Meet Johanna and Curtis, the Luthiers!
Oriskany Guitars is a partnership between luthiers Curtis Rockwell and Johanna Mutti. Located in the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania, Curtis and Johanna have a current annual production of 12 guitars, building them three at a time.
Instead of building "his and hers" guitars, Curtis and Johanna work collaboratively on each instrument. Both of them are involved in all elements of design and construction with little specialization of labors. The luthiers use their own experiences as guitarists to pay particular attention to playability and the interaction between the player and the instrument. They combine simple, elegant designs with carefully picked tonewoods and an attention to ergonomics and playing styles.
In addition to building guitars, Curtis and Johanna will take on basic instrument repairs (set up work, pick up installations, fret work, crack repairs, etc.) and offer a small selection of strings and accessories for sale. Anyone interested in visiting the shop is welcome, but by appointment only please.
You can reach us by e-mail at luthiers@oriskanyguitars.com or call (814) 643-3588 with any questions you might have about our guitars, to set up an appointment to visit the shop, or for directions. You can e-mail Johanna (johanna@oriskanyguitars.com) or Curtis (curtis@oriskanyguitars.com) individually as well.
About our company
Curtis left a career in professional geology to pursue his life-long interest in instrument building. He attended the Roberto-Venn School of Lutherie, earning his degree in Lutherie in 2000. Curtis spent a year apprenticing as an instrument repair technician at Canyon Music Woodworks before returning to Huntingdon, Pennsylvania to establish his own business. After significant modifications, the old chicken coop on the family property was converted into a climate controlled workspace to house the guitar production. Tools and supplies were procured and in 2002 the first instruments were completed. Over the summer and between semesters in college, Johanna joined Curtis to build her first guitar and assist with the construction of additional instruments. When she graduated in 2004, Johanna put her biology degree to "good use" and joined Curtis as a full business partner and full time luthier at Oriskany Stringed Instruments, LLC.
In 2006, Oriskany Stringed Instruments displayed at the Newport Guitar Festival to much acclaim. The 2007 year marked the fifth years of production, a broken wrist that ailed Curtis for several summer months, and the Healdsburg Guitar Festival in August. Coming attractions for 2008 will be the Newport in Miami Beach Guitar Festival (April 11-13) and the Montreal Guitar Festival (June 27-29).
Both Curtis and Johanna are members of the Guild of American Luthiers and the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans.
Oriskany: The story behind the name
Prior to attending Roberto-Venn, Curtis worked as a professional geologist. Anyone with an appreciations for rocks and geology will know that rock formations have names. The bedrock under the ridge were the shop is located in a hard ridge forming fossiliferous sandstone known as Oriskany Sandstone (pronounced oh-RISK-uh-nee). Names are usually based on the place where that rock was first described (the type locality), and in this case that place was Oriskany, NY. Further along the ridge, just miles from Huntingdon, the Oriskany Sandstone is quarried. Sand from that quarry was used to make the lenses for the Hubble space telescope.
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