Guitar Stores in Chicago, IL
Chicago has 24 guitar stores — including 7 that buy used gear, 6 with lessons, 14 vintage specialists, and 18 with repair shops. Listings are ranked by what players say (rating weighted by review count) and show live open-now hours and who buys used gear, so you can pick a shop and go.
Chicago Music Exchange
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,067 reviews
Vintage, new & used guitars plus other instruments & gear in a polished space with an acoustic room.
Guitar Center
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,562 reviews
Old Town School Music Store
4.8 ★★★★★ 674 reviews
Music shop featuring classes, plus instruments & educational materials from around the globe.
Guitar Center
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,196 reviews
Music store, specializing in guitars and basses.
Third Coast Guitar and Amp Repair
4.8 ★★★★★ 283 reviews
Guitar shop specializing in repairs, customizations, and restorations of vintage gear.
Chicago Fret Works Guitar and Amp Repair
4.8 ★★★★★ 208 reviews
Repair shop specializing in electric and acoustic guitars, as well as amps, banjos, and basses.
Midwest Buy & Sell
4.8 ★★★★★ 192 reviews
Well-stocked store specializing in new, used & vintage guitars, plus amps & accessories.
Ceasar's Music of Illinois
4.7 ★★★★★ 204 reviews
Resource for musical instruments with repair services available.
Evolution Music
4.6 ★★★★★ 226 reviews
Used guitar store and instructor, specializing in acoustic and electric guitars, along with amps.
Rock N Roll Vintage & Synth City
4.7 ★★★★★ 191 reviews
Full-service used-guitar shop offering a wide array of vintage instruments & amps, plus repairs.
Black Bobbin
5 ★★★★★ 134 reviews
Music store offering instruments and pedals, as well as repair services and coffee.
Rebound Repair
4.9 ★★★★★ 127 reviews
Repair, service and set-up, as well as amp work, for guitars and basses.
Tommy's Guitars & Trading Posts
4.7 ★★★★★ 155 reviews
Laid-back shop for new, used & vintage guitars, amps, effect pedals & more, plus repairs.
Vic's Drum Shop
4.8 ★★★★★ 125 reviews
Percussion retailer offering a range of drums & accessories plus lessons & rehearsal space for rent.
Flatts and Sharpe Music Co.
4.7 ★★★★★ 95 reviews
Old-school shop specializing in lessons for all levels, plus instruments, sheet music & rentals.
FRET12
5 ★★★★★ 57 reviews
Music shop featuring guitars and gear, plus clothing, accessories, and a venue.
Geoff Benge's Guitar Shop
4.8 ★★★★★ 55 reviews
Guitar shop for setups, repairs and installations by appointment, plus knowledgeable service.
Rare Birds Music
5 ★★★★★ 39 reviews
The Chicago Electric Piano Co.
4.7 ★★★★★ 46 reviews
Restoration shop specializing in Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer and Clavinet electric pianos, as well as combo organs.
Specimen
4.8 ★★★★★ 19 reviews
Store specializing in handmade string instruments, speakers & amplifiers, plus repairs & classes.
PTD Vintage
5 ★★★★★ 7 reviews
Good to know in Chicago
7 of the 20 shops with posted hours are open on Sundays.
For a setup or repair work, the shops with a bench here are Chicago Music Exchange, Guitar Center, Old Town School Music Store, Guitar Center, and 14 more.
Hunting vintage? Chicago Music Exchange, Guitar Center, Old Town School Music Store, Guitar Center, and 10 more are the vintage & rare specialists in town — evidence from the shop's own site or player reviews.
Selling or trading gear?
These shops buy or trade used gear — evidence from the shop's own site or player reviews, not a guess. Bring in the one you don't play; store credit usually beats the cash offer, and calling ahead with the make and model saves everyone time.
- Guitar Center ★★★★☆ 4.4 (1,562)
- Guitar Center ★★★★☆ 4.4 (1,196)
- Evolution Music ★★★★★ 4.6 (226)
Getting started?
These stores offer lessons — for kids, adult beginners, and players knocking off rust. There's no wrong first guitar: rent or buy the instrument, get it set up, and book the teacher in one trip.
- Guitar Center ★★★★☆ 4.4 (1,562)
- Guitar Center ★★★★☆ 4.4 (1,196)
- Evolution Music ★★★★★ 4.6 (226)