A guitar store near my house currently has around 56 Rickenbacker guitars in stock along with 13 basses. When I hear how so many of you can barely find one model, let alone the model you are interested in trying out, it's astonishing how many are available here. For example, over the last few years, I have regularly seen these hard to find models in stock and got to try them: 325c58, 325c64, 360c64, 350v63, 4001c64, 381v69, 650, 660, etc.

There must be a lot of Byrds and Beatles fans in the Chicago area. :p

You have to travel an hour to Atlanta to even find a Gibson dealer, much less a Rickenbacker dealer. The old local shop only carries Lag guitars now. It would be cool to casually go in and play another Ric.

Yes. Around here is only F, G, & I territory, with a smattering of the also-ran brands.

Nah, all Petty/Campbell fans.

Chicagoland is a rough place for weak-willed guitar players with some discretionary income. Lots of places with shiny, pretty, cool sounding toys.

Several places with Ricks and plenty of other non F, G, or I. If you can't find it here, there are also several nice shops just across the border to the north.

Not a bad place to live, as toy buying goes.

And for eating after you buy the toy!

And you're right, Wisconsin has a decent amount of guitar stores to check out too (with much lower sales tax!).