Guitars

John McCarthy has been running a music studio and teaching guitar lessons since the 1990s. After a conversation with his sister, he realized if he recorded and distributed his lessons on video, he could reach many more people who wanted to learn to play guitar.

Glen McCarthy was surrounded by music growing up in New York City. His mother, a bassist, encouraged him to play piano, and by fourth grade he was playing trumpet in the school band. When he was asked to play Taps for a community event—and was paid a whopping six dollars—Glen knew he wanted to be a musician. Throughout high school, he performed in the orchestra, jazz band, and in the pit for school plays. During his college years, he played in the marching band while gigging on weekends and studying music education. After college, Glen landed a prime opportunity with the U.S. Stat

Ted McCarty was the president of Gibson Guitars when he signed Les Paul to help design a series of instruments with his name.  Ted went on to design and patent guitars such as the Flying V before working with Chicago Musical Instruments and Bigsby Guitars, becoming an industry icon.  Among the classic moments of the industry’s history in which Ted took part in was in the 1950s when he asked Seth Lover to design a pick-up for the newly created electric guitars that would "buck the hum."  Later in his life he was befriended by Paul Reed Smith who sought Ted's advice and friendship a

Paul McDermott is one of the most passionate music retailers you will ever meet!  As founder of Hot Licks Guitar Shop in Waldorf, Maryland, Paul has used his passion to bring the joy of music making to countless number of his customers over the years.  He has established an impressive lesson program that reaches over 500 students each week and has provided support to bands, church groups and solo artists to showcase their sound, songs and recordings within the store for special performances.  Spending time with Paul you can't help but want to join in the band!

Richard McDonald has always been driven and inspired by music. Both his father and brother played upright bass and for as long as he can remember, Richard has always been drawn to making music. He played several instruments as a kid and clearly remembers the day he received his first guitar from Sears, a Silvertone! He worked in music retail and formed a recording band that led to a Fender endorsement in 1989 and he has been tied to Fender ever since. Richard’s first job at Fender was a modest one, yet he focused on doing all he could to support the company and was soon given a pr

TJ McGann, a distinguished guitar repair technician, boasts an illustrious career spanning decades. Renowned for his meticulous craftsmanship, TJ has served a multitude of esteemed guitarists, including Bucky Pizzarelli, and the iconic Les Paul. His expertise has been instrumental in shaping the musical instruments of legends. A stalwart presence at the NAMM show, TJ has contributed significantly to its success for many years. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Muriel Anderson’s All-Star guitar night in Nashville during the early 2000s, leaving an indelible mark on the event's h

Paul McGill is a luthier’s luthier.  He wanted to create a tool that would allow others to express themselves and to create music that could be enjoyed by many people he may never meet or even know about.  He was trained by Charles Fox in the late 1970s and found that he was able to put his passion for music into the instruments that would make music for others.  Paul took a job at Gruhn Guitars repairing some of the most historic and beautiful instruments, which became an important time of discovery for Paul.  As a luthier, Paul is proud of the fact that so many musicians enjoy h

Danny McKinney is a fourth generation musician who grew up with a passion for music and a fascination with audio. As a kid, he recalls seeing Standel amplifiers and dreaming of owning one. He had no idea he would later own the company! Danny worked with Standel Founder, Bob Crooks, and in 1997 they re-launched the company to re-introduce the classic Standel tube amps. In 1995, Danny formed his own company, Requisite Audio to focus on innovations in studio processors and microphones.

David McLaren worked closely with his father, John McLaren Sr., at BBE Sound in Southern California, which purchased G&L Guitars. David fell in love with the G&L story and products, and today serves as President & CEO. His main focus is to continue the legacy of the two founders, George Fullerton and Leo Fender. After Leo sold his first company, named after him, he teamed up with his old friend and guitar designer George Fullerton to create a new product line.

John McLaren Jr. grew up in the music business as his father, John McLaren Sr., served as a strong leader for CBS Musical Instruments, which owned such brands as Steinway pianos and Fender guitars.  His father was also the Senior Vice President for Yamaha Corporation.  John Sr.'s involvement in Fender guitars allowed John Jr. to meet and get to know many of the woodworkers and craftsmen that Leo Fender had hired for his original factory in the 1950s and 60s. When his father purchased Leo’s last company, G&L Guitars, John and his brother, David, vowed to continue the legacy Leo

John McLaren Sr. served as the president of BBE Sound, which develops pro audio gear. The company purchased G&L Guitars and has been dedicated to keeping the spirit of the founders and their ideas and traditions evident in each guitar. G&L was originally formed by George Fullerton and Leo Fender and has become a successful guitar line around the world. In the early part of his career, John worked for Yamaha, which resulted in strong friendships he continues to this day.

Don McLean walked into the House of Music in New Rochelle, New York as a kid dreaming of owning a Martin Guitar.  When he finally owned one, that instrument assisted him in writing several hit songs.  The rock and roll anthem "American Pie" and "Vincent" were both written on his Martin, as were many others. Don attended a NAMM Show when Martin unveiled the Don McLean signature model guitar, an epic moment in his life. 

Paul Meisenzahl bought his first guitar from his brother for $2.00 and promptly taught himself how to play. His first paying gig came when he was eleven and he played in rock bands throughout high school. After working at MXR and Ithaca Guitar Works in Ithaca, New York, Paul began his career as a rep. He worked in product development for Yamaha and Fender where he headed the Acoustic Division before his retirement in 2008.

 Mr. Menchey founded the Menchey Music Service in 1936 out of his mother’s sewing room in Hanover. By the time he retired in 1982, Menchey’s Music grew into the premier full-service school music and piano dealer serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. He pioneered expansive sheet music departments throughout his multi-store locations and was known to provide music publishers with ideas of trends and needs he saw within his customers, which often resulted in new editions and publications such as band music for beginners in the era before they were common place. Mr. Menc

Bill Mendello retired as president of Fender Musical Instrument Corp in the fall of 2010 after a long career in the industry. He was hired in the accounting department of CBS Musical Instrument Division in 1978. Bill soon began working with Bill Schultz who was hired by the president of the musical division of CBS in order to help the Fender Guitar segment of the company, which had been neglected for several years. Within a few years CBS announced they were going to sell Fender. Bill and Bill pulled a team together to purchase the company, which they did. The new owners outlined a

Richard Meredith had a great admiration for Jack Goldman whose grandfather established the family retail and pawn business in Evansville, Indiana, in 1899. Richard is a local musician who would bring his personal items to the pawn shop when times got hard as a truck driver. The Goldmans had reasonable rates and always went the extra mile to ensure if you wanted your pawned musical instrument back, you could get it back. During the Goldman's Pawn Shop's 125 anniversary party, Richard pulled out a guitar to join the jam session that included store employees and renowned musician And

Buddy Merrill played the pedal steel guitar on the Lawrence Welk TV program from its start in 1954 until he left the show in 1974. Buddy played Fender products while on the Welk Show, which was an exciting time as several key instrument innovations were released during this time, including the Stratocaster. His passion for music and musical products started as a child when he played alongside his country-western singing father, Les Merrill. After leaving the Welk Show, Buddy worked in the movies and wrote background music for many years.

Rudi Metzler watched the Beatles on TV in his home in Germany and wanted to be the next Ringo Starr. He earned money washing cars, taking over a year to earn enough for his first drum kit. After playing in several bands he thought the future for him would be in selling instruments so he began selling backline gear for traveling bands. Along the way he developed key relationships that he would use to help form his music store, which was established in 1982 with the name Rock Shop. Today Rudi continues to focus on quality products for his customers, many of whom have become long tim

Raul Midón, a luminary shaped by the vibrant rhythms of Latin music, discovered his calling amidst a world of sound despite the challenge of blindness. From his earliest days, Raul found solace and inspiration in the melodies that surrounded him, channeling his unwavering passion into singing and playing guitar. Influenced by legends like José Feliciano, Raul embarked on a musical journey that led him to become a sought-after studio musician, lending his soulful vocals to luminaries such as Stevie Wonder and Jason Mraz.

Larry Miletich along with his father and brother began playing music together as a group when they moved to Kalispell, Montana.  As they continued to play gigs in and around town, they kept seeing a need for a store that provided lessons and repairs.  In 1981, the three decided they would open a store in downtown.  They offered lessons and repairs right away, which helped the store grow.

George Miletich Jr. and his brother run Music One Workshop in Kalispell, Montana.  As they continued to play gigs in and around town, they also provided repairs for their bandmates as well as lessons for members of their audiences over the years.  The store, which originally included their father, opened in 1981 and continues to provide new products, repairs and lessons.


David Millard was a teenager when he first walked into Folk Music Center, his local musical instrument store in Claremont, California. The now iconic retailer was a true mom-and-pop operation established by Charles and Dorothy Chase. David got to know the couple when he was hired in 1966, and he worked for 11 years as a repairman. David took a short 40-year break from the store to become a biology teacher at a local middle school, however he returned to the very same work bench after he retired as an educator.

Jerry Miller was a founding member of the innovative and influential ‘60s rock band Moby Grape. His roots in music go back to his grandfather, who was a famous violin maker in Sweden. When Jerry was eight he was given a guitar for Christmas and never wanted to do anything else but make music. He began songwriting at an early age and felt a special connection when he purchased a Gibson L5 guitar at Tacoma Music. He has in fact played that very guitar throughout his career, including during his NAMM Oral History interview. His big break came when he joined the Seattle-based rock ban

Dale Miller was just 27 when he decided to open a music store. The year was 1974 and it was the first of many firsts for the passionate guitarist who enjoyed working with others to bring music into the lives of those who came into his store. While the store did not last, Dale’s drive and love of music seemed only to build over the years. After a successful time in the cosmetic industry (he helped create the Pretty Nails products), Dale saw an opportunity to enter the Karaoke segment of the industry. He formed DJ Miller Music (named after “D” for Dale and “J” for his wife Judi). Du

Steve Miller led a popular rock band beginning in the 1960s with a string of hit songs, most of which he wrote. His passion for music began at a very young age. Did you know Les Paul was his godfather? The Steve Miller Band was formed in San Francisco in 1966 and went on to record some 25 albums (including five of which were recorded live). Their biggest hits include “The Joker,” “Take The Money and Run,” “Rockin’ Me,” Fly Like an Eagle,” “Jet Airliner,” “Abracadabra”, “Swingtown” and “Jungle Love.” Steve is also a gear-head and a big fan of innovative musical products.

Lee Miltimore is the founder of Lee’s Music, a music retail store and repair shop established in 1974 in British Columbia, Canada. After years of offering repairs on instruments and audio gear, the shop expanded into a retail business. While running the store, Lee also ran audio for several live sound events and front of house (FOH) for local music festivals. He has always been proud of the role he played in bringing families and friends together at these special events and seeing the enjoyment people gained from listening to music. Lee teamed with his son Mike, who grew up in the

Mike Miltimore's upbringing in his father's musical instrument repair shop, which evolved into Lee's Music in British Columbia, Canada, laid the foundation for his journey. Mike worked in the store growing up and developed a deep knowledge of the instruments and gear they sell, as well as meaningful relationships with several suppliers, such as Peavey and JBL.

Jim Minch purchased his first musical instrument at Milano Music having no idea as a child that he would spend his entire career with the store.  The Mesa, Arizona based company, which was formed in 1946, had seven locations at one point throughout the state.  Jim specialized in the guitar and amp department but always worked closely with the drum and percussion products.  Over the years, the job became more and more personal with Jim now feeling more like a family member than an employee.

Yvan Miron is from a long line of craftsman, a family trade that he traces back to the mid-1600s. Born in Quebec, Yvan started playing guitar when he headed off to college and after he finished his studies he traveled extensively, crediting this experience as one of the key factors that help him create the best stage experience throughout the world with his company, Stageline. Miron continues to push the boundaries for setting industry standards as well as creating innovative stage concepts with Stageline. Yvan was honored at the 2019 NAMM Show with a Parnelli Visionary Award for

Larry Mitchell is a guitarist, recording artist, and producer whose career has been deeply rooted in instrument performance and sound development. A self-taught musician, Larry began playing guitar at the age of nine and quickly developed a distinctive style that blends technical skill with expressive tone. Throughout his career, Larry has worked across a wide range of musical settings, performing, recording, and producing for artists in rock, pop, R&B, and acoustic genres. His experience as both a performer and producer has given him a strong understanding of how instruments

Don Mitchell is a veteran road rep! Having been in the music business most of his working life, Don has called on more dealers than just about any other salesman in the industry. His knowledge of the products and keen relationships have made him a valued and successful promoter of his products as well as music and music making. One of his fond sayings relating to his long career is the biggest change he has witnessed during his career, “two lane highways!”  

Keb’ Mo’ is the Grammy-winning blues guitarist and songwriter who got his big break in the music business thanks to Taj Mahal (interview class of 2016).   He has performed as Keb’Mo’ ever since his original drummer, Quentin Dennard, stopped calling him Kevin Moore.  During his NAMM Oral History interview, Keb’ took time to detail each of his instruments in order and spoke of some of his favorite guitars he used on various projects.