Guest and Host

Guest: Cindy Hulej, Luthier/Artist | Website: https://www.cindyguitars.com/

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/

Show Notes

What happens when the story of a city becomes part of the music we make? In this episode of Music Evolves, host Sean Martin sits down with luthier and artist Cindy Hulej of Cindy Guitars to explore how reclaimed wood from historic New York buildings is transformed into custom electric guitars—each one uniquely shaped by memory, material, and imagination.

Craft as Innovation

Cindy’s process at Carmine Street Guitars isn’t just about building instruments—it’s about listening to what the material has to say. The beams salvaged from landmarks like the Chelsea Hotel and John Lennon’s former home aren’t just structural—they carry decades of vibration, weather, and presence. That physical history directly shapes how these guitars sound, feel, and resonate—offering a kind of analog innovation rooted in human touch and intention.

Cindy describes how she and her husband Johnny repurpose old beams, often salvaged from 1800s-era buildings, and transform them into guitars that are not only playable but deeply resonant—physically and emotionally. The aged wood, shaped by centuries of seasonal change, yields a tone that’s warm and chimey, with a resonance modern lumber can’t match. “You’re working with material that’s already lived a hundred lives,” she explains. “You just have to unlock the next one.”

Creativity Beyond Convention

Each guitar is made by hand, down to the smallest detail. From collaborating with boutique pickup winders to mixing finishes from shellac flakes, Cindy builds instruments that are both sonic and visual statements. No two are alike—because the creative process isn’t about repeating perfection, it’s about shaping something personal and alive. Whether players come with a precise vision or just a feeling, Cindy helps translate that into tone and form.

Reimagining the Past to Shape the Future

This isn’t just about guitars. It’s about the convergence of history, artistry, community, and sound. This episode challenges the idea that innovation must come from new tech or flashy trends. Sometimes, the most meaningful advances come from rethinking old materials and techniques.

Cindy’s guitars are a form of living history—reminding us that sound isn’t just produced, it’s inherited, interpreted, and carried forward. And, Cindy’s path from bartending to building some of the most soulful instruments in New York is a reminder that craft isn’t just skill—it’s commitment to meaning.

About Rick Kelly and Carmine Street Guitars

Carmine Street Guitars, located in New York City’s Greenwich Village, is a hand-built electric guitar workshop led by legendary luthier Rick Kelly. Known for using reclaimed old-growth wood from historic buildings across the city, Rick has built instruments for renowned musicians such as Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, and many others. His approach blends time-honored techniques with a reverence for the city’s past, crafting guitars that are as storied as the musicians who play them. At the heart of the shop’s ethos is a commitment to individuality, craftsmanship, and sonic integrity—values continued today through Cindy Guitars and the growing creative community within the space.

Sponsors

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Resources

Carmine Street Guitars: https://carminestreetguitars.com

More From Sean Martin on ITSPmagazine

More from Music Evolves: https://www.seanmartin.com/music-evolves-podcast

Music Evolves on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllTRJ5du7hFDXjiugu-uNPtW

On Location with Sean and Marco: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location

ITSPmagazine YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itspmagazine

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