Our Story
Built on craftsmanship, guided by experience, and grounded in exceptional service.
Calico Guitarworks is a founded on decades of experience in instrument repair, restoration, and craftsmanship. Today, that experience informs everything we do—from caring for the instruments musicians already own to designing and building our own guitars.
About Calico Guitarworks
From Repair to Building
Calico Guitarworks began in 2016 as ‘Guitar Repair Long Island’, with a straightforward mission: to provide musicians with thoughtful, professional instrument care. Over the years, our work expanded from repairs and maintenance into restoration, modification, and eventually the design and construction of original instruments. In 2023, we became Calico Guitarworks—a name that better reflected the broader direction of the business.
The name “Calico”, pronounced “ka·luh·kow”, is used to describe a tri-color coat pattern that can be found in cats and other animals. For our logo, we stylized this familiar pattern to resemble a classic sunburst guitar finish—a subtle nod to both craftsmanship and creativity.
For details about out operations and procedures, please check out our frequently asked questions.
Meet the Staff
Erik Salomon
Erik is the Founder and Principal Luthier at Calico Guitarworks Inc. In addition to his business, he also serves as Assistant Program Manager for the Martin Guitar Foundation Luthier Program at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
A graduate of Five Towns College with a Bachelor of Music degree, Erik was Valedictorian of his class and recipient of the Audio Recording Technology Award. His career in guitar repair spans nearly two decades and includes extensive training under experienced luthiers, leadership roles in technician training and development, and formal education in guitar building.
As both a musician and craftsman, Erik approaches instrument repair, restoration, and construction with an understanding of both the player's needs and the instrument itself. He has recorded three albums of original music and has performed with rock bands, collegiate ensembles, wedding and event groups, and as a solo acoustic artist.
When he's not in the workshop or classroom, Erik enjoys spending time with his wife and their cats. He is a vegan, an avid rock climber, and a distance runner.
Andrew
Andrew is the Shop Manager here at Calico Guitarworks. He has been repairing guitars professionally since 2014. He was the first employee of Calico Guitarworks and has been an integral part of the business almost since its inception. Reserved and exceptionally capable, Andrew shares the values of integrity and craftsmanship that the business is known for.
Andrew graduated from Five Towns College in 2011 with a degree in Music Education. A member of the Phi Sigma Eta Honor Society, he received the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement upon graduation.
In addition to his work as a repairman, Andrew is also a professional solo guitarist/vocalist for weddings and special events. He lives in Ronkonkoma with his wife, two children, and their dogs.
Steve
Steve is a part-time shop assistant here. He is our first-ever two-time Calico Guitarworks veteran. He originally joined the team in 2019 before being sidelined by the pandemic in 2020. Fortunately for us, he made his triumphant return in 2025.
Outside of Calico, Steve works as an auditor for Suffolk county. While we're not entirely sure what that entails, we're pretty confident it involves spreadsheets, investigations, and dramatically removing glasses while discovering accounting irregularities. When he's not solving financial mysteries, he applies those same investigative skills to locating guitar parts, packing orders, and occasionally figuring out where Erik left the stapler.
Steve also enjoys hardcore music, hockey, and spending time with his wife and their two children.