New York Makes These Guitars As Much As We Make Them in New York

The City Reliquary Museum Presents Sonic City,
An Exhibit of New York’s Innovative Musical Instrument Makers
May 26 –September 18, 2016

“New York makes these guitars as much as we make them in New York”

- Ric McCurdy, McCurdy Guitars

"There is this golden age of guitar making now that most of us started in the 60s and 70s"

-Roger Sadowsky, Sadowsky Guitars

Preview Sonic Cityhere

Monday, June 20, 2016- The City Reliquary Museum in Williamsburg shines a light on over a dozen of New York’s most innovative musicalinstrument makers in their new aptly titled exhibition, “Sonic City”. It brings together rare instruments such as boutiquehandcrafted guitars and master-built basses, effects pedals, high-end headphones, and synthesizers to illustrate the central role of NYC in music history past and present.
Exhibit curator and museum Vice President, Ben Wigler, wanted to focus the show on people who were making instruments today, whose work can be bought, played and can provide inspiration. Those makers include such respected names asSadowsky Guitars, McCurdy Guitars, Fodera Basses, Tech 21 NYC, Grado Labs, and Electro-Harmonix Effects. “These aren’t guys who are thinking in terms of units and containers, they are thinking ‘how is this going to change a player’s life’ and that’s very New York,” explains Wigler.
While the primary focus is instrument makers currently operating in or around New York City, the Big Apple’s musical instrument past forms an important component of this show, with a spotlight on turn-of-the-century piano manufacturers and other master craftsmen from a bygone era.
Visitors to this exhibit will have an opportunity to play some of the most rare and unusual instruments made in New York and interact with otherworldly sound-manipulating devices including a large xylophone made out of slate and glass, audioand visual synthesizers by Critter & Guitari, as well as legendary cowbells hand made just steps from Yankees Stadium.
The instruments on display are produced by craftsmen and companies that have served acts such as Paul Simon, Prince, Sonic Youth, Victor Wooten, Living Colour, Wilco and Metallica.
Public programming for this exhibition will include a concert series in the Reliquary’s beautiful backyard oasis. Please look for an announcement of the summer concert schedule soon.
For more information or to arrange a private tour of the exhibit, please contact Patrice Fehlen or Elizabeth Freund at Beautiful Day Media:
,347.581.8833or
,718.522.5858.
ABOUT SONIC CITY
Sonic City is curated by Ben Wigler, vice-president of The City Reliquary, former proprietor of Williamsburg venue Tiger Lounge and veteran of the NYC music scene. The exhibition was designed bythe City Reliquary’s president, Bill Scanga, withinteractive displays designed by Alex Hornbake and Eventide’s Joe Waltz.
Sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery and Two Boots Pizza. Special assistance provided by Retrofret Vintage Guitars and Steve Maxwell Drum Shop.
ABOUT CITY RELIQUARY MUSEUM
The City Reliquary is a not-for-profit community museum and civic organization located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Through permanent display of New York City artifacts, rotating exhibits of community collections and annual cultural events, The City Reliquary connects visitors to both the past and present of New York.

Upcoming events include “Treasures of the Archives” a collaboration with the Museum at Eldridge Street on June 23, 2016as well as the summer concert series to be announced soon. For more info, go toCityReliquary.org