RE-Introducing | Recording King Guitars ARE Back!

Recording King Is Back — A New Generation of Vintage Value

One of the most trusted names in the musical landscape has returned! First introduced in 1929 as a house brand for Montgomery Ward, Recording King quickly gained a foothold for its incredible value. Its top-line guitars and banjos were made by Gibson (with other instruments made by Kay and Regal), and players such as John Fahey and Justin Townes Earle showcased vintage Recording King guitars in their timeless brand of Americana.

With the help of St. Louis Music, Recording King has been revived for a new generation! Sporting period-correct specifications and all-solid tonewoods, this collection of acoustic guitars and resonators places vintage vibes into the hands of players everywhere, all at an incredible value. To be among the first to play the newest instruments from Recording King, call us today at 773-525-7773, chat with us on our website, or simply come into our Acoustic Room!

SHOP RECORDING KING GUITARS!

Get In a Time Machine With These Value-Packed Flattops

At the top of Recording King's new lineup of flattops are the D70H, OM70H, and 000H! All three of these guitars start with a North American Sitka spruce top, an East Indian rosewood body, and 8mm X-bracing, for an instantly recognizable tonal profile that takes you back to yesteryear. Each of these guitars also undergoes a thermo curing process that gives each guitar a more powerful and consistent voice, meaning that whether it's a D70H, OM70H, or 000H, it will feel like a cherished musical companion that's been in your tonal arsenal for decades, regardless of how long you've actually had it. As a final visual touch, each of these guitars features an ultra-classy herringbone purfling.

In the same vein, the Recording King D60, OM60, and 000-60 also evoke the flattops of old! With a Sitka spruce top, mahogany body, and premium tortoiseshell body binding, these guitars are straightforward tone machines, built to fit the needs of everyone from the bedroom player to the biggest touring acts.

Recording King D60 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Low Gloss Thermo Cured Natural Acoustic Guitars

Recording King D60 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Low Gloss Thermo Cured Natural

$749.99

History
Recording King was introduced in 1929 as a house brand for the Montgomery Ward department store and mail order catalog. The premium models of the guitar and banjo lines were made by Gibson, and during the 1930’s the Recording King brand grew quickly due to their accessibility and affordability. They also started offering more entry-level models made in the Kay and Regal instrument factories. Many Recording King flattops, archtops and banjos made in the “Golden Era” by Gibson were virtually identical to the Gibson line and are highly sought after by collectors today.

Recording King instruments were sold by Montgomery Ward until 1943 and remained dormant until registered by The Music Link in 2006. The Music Link worked with Greg Rich, a well-known banjo designer, to bring back many of the classic models. They quickly expanded Recording King to offer guitars and resonators, which as we all know, have been around for the last 20 years and did well in this space until 2025.

The Loar trademark was first registered in 1997 and pays homage to the legendary Gibson instrument designer and musician, Lloyd Loar, who is synonymous with the F5 Mandolin and L5 Archtop guitar. As with Recording King, The Music Link did a good job at capturing the essence of vintage mandolins under The Loar brand and bringing them to market at affordable pricing.

What have we been up to – and why?

QC and supply chain evaluation
Aligning our goals and standards to SLM’s approach
Learning and applying that knowledge
Market evaluation
Redesign
Sampling

Guitars
We are launching with our all-new RK Standard Series. A traditionally styled, all solid series, built with a genuine attention to detail.

16 models – familiar to all – with what we believe is a unique level of quality, tonality and value.
Voicing -
Finish -
Build -

Construction

Top thicknesses are now to 4.5mm in the center and 3.5mm on the perimeter.
The height/radius has also been increased by 2mm to create a shapelier instrument with more air volume.
The bridge is more refined, less mass, more response.
The scroll process has been retooled and a new hand sanding step has been added that makes for a more defined, cleaner aesthetic.

Finish

We have redesigned the entire sanding process at the factory
Training & tools
All the mandolins are now finished in
Nitrocellulose. Satin, semi-gloss and gloss
The finish is now UV cured
These improvements allow us to achieve a thinner, flatter and more refined appearance

The Future
We are very happy these brands are now part of St. Louis Music, and we have long and exciting plans for them.

Recording King and The Loar bring us so much scope with suitable brand identities that will allow us to create one of the most comprehensive acoustic and folk instruments brands in the industry.

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Vintage Swagger in a Tiny Package

Paying homage to the decade that put them on the map, Recording King Dirty 30's Parlor Guitars pack a punch! Available in a variety of old-school finishes, these guitars feature a full scale length and full tone, thanks to the X-bracing with added tone bars. The acrylic sound bar inlays add a pop of art-deco inspiration that recalls the '20s and '30s aesthetic. Finally, select Dirty 30's guitars feature a secret sonic weapon that recalls vintage warmth and character: a gold foil soundhole pickup.

Recording King Dirty 30's Single 0 Series 7 Parlor Acoustic-Electric w/Gold Foil Pickup Red, White & Blue Acoustic Guitars

Recording King Dirty 30's Single 0 Series 7 Parlor Acoustic-Electric w/Gold Foil Pickup Red, White & Blue

$279.99

Recording King History
Recording King was introduced in 1929 as a house brand for the Montgomery Ward department store and mail order catalog. The premium models of the guitar and banjo lines were made by Gibson, and during the 1930’s the Recording King brand grew quickly due to their accessibility and affordability. They also started offering more entry-level models made in the Kay and Regal instrument factories.

Many Recording King flattops, archtops and banjos made in the “Golden Era” by Gibson were virtually identical to the Gibson line and are highly sought after by collectors today.

View Details

SHOP RECORDING KING GUITARS!

A Legend, Redesigned From the Ground Up

As part of their revival, The Loar’s line of mandolins has been redesigned from the ground up: first, the body radius has been increased by 2mm to more strongly pronounce the body’s silhouette and increase the overall acoustic dynamics of each mandolin! This also includes a new scroll process that includes hand sanding for a more defined aesthetic. Finally, each new mandolin from The Loar has been fitted with a lower profile bridge that resonates more freely with the rest of the body.

To add extra touches of class, each mandolin from The Loar also features a nitrocellulose finish that has been UV cured, adding to the feeling that each player has just picked up a mandolin from a time long ago!

Quality That Will Resonate

Available with a metal or wood body, Recording King's reimagined resonator guitars cover a variety of styles to suit any player! With multiple resonator designs representing a series of classic shapes and finishes, these resonators will help blues, bluegrass, and Americana players feel right at home.

A New Golden Age

Recording King signifies a return to the dawn of the iconic designs that dominate the musical landscape through to today, with vintage-inspired specifications and a feel that recalls an era long ago. With St. Louis Music as its new parent company, Recording King is now positioned for a new golden age, putting the charm and value of those instruments of old into the hands of a new generation. To be among the first players to add an acoustic guitar or resonator to your sonic arsenal, call us today at 773-525-7773, chat with our sales experts, or simply come into our Lincoln Avenue Showroom!

SHOP RECORDING KING GUITAR ARRIVALS!

Introducing | Recording King Guitars Is Back!

One of the most trusted names in value-packed vintage instruments has returned.Recording King, first introduced in 1929, built its reputation on incredible value and a direct line to Gibson's own craftsmanship. Now, with St. Louis Music behind it, the brand is back — flattops, parlor guitars, and resonators, all built with period-correct specs and all-solid tonewoods. Call us at 773-525-7773, chat with us online, or come into our Acoustic Room to be among the first to play them!

EarthQuaker Devices | 2026 One-of-A-Kind Series

For the fifth consecutive year, Chicago Music Exchange has partnered with EarthQuaker Devices to bring players a collection of one-of-a-kind pedals featuring exclusive, never-before-seen graphics. Built from EarthQuaker’s trusted circuits — the same pedals relied on by musicians worldwide — each piece in the 2026 collection carries a unique visual finish you won’t find anywhere else. Since 2022, this annual collaboration has given players an easy way to put as much personality into their pedalboard as they put into their playing. Once these one-of-one EarthQuaker pedals sell out, they’re gone for good, so shop the 2026 CME Exclusive collection today.

PRS Guitars | New Tekton Series

PRS Guitars' new Tekton family answers the call for a more modern PRS — thinner neck profiles, a sleeker body silhouette, and brand-new Stylus pickups across Tekton, Tekton T, Tekton Floyd, and Tekton SVN. With stainless steel frets and the thinnest body PRS has ever made in standard production, Tekton is built for precision players who want a direct connection to their instrument. Chicago Music Exchange is proud to be one of the first to carry it. Shop PRS Tekton now at Chicago Music Exchange!

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Recording King Is Back — A New Generation of Vintage Value

Get In a Time Machine With These Value-Packed Flattops