Specimen Products
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Ian Schneller has been creating custom instruments his Chicago shop Specimen Products since 1986. His unique tube amplifiers and audio horn speakers have been exhibited in major museums in the U.S. Each Specimen is handmade using traditional techniques and innovative design. We are also Chicago's oldest full-service guitar and tube amplifier repair shop providing expert repair and restoration service. We are the home of The Chicago School of Guitar Making where, since opening in 2005, more than 1000 students have taken classes with us in guitar building, guitar electronics, guitar repair, effects pedal building and tube amplifier building. Clients include Jack White, Andrew Bird, Wilco, Franz Ferdinand, Calexico, Hard Rock Hotels, Lula Cafe, Arcade Fire, Trenchermen Restaurant, Playboy, Chicago Magazine, Low, Death Cab for Cutie, Chicago Conservation Society, Yahoo Inc., My Morning Jacket, The Hives, Rise Against, Eleventh Dream Day, Deerhoof, Jon Langford. Specimen Products has been featured in: Chicago Magazine, ELLE, The Fretboard Journal, an Apple iPad national TV spot, Art in America, I.D., Rolling Stone, PBS News Hour, Cool Hunting, Paste, New York Times, Austin City Limits.
04/23/2026
02/18/2026
We’ve opened a slew of new classes. These will be the last at CSGM’s Chicago campus before our full move to Polo, IL in early August.
There is much more to say and more will be said in the coming months, but for now, we’re so grateful for more than 25 years in Humboldt Park and hoping to close this chapter with a vibrant season of learning. New faces and old friends - come help us celebrate and join for a class. We’d love to see you.
For those aspiring technicians looking for a deep dive, we’ve got three upcoming Guitar Technician Programs in April, June, and July. Take all of our repair classes in one go, or, join for any of the a la carte classes included in the program to study at your own pace. And for those with weekday jobs, there will be a set of weekend guitar repair classes in May: Guitar Set-Up & Maintenance on Sat May 9th, and Fretting on Sat-Sun May 16-17th.
For tube amplifier enthusiasts or anyone electro-curious, our amp curriculum will return in July for Tube Amp Building with Ian Schneller on Sat-Mon July 18-20th and Tube Amp Diagnostics & Repair I&II with Kye Kennedy on Weds-Thurs July 22-23rd and Sat-Sun July 25-26th. Building and repair classes feed into each other nicely; join for both to up your skills and learn the tricks of the trade.
There’s something for everyone. Here is your chance to chart the course for a lifetime of luthiery. Be a part of Chicago’s rich history of guitar making! Learn how to make things right.
** links to our full course calendar in bio **
Shaping the neck of a Lesser Paul
music performed by Ian Schneller on the 36 fret Mandobeest
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Address
1240 N Homan Avenue
Chicago, IL
60651
Opening Hours
| Monday | 12pm - 7pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm - 7pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm - 7pm |
| Thursday | 12pm - 7pm |
| Friday | 12pm - 7pm |
| Saturday | 12pm - 5pm |
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