Blog

Billy Sheehan's custom McGrath Thunderhorse bass
Building a Custom Thunderhorse for Billy Sheehan
Billy Sheehan asked us to build him a Thunderhorse. Here's how we designed his custom layout, from the three-way pickup toggle to his signature dual outputs, and how you can... Read more...
Back in stock: McGrath digital string height gauges.
Back in stock: McGrath digital string height gauges.
Good news: my digital string height gauges are back in stock! I’ve now made over 200 of them, which still surprises me a little. I based the design on the... Read more...
Fretless Neon Build
Fretless Neon Build
Vice City for our fretless friend of the bass builder. I really liked the white pickguard on this one. People are still ordering this bright color option coming into the... Read more...
The New McGrath Bass Builder Is Here
The New McGrath Bass Builder Is Here
Our rebuilt Bass Builder: 39 hand-painted finishes, seven pickup makers, short and medium scales, fretless, lefty, and build codes you can save, share and send to us. Read more...
Black Sand J Style Custom Creation
Black Sand J Style Custom Creation
This is another customer that had a vision outside of what we would have come up with on our own. I have been lovingly calling this custom order the Iceland bass.... Read more...
Current Most Enjoyable Paint Scheme
Current Most Enjoyable Paint Scheme
OH COFFEE! This is my favorite one to paint. I am always looking forward to the custom orders that select it.  There is a ritual coffee drinking session while painting... Read more...
Customers with Exquisite Taste
Customers with Exquisite Taste
Hey Bass Builder Customers, You have a point of view, you know what you like and we like it so much that we wanted to showcase your choices. Well done!... Read more...
Heading to NAMM 2027? Visit McGrath Guitars at Booth #5336
Heading to NAMM 2027? Visit McGrath Guitars at Booth #5336
We are heading back to Anaheim for NAMM 2027, and we’re bringing our most innovative lineup of hand-crafted instruments and onboard electronics yet! Whether you're a player looking for your... Read more...
Bass Builder Beauty: Rebel with McGrath Switch & Tilt EQ
Bass Builder Beauty: Rebel with McGrath Switch & Tilt EQ
We are really excited to show off this Rebel. It has the McGrath Switch, Tilt EQ and Custom Lindy Fralin Pickups. Proudly we are incorporating our tech into our basses... Read more...
Beskar added to Bass Builder
Beskar added to Bass Builder
We added another color to our bass builder. We are somehow juggling all of these styles in our tiny shop.This one looks like molten metal works great on any of... Read more...
New Color Added to the Bass Builder
New Color Added to the Bass Builder
Just in time for trick or treating, we added this shimmery sprayed candy apple red. It's definitely sharp but our apple is sans razor blades. It's just a really refined... Read more...
Our Exclusive Lindy Fralin Split-Coil Thunderbird Pickups
Our Exclusive Lindy Fralin Split-Coil Thunderbird Pickups
When it comes to tone and craftsmanship, we never compromise and neither does Lindy Fralin Pickups. We are thrilled to share a behind-the-scenes look at a special collaboration: custom-built split-coil... Read more...
McGrath Protec Pro Cases Now Shipping Standard with Every Build!
McGrath Protec Pro Cases Now Shipping Standard with Every Build!
Every McGrath instrument now ships standard with our custom-branded McGrath x Protec Pro Pac Contego case at no extra cost. High-grade hybrid protection meets custom craftsmanship. Read more...
The Bass Channel Review our 32" Thunderhorse 5, 12-Way Switch, and Tilt EQ!
The Bass Channel Review our 32" Thunderhorse 5, 12-Way Switch, and Tilt EQ!
We’ve always believed that tone, comfort, and versatility shouldn’t require compromise—and the team over at The Bass Channel just put that philosophy to the test in their latest feature. In a... Read more...
LowEndLobster Reviews the McGrath Switch
LowEndLobster Reviews the McGrath Switch
LowEndLobster just dropped a deep dive review on our McGrath 12-Way Rotary Pickup Selector Switch, taking it for a spin in her modified Dingwall NG3. Seeing our custom electronics step... Read more...
Bass magazine article on our Tilt EQ
Bass magazine article on our Tilt EQ
Bass Magazine just published a write up on our Tilt EQ. The article goes into the complete origin of the design including the great Keith DuffyCheck it out! Read more...
New McGrath Artist!
New McGrath Artist!
One of my favorite bass players and one the nicest guys you will ever meet, Aongus Ralston is now a McGrath Guitars Artist.Aongus Ralston is a Dublin-based bass player, producer... Read more...
As Featured in Bass Magazine: Redefining Onboard Electronics with the McGrath Switch!
As Featured in Bass Magazine: Redefining Onboard Electronics with the McGrath Switch!
We are stoked to announce that Bass Magazine recently featured McGrath Guitars and our all-new, patent-pending McGrath Switch! Read more...
McGrath Switch App Update!
McGrath Switch App Update!
End Stop Mode (Hard Stop): When you rotate to your highest active position, the switch stops advancing—mimicking the feel of a traditional mechanical end stop. Perfect for players who want... Read more...
We made an app!
We made an app!
One of our main goals at McGrath Guitars is to make our instruments are future compatible. We have exciting plans for upcoming innovations and want to ensure all of our... Read more...
Building a Custom Bass for the Legendary Billy Sheehan
Building a Custom Bass for the Legendary Billy Sheehan
We recently had the incredible honor and opportunity to build a custom bass for the legendary Billy Sheehan! When crafting an instrument for a trailblazer of bass guitar, every detail... Read more...
Our new Tilt EQ
Our new Tilt EQ
Simplifying the Tone Quest: Introducing the McGrath Tilt EQ For a while now, the ultimate goal has been to simplify the control layout on the Thunderhorse bass without sacrificing an... Read more...
Bass Builder With a Lil Extra!
Bass Builder With a Lil Extra!
If you have an idea, just ask. 4 pickups and a very detailed paint job (done without a stencil) "Hey no problem."  Read more...
McGrath 12 Way Rotary Pickup Selector
McGrath 12 Way Rotary Pickup Selector
We are excited to launch our new 12 Way Rotary Selector, designed for our Thunderhorse series basses. If you want more control and a wider variety of sounds from your... Read more...
See / Play In Real Life
See / Play In Real Life
We have been told our basses are more beautiful in person. So much thought and collaboration went into these pickups and it's been engineered to be admired and played with... Read more...
Nimble Punch of Fruit
Nimble Punch of Fruit
This was based off our passionfruit original, however, we used black hardware so a brighter scheme was needed. We make little style choices like that around the pickups and hardware... Read more...
White Sands J Style Shortscale
White Sands J Style Shortscale
This Instrument is a fresh take on classic elegance. The finish is smooth like a skipping stone but layered like a marble. You wouldn't believe how many hues and shimmers... Read more...
Builder Spotlight
Builder Spotlight
British Racing Green is quickly becoming a popular bass builder selection. This is our 2nd J style in that finish and we love how refined it turned out. On each... Read more...
Builder Spotlight
Builder Spotlight
This is a recent build with our Geode finish. The body was Mahogany and we have also done this scheme on ash. Our color schemes look slightly different depending on... Read more...
White Sands J-Style Thumper
White Sands J-Style Thumper
Black sands continues to be our most popular finish, white sands just seemed to make sense.  This is the first white sands finish we have done and we are very... Read more...
J-Style is here.
J-Style is here.
New Updates to the Bass Builder The J-Style is now live and selectable on our Bass Builder. To make things even more streamlined, we've updated how you customize your instrument:... Read more...
Introducing the J style
Introducing the J style
Now available on the bass builder, our new J style. It's already in production with custom builds in the works but we thought we would highlight that it's an option.... Read more...
Concept Winner IRL
Concept Winner IRL
We asked the people which ivory pickup bass they would like to see in real life. This Creamsicle bass was the winning idea. It was designed to evoke a nostalgic... Read more...
Now You're Back From Outer Space
Now You're Back From Outer Space
This paint scheme hadn't been attempted for a while because we had been swimming in a pool of blue. This one is super light weight and looks like you could... Read more...
Going Going Flash
Going Going Flash
Have you ever made something, stuck a landing, or had a moment so perfect you knew it could not be repeated? That happened to us with this bass. It just... Read more...
Thunderhorse IV - Whiskey Feather Light
Thunderhorse IV - Whiskey Feather Light
This bass looks substantial and rich but feels light as a feather. It's a solid piece of beautiful mahogany that was only enhanced by painting and staining. It sparkles like... Read more...
Coffee Color Added to the Bass Builder!
Coffee Color Added to the Bass Builder!
From a one-off NAMM showstopper to a permanent favorite. We’ve officially added the "Coffee" finish to our Bass Builder across all models—including the pickguard-free Thunderhorse IV specs you've been asking... Read more...
Bass Builder New Options
Bass Builder New Options
At NAMM we heard a lot about a Vice City one off bass we made and sold a while back. It seemed to deserve a spot in our collection of... Read more...
New Year, New Color, Thunderhorse IV in Blood Orange
New Year, New Color, Thunderhorse IV in Blood Orange
The Thunderhorse IV returns in a stunning Blood Orange finish, featuring a streamlined passive EMG configuration and gold hardware built for the stage Read more...
NAMM 2026: That’s a Wrap! Thank You for Joining Us
NAMM 2026: That’s a Wrap! Thank You for Joining Us
What an incredible week! We’ve just touched down back at the workshop after an exhilarating time at the NAMM Show. To everyone who stopped by the McGrath Guitars booth, picked up... Read more...
Exclusive Offer: The NAMM 2026 "Badass Orange" Rebel Bass is Now For Sale!
Exclusive Offer: The NAMM 2026 "Badass Orange" Rebel Bass is Now For Sale!
Featured at the Allparts booth during NAMM 2026, the Rebel in "Badass Orange" is a high-spec collaboration build featuring a roasted flame maple neck, Ebony fretboard, and Razor Blood Moon... Read more...
McGrath Thunderhorse IV Black Sands custom left-handed bass guitar with hand-painted finish and EMG pickups.
The Ultimate Lefty Bass: Introducing the McGrath Thunderhorse 'Black Sands
Meet our first-ever left-handed bass: the Thunderhorse IV 'Black Sands.' Built for NAMM 2026, this 7.4lb Mahogany powerhouse features a hand-painted finish and a versatile EMG trio for unparalleled tone. Read more...
New Arrival: Fretless Thunderhorse 4 – Orbital Ink
New Arrival: Fretless Thunderhorse 4 – Orbital Ink
Meet the Orbital Ink: A fretless powerhouse with mahogany resonance and 3 jazz pickups. See it live at NAMM 2026! Includes a Gator case and a bonus anodized pickguard Read more...
NAMM 2026
NAMM 2026
This bass sold so fast (THANK YOU) But... we had a mild panic because we had hoped to show it at NAMM. While not a direct replica, this medium scale... Read more...
Rebel Triple P Bass Build Spotlight | Black Sands | McGrath Guitars
Rebel Triple P Bass Build Spotlight | Black Sands | McGrath Guitars
This is a stunning Black Sands Rebel Bass featuring our high-output "Super Bass" triple-P configuration. The split-coil nature of P-pickups ensures an absolutely crisp, noiseless experience, allowing you to record... Read more...
Builder Spotlight
Builder Spotlight
Totally unrelated to any Sci Fi movie or book -wink- this hand painted Dune Rebel body is 1 piece of Ash. We are picky about our wood and set aside... Read more...
Most Popular 2025
Most Popular 2025
The Black Sands finish is by far the favorite of 2025. Everyone loves a black bass. We couldn't just do a black bass. We had to run it through the awe filter... Read more...
New Year Swim
New Year Swim
It Looks Like: Submerging in a sunlit pool. This Rebel bass is back in stock in a loved hue. No two pool blue basses are exactly alike.  It Sounds Like:... Read more...
Digital String Height Gauge
Digital String Height Gauge
I made a Digital String Height Gauge Read more...
Bass Builder Beauty
Bass Builder Beauty
This is another Bass designed by our customer, using our Bass Builder. It's simple, sleek and our classic pickup setup that delivers versatility. The woven crystaline body and headstock are... Read more...