The last time I spoke with Dermot McIlroy, he told me his waiting list was up to 4 years. Play this guitar and you’ll know why his guitars are in such high demand. This fine McIlroy A30 has very accurate and precise bass frequencies, and strong clear trebles. The profile of the neck makes it easy to reach for complex fingerings, and I found it quite easy to execute difficult musical passages because of it. This is a great opportunity to get a McIlroy today without the long wait!

Dermot McIlroy builds wonderful instruments in his Ireland workshop. McIlroy guitars are known for offering tremendous tone at a players price. This A35 is a perfect example, solid Rosewood with a gorgeous Red Cedar top, cutaway, custom inlays and gold Gotoh tuners and clear, strong voice that is equally adept at fingerstyle, strumming or flatpicking. In addition this one is as mint as they come.

Tim McKnight builds an instrument that is intended to speak to and move the player, inspiring and encouraging you to be more expressive and write new songs. This 2009 Slope McKnight is made with Reclaimed Brazilian Rosewood and Carpathian Spruce, making it a true top-of-the-line model both in woods and in tone. The McKnight is a body shape and style that is respectful of tradition, but this one has additional features like the carved soundport and modern bracing design that enhance the player’s experience while maintaining outward projection. The bass and trebles balance melodiously over smooth, even mids, making this an ideal instrument for both personal play and group sessions, whether finger picked or strummed.

McPherson guitars are known for their unique aesthetics in the boutique guitar world, which is no easy feat, especially when maintaining a desirable sound. Features include an offset sound hole, cantilevered fingerboard, V-neck profile, an L.R. Baggs Element pickup system, and EVO fret wire. This guitar has an incredibly balanced voice with incredible sustain. Bastogne Walnut for the back and sides, and Bearclaw Sitka Spruce on top.

Other keywords/misspellings: MacPherson, luthier, lutherie, bespoke, elevated, 2654

McPherson’s third ever Camrielle model—and this beauty sings. The slimmer proportions of this 2011 CMG 4.0 makes for added punch and clarity; bundle that into the richness and colorful response of Engelmann Spruce over Madagascar Rosewood—the result is smooth, rich definition from bottom to top. Curly Maple bindings set off the Rosewood-Spruce, and also ring in the offset McPherson soundhole for flair. The Rosewood bridge lines up perfectly with the Rosewood fingerboard and headplate veneer, itself capped with the McPherson logo and gold Waverly tuners. The V neck, with a 25.5” scale and 1 3/4” nut, plays very easily—and we had a blast tuning this one down to DADGAD. It even held up well in C#. Plug in with the L.R. Baggs Element pickup system for all of that in an amplified setting.
Hands down, this 2011 McPherson Camrielle is an exquisite example of McPherson’s contributions to modern lutherie: articulate, responsive, eminently playable.

Other keywords: 1941, fingerstyle, maddie, ameritage, cmg-4.0, cmg4.0

Firecrackers come in red! This 2019 McPherson MG-4.5 is a real livewire with Ebony back and sides and Redwood on top; warmth wrapped around a clean, crisp core. We love this one for just about everything, fingerstyle, flatpicking, strumming—it adapted well for every genre we threw at it. Plus it’s got an L.R. Baggs RTS II pickup to carry you right on to the stage. This beauty is like new from 2019, and is more than ready to get down to the business of making music!

Other keywords: flatpicking, ameritage case, baggs pickup, offset soundhole, schaller, m.g.-4.5