Zac Brown Collection at CME

Multi-platinum, GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter, internationally celebrated performer, accomplished multi-instrumentalist, and founder of the life-changing nonprofit Camp Southern Ground, Zac Brown has built a career defined by artistry, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. Over the course of that journey, he has also assembled one of the most impressive and wide-ranging instrument collections we have ever encountered.

At Chicago Music Exchange, it has been our privilege to know Zac and work with him for many years. Our relationship has always been rooted in a shared love of great instruments, a deep respect for craftsmanship, and a mutual pursuit of the iconic sounds only the very best guitars can deliver. For that reason, it is especially meaningful to present this remarkable collection and help place these instruments into the hands of their next stewards, players, and songwriters.

The breadth of the this collection is simply extraordinary. From some of the rarest and most desirable acoustic guitars ever built to multiple vintage Bursts, earliest-era Fenders, golden-era archtops, a pre-war Martin collection of the highest order, a stunning group of one-of-a-kind Stephen Stern Gretsch Custom Shop creations, an exceptional Gibson lineup, and instruments that have traveled thousands of stages around the world, this is a collection built with vision, taste, and true musical purpose. It stands as both a serious collector offering and a deeply personal reflection of an artist whose life has been shaped by great songs and great instruments.

Zac Brown x CME

How did the collection come together?

This offering is the result of a long-standing relationship built on trust, enthusiasm, and a shared appreciation for exceptional instruments. Zac Brown and Andrew Yonke, owner of Chicago Music Exchange, have known each other for years, and we were honored to receive the call when the time came for many of Zac’s guitars, basses, banjos, and mandolins to begin their next chapter.

These instruments were not assembled casually. They were selected over time with a discerning eye, a musician’s ear, and a collector’s instinct for greatness. As this next phase begins, we are proud to help connect them with new owners who will value not only their rarity and beauty, but also their role in creating and preserving music.

Stage-Played

A defining element of this collection is that so many of these instruments are not only rare—they were also trusted tools of a working artist. Many have been played on stages around the world, used in performance, carried through tours, and woven into the living rhythm of songwriting and showmanship.

That kind of history adds something impossible to manufacture. It gives an instrument a deeper narrative, a stronger emotional current, and a direct connection to the creative life of the artist who chose to play it. For many collectors and musicians, that combination of rarity, provenance, and real-world use makes stage-played instruments among the most compelling pieces of all.

Martin

The Martin portion of this collection stands among its greatest triumphs. With a pre-war Martin lineup that is second to none, this offering reflects Zac Brown’s reverence for the most iconic acoustic voices ever produced. These are the guitars that helped shape the language of American songwriting and remain the benchmark for vintage acoustic tone, responsiveness, and beauty.

From historically important examples to truly elite collector-grade flat-tops, this section represents the summit of Martin desirability. For those searching for rare vintage Martin guitars, pre-war acoustics, and instruments that embody the golden age of American luthiery, this is an exceptional opportunity to encounter some of the finest examples assembled anywhere.

Gibson

The Gibson portion of the collection is, quite simply, the kind of grouping collectors dream about. It captures the power, elegance, and emotional pull that define the most coveted vintage Gibson instruments, spanning legendary acoustics, iconic electrics, and historically important examples from the brand’s most celebrated eras.

With multiple Bursts, exceptional vintage flat-tops, and an extraordinary range of highly desirable instruments, this section of the collection speaks to Zac’s deep understanding of tone, feel, history, and visual impact. These are guitars that represent the pinnacle of Gibson collecting—rare, inspiring, and profoundly musical, with the kind of presence that can anchor a world-class collection.

Fender

Zac’s Fender collection reaches directly into the earliest and most important chapters of the solidbody electric guitar story. These instruments reflect the genius and utility of Fender’s original designs while delivering the unmistakable sound, response, and style that transformed modern music.

From early examples prized for their originality and historical significance to guitars that embody the clarity, snap, and expressive range players chase for a lifetime, this group is a powerful reminder of why vintage Fender remains so central to serious collectors and musicians alike. It is an offering defined by rarity, legacy, and the unmistakable appeal of foundational American electric instruments.

Gretsch

Among the most visually arresting and singularly exciting aspects of the Zac Brown Collection is the Gretsch offering, led by an extraordinary group of custom instruments built by Stephen Stern and the Gretsch Custom Shop. This is not merely an assortment of special guitars—it is a deeply personal, highly imaginative body of work that represents bespoke craftsmanship at the very highest level.

These instruments combine Gretsch tradition with custom artistry, luxurious appointments, and Zac’s own musical sensibility. The result is a collection of one-of-one and deeply distinctive guitars that will resonate with Gretsch devotees, serious custom-shop collectors, and anyone drawn to instruments where individuality and execution meet in spectacular fashion.

Custom & Boutique

The custom-built instruments in this collection reveal another dimension of Zac’s identity as a player and collector: curiosity, refinement, and a desire to push beyond the expected. These boutique and one-off pieces were commissioned with specific tonal goals, aesthetic ideas, and performance needs in mind, resulting in instruments that are as personal as they are exceptional.

Built by elite makers and master craftsmen, these guitars reflect the rare creative dialogue between artist and builder. They are highly individual works—often impossible to replicate—created to deliver something exact, expressive, and deeply inspiring. For collectors of boutique guitars and artist-commissioned instruments, this section offers a rare view into custom guitar building at its most meaningful.