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.
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 INSTRUMENTSSHOP GOD CITY INSTRUMENTS
Related Posts
ASM | Leviasynth 16-voice Algorithmic Synthesizer
Ashun Sound Machines (ASM) put themselves on the map with the Hyrdasynth, an advanced wavetable synthesizer that featured dual wave mutators for powerful tone shaping capabilities! Now, ASM’s New flagship Leviasynth 16-Voice Algorithmic Synthesizer adds new sonic power, making this a sound designer’s dream! The ASM Leviasynth is now available for pre-order at Chicago Synth Exchange in 61-note keybed and desktop synthesizer versions, so call us at 773-525-7773, chat with us, or stop in to our Lincoln Avenue showroom to be among the first to add the Leviasynth to your sonic exploration fleet!
View DetailsIntroducing | CME Exclusive Fender Player II Lavender Haze
New year, new color, new sound. Chicago Music Exchange is proud to team up with Fender and Andertons Music Co. to introduce our latest CME Exclusive: Lavender Haze—a Player II collection that looks like a lost custom color from Fender’s golden era and sounds bigger, warmer, and more powerful than ever. Available as a Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, or Jazz Bass, each instrument is loaded with our exclusive “Full Dip” pickups, upgraded wiring mods, and thoughtful vintage-inspired details designed to solve modern players’ biggest tone complaints. This isn’t just a new finish—it’s a full recipe.
View DetailsRock N Roll Relics | Club Series Revenge
Discover the Rock N Roll Relics Club Series at Chicago Music Exchange. California-made pickups, vintage-inspired humbuckers, and stage-ready tone—now at an accessible price. Shop online or visit our Lincoln Avenue showroom today.
View Details








