McGill, Paul Learn More +

Unlike many builders who offer a narrow, standardized set of models, McGill builds a fairly wide range of designs. "What works for me is that I like to develop knowledge that will be applicable over many differing kinds of instruments. I've made steel-string guitars, classical guitars, and resophonic guitars, and in recent years, I've also been building acoustic-electric stage instruments, which I think are quite unique. However, some things cross over from one design to the next. Having developed some understanding of the guitar that is consistent in the basic function of the instrument, I apply that ethic to a lot of different designs sot hat they all work better." A review of McGill's work exemplifies that achievement.

My guitar making history began at age 17 on a bed frame where I attempted to make a guitar. Later that year I attended the Earthworks School of Guitar Making in Vermont, run by Charles Fox, for six weeks in 1976. After a short time in Athens, Georgia, I found my way to Wisconsin in June of 1978. I set up a shop in the basement of a duplex I rented and started serving the local guitar players. A year later I moved into a violin shop and started doing violin repairs as well as making guitars. In 1985 I moved to Nashville to work in the restoration shop at Gruhn Guitars where I worked from late 1985 through April, 1987. I returned there in early 1988 for a short time but was finished by the spring. In my early years I made many steel string guitars, but I always wanted to build fine classical guitars, and in 1984 I went fully into nylon string guitars. In 1989 I had my shop in a house I owned, and there was a fire. It was at that time I learned Earl Klugh had recorded "Solo Guitar" on my classical guitars which he had acquired elsewhere. Guitar making has been my lifelong pursuit. It has been an amazing journey. Paul McGill

Nashville, Tennessee

Muriel Anderson, Mark Antoine, Jonathan Burchfield, Beth Neilson Chapman, Earl Kugh, John Standefer, Peter White

Super Ace, Super SE, Classical, Resonator, MKS, Collectors' Series