Michigan Collection

Some collections are impressive on paper. Others stop you cold when you walk into the room.

This was the latter.

We recently acquired a meticulously curated collection of nearly 400 guitars from Detroit—an extraordinary archive of Fender and Gibson instruments assembled by a single, deeply knowledgeable player. Walking into the space felt overwhelming in the best way: rows upon rows of guitars, each one cared for, set up, and preserved with intention. Not a museum of untouchables—this was a player’s collection through and through.

And now, piece by piece, it’s coming to Chicago Music Exchange.

A Player's Vision, 400 Times Over

This wasn’t a random accumulation. The collector knew exactly what he liked.

Expect strong themes throughout the collection:

  • Hundreds of Fender Stratocasters, spanning American, Japanese, Custom Shop, artist models, and lesser-seen variations
  • A focused group of Gibson Les Pauls, including Customs, Classics, and rare offshoots
  • A notable love for Lace Sensor pickups, showing up again and again across decades and models
  • Artist signatures and curiosities—from The Edge to Robin Trower—alongside understated, sleeper guitars that quietly steal the show

Every case we opened told the same story: guitars that were played, maintained, and respected. Many are shockingly clean. Others show just enough wear to remind you they’re meant to be used.

There’s a guitar here for nearly every kind of player.

CME Setup & Instrument Inspection

We can’t release 400 guitars all at once—and honestly, we wouldn’t want to. Each instrument in this collection goes through our full Chicago Music Exchange process, including detailed inspection, professional setup, careful documentation, and high-quality photography and video before it’s ever listed for sale. These guitars are being released gradually, often in curated groupings that highlight specific eras, builders, finishes, or player-forward features.

Each instrument will go through our full CME process:

  • Inspection
  • Setup
  • Documentation
  • Photography & video
  • Listing

If you’ve seen a video and something caught your eye—or if you’re searching for a particular model, year, or feel—you don’t have to wait for it to appear online. Our knowledgeable sales team has early access to the collection and can help match you with the right instrument, sometimes before it ever goes live on the site.

We Buy. We pickup. We Sell.

We Buy Collections
Chicago Music Exchange is one of the most active buyers of guitar, bass, and amplifier collections in the world. From carefully curated vintage assortments to large, lifelong accumulations, we specialize in acquiring collections of all sizes. Whether you’re downsizing, managing an estate, or ready to move an entire collection at once, we make the process straightforward, respectful, and transparent. No piecing things out, no uncertainty—just an efficient, professional way to sell your collection with confidence.

We Pick Up Collections
Selling a large collection doesn’t mean figuring out shipping, packing, or logistics—we handle all of it. Our experts travel worldwide to pick up collections in person, ensuring every instrument is handled safely and discreetly. When travel isn’t practical, we arrange fully insured, prepaid shipping at no cost to you. From the first conversation to final payment, our process is designed to remove stress and guesswork. You don’t have to leave your home or worry about coordination—we come to you, wherever you are, and take care of the details so you don’t have to.

Hurry Up — These Instruments Are Priced to Sell
This collection represents a rare opportunity: hundreds of instruments acquired at once and intentionally priced to move. Because they come from a single collection, many pieces are offered below typical market expectations, and availability changes quickly. If something catches your eye, don’t wait—these instruments are finding new homes fast. Collections like this don’t come around often, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is it.

Sell or Trade Here!