← The Safari

Guitar shops worth the trip in Illinois

6 shops across 2 areas.

The scene runs through Chicago, Champaign. Every entry is researched and dated; open a metro and the marks flag the shops I've visited in person or bought from.

• Chicago

  4 shops

  A deep bench for a big city — flagship vintage on Lincoln Avenue out to the north-side and Evanston independents.

• Champaign

  2 shops

  The Champaign-Urbana college town keeps a pair of real independents worth the detour off the interstate.