Chicago Music Exchange | 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
The Ultimate Musician's Wishlist
Welcome to the 2024 Chicago Music Exchange Holiday Gift Guide! Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect present for the musician in your life, we've compiled a list of our top picks across a wide range of budgets and categories. From the hottest new gear to staff favorites, there's something for everyone here. Let’s dive in!
The Perfect Gift at Every Price Point
From CME Exclusive Gear, to some of the hottest new releases from the past year, to stocking stuffers that will help someone Rock Around the Clock this Holiday Season, we're making it easier than ever to get every musician on your list (including yourself) the perfect gift!
Holiday Staff Picks
Get inspired by our team’s holiday favorites! From classic gear to hidden gems, our staff has handpicked the best gifts to make every musician's holiday brighter. Whether you’re shopping for a beginner or a seasoned pro, explore our top selections and find something truly special for the holidays.
CME Expert Picks by Category
Electric Guitar
Hot Holiday Steals
Even though the temperatures are dropping, our holiday deals are just heating up at CME! For the best deals anywhere, anytime, hit up our electric guitar price drops for the best deals on new, used, and vintage gear! We've also picked out a few individual deals that will help you rock around any tree this holiday season!
Buy a Gibson USA Guitar, get 2 Maestro Pedals for Free!
It’s the most wonderful time to grab gear! While supplies last, grab the iconic performance of a select new USA-made Gibson Les Paul Standard, and pick up 2 new Maestro Pedals on us! This makes it easier than ever to overhaul your entire sonic attack in one fell swoop!
Up to 37% off PRS SE Guitars
Nathaniel Murphy claims he has never played a bad PRS guitar, and that includes the PRS SE models currently on price drop at CME! Combining beloved PRS designs with trusted PRS quality, our price dropped PRS SE guitars are a fantastic option for players looking for a gigging workhorse, a new player looking to grab an instrument that they will continue to reach for, or for those looking to dip their toe into the Stevensville Maryland Manufacturers’ waters!
$150 off Fender Vintera II
Tap into the tones of yesteryear with Fender Vintera II guitars & basses! Featuring period-correct colors & neck shapes, and loaded with vintage-voiced pickups, each Fender Vintera II guitar allows players to grab vintage feel with unmatched sounds! For a limited time, every new Fender Vintera II guitar & bass is $150 off!
$500 off CME Exclusive Fender American Ultra
American Ultra is a forward-thinking line of Fender guitars, with Ultra Noiseless pickups, rolled fingerboard edges, and a tapered neck heel! We’ve partnered with Fender to bring you a collection of CME Exclusive models, applying the American Ultra formula to our eye-catching models! For a limited time, you can grab YOURS for up to $500 off!
Up to 32% off Rivolta by Novo
Designed by Dennis Fano of Novo guitars, each Rivolta guitar is inspected and set-up by the Novo team in Nashville TN! With sleek styling, modern playability, and proprietary pickups, each Rivolta guitar gives players access to Dennis Fano’s designs for way less!
Up to 18% off Jackson Pro Plus Guitars
Each Jackson Pro Plus guitar pushes the envelope of modern playability, with screaming Seymour Duncan pickups, rock-solid Floyd Rose tremolos, and signature Jackson feel! Choose from a variety of eye-popping finishes that ensure you will stand out on stage, applied to the classic Jackson body shapes, including Rhoads, Soloist, and Dinky models.
Check out gear at CME
Looking to check out some of our best gear at some of our best prices? Try putting one of these guitars into your cart!
The Most Popular Electric Guitars of 2024
Plenty of our newest gear came and went faster than we could say “shred”, but these are some of the hottest guitars that were released in 2024!
Bass Guitar
$150 off Fender Vintera II
Each Vintera II bass taps into Fender’s history, updating the styles for the modern era. The pickups on each bass are specifically designed to match the era’s tonal character. While supplies last, each Vintera II bass can be had for $150 off!
$300 off Music Man StingRay Basses
Leo Fender, Tom Walker, and Sterling Ball’s StingRay bass has attracted a seemingly endless list of players over the years, and we’re making it easier to add your name to the list of people who have wielded the StingRay! Race down to the BASSment to pick up a StingRay special with a Roasted Maple neck for $300 off!
Check Out Gear at CME
Looking to check out some of our best gear at some of our best prices? Try putting one of these basses into your cart!
The Most Popular Basses of 2024
There’s plenty of gear that helped us hold down the low end in 2024, but these are some of the most popular basses for this year!
Acoustic Guitars
Buy a Taylor, GET a Taylor!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we want to help you add even more Taylor tone to your sonic arsenal, OR to start the next generation of players off on the right note! Through January 6 2025, purchase a qualifying new 300 or 400 series guitar, and get an Academy Series guitar for $299, a GS Mini for $199, or a Baby Taylor BT1 for $99*!
Must have both guitars in cart. Contact us for full details.
20% Off Orangewood Guitars
Orangewood has been one of the most popular additions to our acoustic room in 2024, and through November 10, you can add a rubber bridge Juniper, or one of their punchy mahogany models to your sonic arsenal for 20% OFF!
Check Out Gear at CME
Looking to check out some of our best gear at some of our best prices? Try putting one of these acoustic guitars into your cart!
Effects & Pedals
EarthQuaker Devices One-of-a-Kind Pedals 15% Off
For the third year in a row, we’ve partnered with EarthQuaker Devices to give you a series of truly unique pedals! For a limited time, we're able to offer these one-of-a-kind pedals at 15% off, so grab yours before it's gone forever!
20% Off Keeley Electronics
Since 2001, perhaps no company has pushed the effects envelope than Keeley, with an entire range of pedals that send sonic shockwaves across the musical landscape. Through December 9, send shockwaves of your own out into the sonic landscape by adding select Keeley pedals to your board for 20% off!
25% off JHS Pedals
Whether its by collaborating with other popular pedalmakers, or by covering pedal history on their youtube channel, JHS is constantly building itself up as one of the hottest names in the effect pedal space. Through December 6, get 25% off some of the most popular JHS pedals!
Boss Effects for up to $140 off
Boss revolutionized the form factor of the effects pedal, and boss pedals have appeared on the boards of almost every player imaginable! This Holiday Season, add some of Boss’ most trusted effects for up to $140 off!
UAFX Price Drops
Putting the tones of some of the most beloved gear ever made on your board, this is a great time to grab your new Universal Audio Pedals! Through December 31, select new Universal Audio effects are up to 37% OFF, so grab the perfect pedals for your board today!
Up to 33% off Pigtronix pedals
Striving to push the dialogue of musical effects forward since 2004, Pigtronix offers a universe of forward-thinking pedals that are right at home on any board! Through December 31, you can add Pigtronix’s pedals to your board for less!
The most popular pedals of 2024
There are some pedals that never stay on our showroom floor for long! Grab some of the hottest effects of 2024!
Amplifiers
Up to $599 OFF Marshall Amps
For over 60 years, Marshall has been the sound of Rock N Roll, with modern amplifiers still channeling the magic of Jim Marshall’s original designs! While supplies last, power your rig with a Marshall amplifier for up to $599 off!
Fender Tone Master Pro Price Drops
A peek into the future of performance, the Fender Tone Master Pro is a guitar workstation boasting over 100 of the most popular amp models, making it a no-brainer for the modern gigging musician! Grab yours for $200 off!
Up to 45% OFF Vintage Amps
Every vintage piece under our roof has a story to tell, and for a limited time, you can take an extra 15% OFF select vintage amplifiers that are already price dropped! This allows you to tap into the tones of your guitar heroes, launching your tone back to the dawn of rock 'n' roll with unique classics whille allowing you to keep more of your money!
Drum & Percussion
Up to $200 OFF Select Roland Electronic Percussion
Whether you're looking to lay down the beat without annoying the neighbors, or want to add new sounds to your percussive attack, Roland is one of the biggest names in electronic percussion! For a limited time, you can pick up a V-Drums Kit or SPD-SX Electronic Percussion Sampling Pad for up to $200 off!
Tackle Waxed Canvas Cymbal and Stick Bags
With heavy duty cotton canvas, you can safely carry your gear in style with these waxed canvas stick or cymbal bags! Shop the full collection of Tackle Instrument Supply Co. gear at Chicago Drum Exchange today!
15% OFF Select Zildjian Cymbals
From Lamb of God to the Pittsburgh Steeline, anywhere music is performed, you will find Zildjian Cymbals! This year, Zildjian reintroduced the Z Custom, a beloved line of cymbals noted for their explosive attack and cutting tones, making them ideal for heavier types of music. Through December 8, grab select Zildjian Z Custom Cymbals for up to 15% OFF!
Keys & Synth
Arturia MiniLAB 3 Price Drops
From the great feeling keyboard, to the DAW-integrated pads & faders, to the 500 curated sounds from Analog Lab’s massive library, the Arturia MiniLAB 3 is an easy way to key into your creative process! Through December 31, grab your MiniLAB 3 for less!
$200 off KingKORG Neo
Hail to the King! Featuring their XMT (eXpandedKEY Modeling Technology) which balances high-fidelity modeling with a simple workflow, the KingKORG Neo allows you to quickly dial in rich, stage ready tones. Through December 31 celebrate your sonic coronation by grabbing your KingKORG Neo for $200 off!
Instant Savings on Roland Synthesizers & Keyboards
Roland has made some of the most beloved synthesizers of all time, and for a limited time, it’s easier than ever to add them to your setup! These price drops include select Boutique Series desktop synths, which pack some of their most beloved designs into an absolutely miniscule form factor. Through January 2, 2025, shop our Roland Keyboard & Synth Price Drops, and add integrate YOURS to your rig for up to 33% OFF!
Pro Audio
Focusrite Vocaster Price Drops
Got a podcast idea? Focusrite’s Vocaster interfaces and recording bundles feature everything you need to get going! With auto gain, easy audio enhancements, and everything you need to start creating content, Vocaster bundles even feature a microphone with a 70dB gain range, and studio-quality headphones! For a limited time, Vocaster interfaces & recording bundles are up to 70% OFF, making it even easier to bring your ideas to life!
Shure Price Drops
Shure makes some of the most trusted microphones found anywhere, and we love partnering with this hometown hero to make it easier for you to trust them too! Through January 3, shop the microphones, earphones, and interfaces you need to perform your best!
Universal Audio Modeling Microphone Price Drops
Universal Audio cut their teeth creating lauded digital versions of some of the most beloved studio effects ever produced, bringing legendary recording techniques to the home studio, or even to the bedroom! For a limited time, producers of all stripes can take advantage of UA price drops on select microphones and interfaces, and get the new UAD Essentials Edition plug-in bundle FREE, including the Teletronix LA-2A Leveler, Pultec EQ collection, Oxide tape emulation, and more, a $299 value!
Warm Audio Microphone Price Drops
Warm Audio delivers the tones of iconic recording gear to your home studio! Shop price drops on the WA-87 R2, delivering a radio-friendly edge to lead vocals and three polar patterns that has drawn everyone from David Bowie to Ed Sheeran. Or, get your hands on the ultra-rare “EB-circuit” in the form of the WA-14, a perfect choice for micing guitars and pianos!
CME Expert Picks: Handpicked for Gearheads
Hot Holiday Steals
Even though the temperatures are dropping, our holiday deals are just heating up at CME! For the best deals anywhere, anytime, hit up our electric guitar price drops for the best deals on new, used, and vintage gear! We've also picked out a few individual deals that will help you rock around any tree this holiday season!
PRS SE Price Drop Promotions
PRS’ SE line of guitars offers their iconic lineup of models at price points that are accessible to all, with PRS’ lauded quality as the cherry on top. For a limited time, you can grab select brand new PRS SE guitars for 20% OFF, including newly introduced 2024 models!
Fender Player & Player Plus Price Drops
It’s easier than you think to get your hands on some of the models that helped shape the landscape of world music since their introduction in the ‘50s! Fender Player guitars and basses tap into the magic of these models, with player-friendly upgrades that keep Fender on the cutting edge of guitar design, like Player Plus Noiseless pickups (on Player Plus models)
Tap into the Brown Sound with 30% OFF Select EVH Wolfgang Standard Guitars
Every EVH guitar carries on Eddie’s legacy with stage ready looks and tones! While supplies last, get your hands on select Wolfgang Standards for over $200 off!
More Staff Picks: Expert Curations for the Gear-Obsessed
Phil's Top 10 Keyboard Essentials
Moog has been producing instantly identifiable synthesizers since the dawn of synthesis itself, and their Asheville, NC factory still produces instruments that apply Robert Moog’s philosophy to every corner of the synth world. While supplies last, patch into the classic Moog sound for less with our price drops on Moog synthesizers!
Damon's Top 5 Ibanez
Break through to new sonic frontiers, and bring your creativity to life with synths & controllers from Arturia! The Microfreak allows you to combine wavetable & digital oscillators, with analog filters, resulting in truly unique synth sounds, while their KeyLab and MiniLab controllers provide over 2000 sounds with the included Analog Lab V software, and other included software licenses.
Fresh gear
Don’t see something you like right away? There is new gear arriving at CME every day, and new discounts being added to our holiday deals every day!
CME Final Sale Collection
Looking for our deepest discounts of all? Our “Final Sale” offers you the opportunity to grab some of our best gear for up to 65% OFF, with deep discounts in every department but with limited return capabilites.
Andrew's Exclusive Vault Picks: 5 Must-See Rarities
Andrew's Top 5 from The Vault
Every day is a sale at the Chicago Drum Exchange! With our Drum & Percussion Deals & Steals, you can take advantage of eye-popping prices across every realm. Shop deep discounts on cymbals, drum kits, snare drums, hardware, and more to get your great deal today!
FIND THE PERFECT STOCKING STUFFERS!
CME Merch
CME Merch is the perfect way to display one’s love for the world’s greatest music store! With a range of designs and styles paying tribute to rock ‘n’ roll’s various eras, you’re sure to find something that fits the aesthetic of every musician on your list!
Souldier Guitar Straps
Made in Michigan with vintage cloth and sustainable practices, Souldier guitar straps offer an extra way to express yourself through your rig! Souldier Straps are also a great way to channel the stars of today, as Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton, and the Black Keys are just a few of the notable artists who have trusted Souldier straps.
Kyser Quick Change Capos
Made from aircraft-grade aluminum and appearing in the rigs of countless players, Kyser delivers dependable performance! With a range of colors, including several iconic Fender colors, it’s easy to ensure that you can pair your capo to the rest of your rig, and add the perfect pop of personality to your image!
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