whatever sense of determination and will that they could muster to begin their own musical journey. But, chances are that it was witnessing an artist whose deep, lasting impression on you make you want to pick up your own guitar and play.
At some point, it probably also made you wonder why they chose that specific guitar you saw them play during that performance. Perhaps, like us, you grew as a guitar player over time and also found yourself learning as much as you could about the tools with which your favorite artists cast a spell across space and time over you and their fans. Maybe that makes you, too, wonder whether certain instruments might be actual, real-life talismans capable of conjuring musical voices from a source beyond ourselves—from the instrument?
Next time you’re at CME, ask about all the artist models in The CME Collection and try out a few of the guitars with names you know, you might discover that just about any artist model in CME manages to evoke the spirit of the artist, and you might find a musical talisman of their own!
American manufacturers began making “artist editions” at least as far back as 1843, when C.F. Martin built the first ever X-braced Martin models for one of the most renowned soloists of the era, Madame Delores N. de Goñi. And although it’s not as often that we see de Goñi model come through CME’s doors, we sometimes see a fair number of the earliest artist editions and signature models ever commercially produced—including the Gibson Nick Lucas and Roy Smeck models.
Come channel your idols at CME when you browse the litany of new names included among the horde of premium artist series and signature edition models included in The CME Collection!
Help us, help you! Call us at (773) 525-7773 or chat us on our website and we can help find the perfect gear to add to your own collection!
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