A deep bench for a big city — flagship vintage on Lincoln Avenue out to the north-side and Evanston independents.
3316 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago 60657
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Phone: (773) 525-7773
The Midwest’s flagship — a museum-grade wall of collector vintage electrics and acoustics over deep new and used stock. A genuine national destination on Lincoln Avenue.
4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago 60625
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Phone: (773) 751-3398
The retail arm of the Old Town School of Folk Music and the city’s most trusted acoustic source since the 1950s — guitars, banjos, mandolins and ukes.
4727 N Damen Ave, Chicago 60625
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Phone: (773) 878-8616
A Ravenswood shop with a split personality — vintage and used guitars up front, a serious synth, eurorack and pedal operation alongside. Distinctive enough to be worth the trip.
709 Main St, Evanston 60202
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Phone: (847) 475-0855
Owner-run in Evanston since 1979, with a steady selection of new, used and vintage acoustics and electrics and a well-regarded vintage-amp corner.