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Guitar Center
4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,562 Google reviews · Guitar & music store in Chicago, Illinois
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 (773) 248-2808
- 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 |
What's on the wall
“Additionaly there are drums, mics, keyboards, turn tables, mixers, club lighting, electric pianos.”
“They helped me with loading a giant amp into my car- I wish I'd gotten the names of the people who helped me.”
“Tons of instruments of any range of price, new and used.”
“They took the time to help me troubleshoot and even helped me find the exact cord I needed to get my setup working perfectly.”
“Highly recommend this store for anyone looking for microphones, keyboards, sheet music, or recording equipment.”
“I went in with a question about my microphone, and they immediately understood what I needed.”
Brands they deal
“GUITAR CENTER MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TRANSFORMATION, IN BRINGING THIS BEAUTIFUL FENDER, SQUIRE JUMBO BACK TO LIFE.”
What players say again and again
“They took the time to help me troubleshoot and even helped me find the exact cord I needed to get my setup working perfectly.”
“Carly is absolutely the best—extremely knowledgeable, patient, and truly award-winning in the way she supports customers.”
From the reviews
I had such a great buying experience today with Shaun in the keyboard department. I was looking to purchase a digital piano and called in about a week ago to inquire. I asked about a million questions on the phone and Shaun was more than patient while helping me decide which digital piano would be the best fit.
Excellent guitar center. Store manager is an excellent man very ready to help. Selfless, tutor. Twice I've been here and never regret. Thanks to the Store manager and other wonderful staffs.
Buying my first guitar here was the best experience I've had, the reps took their time to answer all my questions and gave me great advise on what to/and not to get until I get more experience, their advise made my choices clear and I got the guitar that felt made just for me.
Probably the best music store in Chicago. Tons of instruments of any range of price, new and used. Incredible assortment of guitars and accessories. Staff always kind, friendly and highly professional.
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.
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.
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