McIlroy Guitars • Shoreline Music

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Muriel Anderson
Pierre Bensusan
Howard Emerson
Jaquie Gipson
Dougie MacLean
Franco Morone
The Waybacks

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Mcilroy Sale
10% off any in-stock guitar
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Mcilroy Guitars are built in Ireland by Dermot Mcilroy (pronounced MACKLE-roy), who spent 10 years building guitars with Lowden Guitars—7 of those as production manager—before launching his own shop to build the guitars he had been designing on his own. But although the Lowden pedigree in Dermot's guitars is obvious both visually and tonally, make no mistake: These guitars, by virtue of a unique design and lighter bracing, stake out entirely new tonal territory. We've played a ton of Mcilroy guitars (well over 100—more than anyone else outside of Dermot's shop) and we can confirm that he has succeeded in producing a truly unique, rich, airy tone that we find among the most appealing of any guitars we've played. And the balance and sustain on these guitars is nothing short of remarkable. I've grown so accustomed to having Mcilroy guitars around our shop that I actually go into withdrawals when demand outstrips our otherwise robust Mcilroy order schedule.

One of the things we most appreciate about Dermot is his flair for finding great tonewoods and binding woods—he clearly loves to craft gorgeous guitars, and he doesn't cut corners when it comes to selecting great back and side sets. Plus, each one of his guitars (many of which sell for only $3000) is finished like a presentation guitar, with layered body and fretboard bindings in pearwood, rosewood, sycamore, walnut, and other woods. It is this meticulous craftsmanship that sets Mcilroy guitars apart from almost anything else under $3000, and, to be honest, even from a lot of guitars that cost more than $3000. Lots of expensive factory guitars just have a piece of spruce slapped on a rosewood back and side set, bound with white plastic. But when you behold a Mcilroy guitar, you find running themes of wood purfling not just along the top binding, but also the sides, and the back, and through the neck and along the fretboard, even a thin laminate right along the headstock. Does this make the guitar sound any better? I don't know. But it is strong evidence of a craftsman at work, not someone who just makes guitars.

It's also refreshing to work with a guitar builder who's a practicing musician himself—Dermot has a real recording contract, and he can occasionally be found playing on tour in the US. It is this musician's sense that guides the hand voicing of each top, the hand shaving of each internal brace. We are thus privileged to be introducing these fine guitars to the United States, and, indeed, to the world.

Really, though, the best recommendation for these guitars comes from our many satisfied Mcilroy customers. Time and again, customer after customer reports that upon purchasing their Mcilroy guitars, they don't really feel like playing their other guitars anymore, and those other guitars rarely even leave their cases. So, if you have some really nice guitars already, consider yourself forewarned if you're thinking about buying a Mcilroy: Your current guitars may end up gathering dust.

And be sure to check out this YouTube video of Dermot talking about and playing some of his instruments.

Check here for dimensions of the various Mcilroy guitars. And, of course, please contact us with any special requests.

Body styles - Our lineup of Mcilroy guitars consists of three standard body sizes:

A - This body size is our best seller by far. Most similar to a mini-jumbo or F in size, it delivers a rich, full tone, perfect for strumming or fingerstyle. Visit our Guitar Spotlight Archives for a detailed review of 2 versions of this guitar, the A30 and the A25 (the A25 is also notable as our overall best-selling guitar model). (details) (A25 pics) (A30 pics) (A35C pics)

AJ - The AJ is Mcilroy's jumbo guitar, similar to an O body style. The bigger box delivers a deep, resonant tone. With the right tonewoods, these guitars can be quite loud, too. Check out our Guitar Spotlight Archives for a more detailed review. (details) (AJ20 pics) (AJ35 pics)

AS - This is Dermot's smaller-bodied guitar. With a lower bout of 14 11/16", this is a great instrument for someone looking for something a little smaller than an OM. It's Dermot's best-seller in the UK, and it's not hard to see why: It is rich—and loud—beyond its size, but with the signature Mcilroy tone. More than one customer has remarked that the cedar and mahogany version of the AS is Dermot's best instrument. Check out the Guitar Spotlight Archives for a review of that guitar. (details) (AS15 photos) (AS25 pics)

Tonewoods/Appointments - Each body type described above is available in any of the styles described below. The numbering is pretty straightforward: Spruce-topped guitars end in "0", and cedar-topped guitars end in "5", so that a 35 model guitar would be identical to a 30 model, but with a cedar top. All Mcilroy guitars include bound ebony fingerboards and an abalone rosette.

10/15 - Sitka or cedar top, Honduran mahogany back and sides, mahogany/sycamore laminate neck, with bindings of walnut, sycamore, and rosewood. (AS15 pics)

20/25 - Sitka or cedar top, walnut back and sides, mahogany/sycamore/walnut laminate neck, and bindings in pearwood, rosewood, and sycamore. (A25 pics)

30/35 - Sitka or cedar top, Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany/sycamore/rosewood laminate neck, and bindings in pearwood, sycamore, and rosewood. (A35 pics)

50/55 - Sitka or cedar top, Cocobolo back and sides, mahogany/sycamore/rosewood laminate neck, and bindings in sycamore, figured sycamore, pearwood, and rosewood. (A55 pics)

60/65 - Model 60 guitars are reserved for special figured woods that Dermot occasionally gets his hands on. Contact us if you have a particular wood in mind for your guitar. (A65 pics)

70/75 - Sitka or cedar top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, mahogany/sycamore/rosewood laminate neck, and bindings in pearwood, sycamore, and rosewood. (A70 pics)

Mcilroy Guitars Price List
10-40 Series Guitars	Description	Price*
A	Mini-Jumbo	$3000
AS	Small body	$3000
AJ	Jumbo	$3000
Cutaway		+$250
Specialty Guitars	Description	Price*
50/55 series	A, AS, or AJ w/cocobolo back and sides	$5000
60/65 series	A, AS, or AJ w/custom back and sides	$4000
70/75 series	A, AS, or AJ w/Brazilian back and sides	$8000
Cutaway		+$400
Ordering
Standard deposit; we'll call to confirm your order details.		$1000

*The prices for all Mcilroy guitars include a Hiscox Liteflite hardshell case and free Express Mail shipping in the US. CO residents add 2.9% sales tax (7.4% in La Plata county). Please see our Shipping page for additional international shipping information.