I've gone to Specimen a few times for bass amp repair, even though this is not their specialty, Ian is straight forward and timely with his repairs. He's also a fascinating person to talk to about the gear he's constructing. (Those horn amps Andrew Bird uses are his invention, and he makes small ones for stereo and computer speakers). There is no store front, so call ahead to see if they can help you out. Then press the Specimen buzzer and wait to be buzzed in (through the door on the left!). On my last visit I had been having some weird issues with my bass head, and was told if it wasn't a tube issue, it may have to go to SWR for repair. A tube was replaced and the next day I got a call! Great service! Guitar-making classes, guitar set-up workshops, vintage guitar and amp repair, these are what Specimen does best. But they've always done right by this bass player, as well! read more

I just completed my first course at this school: 'Tube Amp Diagnostics & Repair 1 & 2' and I can say that it was quite an experience! I live in Alaska so it was a bit of a journey to get to the school. But I am very glad I took the time to take the class. I have been a musician for over 20 years, and I am studying Electrical Engineering in AK, yet despite all of my background I feel like I picked up a lot of valuable new information. As far as I can tell, this is one of the few places left in the country (maybe the world) where you can learn about pure analog valve technology as it is used for audio applications. The class was small (six students including myself), which meant that there was plenty of opportunity to ask questions and talk one-on-one with the instructors. Not only did I learn a lot about the methods and practices of tube amp repair, but I picked up a number of neat tricks that will help improve my band's live performances. Considering that, and the fact that I can now repair my own gear (or be hired by other musicians for repair), I feel like this class will pay for itself in the long run. Ian's workshop is a spectacle in and of itself, particularly for an aspiring audiophile like me. It exists at a crossroads of authentic scientific curiosity, and unrestrained artistic expression. It's hard not to admire the work that Ian and his interns do on a regular basis. Just having the chance to look around the shop made the trip memorable. I highly recommend the Chicago School of Guitar Making. I don't understand the negative yelp reviews for the school, I took plenty of time to research the class in advance to make sure I knew what I was getting myself into. As I've already stated, I feel like I got my money's worth and then some. If you're flying in from way outside of Chicago, give yourself a few 'buffer' days to get into town and acclimate prior to class. You'll minimize the risk of missing class due to shenanigans at the airport, and you'll have the opportunity to look around one of the great American cities. If a conflict does arise, it says right on the Specimen webpage that you can arrange to reschedule your tuition for a later date. They do have a business to run after all! As far as I can tell all six of us students had a great time and walked away from the class quite satisfied. The main instructor for this class (Kye Kennedy) is a wizard and a great teacher, both he and Ian are very approachable and exceptionally knowledgeable. Everyone at Specimen are very welcoming and showed me excellent hospitality. I will definitely be booking another class at this school. read more

Wow, talk about honesty---I purchased a foot pedal for my amp. I walked out without it. I discovered the pedal missing almost a years later. I called them and was told that indeed I had left the pedal there. They couldn't locate it-but were kind enough to order a new pedal and ship to me. I would give them 6 stars-but 5 is the highest. They also fixed my amp in the price range promised, even though there were additional issues. They also knew what was wrong--while another "reputable" shop gave me bad advice and I wound up buying garbage vacuum tubes which didn't work. The other shop was also wrong on the diagnosis. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! read more

Specimen is NOT a typical store -- there is no storefront, there is no parking lot, there isn't even a sign in sight. It's completely different, and that's exactly what makes Specimen stand out! Set within a giant warehouse, there are several "works in progress" scattered throughout in various levels of completion. Even if you aren't a seasoned musician, you will find this place intriguing. If you've ever wondered what goes into the making of a guitar, amps, etc, Specimen is your little piece of heaven on earth. Ian restored an (approximately) 40-year old guitar to perfect playing condition. He was courteous, professional, clearly talented, and extremely pleasant through the entire process. I cannot possibly say enough great things about this place. A friend of mine recommended Specimen, and I am eternally grateful to him (thanks, Dave). I was initially skeptical about taking my family heirloom to a place that wasn't ranked on Yelp (there were no reviews when I first dropped off my guitar), but now I cannot imagine going elsewhere. read more

I have taken at least 4 electric guitars in for everything from basic setup to special mods (unity gain buffer installation), took the basic setup class myself, have had an acoustic guitar repaired (crack on top) and have had several amps repaired/given an overhaul. I've found Ian and his team to be not only totally professional and competent, but to be that rare breed of folks who not only don't mind explaining in detail all the work options available, but people who genuinely seem to enjoy talking about what they do, which is clearly a side-benefit to them really enjoying what they do. These are real professionals, and they aren't bottom-rate in terms of pricing, but they are absolutely fair and reasonable. the workshop is worth a trip in its own right, btw, as Ian builds numerous guitars and amps, and it's a mini-museum. read more

My experiences with Specimen have been few but consistently stellar. Ian is helpful, not condescending, and provides great service. This can be a rarity in the world of guitar music: it contains a lot of guys who are often jerky to girls. Specimen had my Danelectro set up the same day I dropped it off and not only does it few new again - they succeeded in noticeably lowering the action. Ian himself commented that he was very pleased with how it had turned out. Other cool things about Specimen: the location has lots of parking. The space is full of musical oddities that I long to play with but am probably right not to touch. It's peaceful and kind of magical in here. read more

Brought an 82 Telecaster Elite in for repair. Two weeks later I was leaving for a business trip to Australia so I stopped in and dropped off $100 prior to leaving towards my repair. I was in Australia 2 weeks then contacted Specimen about 2 weeks after getting back to inquire about my guitar. I was shocked to find they had sold my guitar!!! When I asked how they could do that they told me to look at my claim check where sure enough in the fine print it stated that any repair items not picked up within "x" number of weeks becomes property of the shop. When I asked about the $100 I had given them they said the considered it conciliatory!! There is a huge ethical void in any shop that would do something like that. Deep down not good people. Avoid at all costs. read more

Taken two course here. Actually took one course two different times about 2 years apart. The first time I suspected it wasn't very good but I got my feet wet. Came back 2 years later for refresher with much more guitar knowledge. Less teachers, same filthy understocked lab, less professional than the first time around. Completely overpriced. People come from long distances to take these classes. Thankfully for me I'm from Chicago and didn't waste travel money too. Ian in an interesting character and can be quite entertaining but seems he is a one man shop now days and this does not surprise me. Avoid. read more

Took my Fender Strat to Ian's shop a while back for pickup change and am very satisfied with the workmanship, service and price. Speciman is well respected by musicians in Chicago and I will be taking my guitars there for all my repairs... read more

Love this place! Myself and my whole band have had *tons* of work on our guitars/basses/amps at specimen. They have awesome prices, do top of the line work, and have a faster turnaround than any other shop I've ever been too. Ian, the owner, knows his stuff like you wouldn't believe and has been able to find solutions to virtually any kind of problem we've thrown at him. He's actually completely saved our asses on multiple occasions by finding quick fixes for things the have broken day of a show or studio session. I absolutely recommend trying specimen. Really good people and they do great work with personal service. read more

I signed up to take the Guitar and Bass Maintenance Course* so I could learn to do simple setups on my guitar; nothing more involved than adjusting the truss rod, intonating and changing string height. Anthing more complicated and I would just bring it in to be professionally set up. However, during the course of the class we had almost no time to work on our own instruments. The class was almost entirely lecture (with lots of promotion about the shop's refret jobs that will alledgedly "bring tears to your eyes they are so good") and the few times that we got our guitars out (which we had been invited to bring so we could work on them) we didn't actually work on them. During the last class we did have one hour after the end of the lecture to work on our own instruments but the instructor left us to our own devices and elected to use his iPad while we attempted to work on our guitars. It's possible that I had unrealistic expectations about this class but I feel that for $220 (nonrefundable!) we should have more hands-on time in class and the instructor should have been more involved in working with us. Frankly, I didn't learn anything that I didn't already know from researching and reading guitar repair and maintenance books on my own. However, since it was a guitar repair shop giving a class on setting up our own guitars (and therefore not bringing them into said shop to pay for a setup) maybe I was hoping for too much. If you have no knowledge of the workings of a guitar (as in, "What are those things under the strings on the fretboard? Oh, frets.") then this would be the class for you, but if you have any knowledge of guitars and their parts then just skip this class. *This review is strictly for the Chicago School of Guitar Making that is run out of Specimen's Guitar Repair. I have no experience with Specimen Guitar Repair and am not writing this review on their repair capabilities. read more

This guy is a rip off. First of all you learn nothing in this class about building an amp. it's basically a glorified soldering class. Number 2 his wife hounds you for the money up front to purchase the kit amp that you can buy for half the price. which I didn't have a problem with I understand them paying for the gear up front. But then they bait-and-switch you and say you've got to pay for the class up front. Once he's got all his money he could give a rat's ass about teaching. You're forced to sit in class and listen to his choices of music. you're basically held hostage. when I asked him why I was soldering certain parts together he said " I can't answer that, I don't even really know" Do to a medical issues with my child I was unable to finish the class with three weeks to go. I sent speciman emails asking when I could pick up the rest of my equipment that I had prepaid for, the transformer the tubes some of the other components. I received no replies. I had to go there physically and at that point you would assume that a business like this would have all of my prepaid parts in a box with my name on them. Or offer a chance to finish the class at a later date. Wrong! He had to go around the shop and gather up what he owed me. no intention of ever giving me what I had paid for it he figured it to be a windfall for himself and sell it to somebody else. My opinion the class was a total waste of money and time. You can do it on your own just by buying a kit. that's basically all he sells you and you learn nothing but soldering.; read more

I just returned from attending a three day class at Specimen, where we built a reproduction Deluxe amp from a Mojo Tone kit. While I have been a guitar player for over 30yrs, the inner workings of tube amps have always been more than a little mysterious, leaving me at the mercy of friends who know more, or repair guys. My knowledge consisted of soldering basics, where the fuse is located, and what happens when you incorrectly exchange tubes (smoke and fire) Attending this class seemed like a good way to learn, and have a nice amp at it's completion. I'm happy to say that the class exceeded all my expectations. I cannot remember spending three full days, completely absorbed in something so interesting and satisfying. Ian Schneller is equal parts artist, mad scientist, and gifted teacher. He was patient, funny, and extremely generous in sharing his hard won experience about how to, and how not, to assemble and wire our amps. A bonus to the class, was exposure all the other incredible things Ian does in his shop (an incredible space)...one of a kind speakers, extraordinary handmade guitars, and custom amps. I plan on going back to build one of Ian's hi-fi amps, as well as purchasing a pair of his Little Horn speakers. I would enthusiastically recommend attending one of Ian's classes, as well as consulting him for guitar or amp repair. Check out his comprehensive website, and feel free to email me with questions about the class I attended. read more

Specimen did a superb job refurbishing my 1970s-era Sigma. I inherited the guitar from my mom and thought it would be fun to paint the top green. I immediately regretted my decision and was relieved to hear from Specimen that the guitar was salvageable. While the turnaround time was longer than I anticipated, they made the guitar look and sound better than it had before I screwed with it. The guitar always stays in tune when I'm playing and its French polish continues to shine. read more

Nice guitars but not the greatest place to get your guitar or amp repaired. Possibly this is dependent on which intern works on your equipment. More focus on cosmetics and gimmicks than true fidelity. Of course this is always an opinion of the consumer. read more

I'm confidant most of Chicago's professional musicians have known and loved Specimen for a long time, but it's probably true that they're not the most likely to write reviews on Yelp (Andrew Bird, you should be up here!). So, if you're looking for repair, classes, beautiful craftsmanship, just interesting conversation, Specimen has been holding down the fort for 25 years. read more

Brought my Roland amp over here when it was having some issues. Great advice, quick and helpful service, and very knowledgeable and dedicated employees. These guys are the real deal. Quality service. read more

Great and respectable place to bring your gear. They will give you honest opinions on your gear, which is more valuable than just getting a quick fix. read more

Definitely the best place I have found in the city for basic guitar/amp head work. Friendly and informative service was a huge plus, this will be the only place I bring my gear to until I manage to find something even better. read more

I have taken several classes with Ian at Specimen and hung around at other times. I love the shop and often will go there for inspiration in my own stringed instrument pursuits. Ian offers what amounts to a great service to this century and the people who accept his tutelage. Namely that he is teaching the ability to use your own hands and do great work. His knowledge is endless it seems and the Specimen instruments, speakers, and amplifiers are top notch works of timeless art that will last for generations. The cost isn't cheap as another reviewer has stated - I'd counter that time isn't cheap and the time of a true craftsman and luthier shouldn't come cheap - what you will learn, if used, will save you an enormous amount of money. Ian is selfless with his accumulated knowledge and phrases with the best of authors. In other words, he is easy to listen to and easy to learn from. You would do yourself a favor by attending his school and asking as many questions as your brain can handle the answers for. read more

My first experience with Specimen was a result of signing up for a guitar setup class. Since then, I have taken just about every class they offer and in some cases, multiple times. I have built a custom guitar from scratch and am in the process of building two more. I learned to build a Fender style 100 watt tweed amp and numerous other luthier skills. Specimen is a fantastic learning resource. Their staff is great and personable. I am constantly figuring out ways to sign up for more classes because I learn so much every time I go there. What I love most is that they are innovative and true artists. They know how to do things well and they pay such close attention to detail. I couldn't recommend them enough for a) guitar setup, b) luthier education and c) quality products. Anyone who hasn't taken a class at Specimen is losing an opportunity of a life time.a read more

I love a man with a vision. Ian Schneller is a mad genius with guitars and amps and creates unique instruments that are both useful and beautiful. His horn speakers are absolutely beautiful-- what I wouldn't give to have at least 2-3 of these in my house. It is nice to know that Chicago's long history of manufacturing quality musical instruments is continuing at Specimen. Please go visit! read more

Specimen is fabulous. They've worked on one of my guitars, one of my tube amps, and I've built 2 tube amps in classes (those amps are fab). I've also watched the techs working on guitars and amps. There's tremendous care, and an old school sensibility of doing it right and making it last forever. read more

This is how guitar shops used to be. Mom and pop owned places that had their own personality, their own tastes, likes, and dislikes, and their shop and inventory reflected that. These days with the dumbed down lowend-crap pushing Guitar Centers and all the mall "something for everyone but nothing for me" kind of places, it's a rare comfort to visit places like Specimen. Ian has a vision. No, it may not jive with what most shredders and riff-monkeys might want, but he doesn't seem to care. He follows his vision and makes very unique and well playing instruments that appeal to a somewhat niche buyer/player. His school for guitar and amp making opens his shop up to anyone who wants to get their hands dirty and wants to learn the craft of building their own. Ian's craftsmanship is second to none and his instruments are as well playing and sounding as they are beautiful works of art. I own two of his instruments and look forward to more in the years to come. read more