Specimen Guitar Shop Click Works in Progress to see photos of projects in production.
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CUSTOM GUITARS
Building superior quality electric guitars, ukuleles, lutes, basses, violins and mandolins.

LITTLE HORN SPEAKERS
Creating audio horn speakers for home, office, theater and stage.

CUSTOM TUBE AMPLIFIERS
Building elegant and durable tube amps for instruments and Hi-Fi stereo systems.

EXPERT REPAIRS
Providing expert repair service for stringed instruments and tube amplifiers.


 
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Visit our shop and school:
1240 N. Homan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60651
773.489.4830

Click here to see a map with our location.

 

 

THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF GUITAR MAKING
Teaching the art of guitar building, guitar repair, and tube amp building. Click here to enter.

 

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NEWS:
September 2, 2010: PBS Art Beat video feature about the Sonic Arboretum just posted!
Click here to watch interviews with Ian Schneller and Andrew Bird on the night of the show at New York's Guggenheim Museum.

August 23, 2010: Photos, live reviews and videos of Andrew Bird & Ian Schneller's SONIC ARBORETUM are in! Click here to see and learn more about this performance at New York's Guggenheim Museum.

August 19, 2010: Specimen Little Horn Speakers featured in new Apple iPad TV spot. Click here to view the ad!

August 13, 2010: The Chicago School of Guitar Making's Fall Class Schedule is now posted! See below for quick links to all classes open for enrollment or click here.

August 3, 2010: The Sonic Arboretum Hornlings and Hornlets are finished! Click here to check out these special edition horns created especially for the Sonic Arboretum. These horns are now available for purchase. 

July 19, 2010: New Custom Aluminum Guitar joins the Specimen fleet! A beautiful aluminum rendition of Fender's Tele Deluxe guitar. Click here for info and pictures.

May 26, 2010: Joe Principe, bass player for Rise Against, now plays an Aluminum Specimen Bass! Click here for more details.

2010 CLASS SCHEDULE:
Summer Classes Now Open!
We just opened many new classes to help make your summer productive. See below for complete schedule or click here.

Fretting Workshop
WEEKEND SEMINAR

September 11 - 12, 2010

Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
NOTE: Sign up now and save $100! 

Constructive Techniques Workshop
September 18, 2010

Saturdays, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Guitar Design & Theory
WEEKEND SEMINAR
September 25 - 26, 2010
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

NEW! Advanced Guitar Repair Workshop
September 29 - October 20, 2010

Wednesdays, 7:00 - 9:30 pm

NEW! Guitar Electronics Workshop
October 4 - 25, 2010

Mondays, 7:00 - 9:30 pm

NEW! Constructive Techniques
WEEKEND SEMINAR

October 9 - 10, 2010

Saturday/Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

NEW! Tube Amplifier Building
WEEKEND SEMINAR
October 22 - 24, 2010
Friday - Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

NEW! Guitar & Bass Setup and Maintenance Course
October 30 - November 20, 2010
Saturdays, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

NEW! Fretting Workshop
October 30 - November 20, 2010
Saturdays, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Gift Certificates available! Certificates can be purchased for any dollar amount and used at the shop or school. Click here for more information about how to purchase one.



 
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