Paul McGill is an American
luthier
A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers o ...
, specializing in classical, steel string as well as the originator of a unique type of 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
Gruhn Guitars is a musical instrument store located in Nashville. Founded in 1970 by George Gruhn, an expert on vintage American guitars and related instruments, Gruhn Guitars is known as a mecca for professional musicians and well-heeled collecto ...
. A seminal moment in his career occurred in late 1992, when
Earl Klugh
Earl Klugh ( ; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. He has won one Grammy award and thirteen nominations. Klugh was awarded the “1977” Best Recording Award For Performance and Sound” for his album “Fi ...
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. 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.
[Adam Moor]
Southern Gentleman: an interview with Paul McGill
''Premier Guitar'', Oct 2007
McGill guitars have been used as recording instruments by Chet Atkins, Earl Klugh, Muriel Anderson, Peter White, Marc Antoine, Jim Stafford, Wayne Wesley Johnson, Nokie Edwards,
Don Potter
Donald Steele Potter (21 April 1902 – 7 June 2004) was an English sculptor, wood carver, potter and teacher.
Don Potter was born in Newington, near Sittingbourne, Kent, the son of a school teacher, and attended a private school. He joined t ...
, Steve Earl, Larry Koonse, John Standerfer, Beth Nielsen Chapman, And many more.
In 1998 McGill made his first Nylon string electric design, the "Super Ace". The guitar is the main nylon string performance instrument of both Peter White, and Marc Antoine.
Resources
*Adam Moore
Southern Gentleman: an interview with Paul McGill''Premier Guitar'', Oct 2007
References
External links
Paul McGillNAMM Oral History Program Interview (2014)
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGill, Paul
American musical instrument makers
Guitar makers
Resophonic instruments
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people