The CME Collection | Artist Editions & Signature Models
Browse The Most Extensive Collection Of Artist/Signature Models That CME’s Ever Had Under One Roof!
“What’s in a name?” If you were to pose that question to our gear experts in regard to the now larger-than-ever assortment of premium artist editions and signature models on the showroom floor (or in our CME Vault), a one-word response will almost always suffice, reminding us why we play guitar in the first place: “Inspiration.”
Any guitar player who loves instruments as much as we do probably remembers the moment they picked up a six-string and—for the first time—experienced whatever sense of determination and will that they could muster to begin their own musical journey. But, chances are that it was witnessing an artist whose deep, lasting impression on you make you want to pick up your own guitar and play.
At some point, it probably also made you wonder why they chose that specific guitar you saw them play during that performance. Perhaps, like us, you grew as a guitar player over time and also found yourself learning as much as you could about the tools with which your favorite artists cast a spell across space and time over you and their fans. Maybe that makes you, too, wonder whether certain instruments might be actual, real-life talismans capable of conjuring musical voices from a source beyond ourselves—from the instrument?
Next time you’re at CME, ask about all the artist models in The CME Collection and try out a few of the guitars with names you know, you might discover that just about any artist model in CME manages to evoke the spirit of the artist, and you might find a musical talisman of their own!
SHOP CME COLLECTION ARTIST GUITARS
A Historic Tradition of Inspiring Players
American manufacturers began making “artist editions” at least as far back as 1843, when C.F. Martin built the first ever X-braced Martin models for one of the most renowned soloists of the era, Madame Delores N. de Goñi. And although it’s not as often that we see de Goñi model come through CME’s doors, we sometimes see a fair number of the earliest artist editions and signature models ever commercially produced—including the Gibson Nick Lucas and Roy Smeck models.
Gibson Artist Editions and Signature Models At CME
It wasn’t until Gibson made its first forays into electric archtops that an artist became so identifiable with a guitar model that the names of the player and the model became synonymous, with Charlie Christian’s ES-150—now popularly referred to as “the Gibson Charlie Christian model,” which helped expand the popularity of the six-string guitar, overall.
Of course, the most popular name to have become synonymous with a guitar design—Les Paul—has been CME’s bread and butter for as long as we’ve been in the vintage and used business; but we also have a fair number of Trini Lopez models, in addition to decades of blues, jazz and early rock ‘n’ roll guitarist’s names from throughout the decades, like Chuck Berry’s ES-295, B.B. King’s Lucille, and Scotty Moore ES-175 (the last of which inspired the finish on the first gold tops).
As CME has grown alongside the Gibson USA and the Custom Shop over the 32 years we’ve been in business, we’ve given our customers access to as many names of influential artists as we could get our hands on ourselves!
Now, The CME Collection adds a slew of artist editions and signature models to CME’s walls, giving our customers a unique opportunity to go straight to the source of their own musical inspiration—plus, a chance to play models that are hard-to-find, or no longer in production, in addition to all the guitars Gibson still makes today!
Come channel your idols at CME when you browse the litany of new names included among the horde of premium artist series and signature edition models included in The CME Collection!
CONTACT US TODAY!
Help us, help you! Call us at (773) 525-7773 or chat us on our website and we can help find the perfect gear to add to your own collection!
SHOP NEW SIGNATURE GUITARS
Related Posts
Introducing | Chapman Guitars
Founded by Dorje frontman and YouTube guitar-playing extraordinaire Rob Chapman, Chapman Guitars are designed in collaboration with musicians to inspire the artists who use them! Call Chicago Music Exchange today, chat us, or stop into our showroom to get your hands on new Chapman Guitars!
Read more
Elektron | Digitakt II
Get the latest revitalization to Elektron’s top-selling line of stereo drum computers/samplers with the Elektron Digitakt II! Stop into our showroom to try it yourself! Call Chicago Music Exchange, or chat with us online or in the app to learn more!
Read more
Paul Reed Smith @ CME | Join US Monday, May 6, 2024
Meet THE maker of PRS Guitars at Chicago Music Exchange's Lincoln Avenue showroom on Monday, May 6, 2024, during our clinic with Paul Reed Smith! Join CME to learn more about PRS lines, as well as the guitar manufacturing processes he employs at the Maryland factory and overseas!
Read more