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!
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Featured Pick of the Month -
Olympic White Fender Vintera III Early '60s Jazz Bass
Lily - Counter Associate
"The Fender 60s Jazz bass is guaranteed to give you that clean, clear and classic sound you’re looking for. With her comfy maple neck, vintage style reverse tuners and a simple look that goes with just about anything this gal stays at the top of my list."
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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."
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1960s Watkins Dominator - Cassie, Product Photographer
"I believe things should look as good as they sound and this 1960's Watkins Dominator ticks all the boxes. It's got tons of character in a gorgeous, well-loved blue hue, and it's British made with that distinctive mid-range growl you would expect from EL84s. Fab gear!"
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1950s Sunburst Kay Model K-162 - Miles, Customer Service Associate
"Looking for style? Aesthetic flair? Thumpy low end for days? Look no further than this K-162. It may not be for everyone. Those looking for a sleek, modern-feeling shredder may want to look elsewhere. But for those in search of vintage oomph and loads of character, this may just be a dream come true. The fingerboard is noticeably slimmer than you'll usually see these days at 1-7/16", and the neck is definitely thicker (1.11" at the 1st fret, 1.22" at the 10th). That said, it's surprisingly comfy, and it's the kind of neck that shapes the way you play it in an interesting way. Apart from the sound and feel, this thing looks killer. That massive pickup ring? The matching control plate? The headstock matching the plastic? Forget about it.This bass is a dream come true for a vintage Kay enthusiast, an appreciator of the offbeat, or anyone looking to add some old school class to their arsenal. Act fast before I cave and buy it myself!"
Shop Vintage & Used!Akai MPK Mini IV Compact MIDI Keyboard & Pad Controller - Joe, Product Category Manager
"The Akai MPK Mini IV is a solid step up from the old version, better keys, punchier pads, and more tweakable knobs, yet it’s still only $99. Perfect for sketching beats at home, messing around in the studio, or taking your music anywhere. Seriously, it’s like getting a tiny music studio in your backpack… without the back pain."
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Used Ludwig Classic Maple 13/16/24 Citrus Mod Drum Kit - Zach, Brand Content Manager
"Love a good classic Ludwig Classic Maple drum kit! And it doesn't get any more funky than the Citrus Mod finish! When this came through the Drum Exchange, I almost immediately jumped on it...but my rent was due."
Shop Ludwig 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. "
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1960s Sunburst
National Debonaire - Laurel, Inventory Specialist
"They don't make 'em like this anymore! This stunning National Debonaire was manufactured in the early to mid 1960s by Chicago's own Kay Musical Instrument Company and sold by Valco under the National brand name. There's a breadth of history behind these brands, their collaborations, and their ultimate downfall, but these archtop guitars are some of what remain to tell the story. Not only does the finish on this instrument look incredible, but the iconic Valco single coil pickup is what really makes this guitar shine in my eyes. When you have it in your hands you can attest to the level of detail and care put into crafting this instrument. It is truly a testament to the standard of guitar luthiery during this time period. What a gem!"
Shop Vintage & Used Gear!Related Posts
The CME Collection - Gibson Custom Tom Murphy Aged & Painted Guitars
While the guitars from the Murphy Labs at Gibson Custom Shop now showcase Tom Murphy’s work in developing the painting and aging techniques Gibson Guitars uses to replicate the finishes on its limited-run historic models, Murphy’s contributions to the Custom Shop started long before the establishment of Murphy Labs, going all the way back to the first years we opened up shop!Now, in addition to Chicago Music Exchange's existing inventory of some of the best Murphy Labs guitars Gibson has to offer, The CME Collection gives us a look back at a tradition of excellence that Tom Murphy helped begin at the Gibson Custom Shop, including models that have been aged and painted by the man, himself!
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The CME Collection - Collector's Choice Gibson Models
Taking cues from the “Inspired By” series of extremely limited Gibson Custom Shop runs begun in 2005, the Collector’s Choice series launched in 2010 continued to recreated more than 40 models until 2017, producing extremely limited runs or instruments virtually indistinguishable from their vintage antecedents—all of which have come to be recognized among collector’s as the crème de la crème of the vintage guitar world!While we may have seen a number of Collector’s Choice models come through Chicago Music Exchange over the years Gibson the series was in production, it’s safe to say we’ve never had this many at once!
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The CME Collection | Acoustics
It may not be the first thing you see when you walk into Chicago Music Exchange but, tucked in the back corner of our store—past the counter, the wall of Les Pauls, and the Gibson thinlines on the left—you’ll find a pair of French doors that open up to our Acoustic Room. Walk in and you’ll find yourself a humidity-/temperature-controlled room, which is essentially a walk-in humidor full of all the six-string (at times, 12-string) acoustic instruments we have, from the most sought-after brands our customers love and are always looking for—all of which can be perused at a glance with one swivel of the head.
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