Shop Sankey Acoustic Guitars at Eddie's Guitars
Michael Sankey has been building instruments from his shop in Ottawa, Canada since 1997. Over that span he has become known as one of the most experimental and original voices in contemporary lutherie, producing more than 120 completely unique instruments shown in international exhibitions over the past decade. Sankey's work is rooted in deep research into instrument history and traditional building methods, but the results rarely look or behave like anything else on the market. His electric builds reflect that same spirit, often reimagining body shapes, hardware, and construction techniques most builders take for granted, which has made his guitars a draw for players looking for something genuinely outside the mainstream.
That same philosophy carries into his acoustic work, exemplified by La Cremonese. Rather than building from the violin-influenced tradition that shaped most modern guitars, Sankey based this design on the construction methods of viols, instruments that predate the violin family and use a fundamentally different approach to building a soundboard. The guitar features a flat back with a bent section for added depth, along with a coopered soundboard built from individually shaped and joined staves of wood, a technique borrowed directly from barrel making. Sankey built the entire instrument using only hand tools, hot hide glue, and traditional abrasives, with no power tools, sandpaper, or synthetic adhesives involved in its construction. The result is as much a statement on building philosophy as it is a playable instrument.
Because Sankey produces fewer than twelve guitars per year, each one is genuinely rare. If you are interested in learning more about Sankey Guitars or want to inquire about ordering or purchasing one of his instruments, reach out to us at Eddie's Guitars. Our staff would be glad to help.