New York-based luthier and artist Cindy Hulej of Cindy Guitars ,truly does reflect the history and culture of NYC in her guitar designs- which also reflects her artistic background.
She makes custom guitars -by hand- from reclaimed 200-year-old timber from famous NYC buildings.
She has been building guitars for 12 years and is based out of Carmine Street Guitars in Greenwich Village working alongside her mentor-guitar builder Rick Kelly.
Cindy describes how it came about:
“It all came together and I found my voice through what I learned throughout my life between my music and art background ,when I walked into Carmine Street Guitars and met Rick Kelly.
I told him I wanted to apprentice in learning how to make and fix guitars with him; he took me on the day I stepped into the shop and told him my story….and understood that I truly wanted to learn the craft.
He pushed me immediately to incorporate my artwork, seeing the work I’d done so far at that point. I’ve been there a bit over twelve years now building, repairing and customizing under Cindy Guitars alongside him in the shop which has been there since 1990.”
Rick Kelly has been building guitars for over 50 years - notably using reclaimed timber from old buildings (pine, swamp ash , rock maple etc) - “The Bones of Old New York” .
The 200 year old timber adds sonic benefits with increased resonance as the wood is thoroughly dried and the sap creates air molecules, to allow increased vibrations and overtones that translate into very responsive and tonally rich guitars.
Cindy accesses the same aged timber selection (sourcing timber herself from historic old NYC buildings) and augments her designs with premium hardware and electrical components .
She also adds unique customization using materials such as leather, velvet, and feathers, as well as hand painting and woodburning.
Cindy describes her unique and original creative process as follows:
“My creative process in terms of the custom work I do has ranged from woodburning to painting to drawing to etching to feather and leather work.. the list goes on and I’m still experimenting.
Everything I have done custom artwork-wise and build-wise has never been exactly the same and I like to continue that promise to anybody getting any work from me.. one of a kind, the only one in the world.
I have always been into art since I was a little girl and I never thought that I’d be able to incorporate it with the other thing that I love just as much- which is music.
Rick has made it possible for me and it’s a dream everyday that I walk into the shop.
I’ve done portraits of pets, people, my own designs, patterns, and anything anyone can basically think of that makes sense to their own unique ideas for their instruments and sometimes other things.
Most recently I carved someone’s cat paw print into their Gibson SG as a beautiful memorial.
I work with photos as well being very into photography both analog and digital as an important side hobby to me.
I work with customers on a step by step basis to make sure they get what they want and what makes sense to their own personal story and vibe.”
Her designs cover the cultural history and aesthetic of NYC.
Everything from : freehand-burned gothic architecture to honoring the New York Dolls and legendary music club CBGB.
The legacy of Carmine Street Guitars featuring Rick and Cindy is also preserved in a film released in 2019 - that honors an old world design aesthetic, as they are surrounded in Greenwich Village by real estate developers and the onward march of gentrification, that has changed so much of NYC already.
Cindy sums it up best:
“The most important thing to me is to do everything I can everyday knowing I am doing my best”
For all us guitar players, we are fans and know the refreshing unique artisan design aesthetic of Cindy Guitars and Carmine Street Guitars will continue to thrive!
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