Warpdrive & Cream City Music

I can personally say I’ve been to just about every small music store in the southern half of Wisconsin and this is the (Cream) of the crop. I had never stepped foot in the place before but I will definitely be back.
I was looking for a few pieces of vintage gear and while I didn’t expect them to have what I was looking for they were VERY friendly and extremely helpful in putting my name down on a call list if they ever run across the items. These guys KNOW what they’re talking about. I was looking for a very specific Gibson Les Paul Classic from around 2000 and the guy behind the counter recalled exactly what I was looking for… which is incredible as Gibson has a TON of different editions and series.
Stopped into the Gretsch section and had a nice conversation about early White Falcons and once again, this guy KNEW what he was talking about.
This place is a complete breath of fresh air from dealing with the idiots at larger stores like Guitar Center where their main mission is to sell, sell, and sell without caring about customer service or in some cases actually knowing what they’re talking about.
AWESOME is all I can say. Friendly, true experts. Buy from a local shop that actually cares.

As a former guitar strummer (wind instruments were more my thing) and current wifey to a bassist, I can, without a doubt, say that CCM is my favorite shop in Milwaukee.
We swung by recently because the hubs is considering a new addition to our family, and I was happy to see that CCM is just as wonderful as I remember it.
Warm and inviting, you won’t find many sad-​faced women standing under florescent lights here. Or rude, rhythmically-​challenged children banging away on anything in sight. No, sir. This place is epitome of a cool, relaxed shop.
The space is beautifully maintained and well stocked. If you don’t see what you’re looking for on the wall, don’t hesitate to ask one of the guys. There are no high-​pressure sales tactics deployed. They honestly want to find you your ideal instrument.
This little shop also houses an impressive Gretsch collection (say hi to Ben in the Gretsch room), knowledgable appraisal staff and a repair shop. Not to mention accessories to keep you occupied for days.

I’ve been stalking Cream City online for a while. I finally got a chance to stop in. It is overwhelming to walk into a room with that volume of really excellent Fenders, Gibsons, Taylors, Martins and the like. There wasn’t much in the way of boutique, that I could see, but they had quite a few really nice vintage amps and guitars. The salespeople were super friendly and helpful. It’s worth stopping in!
I’ll put it this way, there is no store that compares to this one anywhere in or near Atlanta, GA. I’ve searched for 15 years…

This is a Rock/​Blues Guitarist’s dream. Lot’s of hollow body guitars, steel guitars, and vintage amps. They had the largest slide selection I’ve ever found at a store. The store may not be huge, but they have the good stuff here! Great staff too!

These guys are great. Professional, honest, knowledgable and helpful. I bought a very valuable Marshall amp head from them sight unseen all the way across the country and the Pacific here in Hawaii, which is a nerve wracking thing to do, but not only was everything in the condition promised, and at the price I liked, but the customer service was top notch. I look forward to one day actually stepping foot in the store and thanking them in person.

This place is amazing.
Their customer service is second to none. Friendly, helpful, easygoing… if you have any sort of guitar (or music, for that matter) question, this is the place to be. I would be happy to spend half the day yakking it up, real guitar-​nerd-​like, here. It’s the place I can, and will, easily spend half my day lusting after a Rickenbacker ³⁶⁰⁄₁₂. Yes, their prices are a tad bit higher, but you will get the service to go along with it.
If — and when — the day ever comes I buy another guitar, this is the first place I will head to.
PS — the Gretsch room almost made me pee my pants. It was almost too much to take in.
PPS — check out their website — the members of My Morning Jacket appear to be fans of Warpdrive /​CCM as well. Bonus!

Gretsch! Gretsch! Gretsch!
My favorite place to go and salivate over guitars with friendly staff and an incredible selection, Cream City is a wise choice over the corporate chains.