McCurdy Guitars

Overview

McCurdy Guitars is a New York City-based luthier operation specializing in custom high-quality archtop, semi-hollow, and solid-body electric guitars for professional musicians. Founded by Ric McCurdy, it operates from a shop in the historic guitar-making neighborhood of NYC, producing instruments known for their craftsmanship and playability.¹²⁴

History

Ric McCurdy founded McCurdy Guitars, initially building guitars in Santa Barbara, California, before establishing his shop in New York City around 1981 in the neighborhood once home to Martin, Gibson, Guild, and Epiphone factories.¹³ He has built and repaired guitars for musicians including John Abercrombie, Joe Beck, and Sheryl Bailey.⁴ The Mercury model was introduced in 2004 as a compact semi-hollowbody electric guitar.⁵

Product Lines

Manufacturing

All guitars are hand-built in the New York City shop by Ric McCurdy.¹²⁴ Production is custom-order only, with a $1,500 non-refundable deposit required.² Specifications not specified by the customer are at the builder's discretion.²

Notable Products

• Mercury - Semi-hollowbody electric introduced in 2004, 14-inch lower bout width, one-piece mahogany neck, priced at $6,950.
• Moderna - Modern archtop model featured on the website for custom orders.
• Milano - Archtop guitar with Italian styling influences.
• Transfonic Archtop - Archtop design optimized for amplified performance.
• Perfecta - High-end archtop known for exacting construction.

Reputation

McCurdy Guitars is regarded by jazz and professional musicians for producing some of the finest archtop and electric guitars, with a focus on rich tone and durability.³⁵ Enthusiasts value the custom build process and lifetime warranty to original owners.⁶ It maintains a niche reputation among working musicians rather than mass-market appeal.¹⁴