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. 

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.

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

SHOP GOD CITY INSTRUMENTS

Related Posts

Yamaha | 2nd Generation Transacoustic Guitars

Yamaha’s TransAcoustic guitars are ideal for acoustic performers of all stripes, especially those who want to make every room they play in sound incredible! Now, Yamaha is making it easier for everyone to access the performance power of their TransAcoustic guitars, thanks to new, lower priced models! These guitars are still loaded with the same built-in reverb and delay that makes each performance sound much bigger than it is. For easy control, each TransAcoustic guitar features a compact control layout on the body’s exterior that makes it easy to dial in the EQ, volume, effects, and to connect to bluetooth devices (on the TAG1 C and TAS1 C)

View Details

Fender | Vintera III Series

Step into Fender’s most iconic eras—without leaving the present. The Vintera III Series captures the evolution of ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s Fender guitars and basses with unprecedented vintage accuracy, from era-correct neck profiles and pickups to refined hardware and finishes. Designed for players who obsess over feel, tone, and detail, Vintera III bridges past and present like never before. Now available at Chicago Music Exchange—shop in-store, online, or connect with our team to find your era.

View Details

Ibanez | New 2026 Ibanez Electric Guitars

The Ibanez 2026 lineup has officially landed at Chicago Music Exchange, bringing a wide range of new electric guitars built for every style of player. From AZ and RG favorites to Iron Label and headless Q designs, these models feature premium specs like roasted maple necks, DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan pickups, and Ibanez’s powerful dyna-MIX switching systems. Whether you’re chasing vintage-inspired tones or modern precision, the latest Ibanez guitars deliver unmatched versatility.

View Details