Oriskany Stringed Instruments

06/28/2025

I bought this Malaysian Blackwood when I started building guitars back in like 2002 or 2003 at an ASIA convention if my memory serves. Maybe by mail? I don’t know. Brain cobwebs. It’s been waiting to become a finished instrument for at least two decades under my watch. I’m gonna give it a shot. Side bending is gonna be scary!

07/31/2024

I'm now building under the Curtis Rockwell Guitars label, with occasional ventures outside the six string acoustic when I can. You can follow the other page for more updates. But for fun, here's an Oriskany that's for sale. My recollection is that this was one of the best sounding guitars we ever made and I've wondered whatever happened to it. I guess it's been enjoying the beautiful city of Toronto for a while. Let's find it a new happy home!!

Up for sale is my Oriskany Stringed Instruments Model "C" [similar to the Larrivee Guitars model "L" body] with a high grade solid Red Spruce [Adirondack] top over a high grade South American Mahogany. This is a Presentation grade instrument build ; very sweet playing , sounding and looking. An...

04/07/2022

Heading to the Artisan Guitar Festival this weekend (April 8 - 10) in Harrisburg, PA! It's my first show in years, and I'm very excited to be in the company of some of the finest luthiers in the country. Wow! Hope to see some of you there!

https://artisanguitarshow.com/

09/13/2021

I want to go back to this museum so badly…

The big day has finally arrived! Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment opens at the McMichael TODAY! McMichael Members are enjoying an exclusive preview this morning. Tickets for this afternoon and the weekend for going fast, so be sure to reserve yours at the link below:

https://mcmichael.com/Tickets

08/18/2021

Sorry I haven’t posted in some time. I don’t usually take on electric guitar projects, but here’s an older Les Paul coming down the home stretch with some new frets, a good setup, and hopefully many yesrs of music in its future.

11/18/2020

I updated my Curtis Rockwell Guitars page if anyone is interested. Here's a teaser. :)

04/09/2020

Sorry I don't update this page very often. I'm trying to keep my page at Curtis Rockwell Guitars a little more current, and if you'r interested, I just posted some new photos there, including an updated photo of myself needing, like many folks, a haircut during this COVID-19 pandemic. To all of you, I say, be well, be safe, and best wishes!!!

12/18/2019

Here's a new teaser. Don't forget that my main page for guitar building is at Curtis Rockwell Guitars so there aren't many updates here. Maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to directly link it to this page.

10/08/2019

Kitties need homes!

06/10/2019

I know this isn't about building musical instruments, but it is about music, and just how important music is in our world - or at least mine. I'm so amazed that Sesame Street is 50, and what an awesome way to see it celebrated. Happy watching, and more to come soon from the world building guitars...

Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Grover, Rosita, Count von Count, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and other surprise guests gather at NPR's headquarters to celebrate 50 years of love, learning and joy.

10/18/2018

Please head over to my new page for updates and to find out what's happening at Curtis Rockwell Guitars.

Custom-built guitars, bouzoukis, and mandolins. Experienced luthier trained at the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery with twenty years experience.