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Guitar Center

4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,196 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Chicago, Illinois

Buys used gear Lessons Vintage specialist Repairs & setups

Music store, specializing in guitars and basses.

Plan your visit

  • Repairs & setups a repair bench comes up in reviews and the store's own info — call ahead for turnaround, since good techs run a queue
  • Buys & trades used gear they buy, trade, or consign used instruments — bring the case and any original parts, and expect trade credit to beat the cash offer
  • Lessons lessons come up in reviews and the store's own info — call about openings, instruments taught, and rates before the first visit
  • Instrument rentals rentals mentioned — the usual route for band & orchestra season; ask about rent-to-own credit
  • Today see hours ·
  • Phone (708) 563-0529
  • Website stores.guitarcenter.com

Hours

Monday 11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9 PM
Friday 11 AM–9 PM
Saturday 10 AM–9 PM
Sunday 11 AM–7 PM

Hours can shift for holidays, clinics, and lesson schedules — worth a quick check before a special trip.

What's on the wall

Instrument and gear categories at Guitar Center, confirmed in players' own reviews and the store's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🎸 Electric Guitars 2 mentions

“got my electric guitar here a few months back.”

All stores with electric guitars →

🔊 Amps & Pedals 2 mentions

All stores with amps & pedals →

♻️ Used Gear 4 mentions

“I came in with a ton of stuff I was looking to trade in and he was very helpful working with me and got me a good deal.”

All stores with used gear →

🎓 Lessons 4 mentions

“My kid takes guitar lessons here and the instructors are amazing.”

All stores with lessons →

🎺 Band & Orchestra

“I took my teen to get help learning how to tune her violin.”

All stores with band & orchestra →

🎤 Pro Audio 6 mentions

“Got a set of microphones for our Church.”

All stores with pro audio →

Brands they deal

Brands players name in their reviews of Guitar Center — the fastest way to tell what's actually hanging on the wall before you drive over.

Brand mentions are mined from reviews and the store's own info — they tell you what's on the wall, not formal authorized-dealer status. If warranty coverage matters, confirm dealer status with the store or the brand's own dealer locator.

What players say again and again

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 1,196 Google reviews — with their own words as proof.

🤝 fair trade-in offers 2 mentions

“I came in with a ton of stuff I was looking to trade in and he was very helpful working with me and got me a good deal.”

🧠 knowledgeable staff 3 mentions

“Sean and Dennis were friendly, cool, and extremely knowledgeable of the electronic drum sets I was looking at.”

😊 friendly staff 3 mentions

“Very helpful staff, I walked in there oblivious to buying new guitar string and several persons assisted and answered all my questions.”

💵 good value 3 mentions

“My advice, check out AVMAXX located in Chicago they are loaded with all the Dj needs you are looking for with reasonable prices.”

From the reviews

got my electric guitar here a few months back. SHOUTOUT MAC for being chill as hell 🔥 they helped me choose and everything! very fun too. the place is always really comfortable. i think there’s a lot of good options & the employees are always cool. hope to work here at some point hehe

★★★★★ — Brianna, Jul 2024

I had an awesome experience here. This was my first time making a major purchase from Guitar Center. Sean and Dennis were friendly, cool, and extremely knowledgeable of the electronic drum sets I was looking at.

★★★★★ — Amber, Jul 2020

Decent prices and service. Their items are very limited at Guitar Center. Always check the website for the items you are looking for before you drive there. My advice, check out AVMAXX located in Chicago they are loaded with all the Dj needs you are looking for with reasonable prices. Good luck.

★★★★★ — Jesus, Nov 2023

Got a set of microphones for our Church. Leo one of their sales staff, was very helpful. He became like an instant brother to us 😃 Nice and clear sound 🙏😃

★★★★★ — Maricel, Dec 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,196 reviews →

Selling or trading gear at Guitar Center

Guitar Center comes up for buying and trading used gear — confirmed on their own site. Two things make the trip go better. First, bring the whole package: the case or gig bag, the original tremolo arm or bridge parts, the paperwork if you have it — a complete rig is worth real money more than a bare instrument, and it saves the back-and-forth of "can you bring the case in?" Second, know that trade credit almost always beats the cash offer, usually by a healthy margin — if you're upgrading anyway, price your old gear as a trade against the new one before you take cash. Either way, expect the offer to be below what the gear sells for on the wall; the gap is the store's margin for setup, warranty, and sitting on it until the right buyer walks in.

Check trade-in info on their site

Lessons at Guitar Center

Reviews and the store's own info mention lessons at Guitar Center. If you're signing up a beginner (or restarting yourself), a quick call ahead answers the three things that matter: which instruments they teach, whether the schedule has openings at the time you actually need, and what a first lesson costs. There's no wrong first guitar — a good teacher will happily work with whatever you walk in with, and a shop that teaches usually keeps affordable starter instruments and rentals on hand for exactly this reason.

Where to find Guitar Center

7250 S Cicero Ave C, Chicago, IL60629

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Guitar stores near Guitar Center

Rossi Music Store & Lessons

4.5 ★★★★★ 48 reviews

4901 W 95th St, Oak Lawn, IL

Lessons Repairs & setups spotless & cleangreat lesson programplays well with beginners

Store offering guitars, sheet music, and other instruments, plus repairs and lessons.

2.8 miles away

Romagnoli Accordions

4.9 ★★★★★ 75 reviews

5510 W 95th St, Oak Lawn, IL

Buys used gear Lessons Repairs & setups Vintage specialist knowledgeable staffgood value

Family-run store featuring new and vintage accordions alongside accessories and repair services at fair prices.

2.9 miles away

3.1 miles away

All guitar stores in Chicago, IL →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and player reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this store? Claim your listing — it's free.