Ithaca Stringed Instruments has been building violins, violas, cellos, mandolins and custom guitars for more than 40 years.

Instruments from ISI feature the finest tone woods, the highest quality fittings and hardware & the unique ISI Pickup System. Although amplified acoustic instruments are ISI’s specialty, our pure acoustic instruments are unsurpassed for tone & playability.

The ISI Pickup

The ISI Pickup

Experience the most natural-sounding amplified tone ever captured in a violin pickup.

We’ve spent over 25 years pushing the boundaries of amplified acoustic sound. Our latest innovation — the Aceto/Violect Deluxe Pickup System for violin — is a breakthrough in tone, clarity, and responsiveness. Featuring twin sensors strategically placed for optimal string-to-body resonance, this handcrafted two-piece bridge pickup preserves the rich acoustic voice of your instrument while delivering exceptional amplified sound.

Available on our Violect and N·V models — or as a retrofit for ISI violins dating back to 1988 — the Deluxe Pickup offers uncompromising tone and professional-grade performance. For those seeking even more flexibility, our new Dual Pickup/Mic System integrates a floating electret mic on an adjustable arm, all wired cleanly to a chinrest-mounted stereo jack — no clamps, no hassle.

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Custom Instruments

Custom Instruments

One-of-a-kind instruments, for one-of-a-kind musicians

From six-string violins and 10-string mandocellos to carved pegheads and hybrid reso-electrics, every ISI instrument is a one-at-a-time collaboration between luthier and player. We combine aged tonewoods, cutting-edge electronics, and design flourishes like inlay and sculpted heads to build tools as unique as the musicians who play them.

Trusted by World-Class Musicians

From Grammy-winning guitarists to global touring violinists, ISI instruments and pickups are praised for their tone, playability, and stage-ready sound.

"I have been looking for years for a 5-string violin that sounds good acoustically and that sounds closest to a real violin when used with a pickup. This new 5-string made by Eric for me is exactly what I was looking for so many years, an instrument that sounds great in both contexts!
Jean Luc Ponty
Violinist
"When I got my first NV, a process began that allowed me to reach sounds I had been trying to express for years!
Zack Brock
Violinist
"The Oneida has made it possible to have a warm, natural acoustic guitar sound onstage at a loud volume...The neck feels wonderful and it plays like a dream. It has changed my whole approach to playing live acoustic guitar.
Tommy Malone
The Subdudes
"The NV is by far the best amplified violin I’ve played. It has the good tone qualities and feel of my classical violin, without the problems associated with amplifying it to high volumes...I’m sure going to enjoy this fiddle
Bryan English
Violinist
"A new instrument that, tonally, is as far beyond other electric violins as a $40,000 modern instrument is beyond the factory fiddle you played in high school.
Darol Anger
Fiddler
"I have decided to purchase the violin! After playing it for a week, there’s no way I can pack it up and send it back to you! …The instrument is really incredible. The tone is worlds beyond the other electric violins that I’ve played. It’s going to push my playing to a whole new level, and I’m really excited to get there! Thanks for your great work on this instrument.
Ben Lively
Violinist
"I’ve tried more than a few electric violins, solid body and acoustic and also pickups on an acoustic violin and your NV really is a marvel. It’s got sweet tone, balance and it sounds like a violin. That’s very important to me because I play mostly ethnic, folk traditions which only sound nice with an organic, acoustic string sound. I love the instrument, it feels perfect and looks incredible too.
Gordon Assadi
Violinist
"I want to thank you for a beautiful instrument you made for me! It has such a beautiful warm sound that I been searchin for a long,long time.I couldnt believe my ears when I heard the sound from the pick up.It really sounds like a real violin.Thank you one more time for this inspiring instrument!
Marko Ramljak
Violinist

Our Instruments

Handcrafted one at a time, the amplified and acoustic instruments created by the luthiers of ISI draw upon the rich heritage of American Luthiers, mixed with a sensitive amalgam of modern technologies. This unique line of instruments have the grace & feel of classics with the performance and sound of truly modern masterworks.

Acoustic 4 and 5 string, Amplified 4,5 and 6 string

Violins

From the beginning we have focused on developing an amplified sound that retains and projects all the subtlety and nuance for which the traditional violin is known.

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Flat Tops (oo and ooo size, Oneida), Arch Tops, Oneida Jazz, 16″ Arch Top

Guitars

Ithaca Stringed Instruments sells custom guitars built by Eric and Jordan Aceto, including the Oneida line of acoustic-electrics used by Martin Simpson and David Torn.

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Mandolins, Mandolas, Octave Mandolins, Mandocello

Mandolins

For the mandolin player who is seeking beauty, nuance & response. The ISI mandolin utilizes the same design principles & techniques as our bowed instruments. 

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Built to order!

Custom Instruments

ISI offers custom options that make an instrument truly one of a kind.
Peg head carving (on the bowed instruments), inlay, and decorative options are also available.

Custom Instruments

“The Lady” 6-String Violin

MAYBE WE DON'T NEED THIS SECTION...


I have been building to commission for some time now and it is rare for me to have an instrument available for sale immediately.

However, at this time, I do have a 6 stringed violin – built in 2016 – available. Dubbed “The Lady” it has been owned by none other than Zach Brock who has just traded it in on a new model 6-string.

“The Lady” is made from old master grade woods, is in beautiful shape, and sounds and plays great.

Please get in touch if you have interest. 

Contact Us?

Contact us at Ithaca Stringed Instruments To contact us at Ithaca Stringed Instruments call us at: 607.387.3544 or click the button.
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