Paul McGill (luthier)
Paul McGill is an American luthier, specializing in classical and flamenco guitars, as well as the originator of an unusual type of classical resonator guitar based upon the Brazilian Del Vecchio designs of the 1930s.
In 1985, McGill moved to Nashville to work as a repairman for Gruhn Guitars. A seminal moment in his career occurred in late 1992, when Earl Klugh asked McGill to build a more refined version of a Del Vecchio resonator guitar that Klugh had received from Chet Atkins. Though Klugh enjoyed the Brazilian guitar's sound, he found it delicate, with poor intonation.[1]. Though McGill was apprehensive, fearing that building such an unusual instrument would ruin his reputation as a builder of classical guitars, he built the instrument as requested. Klugh loved the guitar, and immediately requested that McGill build others.[2]
Paul McGill continues to build classical and resonator guitars.
Players of McGill guitars
- Chet Atkins used a McGill resonator guitar on You Do Something To Me, and described the instrument as "of the finest workmanship"[3]
- Earl Klugh
- Muriel Anderson[4]
- John Standefer
Resources
- Adam Moore Southern Gentleman: an interview with Paul McGill Premier Guitar, Oct 2007</ref>
References
- ^ Simone Solondz Gearbox Acoustic Guitar, Jun 1997
- ^ Adam Moore Southern Gentleman: an interview with Paul McGill Premier Guitar, Oct 2007
- ^ Dave Kyle Chet Atkins 1996: A work in progress Vintage Guitar magazine, Jun 1996
- ^ Stephen Rekas The 2005 Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention Mel Bay's Guitar Sessions Webzine, Sept 2005