Andy Culpepper

Ithaca, New York

Andy Culpepper builds classical and flamenco guitars in Ithaca, New York, where he learned the craft from Richard Cogger, a fine maker of both instruments, sharing Cogger's workshop for several years before opening his own. He came to the bench as a player first. He took up classical guitar at seventeen, later made flamenco his focus, studied in Spain, and has performed both as a soloist and as an accompanist for dancers. That playing life still shapes his work, which divides between concert classicals and flamenco guitars and includes an extended seven-string model.

Culpepper works in the traditional Spanish method, joining the neck to the soundboard first and building the guitar around that center line. His bracing follows the open harmonic bar system he traces to Antonio de Torres, which he credits for a responsive, clear, even, and beautiful tone, and because he sees Torres as a constant experimenter, he also explores modern ideas such as Nomex double tops. His workshop uses minimal power tools, each top voiced by hand and ear, and every guitar is French polished entirely by hand over woods ranging from Brazilian rosewood to Spanish cypress.

We are pleased to represent Andy's work, and the first guitar he is building for us, a double top, is expected in early 2027. His combination of traditional Spanish method construction, hand voicing, and immaculate French polish speaks for itself, and our expert team is glad to talk with players about reserving the incoming instrument or exploring his classical and flamenco guitars.