Staff Picks

We're the luckiest musicians in the world! We have our hands on the GREATEST GEAR that has ever existed. We build it, we buy it, we play it, and of course we sell it. We all have our favorites and good reasons why. We'd love to keep it a secret and have all of the magical tones to ourselves but that would be CRAZY! Staff Picks is where each of our experts shares their FAVORITE GEAR! It's always changing, always updating with the latest and greatest. Enjoy CME Staff Picks!

SHOP CME STAFF PICKS!

SHOP CME STAFF PICKS

Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression
Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression
Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression
Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression

Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black

$145.00
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body

Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969

$18,493.00
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body

Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s

$6,431.00
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body

Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995

$8,755.00
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Featured Pick of the Month -
Spector Icon NS-2 Bolt-On Bass Black Stain Gloss

Joseph - Customer Service Lead

"Spector has really knocked it out of the park yet again with their new Icon series NS-2 basses. Classic, high quality appointments that have made them a go to brand for serious bassists, but now at a more budget friendly option and neck through design. Yer fond of me Spector, ain't ye?"

Shop Bass Guitar Arrivals!
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert
Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing Acoustic Guitars / Concert

Taylor 322ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood Shaded Edgeburst ES2 w/V-Class Bracing

$3,315.00
From Taylor: 

Our V-Class bracing lends extra power, sustain and sweetness to this cutaway 12-fret Grand Concert, broadening its musical range. Blackwood back and sides produce a strong voice—even in small-body GC—with a meaty midrange focus and a splash of top-end shimmer, while the mahogany top adds a touch of natural compression to smooth out the response from top to bottom. The combination of a 12-fret neck, slightly shorter 24-7/8-inch scale length, and a shifted bridge position (closer to the center of the lower bout) produces a slinkier handfeel. This makes an excellent choice for players who crave the comfort of a compact frame. With its microphone-friendly voice, it also makes a great choice for recording, and with the ES2 electronics, produces a clear, flavorful amplified sound. The dark and earthy aesthetic incorporates a shaded edgeburst top over the dusky mahogany top, black binding, an all-satin finish, a black pickguard, and small diamond inlays in Italian acrylic.

Scale Length: 24-7/8"
Nut & Saddle: Black Graphite, Micarta saddle
Bracing: V-Class
Truss Rod Cover: Black Plastic
Pickguard: Black
Number of Frets: 18
Tuners: Taylor Slot Head
Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown
Body Length: 19 1/2"
Body Width: 15"
Body Depth: 4 3/8"

Binding/Edge Treatment: Black
Top Finish: Satin
Back Config: 2-piece No Wedge
Backstrap Finish: None
Rosette Size: Three Ring
Bridge Inlay: None
Back/Side Finish: Satin
Armrest Binding: None
Backstrap Wood: None
Rosette Mat.: Plastic
Stain/Sunburst: Blackwood Stain Back/Sides, Medium Brown Stain Top/Neck, Shaded Edge Burst Top
Shaded Edge Burst Top Wedge: None
Armrest: No

Neck Width: 1-3/4"
Fretboard Inlay: Gemstone, Italian Acrylic
Fretboard Binding/Edge Treatment: Black
Heel Cap Binding: Black
Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard Wood: West African Ebony
Neck Finish: Satin
Heel Length: 3-1/4"
View Details

TIME FOR NEW GEAR?

Help us help you, by contacting us today and let us know what you are looking for! We are here to help make your next dream piece of gear a reality!

CALL US NOW!
Alex Chadwick - General Manager
Andrew Yonke - CEO
Daniel Bordonaro - Lead Buyer

CHECK OUT THESE STAFF PICKS:

Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab 1961 Les Paul SG "CME Spec" - Laurel, Inventory Specialist

"When this beauty hit the shop it took me to a special place. One riddled with wooden panels, cigarette smoke, and a faint taste of scotch on the rocks. This 'CME Spec' SG brings me back to an era I never knew I needed to live in, and I'm here for it. Our Custom "S" Buckers have this baby singing to the high heavens no matter the amp. Not to mention the aging, masterfully done by Tom Murphy and his team, flawlessly ties together an intense feeling of nostalgia. No need for a time machine with this axe by your side."

Shop Gibson Custom Murphy Lab
Product image

Gibson CS 1957 Les Paul Custom "CME Spec" Antique Pewter Sparkle VOS - Ocean, Customer Experience

"Refining the gold standard. This Gibson CS 1957 Les Paul Custom isn't just a museum piece; with that stunning Antique Pewter Sparkle VOS finish, it belongs right under the spotlight. Our CME-exclusive specs give it a broken-in feel that inspires you to actually play—though just staring at it is perfectly acceptable, too."

Shop Gibson Guitar Arrivals!
04.14.26 - April Staff Picks - Sam Ocean-10.jpg__PID:dc34fac1-b3ab-4d42-82fb-c8ccbdfd06c7
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1960s Bruno's 12-String Electric Guitar -  Felix, E-Commerce Specialist

"I've been on the hunt for a 12-string guitar for a while now. But not just your "Grandma's standard 12-string". Not acoustic (barf). Nothing 'New'. Ideally something with 'Character'. 'Personality'. 'Pizazz'. Until one Sunny Wednesday day a few weeks ago, I was strolling across our showroom floor to head out for lunch. This little eye-booger caught the corner of my eye. The weird shape? The burst? Those grotesquely offset pickups? The "Giraffe-looking" headstock? The uniquely colored & speckled pickguard? I took it off the floor up to my desk almost immediately to make sure no other lucky customer would snag it before i got to it. I've had this in my arsenal now for about 2 weeks & it's written almost a dozen songs & has well above 20 hours of play time. "Good tools are half the work". Here's to many more songs to come with the new friend in my life, 'Ugly Bruno'."

Shop Vintage & Used!

Rupert Neve Designs RNDI-M Active Transformer Direct Interface - Joe, Product Category Manager

"Rupert Neve Designs makes the best DIs and preamps, hands down. This is my go-to affordable DI, whether I’m on stage or tracking in the studio."

Shop Rupert Neve Designs!
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Slingerland Radio King 5.5x14 Snare Drum Gold Glass Glitter - Zach, Brand Content Manager

"Really digging everything Slingerland has been putting out lately! Usually not a big sparkle-drum guy, but the Gold Glitter on this snare drum sparks something in me! Plus, the rich history of Slingerland Drums has me sold!"

Shop Slingerland Drums!

Atkin The Forty Three Spruce/Mahogany Aged Olive Drab - Johnny, Counter Associate

"This Atkin Forty Three has been one of my favorite guitars to pick up in our acoustic room. I'm a big fan of olive drab finishes, and to see one on an acoustic guitar rules. The subtle checking in the finish is something pictures truly can't capture; you have to see it in person. It also sounds as great as it looks! The baked spruce top and mahogany back and sides are a classic pairing that anyone's ear will enjoy. From strumming cowboy chords to fingerpicking in open tunings, this guitar can do it all with ease. "

Shop Atkin Guitar Arrivals!
04.08.26 - April Staff Picks - Johnny Kascukas-3.jpg__PID:1fd6724e-d905-426d-b56b-e319f4ca37b9
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1968 Gibson ES-175DN - Laurel, Inventory Specialist

"The ES-175 was considered a workhorse for jazz and blues guitarists since its launch in 1949 and this instrument is proof of that. Originally fitted with p90s, the double pickup version released in 1953 features two humbuckers as we see here. It was released in two colors, Sunburst and Natural, however the Natural finish is more rare, resulting in the name 175N. Unlike some of its predecessors, this model is considered more versatile and can be cranked up loud without too much feedback. The cutaway and neck profile allow the player to sweep the fingerboard with ease, making it perfect for (but not limited to) jazz. The warm and distinctly crisp sound was beloved by many including Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, and Pat Metheny. This particular instrument was very special to someone (ask about the backstory!) and the play wear gives us a small glimpse into that relationship. We have some truly remarkable ES style guitars in the shop right now, come check 'em out while they're still around!"

Shop Vintage & Used Gear!

SHOP STAFF PICKS

Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression
Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression
Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression
Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black Effects and Pedals / Controllers, Volume and Expression

Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller Black

$145.00
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969 Electric Guitars / Solid Body

Gibson Les Paul Custom Ebony 1969

$18,493.00
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s Electric Guitars / Solid Body

Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear 1970s

$6,431.00
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body
Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995 Electric Guitars / Solid Body

Gibson Custom 1964 Lonnie Mack Flying V Cherry 1995

$8,755.00
SHOP CME STAFF PICKS!

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