Sold Through The Vault
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Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst" 1959
Regular price $355,000.00Regular price Sale price $355,000.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outGibson Les Paul Sunburst 1959
Regular price $350,000.00Regular price Sale price $350,000.00Unit price perSold out -
Dumble Over Drive Special (ODS) 100w with 6L6 tubes 2008
Regular price $220,000.00Regular price Sale price $220,000.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outGibson Les Paul Model Goldtop 1957
Regular price $125,000.00Regular price Sale price $125,000.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outFender Nocaster Blonde 1951
Regular price $99,000.00Regular price Sale price $99,000.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outGibson Les Paul Model Goldtop 1957
Regular price $84,995.00Regular price Sale price $84,995.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outGibson Les Paul Custom Black 1958
Regular price $79,995.00Regular price Sale price $79,995.00Unit price perSold out -
Fender Telecaster Blackguard Blonde 1952
Regular price $74,995.00Regular priceUnit price per$79,995.00Sale price $74,995.00Sold out -
Sold outGibson ES-355 Black 1959
Regular price $74,995.00Regular price Sale price $74,995.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outGibson ES-335 Sunburst 1959
Regular price $69,995.00Regular priceUnit price per$75,000.00Sale price $69,995.00Sold out -
Sold outFender Telecaster Blonde 1953
Regular price $62,995.00Regular price Sale price $62,995.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outMartin D-18 Natural 1938
Regular price $49,995.00Regular priceUnit price per$54,995.00Sale price $49,995.00Sold out -
Fender Stratocaster Hardtail Sunburst 1954
Regular price $47,000.00Regular priceUnit price per$59,000.00Sale price $47,000.00Sold out -
Sold outFender Stratocaster Sunburst 1958
Regular price $45,995.00Regular price Sale price $45,995.00Unit price perSold out -
Gibson Les Paul Conversion '53 to '59 Sunburst 1953
Regular price $42,000.00Regular price Sale price $42,000.00Unit price perSold out -
Fender Stratocaster Hardtail Sunburst 1959
Regular price $40,000.00Regular price Sale price $40,000.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outFender Stratocaster Sunburst 1958
Regular price $39,995.00Regular priceUnit price per$44,995.00Sale price $39,995.00Sold out -
Sold outMartin Negative Angle Neck Set 1890s
Regular price $35,995.00Regular price Sale price $35,995.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outGibson ES-335 Cherry 1961
Regular price $34,995.00Regular price Sale price $34,995.00Unit price perSold out -
Fender Stratocaster Selmer Fiesta Red over Sunburst 1964
Regular price $34,500.00Regular price Sale price $34,500.00Unit price perSold out -
Sold outFender Stratocaster Sunburst 1958
Regular price $34,000.00Regular priceUnit price per$44,000.00Sale price $34,000.00Sold out -
Fender Stratocaster Lake Placid Blue 1966
Regular price $32,500.00Regular priceUnit price per$35,995.00Sale price $32,500.00Sold out -
Sold outGibson Les Paul Goldtop 1952
Regular price $27,196.00Regular priceUnit price per$31,995.00Sale price $27,196.00Sold out -
Fender Stratocaster Lake Placid Blue Refin 1961
Regular price $26,995.00Regular price Sale price $26,995.00Unit price perSold out
The Vault Hall of Fame
GIBSON ES-355 1958 CHERRY
Yes, you read that year, make, and model right—and, no, it’s not a typo. One of just three prototype ES-355 models known to exist in 1958, this guitar and it's history helped shape the model forever.
The Gibson ES-355, introduced in 1958, was the flagship model of Gibson’s thinline semi-hollow series and remains one of the most iconic vintage guitars ever made. Designed as a deluxe version of the ES-335, the ES-355 offered stereo wiring, a six-position Varitone switch, and high-end features like a Bigsby B-7 vibrato, ebony fretboard, large block inlays, gold hardware, and multi-ply binding. Its refined aesthetic and versatile tone made it the most luxurious model in the ES lineup.
Early ES-355 models include the mono ES-355TD (debuted in 1958 like ours shown here) and the stereo ES-355TD-SV (introduced in 1959), giving players options in configuration and tonal control. The Varitone circuit offered expanded frequency shaping, though many players later converted these models to mono for simplicity.
The ES-355 has been embraced by legendary guitarists like B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Otis Rush, and Johnny Marr, cementing its status as a true vintage classic. Whether you're looking to buy a vintage Gibson ES-355 or explore the tonal difference between a Gibson ES-355 and ES-335, this model remains a holy grail for collectors and players alike.
The Untold Story of the 3rd Gibson ES-355 EVER MADE!
Chicago Music Exchange is proud to have been chosen to be the temporary stewards of this prototype 1958 Gibson ES-355 by the family of its original owner, Kenny W. Hough. Learn how CME acquired this historic, incredibly rare vintage guitar and hear how it sounds in Nathaniel’s hands.
Read The BlogTHE "BURSTS"
The 1958, 1959, and 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standards are widely regarded as the most iconic and collectible vintage electric guitars ever made. Known for their carved maple tops, solid mahogany bodies, and legendary PAF humbuckers, these vintage Gibson Les Pauls deliver unmatched sustain, warmth, and tonal clarity. Introduced with the now-famous sunburst finish in 1958, each guitar from this era features a unique figured top, making them instantly recognizable and highly desirable among collectors and players. Revered by guitar legends like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Duane Allman, the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard in particular has become known as the “holy grail” of vintage guitars. With their combination of rarity, tonal excellence, and historical significance, original 1958–1960 Les Paul Standards remain the most sought-after vintage Gibson guitars on the market—perfect for serious collectors, high-end investors, and discerning players looking for the ultimate vintage guitar.
1960 LES PAUL STANDARD "SCARFACE"
Every so often, something comes along that stops us all in our tracks and leaves us speechless. That's exactly what happened when we first opened up the brown Stone case and laid our eyes on the absolutely stunning top on this incredible Burst that we're ironically calling "scarface". It earned that nickname because a previous owner (who undoubtedly was a Jimmy Page fan) decided to add an onboard fuzz circuit to the underside of the pickguard which was bulky enough that it required the removal of a small portion of the top in order for it to fit. Fortunately, in July of 1988, a very skilled luthier did a tremendous job of reverting the beauty back as close to its original cosmetic condition as possible by placing a piece of maple which matched the surrounding grain very well into where it was once removed. This repair is completely invisible under the pickguard. No photograph really does justice to the figured top of this guitar, although it does look great in the popular book "Beauty of the 'Burst".
Equally as impressive as this guitar's gorgeous looks are its effortless playability, the impressive resonance of the aged woods, and the astounding sound of the PAF pickups through a good tube amp. It's no wonder why this guitar has become the "standard" that so many builders have based their solid body models on. It's also no surprise that this year and model instrument was used by seminal artists on timeless recordings such as "Blues Breakers" with Eric Clapton.
1959 LES PAUL STANDARD
Commonly referred to as "the holy grail," the Les Paul Standard hit its prime in 1959, just one year after its release in 1958. The subtle changes introduced piecemeal in the 1950s seemed to coalesce into a singular tone, feel, and look that made the model irresistible to rock and roll icons like Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Duane Allman, and more. One look at the 1959 Les Paul Standard and you'll see why.
1960 LES PAUL STANDARD
1960 brought about more subtle changes to the Les Paul Standard. Gibson made the neck thinner, the frets wider and taller, and switched to a new fade-resistant finish formula. This new formula would retain its color longer, but was also more opaque and more orange than past finishes, changing the Standard's legendary color profile, but just for a time. Gibson would discontinue the single-cut Les Paul later that year, making these models highly desirable. The 1960 Les Paul Standard is a beautiful example of this model's dark edges and historic color gradient.
GIBSON LES PAUL 1959 "BURST"
Behold—the real deal: a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst"! “This 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard #9 0830 has been known to us for almost 20 years,” said Chicago Music Exchange CEO Andrew Yonke, “And it has been used on dozens of famous recordings under the stewardship of its previous three owners.”
1959 Gibson Les Paul | CME House Amps
Here’s Nathaniel channeling none other than—you guessed it!—Jimmy Page through a vintage Park 2x12 50w Combo using nothing but a Mr. Black Super Swell Classic Spring Reverb pedal.
Read The BlogGIBSON LES PAUL "SG" EBONY BLOCKS
"In my first ten years of ownership of Chicago Music Exchange we had never even seen an Ebony Block in store. Then in a matter of one week we were blessed with two incredible examples. Both sold privately in a matter of hours but thankfully we took the time to enjoy them! Both sold to friends of the store and hopefully you will see them on stages and hear them on records soon enough." - CEO Andrew Yonke
1961 & 1962 Gibson Les Paul "SG" Ebony Block
Yet another example of two extremely rare instruments with appointments that only existed for a very short period of time. Each example distinctly different from one another visually, but both incredible sounding.
PRE CBS FENDER JAGUARS IN RARE CUSTOM COLORS
These ultra-rare Pre CBS vintage Jags in Burgundy Mist, Sonic Blue, and Fiesta Red custom colors boast their original finish with matching headcaps, owned by Josh Klinghoffer (Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janes Addiction, etc.).
History of the Fender Jaguar
What's better than 1 Pre CBS Custom color Fender Jaguar owned by Josh Klinghoffer? THREE! That'ts right we've had THREE of Josh's Jaguars in the building. We thought this would be a perfect time to talk about Jaguars in general, are Jaguars the most underrated Fender? We explore the unique features and history of the Fender Jaguar, as well as hear some amazing sounds from these iconic instruments.
1961 GIBSON LES PAUL (SG) CHERRY
One of the earliest examples of Gibson's new double-cut body shape, this 1961 Gibson Les Paul dates back to the style's first production year and features the short-lived sideways Vibrola tailpiece and a beautifully preserved Cherry finish with which the SG would soon become synonymous.
1960 GIBSON NATURAL ES-335
Here it is, the most viewed guitar in our entire online inventory: the 1960 Natural Gibson ES-335. Special-ordered from the factory with a natural finish, split parallelogram inlays, and a Bigsby, this semi-hollow body beauty was once a part of the Chinery collection and is all original down to the wiring harness and PAF humbucking pickups.
Vintage Vibes - 1960 Gibson Natural ES-335
Our man Evan (don’t you call him no intern!) has the honor of showing you what he can do on the most viewed guitar in our entire online inventory: the 1960 Natural Gibson ES-335.
Special-ordered from the factory with a natural finish, split parallelogram inlays, and a Bigsby, this semi-hollow body beauty was once a part of the Chinery collection and is all original down to the wiring harness and PAF humbucking pickups.
1962 GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM POLARIS WHITE
In the early 1960s, the Les Paul gave birth to the SG and, along the way, created the Gibson Les Paul Custom. Made famous by guitar goddess Sister Rosetta Tharpe, this particular triple-pickup Polaris White model features a trio of golden PAF humbuckers and a sideways Vibrola tailpiece.
CME Vintage Demo - 1962 Gibson Les Paul Custom Polaris White
Class is in session! Professor Murphy pages through the history books to highlight how the Les Paul gave birth to the SG, and created the 1962 Gibson Les Paul Custom along the way. So grab your pencils and an apple for teacher; this cream-white wonder will soon be history too.
1959 FENDER TWEED TWIN
Loud, proud, and supremely collectible, this 1959 Tweed Twin is one of the most sought-after combos on the vintage market, and it looks and sounds just like gold, packing a whopping 85 watts of true tube tone with incredible clarity.
1959 GIBSON NATURAL ES-355 FACTORY BLACK
In 1959, Gibson produced just 123 ES-355s. An estimated three were finished in Factory Black, making this one of the rarest guitars the manufacturer ever built.
1960 GIBSON ES-335 CHERRY DOT NECK
Our 1960 Gibson ES-335 Cherry Dot Neck is well-worn, and for a good reason. Blessed with one of the finest sets of PAF humbucking pickups we’ve ever heard, someone couldn’t stop playing it, and we don’t blame them.
1962 GIBSON ES-175
There are closet cases, and then there’s this 1962 ES-175. The cleanest PAF-equipped ES-175 we’ve ever had, this 1962 model is spotless from headstock to tailblock.
1935 GIBSON ROY SMECK STAGE DELUXE HAWAIIAN SUNBURST
You’ve never seen a Roy Smeck like this. The neck on this beautiful 1935 Gibson has been converted from Hawaiian to Spanish, taking it off the lap to let its extraordinary feel and old-growth tonewoods shine.
1970 FENDER ROSEWOOD TELECASTER
The Rosewood Telecaster was designed by Roger Ross Maisel, who started his career with Rickenbacker and moved to Fender in the mid-'60s. The Beatles began their career playing Rickenbackers, so when Fender gave the prototype to George Harrison, they gave him a guitar that was designed by the very same man. A fitting end as George decided to play it in their last public performance on the Apple Corps rooftop in 1969.
Beatles Medley - 1969/70 Fender Rosewood Telecaster
How many Beatles songs can you play in a row? When we put a rosewood vintage Tele in Nathaniel’s hands, there was no telling how many songs he’d string together into a medley of Incredible solo arrangements. But, as you might have guessed—once he gets going, you’ll never want him to stop!
1958 FENDER BLONDE STRATOCASTER
The neck is from 1957 and because it is from '57 it does have that very subtle and coveted V-neck profile. The body is from '58. Pots from '57. The serial number is from '57/'58 also. Around that time there were Mary Kaye spec Stratocasters as well with the gold hardware as you can see, we got the nickel hardware. If this was a Mary Kaye spec with the gold hardware it would be twice the price. The frets have been rewired with era correct fret wire. The neck has been over-sprayed quite a long time ago and feels very comfortable to play. It also does come with a tweed hard case, the original.
Vintage Vibes - 1958 Fender Blonde Stratocaster
It’s Nathaniel’s lucky day. He pairs our Blonde ‘58 Stratocaster with a ‘57 Princeton Tweed and the rest, they say, is history as he takes us on a tour through time beginning with The Everly Brothers’ classic, “All I Have To Do Is Dream”, released in April 1958.
Read The Blog1968 FENDER PINK PAISLEY TELECASTER
Manufactured only in 1968 and 1969, the Paisley Telecasters are named for their distinctive finish, which is actually a piece of wallpaper Fender affixed to the body and then covered with a clear coat. This particular Paisley Telecaster has a one-piece maple neck and maple cap, a rare feature only available for a few years with 1968 being one.
Vintage Vibes - 1968 Fender Pink Paisley Telecaster
This 1968 Pink Paisley Fender Telecaster was definitely born to be wild, and Nathaniel shows us why. Manufactured only in 1968 and 1969, the Paisley Telecasters are named for their distinctive finish, which is actually a piece of wallpaper Fender affixed to the body and then covered with a clear coat.
This particular Paisley Telecaster has a one-piece maple neck and maple cap, a rare feature only available for a few years with 1968 being one. A ‘64 Fender Vibroverb and an Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Pi help reveal the true spirit of this special, psychedelic delight.
1965 FENDER LAKE PLACID BLUE BASS VI
The Bass VI was released in 1961, right around the same time the Jag came out. It was really designed to compete with Danelectros UB-4 at the time. The original production line ran up to 1975, which is a really long period of time considering how strange this thing really truly is. The Fender Bass VI is not a baritone, it is actually tuned like an electric guitar in perfect fifths from E to E, but down an entire octave like a bass would be. But it's also not a six-string bass with a huge neck. It's a 30-inch scale with 21 frets. Like a Jag, you have independent switches for each pickup here and also a high pass filter, the strangle switch so you can get a wide variety of tones. Also, the pickups, although they look like Strat pickups in the way that Jaguar pickups look like Strat pickups are actually quite a bit different because of the comb here on the sides.
THE VAULT ARCHIVES
1960 GIBSON SUNBURST ES-335
Described by CEO Andrew Yonke as “the guitar that Jesus built,” this 1960 Gibson Sunburst ES-335 boasts a custom-ordered, split-parallelogram fretboard.
1960 GIBSON ARGENTINE GRAY ES-345
This 1960 Gibson ES-345 bears an excellent example of the Argentine Gray finish, a rare, custom colorway only available by special order.
1961 GIBSON SUNBURST ES-335
This spotless 1961 Gibson Sunburst ES-335 gives us an ultra-clean look at the world’s first commercial semi-hollow body guitar as it was when it debuted in 1958. Block inlays replaced the original “dot necks” in 1962.
1963 GIBSON NATURAL BYRDLAND
The 1963 model is one of the rarest incarnations of the Byrdland offered, and the one we’ve nabbed is in impeccable form. This beautiful Byrd touts tons of all-original features, including authentic electronics, PAF bridge pickup and Patent Number Sticker neck pickup, and much more.
1963 FENDER FIESTA RED STRATOCASTER
A rose by any other name would certainly not smell as sweet as this 1963 Fiesta Red Stratocaster, customized with slab rosewood fingerboard and unique Rose decal.
1960 SUNBURST STRATOCASTER
This instrument is instilled with plenty of the design elements that vintage enthusiasts consider the culmination of the Fender Stratocaster aesthetic from the late '50s, including classic body contours, clay dot inlays, a beautifully intact 3-tone finish and most noticeably, a slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard introduced the year prior. A pristine model-year instrument for the savvy collector.
1957 SUNBURST STRATOCASTER
Never have we received a Strat that truly embodies that pivotal period of transition like this one, with a plethora of groundbreaking features that were realized in that year. From the 2-Tone Sunburst color, to Leo's perfect body contour, to the highly desirable ’57 V neck profile, every aspect of this period-correct instrument makes it an outstanding find.
1954 SUNBURST STRATOCASTER
This Sunburst Fender Stratocaster dates back to the model’s first commercial year, 1954, when, after several years of development, the legendary electric guitar finally hit the market.
1964 FENDER CANDY APPLE RED JAZZMASTER
Sweet is one word to describe this 1964 Candy Apple Red Jazzmaster, an outrageous offset manufactured in the new custom color just one year before Fender transferred ownership to CBS in 1965.
1965 FENDER OLYMPIC WHITE JAZZ BASS
This 1965 Olympic White Fender Jazz Bass demonstrates the first changes made to the model during the Fender-CBS transition, notably pearloid dot inlays, bound rosewood fingerboards, and oval-shaped tuning machines.
1967 FENDER BLONDE TELECASTER
Manufactured at the tail-end of country music’s golden age, when chicken pickin’ chops were exceeded only by the height of one’s hair, this 1967 Blonde Fender Telecaster stands strong as a prime picture of Fender’s first solid-body electric, and Music Row’s greatest weapon.
1953 FENDER BLONDE PRECISION BASS
This 1953 Blonde Fender Precision Bass dates back to the final year of the model’s initial design. Fender would add body contours in 1954 and arrive at its contemporary design in 1957.
1954 GIBSON GOLDTOP LES PAUL
Before the PAF, there was the P-90. This 1954 Goldtop shows the Les Paul in one of its earliest stages, equipped with two P-90 single-coils and a wraparound bridge.
GIBSON NATURAL DOVE
On the wings of a dove comes this stunning 1963 Gibson steel-string flattop, complete with hand-engraved pickguard, mother-of-pearl Dove inlay, and original Tune-O-Matic bridge.
1965 GIBSON POLARIS WHITE FIREBIRD
This white-hot 1965 Gibson is an early example of the highest-end Firebird model, the VII, loaded with three pickups, Tune-O-Matic bridge, Maestro “Lyre” Vibrola tailpiece and finished in rare Polaris White.
1937 MARTIN 000-18
The year is 1937. Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated for a second term. Joe Louis defeats James J. Braddock to become heavyweight champion of the world. A certain cartoon duck makes his debut, and this Martin is fresh off the line. Still in fine form today, this 1937 000-18 is set to sing into its 100th year and then some.
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