The Chicago Music Exchange is a music equipment retailer based in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

, United States. Located at 3316 North Lincoln Avenue, CME is known for its museum-like showroom and collection of vintage guitars and basses. It is a major Chicago destination for musicians.

History

CME was founded in 1990 by Scott Silver who moved the store from 3270 N. Clark St to its current location in 2005. A major player in the global vintage guitar market, Chicago Music Exchange took an active role in vintage guitar boom of the mid to late-2000s. The business and its inventory of instruments was purchased by David Kalt in 2010 for $7.5 million. Since then, the store has added a full drum shop as well as a dedicated bass room ("The Bassment") which opened in 2013. CME has also rapidly expanded its online presence and sales, and is known for its active

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channel featuring product demos of new

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and vintage pieces. In June 2012, CME posted a video entitled "100 Riffs" which went viral following a stint on the front page of

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. In 2013, Kalt launched

Reverb.com Reverb.com is an online marketplace for new, used, and vintage music gear. It was founded in 2013 by David Kalt, shortly after he purchased the musical instrument store Chicago Music Exchange and became frustrated with then-available options for ...

as an open marketplace to buy and sell music gear.

Notable customers

Chicago Music Exchange has hosted many celebrity customers including: *

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* Of Monsters & Men *

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* Sleeping With Sirens *

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* Steve Miller *

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References

External links

Chicago Music Exchange Website

Chicago Music Exchange YouTube Channel
{{coord, 41.9421, -87.6706, type:landmark, display=title Musical instrument retailers of the United States Buildings and structures in Chicago