Carmine Street Guitars stands as a Greenwich Village institution where luthier Rick Kelly has built a reputation crafting instruments from reclaimed wood with genuine New York history. Kelly specializes in custom guitar builds using timber salvaged from iconic Manhattan buildings‚everything from old hotels to legendary music venues‚giving each instrument a tangible connection to the city’s past.

The shop’s expertise extends well beyond new builds. Kelly and his team handle vintage guitar work with the same meticulous attention, understanding the specific needs of older instruments. Their guitar repair and setup services draw players who appreciate traditional craftsmanship and a luthier who knows how to preserve an instrument’s original character while ensuring optimal playability.

The workshop also produces custom basses using the same reclaimed Bowery pine and other salvaged materials that make their guitars unique. Fretwork, restoration, and general instrument repair are handled with decades of experience behind every adjustment.

For players seeking a guitar tech who understands both the technical and historical aspects of their instruments, Carmine Street Guitars delivers old-school craftsmanship in the heart of New York City’s most musical neighborhood.