There are many fine acoustic luthiers out there – but you’d be hard-pressed to find many who have the breadth of contrasting experience that Armagh-based guitar maker Ciaran McNally possesses. A protegé of George Lowden and then a key member of the Atkin Guitars team, Ciaran has worked on, by his estimate, several thousand guitars over the years, most of which were finely crafted, high-end instruments. But it all started out much more simply, he recalls: “I started making kits when I was 15/16 years old, and that was just on the kitchen table at home…
“The story goes that I wrecked the kitchen table so much that my mum had to refinish it,” he continues. “She was better at finishing than I was back then [laughs]. So they were just parts casters that you put together, but that naturally progressed to where I thought, ‘Well, I’m not sure I really want to buy the parts anymore, I really want to make them.’
“So I went to a college in Belfast that did an evening course in instrument-making run by an ex-Avalon luthier. People did make various instruments there, though the vast majority of them were acoustic steel-strings. But I went with the intention of making a Les Paul copy. The tutor, Sam, told me, ‘Most people make acoustics and, if you want, you could do an acoustic and you’d probably find a lot of the skills are transferable. You could probably even make an electric at the same time or in your own time.’
“So I started on an acoustic. I was quite into Eric Clapton at the time, so I did a copy of a triple-0 Martin. And I’ve never made an electric guitar since! I really just got totally hooked.”
Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Denne historien er fra February 2021-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BASIC INSTINCTS
The sophisticated range of Swedish-designed guitars made by .strandberg* has lured thousands of players over to the headless side. But the company's new stripped-back Boden Essential model is its strongest play yet for the hearts and minds of mainstream players
Second String
As PRS's more affordable USA-made S2 line moves into its second decade, the series gets a revamp with - at last - USA-made pickups and electronics. What took so long?
PABLO VAN DE POEL
When a band from The Netherlands describes themselves as 'raw, psychedelic Southern rock', it may take a little cognitive processing to work out what that might mean. One listen to DeWolff, however, and you will be duly transported to the 60s for some fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll
THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION
With a fabulous collection of the late Bernie Marsden's guitars, amps and other highly collectable music gear going under the auctioneer's hammer on 11 June, we were thrilled to have the chance of a sneak preview
LENNY KRAVITZ
Some 35 years since the release of his debut LP, for his 12th record, Blue Electric Light, Lenny Kravitz is back again with equal doses of vigour and vibes, using vintage guitars and the purest valve amps
GEORGE VJESTICA
You may not know him at first glance, but the work of Stoke-on-Trent native George Vjestica has probably impacted some of your favourite albums and movies
DICKEY BETTS
Emerging from the shadow of Duane to write signature hit Ramblin' Man, the Allman Brothers guitarist was a hard-living pioneer of Southern rock
NICK GUPPY
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our highly valued amplifier guru, who died suddenly in April
Lucky Break
Alex Bishop blends old wood with new in an attempt to fix a severely damaged guitar headstock
Tones Behind The Tracks
Cedric Burnside learnt at the knee of his fabled grandfather, but his latest album is a hill country blues masterclass on his own terms