About

Based in San Diego, McGrath Guitars is a family-run shop with a bassist’s heart at its core. Founder and lead builder Cormac McGrath has spent more than 20 years as both a player and builder, and his mission is simple: great basses that look striking, and are fun to play. That spirit drives every design choice, from feel to finish. Combined with Madelyn McGrath’s eye for color and hand-staining artistry, the results are striking in both look and sound.

Our basses are proudly made in San Diego, California, USA.

Having played thousands of gigs, events and festivals Cormac got to thinking about how to make playing bass the most fun he possibly could. If you spend your weekend loading gear and driving for hours, playing music should be the reward. So many mass produced instruments don't solve the little points of friction that take the joy and flow out of playing music.



He talked to his fellow bassists, he assembled a team / expert research and built his first round of machinery on the kitchen counter. Cormac is passionate about gear but knows it's not meant to collect dust in the corner. If it's easy, you will play more. That is the goal of this company. Some basses are designed to be obsolete, some are designed to hang on the wall, these are MADE TO BE PLAYED! 

Our basses are proudly made in San Diego, California, USA.