PAUL MCGILL

Being a child of the 60’s, music was a constant that inspired and drew people in. There was an ongoing revolution in sound and it seemed new sounds arrived regularly throughout those years. My interest in sound and aptitude to work with my hands led me to guitar making.

I began my career at age 17 by attempting to build a guitar from a book; a guitar I never completed.

I hitch hiked to Vermont from my home in Georgia in the fall of 1976 to attend the Earthworks School of Guitar Research and Design. It was there that I completed my first instrument working with Charles Fox, who later went on to form CFox Guitars.

After a short time in Athens, Georgia, I relocated to Wisconsin where I spent the next seven and a half years building guitars and repairing instruments. I worked with several local acts that became regional or national acts such as Free Hot Lunch and Pat MacDonald/Barbara Koiman, later known as Timbuk 3.

In 1985 I took a job in the repair and restoration shop at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville. While there I pursued my career as a guitar maker in my own shop. Never intending to abandon my own career as a builder, I spent my time at Gruhn Guitars getting to experience the legacy of American guitars that came across the bench, in some cases dismantling and rebuilding guitars made by such makers as Gibson, Martin, D’Angelico, Rameriz, and many others.  

In 1988 I was building guitars full time and left Gruhn Guitars. It was during this time that two of my guitars were used by 13 time GRAMMY nominee Earl Klugh to record “Solo Guitar.” I eventually set up shop in Berry Hill, an independent section in Nashville where many recording studios are located(mcgillguitars.com).  

In 1992 Earl asked me to make a Del Vecchio styled resophonic guitar like a Del Vecchio he had been given by Chet Atkins which is pictured on the cover of his and George Benson’s album “Collaboration.” Eventually Earl gave Chet one of the resonators I had made for him.  

For the next four years, I focused on building resonator guitars. But I eventually refocused on acoustic-electric stage instruments. I became attracted to the amplified stage guitar through advances in acoustic guitar pickup technology.

In 1998 no one knew me as a maker of amplified guitars, but by 2000 my guitars were used by two leading stage acts Peter White and Marc Antoine. Since those years, my stage guitars have been on many stages with Steve Cowart, Larry Koonse, Jeff Troxel. I also had the good fortune to build one for the legendary Jimmy Wyble.

It is with great pride that I am involved with Go Acoustic Audio today. It is the culmination of decades of striving to provide great sound.