Black 35 Guitars began with a simple belief: great instruments are built by hand, built with intention, and built for real players. The company was founded in 2016 by Anthony Cartinella, a craftsman whose journey in instrument building stretches back long before the first Black 35 guitar existed.
For nearly two decades, Anthony shaped the sound of modern music through Dark Horse Percussion, his custom drum company known for precision, creativity, and a relentless focus on quality. His drums traveled the world with artists like Eminem, The Bouncing Souls, The Gaslight Anthem, The Wonder Years, and more—establishing a reputation for honest craftsmanship and dependable performance.
After passing Dark Horse forward in 2016, Anthony returned to the craft that had inspired him since the beginning: guitars. What started as a quiet personal passion quickly evolved into Black 35 Guitars—a workshop-driven brand dedicated to thoughtful design, meticulous detail, and instruments that feel alive the moment you pick them up.
As the guitars made their way from local players to national and international artists, the brand grew. Black 35 instruments have been played by musicians from Guns N’ Roses, My Chemical Romance, Bad Religion, Descendents, Slayer, Against Me!, and many others. The company has appeared at NAMM, been featured in publications and podcasts, and earned a place on stages and in studios around the world.
In 2023, the story expanded when Anthony partnered with longtime friend and fellow builder Joe Galasso. Together, they are shaping the next chapter of Black 35—refining designs, enhancing build processes, and preparing to introduce a new proprietary line of instruments, including the East Coaster, Asbury, and Mariner, arriving as the company approaches its ten-year anniversary.
Through every evolution, one thing has never changed:
Black 35 Guitars is built on respect—for the craft, for the player, and for the music.
Every instrument is created with intention, designed to inspire creativity, and priced with the belief that great guitars should remain accessible to the musicians who rely on them.
This is our story—and we’re just getting started.
