Guitar shops worth the trip in Milwaukee

Cream City Music has served players from its greater-Milwaukee showroom for more than two decades, pairing a deep walk-in vintage floor with a large online operation. The store is open Tuesday through Sunday and stocks new, used, and vintage instruments, amplifiers, and effects. It is widely regarded as one of the Midwest’s marquee vintage and boutique dealers.

This Fifth Street location carries electric, acoustic, and bass guitars plus amplifiers, pedals, drums, and keyboards from a broad roster of brands including Fender, Gibson, Taylor, and PRS. It is open Monday through Saturday as a full-service walk-in retailer with in-house repair and restoration.

Located on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood, Top Shelf has handled repairs and vintage gear for over 20 years. The store carries guitars, amps, ukuleles, pedals, and pickups, and because staff are working musicians, it asks customers to call ahead during summer hours.

Owner Wade Starck has run the shop on North Oakland Avenue for over three decades, emphasizing hands-on browsing without sales pressure. Beyond its 200-plus new, used, and vintage electric guitars, the store carries effects pedals, amplifiers, ukuleles, and accessories, and offers expert repair services and lessons.