Over the past three decades, Chicago Music Exchange has built its reputation as a hub for buying, selling, and trading music gear, especially when it comes to premium vintage and used instruments—from collectible rarities and highly prized limited runs to some of the most sought-after artist signature models to have hit the scene since we opened up shop!

 Now, showcasing the largest selection of premium instruments we’ve ever acquired all at once, The CME Collection brings together some of the best player-grade guitars our business has seen before—plus, a few we’ve never been able to get our hands on, ourselves! So, after CME CEO Andrew Yonke opened each of the 120-plus instrument cases, himself, he doubled down on the collection—and just about doubled the number of premium custom shop guitars in our store!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CME COLLECTION
AT CHICAGO MUSIC EXCHANGE

Not only is this the first time in CME’s history that we’ve had many of these guitars together under our roof; but—acquired alongside the routine, daily activities of our expert vintage and used buying team—The CME Collection represents a unique, once-in-a-lifetime acquisition of premium vintage and used instruments for sale in addition to the selection we already have hanging on our showroom walls—meaning that The CME Collection represents the first time we’ve EVER had so many coveted collectibles and professional player-grade instruments within our walls at one time!

Now, before you start calling us out for teasing, we’re asking all attentive CME gear devotees to please keep in mind that The CME Collection is huge! It will take weeks to catalog, photograph, film demos, write blog posts, and list items online—in short, to do everything we do here at CME that lets us share all these awesome guitars with our fans, in all the different ways they connect with us—so, please stand by! 

SHOP THE LATEST FROM THE CME COLLECTION!

We’ll be listing these guitars in groups, according to product category part, so make sure to keep checking back in with CME over the course of the coming weeks and months as each individual item is listed for sale on our website and in the store, alongside each category announcement with the release of CME YouTube videos, and updates via social media as well as via email/text campaigns.

Lastly, if you want to receive instant updates to your phone, computer, or tablet (and haven’t done so, already): Subscribe to our YouTube channel, sign up for CME email and SMS updates, follow us on social, and/or download the CME app—select “yes” to turn on push notifications—choosing whatever communication method works best for you to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the awesome items we have in-store, all of which will be announced as available for sale at CME, now thru the end of the year!

In the meantime, scope some of the sneak peek highlights below! If you’re in town, visit our showroom to see for yourself the selection of new, vintage, and used premium instruments we already have to offer; or, browse our entire catalog on our website!

SHOP GIBSON ARTIST

Related Posts

Gibson x Loog Guitars at Chicago Music Exchange

Meet the Gibson x Loog Collection—where legendary tone meets beginner-friendly design. These three-string guitars are made to empower kids to start playing right away, with simplified learning, top-tier sound, and timeless Gibson flair. As the only brick-and-mortar retailer for Gibson x Loog Guitars, Chicago Music Exchange offers a rare opportunity to plug in and play these in person—shop the collection today!

Read more

Introducing | Voltage Cable Co.

Introducing Voltage Cable Co.—premium Australian-made coiled guitar cables now available at Chicago Music Exchange. Known for their iconic colorways, road-ready durability, and patented ISO-COAT® anti-corrosion technology, Voltage Cable Co. has redefined what a modern “vintage-style” instrument cable can be. From the original Surf Green classic to our exclusive CME Chicago Cream colorway, these high-performance cables deliver clean tone, long-lasting reliability, and standout stage style. Shop Voltage Cable Co. at Chicago Music Exchange today and experience cables designed to be played—and built for a lifetime.

Read more

Tone Exploration | The Guitars of Bruce Springsteen

Released on September 30, 1982, Nebraska marked a radical departure for Bruce Springsteen. Recorded entirely alone on a four-track TEAC Portastudio in his Colts Neck, New Jersey bedroom, the album was never intended for release. Springsteen had planned to re-record the songs with the E Street Band, but the raw demos—haunting, intimate, and unvarnished—proved more powerful than any full-band attempt. In their imperfection, he found a truth he couldn’t recreate.

Read more

Load More