Chicago Music Exchange Shop Tour

Premier Guitar’s Shawn Hammond visits the Windy City’s famed and ultra-vibey Chicago Music Exchange, where the store’s helpful staff shows us highlights from their impressive inventory of vintage gear-from Fender, Gibson, and Martin instruments to Marshall, Vox, and Ampeg amps-as well as their premium selection of boutique axes, amps, and pedals. We also see extreme rarities like a Dumble-modified Park amp formerly owned by Ben Harper, a vintage harp guitar, and a sunburst 1956 Gibson ES-295-one of approximately 10 ever made.

[@svfutbol20]

Chicago Music Exchange. The coolest music store showcasing all of the stuff we want but can't afford

[@Cypherdude1]

These guitars are interesting and have an interesting history but they are expensive and for collectors. I don't think most of these guitars will be played, much less in front of an audience. How many people are going to risk taking a $20,000 guitar on a faraway gig? Players don't really need them anymore. There are so many guitars available under $1,500 now, you don't need to fork over thousands of dollars. I think the most I would pay for a guitar today is $800 and that's it. One good guitar model is the $688 Jerry Donahue Fret King FKV25JDD but it's selling out so the remaining available stock is getting more expensive. A currently available cheaper equivalent is the $550 Jerry Donahue Vintage Brand V58JDAB Signature guitar. I saw a review on it and it's supposed to play very good.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

@ Cypherdude 1 ... Have you ever watched 'Fotheringaye Live at The Beat Club 1970' ? Jerry and the band are in great form !

[@jonk7632]

@@Cypherdude1 Are you a Jerry Donahue salesman? I got a G&L ASAT Classic Butterscotch Blonde Telecaster for $539! That's my choice for affordable.

[@renemayfield9103]

bought my first les Paul from these guys and now I have 16 of them . Great store great gear . I buy online and the gear is always awesome as described .

[@VonBluesman]

What a dream store. I bought my new 59 R.I. Les Paul, a used but brand new John Suhr strat, and around $1200 worth of Fulltone pedals from Chicago Music Exchange. Like the man said, quality products is what they deal in. Thank you.

[@TheProgGuy]

If ANYBODY is considering the visit to CME, I highly recommend the visit. Literally, when I walked in (even from the drum shop) I was freaking astounded. It looked like music heaven. And I thought Guitar Center was heaven. This just dropped my jaw the whole time. They don't show you the individual practice rooms in there, but it's probably one of the highlights of the store. Basically, the rest of the amps are all in the individual rooms...about 15 amps per room. Now, if you're a drummer, you can check out the Chicago Drum Exchange next door if you want. But if you want a store that's has as high standards as this, visit Vic's Drum Shop on the west side of the loop. You won't be disappointed there.

[@thefuneralhome]

The two channels I watch the most in one video. Two worlds, colliding. It's like seeing the Millenium Falcon flying past the Enterprise. Very cool, all around. Thanks.

[@anyday82]

Thanks to CME for being such a gracious host and PG for doing the video!! Loved the tour and will def stop by when I'm in Chicago.

[@Sams911]

Man, if all guitar centers were like this, they'd be thriving... Wait, that's how it was back in the 80's.. Side note, 3 of my last 4 high end music purchases were from Chicago Music Exchange..

[@guitardudeguy3139]

What a truly amazing store, I could spend weeks in there! I have already purchased items from them on line and they are second to none! I really want to visit the store in person...can you say bucket list? So many great guitars and you can tell they put some effort into playability..so when a musician picks it up he can actually play it without trying to figure out what has to be done to set the thing up properly...unlike other large companies...I won't mention.

[@superflea72]

an absolute dream factory...would love to spend a couple of hours looking around/playing guitars in there!

[@TheBigDean18]

If I had the money I would fly to Chicago just so I could go there.

[@NihalbutKrispy]

im in a hotel in chicago rn and they said i need an appointment to go in because of covid, might not be able to go :(

[@jimv4236]

I have now bought two guitars from these guys and they are awesome to deal with. Highly recommend.

[@Low_Key_Bro]

This place is insane!

[@ferraridinoman]

ya know, ya know, ya know, ya know, ya know, ya know, ya know, ya know!!

[@JaimeCerrada]

Ya know?

[@batman67c42]

Uh uh um and uh

[@gregoryz6545]

Midwest thing

[@petera.michaelsen4657]

i bought recently some accessories at heir Reverb shop, the service was wonderful, the items arrived the next day, i can’t wait to go to the store someday and buy my first Gibson Les Paul

[@richardrybinski2320]

CME is a great store; tops in what they do; sell guitars and other instruments.. I have done several deals with them, and these guys and gals provide great customer service and inventory. Joel Bauman has been particuarly helpful, but the whole staff is superlative. A+++++

[@ICXious]

I need to experience going there. The locals are really lucky!

[@theArchive1O]

Great video! I would LOVE to work there during summers after each college year.

[@Baxter_Hall]

If I had one dollar for every time this guy said "again", I'd be a rich man... Again, I'd be a rich man

[@michaelmele4888]

He isn't even always repeating himself, again, he says it for no reason other than he is nervous and talks really fast, again.

[@huntermckinney1205]

Or 'you know'

[@tonelocrian]

@@huntermckinney1205 'y'know'

[@nathanlockhart3876]

Awesome stuff! I was really hoping to see some vintage Spector gear, but still not disappointed with what I saw. I’m going to have to make a trip out there sometime.

[@TommySG1]

This place is definitely on my bucket list, it’s going to be a miracle if I walk back out without buying another Gibson as well LOL! 🤣🤟

[@RizaBachri]

heaven on earth

[@nevadasmith4964]

very cool dealer, putting it on my calander of places I need to see next time I have a layover

[@flushjihadism4052]

Great guitar shop.

[@everydaytrading]

Thank god that i live in chicago. going there in a few days

[@ferraridinoman]

you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know!!

[@bethoveen3]

Guitars glued to the ceiling ,thats crazy! Ace did something similar with furniture.But i get it, as the bottom row is sold,you move the top ones down,making it a vintage in the mean while cause it takes so long to sell those on the bottom ,right?

[@teunputker]

"We love amps". Me too man, me too,

[@srwaite7]

Heavenly!

[@ShredShed]

Darryl from glassjaw apparently works at CME...

[@macca3666]

I live in Australia. CME was the only place I could find a silver tolex rickenbacker case and one of their people went above and beyond to organise shipping and stuff, super helpful and chucked in some extras even thanking me for my patience. The 'any customer is allowed to experience any guitar they want' attitude here is amazing. I tend to feel like I'm not allowed to try anything in guitar stores here unless I fully intend to buy it, kind've like being at a car dealership. Great store, man imagine if it was your local music store, damn..

[@rampersandall]

I ordered a guitar on amazon and it shipped from Chicago Music Exchange. 10 out of 10, would love to deal with them again.

[@fatfro1]

Yay Amazon!

[@RavnerRavner]

good people with CME. they've done right by me.

[@golds04]

Everyone who makes fun of this guy- he seems happy. Are you? Well done- very informative. Great gig.

[@bradcarroll3719]

That '59 Sonic Blue Jazzmaster on top shelf was oh so tasty!

[@TheFrostycold]

Sounds great

[@DanielEnochs]

who wants to go with me there looks amazing!

[@BrickMan3022]

23:10 Red special 😍

[@jameskrys5286]

I went in there when they were on Clark Street.

[@middle_pickup]

I think I see my Thinline Tele! I just bought it last month, and assuming that this video was shot early December I could be correct...

[@daftdoggo7662]

is the harp/guitar the one that's in the smashing pumpkins Tonight, Tonight video?

[@geetarbube]

See you in two weeks!

[@DanielEnochs]

100 greatest riff is at 28 million views now!!

[@alvarosilva1284]

Ya know?

[@jr13227]

This settles it. I’m going today.

[@rickythompson5608]

The Roundup is model 6130

[@masterofbears1948]

I guess there is a heaven after all.

[@jasonedenilson]

collings=best acoustics (in terms of martin esque)

[@bradcarroll3719]

You speak the truth. I like Santa Cruz a lot as well, but Collings is what I always grab.

[@jasonedenilson]

definitely. my dream collings is an OM1AV. played one in new york city, and it was the best acoustic ive ever put my hands on. It had a 1 3/4 inch nut with tho which kinda threw me off since im so used to 11/16, but man it was perfect. $4,500.

[@jordangunit3078]

They do voice their guitars well but Santa Cruz and bourgeois are right there with them. Santa Cruz has been doing the boutique American vintage clones longer than most. If you watch a lot of his videos Richard Hoover probably has the best wood sources all responsibly harvested but besides that he has some killer wood choices and then are experts at tuning he instruments no matter the wood. But I do feel like his standard models at the lower prices may not be as pleasing as some standard model Collings.

[@rickythompson5608]

The 6121 is not a round up. It is the Chet Atkins solidbody. Roundups always have a campfire " belt buckle" tail piece The Chet Atkins Solid body is always a bigsby model.

[@niptodstan]

I couldn't watch it all. So how do they get the upper guitars down?

[@jjjohnson1512]

niptodstan ladder

[@jjjohnson1512]

niptodstan same way they got them up there. Ladder maybe. Or some shops jump real high and go for it.

[@RavnerRavner]

big money levitates some motherfuckers

[@reubensolly2237]

"The bassment" basement. Most bass players should feel right at home. LOL.

[@FreakExcess]

The first person who counts the number of times he says "y'know" wins!!

[@nitemareman1]

And "again." He wouldn't stop saying that either.

[@jordangunit3078]

He kept saying we love stuff. You know we love amps. You know we love guitars. You know we love pedals. Lol. It's easy to make fun of someone internet style. It's an interview anyway. Fake conversation is expected.

[@fredpg]

My YT profile pic, yes, here on the left, is the amazing building you see when you walk out of CME.

[@dennisokayama5240]

There are a number of sites on Face Book that are using clips from this video tour to promote their cheap guitar sales...they have most brands in the $90 range.

[@Dirtydrock001]

You guys should check out mario martin guitars aka the old guitar mill kind of like nash guitars but in my opinion better

[@krisimanasieva422]

The manger be like (while speaking at the speed of light) : AND AND AND AND AND YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU KNOW YOU KNOW AND YOU KNOW

[@jfswainy]

19:00 Anastasia!

[@zurdoremi]

if you go to their website they don't even have an e-mail contact.

[@nycLPplayer]

Make friends with a sales rep there and keep going back when you buy (email/call). Alex from 100 Riffs (Sniffs) is my guy and always gets me a good deal. Got my Gibson there when visiting for a wedding. GAS addicts beware.

[@taralpatel708]

Do they carry Ernie ball music man

[@bobbyberetta4206]

Curious about that Chicken Head Knob Les Paul

[@jace1449]

They need more airline

[@omarbell4579]

31:32 What's going on back there?

[@TheUniversalEyes]

+Omar Belayachi Probably some dude fighting with his wife about spending money.

[@terrysmith6442]

How do you shine at making a worn out guitar put down the pipe man.

[@216trixie]

"Best Relicing"=Worst Damage. thank you.

[@russellgifford8271]

good

[@prod.radical720]

i wanna live here! 😂😂

[@pirateskies5032]

same

[@dizzle49er]

This guy must've been nervous. Talk about stutter. How'd he get that gig?

[@jordangunit3078]

"I do cocaine". Says that dude. Definitely nervous or just overly hyper sales personality. The kind of guys I don't really enjoy talking to even though they are quite polite and trying to be personable.

[@jackthedipper3332]

I want to go there so badly. Too bad I'm living in GERMANY

[@jerrymorganjr]

You know?

[@mojojojo1095]

I purchased an Amplifier from them, 36 days later it malfunctioned. The answer was too bad, has to be put Nader 30 days. I will never purchase from Chicago music store again.

[@letsgosk8te]

You betcha, eh

[@mimic1301]

you know

[@tomwalsh6774]

As a Brit, to the untrained ear…the shop manager sounds like Tom Morello? Is this a Chicago accent or something?

[@adozensparrows]

The Store Manager is coked up . . just watch; funny.

[@josephhenrymenusi7001]

Gibson SG black! You don't need for very guitar, give me one, please!!!!

[@sollyharr]

1500 watt Marshall ?? Wtf?..

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

That back wall of amazing hollow bodies and semi hollow is now the Paul Reed Smith wall. All those hangers, three rows high, all PRS. The whole store is going on a new direction. Vintage guitars are no longer their main focus. The clear majority of the guitars are Gibson and Fender custom shop. If a guitar looks vintage, like it’s been around the block a few times, it’s a relic job. It will say so right on the hang tag. It’s disappointing. One thing that really speaks to their decline, I saw they had an Epiphone Les Paul SL. That guitar is the cheapest piece of crap to ever have the name Epiphone slapped on it. Garbage quality. That guitar has no business in that store. That’s the guitar you buy for a kid who you know for sure is not going to follow through and actually learn to play guitar. All those guitars are destined for the backs of closets, basements and garages. And CME is selling it.

[@MichaelSmith-gd1ig]

Ok, fine. I won’t buy your 52 Les Paul

I shouldn't be critical, but I really found the manager's speech and delivery to be very irritating. I could only watch a third of it... And I really wanted to learn about Chicago Vintage.

[@clarencetrotter8085]

Jack Mundo he may have a medical condition give the guy a break.

[@TN4theWIN]

Uh, you know, vocal fry-aaahhh, uh, SOOO, uh, you know, um ah um, yeah, um... Dude speaks like a 22yo gamer nerd in his mom's basement.

[@josephhenrymenusi7001]

Hey chicago music exchange, give me a guitar, because i don't have money! I need for a guitar! Thanks.. Read this comentary please!

[@mrmapegothe13th]

Joseph Henry Menusi They're a shop. They're not just going to give a guitar to anyone who asks. C'mon. Go make money and get your own guitar.

[@bobbybob3679]

It's almost laughable how people put value on the age of a guitar. This manager basically tells you all the flaws yet the price tag is not flawed. Guitars have two goals; 1, to play and sound great. 2, to look damn good. Who gives a shit how old a piece of wood is, or!! How badly it was made back in the 50 and 60's! Does my f***** head in!! 🙄😀

[@ebay9302]

These guys are brand new at this business, they know very little, just a fortune 500 company executive that was bored (and very dishonest), wandering around, trying to be hip like me....but they are not and never will be.

[@HolsteinsNeighbor]

FAKE

[@kommi1974]

HolsteinsNeighbor What on earth? Where do you trolls come from? Your life is fake. How about them apples? IDIOT.

[@stephencorfield7720]

Some of these are just that old and faded that havnt aged well in fact they look terrible .

[@filthyrethuglicans3000]

100's of guitars and not a single left handed model in sight.

[@leeconnelly6364]

Plus all a yuz there will be so great after some Exposure to ME! Youll have REAL PRO players workin fer ya in NO time!

[@BossHossStudios]

"You Know".....ugh no I don't "Know" that's why I'm watching this video.

[@fatfro1]

lol

[@martb8022]

NO, I DON'T KNOW!

[@NICKHAM16]

11:32 Oh yikes, somebody doesn't know how to set up an offset guitar. Offset bridges are actually great, people just think they're horrible because they have no idea how to properly set up an offset guitar. It's just another perceived flaw of an instrument that people have no clue about. But I digress. The original bridge may not be for everybody, and the Mastery Bridge is easily the best aftermarket bridge ever designed. So use what you want, but don't immediately dismiss something about an instrument (especially a vintage one!) because you haven't taken the time to get to know it. Anyways, I'll quit ranting.

[@brazilgrass]

But you're right.

[@JarodCarruthers]

Now that is some shop. Great to see such an enthusiastic owner. If I lived in the US, this is where I would want to shop.

[@2002nkpB]

Ok I have a serious question. I live about 5 hours away from Chicago. If I have a free Saturday. Should I make the trip. I am a fanatic for vintage bass guitars. Or reissues/custom shop.

[@stefanmittler8458]

You know, a really great store, you know. I would love to visit, you know.

[@PaulManningg]

The worst owner in the game

[@JaimeCerrada]

I know.

[@Eventual420]

Thanks again, Premiere Guitar, you are everywhere I want to go.

[@tonytotten2133]

Yip great store however gives me the wheelie just listening to all the vintage guitars are up on the top rack hanker. All my guitars are on my wall but are supported at the bottom of the bodies for two reason one is incase the hanger bends and breaks also the second one at the bottom supports and takes up all and most of the weight that can't be seriously good for guitars to dangle from the headstock and neck like that I've seen a few guitar videos like this even. Too much stress on a neck no wonder the intention and sound has gone from that 52 gold les Paul.. And I'm no Luther or expert. Just crazy to do that

[@aidensaroka7268]

4:21 I love the guy that sees the camera and backs away

[@rpm4999]

Did i miss the left handed section ??

[@hifijohn]

been there its a great store you can spend all day their,and they're very nice about you playing their guitars.