INTRODUCING | God City Instruments

Designed By Converge Guitarist Kurt Ballou, God City Instruments Are Crafted To Meet The Needs Of Today’s Working Musicians

For more than two decades, Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou has been building a career based on his love of music. From his guitar work for his groundbreaking metalcore band, which broke onto the hardcore punk scene in the early aughts; to owning God City Recording Studios, where he has engineered records for a host of indie, punk, hardcore, metal, and experimental artists since 2003; to founding God City Instruments (GCI) in 2017, after his circuit-board business card for the studio—a DIY PCB distortion pedal, based loosely on one of his favorite distortions—took the DIY pedal-building world by storm.

GCI Craftsman Series 4 Guitar Satin Shell Pink Electric Guitars / Solid Body

GCI Craftsman Series 4 Guitar Satin Shell Pink

$2,191.00

Please Note: This GCI instrument was manufactured for E standard tuning; if you're planning on playing it in a different tuning, please let us know before placing your order.

With a 25.5" scale length, solid alder body, and an overwound GCI Soap Jammer stacked humbucker, the God City Instruments Craftsman Series 4 is a simple, comfortable rocker.

Body: Alder (Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Construction: Set Neck

Neck: Maple (Satin Polyurethane Finish)
Neck Shape: C Shape
Neck Thickness: .825” thickness at 1st fret, .915” at 12th fret
Fretboard: Rosewood (12” to 16” compound radius)
Inlays: Dot
Binding: Cream Fretboard Binding
Side Dots: Black
Frets: 22 medium jumbo frets
Scale: 25.5”
Nut Material/Width: Graphtech (1 11/16” width)

Bridge: Graphtech PM-8593
Strap Buttons: Elliptical
Pickup: GCI Soap Jammer Stacked Humbucker (10k output, Alnico 5, 44AWG)
Controls & Knob Finish: 1 Volume, 1 Tone (Black Reflector Cap Knobs)
Factory Strings/Gauge: NYXL 10-46, E standard

Case: Hardshell Form Fitted GCI Case
Built by hand in Korea by a small team of dedicated luthiers

View Details

GCI Craftsman Bass Gloss Amberburst Bass Guitars / 4-String

GCI Craftsman Bass Gloss Amberburst

$2,474.00

Please Note: This GCI instrument was manufactured for D standard Tuning (DGCF); if you're planning on playing it in a different tuning, please let us know before placing your order.

God City Instruments straddles the line between old-school aesthetics and modern power. Designed by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou, GCI guitars and basses combine Ballou’s favorite features, including high-quality components, plus a no-frills approach to craftsmanship—as well factory-standard drop-tuned setups on some models—with an aim to provide unique, great-sounding tools for today’s working musicians so they can continue shaping the sound of tomorrow’s music!

Body: Mahogany
Construction: Set Neck

Neck: Maple Neck (Satin Tobacco Polyurethane Finish, Wenge headstock)
Neck Shape: C Shape
Neck Thickness: .865” thickness at 1st fret, .965” at 12th fret
Fretboard: Wenge Fingerboard (12” to 16” compound radius)
Inlays: Acrylic Pearloid Block
Binding: Cream (Body/Neck/Headstock)
Side Dots: Black
Frets/Size:18 Medium Jumbo
Nut/Width: Graphtech (1 11/16” width)
Scale: 34”

Bridge: Hipshot 5G400
Strap Buttons: Elliptical
Pickups: GCI Big Slug single coil (10k bridge output, 6k neck output, Alnico V, 42 AWG, reverse wound neck)
Controls & Knob Finish: 1 Volume, 1 Tone (Chrome Knurled Metal Knobs)
Factory Strings/Gauge: NYXL 55-110, D standard (DGCF)

Case: Hardshell Form Fitted GCI Case
Built by hand in Korea by a small team of dedicated luthiers

View Details

SHOP GCI GUITARS

SHOP GCI BASS

Whether he is recording music or playing it himself, GCI has come to represent the nexus where the Converge guitarist’s own long-term musical interests, influences, and aspirations intersect! With an aim to provide unique, great-sounding, tools for the active musician, GCI guitars and basses employ a no-frills approach, straddling the line between old-school aesthetics and modern power.

From the body contours to the pickups, to the neck joints, God City Instruments guitars and basses combine some of Ballou’s favorite features from classic guitar models of the past and use only high-quality components, setting the standard for today’s recording and performing musicians, so they can continue shaping the sound of tomorrow’s music.

GCI Constructivist Guitar Gloss Metallic Lake Placid Blue Electric Guitars / Solid Body

GCI Constructivist Guitar Gloss Metallic Lake Placid Blue

$2,474.00

Please Note: This GCI instrument was manufactured for D standard tuning (DGCFAD); if you're planning on playing it in a different tuning, please let us know before placing your order.

Model: Constructivist Guitar
Color: Metallic Blue
Body Material: Swamp Ash
Body Finish: Gloss Metallic Blue
Body Shape: Offset with German Carve
Construction: 1 Piece Bolt-On

Neck Material/Finish: Roasted Maple/Gloss Metallic Blue
Neck Shape: C
Neck Dimensions: 0.85" at 1st, 0.95" at 12th
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood

Frets/Material: 22, Medium Jumbo
Fingerboard Radius: 12-16" compound
Fingerboard Binding: Cream
Fingerboard Inlay: Synthetic Pearloid Blocks
Side Dots: Black
Nut Material/Width: TUSQ, 1 11/16"
Scale Length: 25.5"
Headstock Color: Body Color
Truss Rod: Headstock

Neck Pickup: GCI Soap Jammer Stacked Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: GCI Soap Jammer Stacked Humbucker
Switching: Two Slider ON/OFF
Controls: Individual Volume and Tone
Pickguard: Black 3-ply
Truss Rod Cover: Black 3-ply
Knobs: Black Reflector Cap
Switch Cap: Black

Hardware Color: Chrome
Bridge: Hard Tail
Tuning Machines: D'Addario Auto-trim
Factory Strings/Gauge: NYXL 11-52, D standard (DGCFAD)

Case: Custom Hard Shell

View Details

Shop for GCI guitars and basses today at Chicago Music Exchange!

SHOP GOD CITY INSTRUMENTS

Bad Cat | Mark Sampson Mod Shop Black Cat 30

The iconic Bad Cat Black Cat returns—reimagined by legendary amp designer Mark Sampson. Hand-built in California, the new Mod Shop Black Cat 30 blends boutique tone with modern features, including EL84 power, two channels, lush reverb, and vintage tremolo. This limited-edition combo is the first release from Bad Cat’s Mod Shop series—and it's available now at Chicago Music Exchange.

View Details

Ibanez | Summer 2025 Electric Guitars

Discover the latest 2025 Ibanez guitars at Chicago Music Exchange—your destination for cutting-edge electric guitar innovation, shred-ready performance, and legendary craftsmanship. From iconic RG and AZ models to bold new designs, the 2025 Ibanez lineup delivers next-gen features, sleek finishes, and high-performance specs built for today’s players. Be among the first to shop the newest Ibanez releases, available now at Chicago Music Exchange!

View Details

CME on Tour | Powers Electric May 2025

Recently, CME Director of New Product, Dan Bordonaro, visited Powers Electric’s San Diego headquarters to select tonewoods for a new run of A-Type Select guitars! Working with Andy Powers himself, who is uniquely hands-on with the tonewoods and building process of every Powers Electric guitar, the two selected tonewoods and specifications for our next run of striking Powers Electric A-Type Selects!

View Details

Item added to your cart

Designed By Converge Guitarist Kurt Ballou, God City Instruments Are Crafted To Meet The Needs Of Today’s Working Musicians