About

McGrath Guitars, a family-run shop based in San Diego, is driven by a deep love for the bass. Founder Cormac McGrath—a player and builder for over 20 years—has a simple mission: to create great basses that look striking and are genuinely fun to play. This player-first spirit guides every design choice, from the instrument's feel to its finish.

The guitars' distinct look comes from the hand-staining artistry of Cormac’s wife, Madelyn McGrath, an accomplished professional in art and graphic design with four Emmy Awards to her name.

Having played thousands of gigs, events, and festivals, Cormac deeply understands the player's life. He believes music should be the reward for long hours of loading gear and travel—and that playing bass should be as fun as possible. He noticed that mass-produced instruments often create little points of friction that take the joy and flow out of playing. Cormac's philosophy is that an instrument should feel effortless, not restrictive. He compares classic guitar shapes to classic cars: beautiful to look at, but often not built for ergonomic fit.

Cormac is passionate about gear but knows it shouldn't collect dust in the corner. With ease of use instruments are played more. Some basses are designed to hang on a wall, these are MADE TO BE PLAYED!