I visited Chicago Music Exchange - LES PAUL HEAVEN!

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chrisrocksusa

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I took a trip to CME and was blown away. Where I live you can't find historics to actually sit down and play with. Nearest dealer with 50s reissues is a couple hours away and I don't know if they'd let you play them.

Nearest GC has a couple standards and if you want to play one it's a hassle, and you have someone standing over your shoulder the entire time.

I waltzed in to CME and was greeted by someone that asked if they could help me. I let him know I was there to try some 58 and 59 reissue LPs. He said it wouldn't be a problem, and soon enough someone was hand picking the best playing 58/59s in the finishes I wanted for me to try out.

They were blowing out a handful of 58s (chambered). These were all marked down from 4/5k to just over 3k!

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some of them had very pretty tops but I couldn't stand how light they were. When I pick up an LP I want to feel some weight in it, it's really unappealing to me to pick one up and have it be too light.

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these two were SO nice, and marked down to absolutely killer deals, but I def can't justify paying 3k for a light LP.

a few steps further in they had a great gold top display
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Here is where the story gets interesting. As the sales guy is picking out some LPs for me to play I notice one that looks heavily relic'd. I asked if it was actually an old guitar or if it's a tom murphy aged LP. He looks at the tag and says 'oh, it's actually CC#8'. My heart sank, 'the beast?!' I asked - sure enough, they had the beast in stock.

Right away he pulls it down and hands it to me to play while he keeps looking for LPs for me.

Up until then, the idea of CC LPs was an abstract concept. Something that exists but I'll never actually see in real life, much less be able to play. To me, CCs (and reissues too) were just guitars that existed online to me.

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Still can't believe that really happened. Truly an amazing experience.

here's the price tag to slap me in the face and bring me back to reality
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Someday LOL.

Here are my two favorite R9s of the ones that were handed to me. These were the two I chose to bring back to one of the amp rooms and try out

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I preferred the top on the lemon burst, and it was cheaper than the washed cherry, but the cherry LP played and sounded better. Not sure what it was, but man it was a SWEET guitar. Killer top on that lemon burst though
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I played them through a two rock studio 22. That thing SMOKED! The sales guy asked what I play at home, and I play through a mesa rectoverb. He was really nice and offered to bring in a mark II for me but I was happy to try out the two rock. Sweet little amp, and when you turn up the volume it breaks up and gives you really sweet crunch sounds. I was disappointed with the clean sounds, it didn't stay clean very long, and to me that's what a two rock is supposed to do best.

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Still can't believe this happened.

I am in no way affiliated with CME, I just thought it was an amazing experience as an LP enthusiast and wanted to share.

hope you guys like the pics
 
I didnt like any of those LP's.

Also if im dropping 4K on a Historic LP, i don't want it to be played by every Tom, Dick n Harry.

One of the reasons Mars Music folded was cuz they let just anyone play and damage stock.

Ever see an 8 yr old that has no talent play a 3K Les Paul cranked thru a 100 watt Marshall Stack ?



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I like the Joe Walsh sig or the Pearly Gates. :thumbsup:
 
charveldan":122rr3d9 said:
I didnt like any of those LP's.

What's not to like abt them? Did you try them and decide you don't like them or something else?

I get what you say abt dropping many k$ on a guitar, but what do you mean abt not liking any of those LPs?
 
Michi":nxwe8cqw said:
charveldan":nxwe8cqw said:
I didnt like any of those LP's.

What's not to like abt them? Did you try them and decide you don't like them or something else?

I get what you say abt dropping many k$ on a guitar, but what do you mean abt not liking any of those LPs?
I already have a Goldtop and the colors & flame on the others just didnt speak to me for $4000 to $7000 bucks.
 
Damn. What a great shop. My AMEX would be hemorrhaging in there.....
 
charveldan":3twpin4u said:
I already have a Goldtop and the colors & flame on the others just didnt speak to me for $4000 to $7000 bucks.

Gotcha :).
 
I went to a conference in Chicago a few years back and skipped one afternoon for music store hoping. I went to Make 'n Music first followed by CME then Guitar Center. It was an afternoon well spent. Make'n music is incredible. If you are still there, go check em' out.
 
Ive been in more than one shop over 35 yrs of playing and had several shop owners [that i didnt know] ask up front "looking to buy today ?"

If the answer is "no" then you dont touch the merchandise. Altho i thought they were dicks years ago it weeds out the bullshit and protects their investments.

Certainly have no problem with that now.

Most local shop owners know me these days and that takes time, money & trust. :thumbsup:
 
charveldan":1qgfhstd said:
Ever see an 8 yr old that has no talent play a 3K Les Paul cranked thru a 100 watt Marshall Stack ?

No, but I HAVE seen a 50 year old that has no talent play a 2K Les Paul cranked thru a Friedman-modded 100 watt Marshall Stack. Does that count?

:confused:
















Sorry man, but when the fruit is hanging that low, it HAS to be picked. :lol: :LOL:
 
rlord1974":2r4rohrc said:
charveldan":2r4rohrc said:
Ever see an 8 yr old that has no talent play a 3K Les Paul cranked thru a 100 watt Marshall Stack ?

No, but I HAVE seen a 50 year old that has no talent play a 2K Les Paul cranked thru a Friedman-modded 100 watt Marshall Stack. Does that count?

:confused:
















Sorry man, but when the fruit is hanging that low, it HAS to be picked. :lol: :LOL:
:lol: :LOL: Epic!!!!
 
rlord1974":1k1yoteo said:
charveldan":1k1yoteo said:
Ever see an 8 yr old that has no talent play a 3K Les Paul cranked thru a 100 watt Marshall Stack ?

No, but I HAVE seen a 50 year old that has no talent play a 2K Les Paul cranked thru a Friedman-modded 100 watt Marshall Stack. Does that count?

:confused:



so you saw me play... :thumbsup:













Sorry man, but when the fruit is hanging that low, it HAS to be picked. :lol: :LOL:
 
I've always considered myself a LP guy, but here lately I find myself playing my Tele (with a hot rails HB) more often than not just because of the weight. I can't play long sets with a heavy guitar anymore. It kills my shoulder. I'd love to find a nice LP that is as light as my Tele...

Bad part is, I'm only 30 years old. This post makes me sound like an old fogey.
 
That looks like an awesome shop, good to hear the customer service is equal to the inventory.

I'm not a les paul guy but that lemon burst looks killer.
 
rlord1974":3noric6y said:
charveldan":3noric6y said:
Ever see an 8 yr old that has no talent play a 3K Les Paul cranked thru a 100 watt Marshall Stack ?

No, but I HAVE seen a 50 year old that has no talent play a 2K Les Paul cranked thru a Friedman-modded 100 watt Marshall Stack. Does that count?

:confused:



















Sorry man, but when the fruit is hanging that low, it HAS to be picked. :lol: :LOL:

:lol: :LOL:

I was going to say... "So that is what's going on in those videos he posts"
 
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