Class of 2013: McMahon Artistry – Rattlesnake Shake

The one-of-a-kind instruments that McMAHON Artistry has churned out in recent years have helped the company move on up in the world, it would seem.  “In the past year, the biggest change for McMAHON Artistry has been the support we have received from major manufacturers in the industry,” says Scott McMahon, founder and CEO. “We have recently moved our carving studio into Floyd Rose’s factory in New Jersey. They also showcased our guitars during the Winter NAMM in 2012 and 2013, and we are currently preparing for 2014. Seymour Duncan has been another company that has offered McMAHON Artistry tremendous support through technical advice and through social media.”

The company’s instruments are truly unique, with designs executed using old-school woodcarving tools. “What is currently setting us apart, in the carving world, is the fact that we have been blending traditional relief carving with classic chip carving techniques to create details and textures that can’t be replicated with modern power tools,” explains McMahon.  “Our most recent piece, ‘The Diamondback,’ seems to have really separated us from the pack. The idea for this piece started with a conversation that I had with Floyd Rose’s president, Andy Pappicio. He said to me, ‘Your pieces are beautiful works of art, but I want you to think about something that will have more of a universal appeal with people that love Rock ‘n Roll.’ After thinking about that for a while I came to the conclusion that there is nothing with more dangerous and full of attitude then the rattlesnake itself. Before ‘The Diamondback,’ the closest you could get to that look and feel on a guitar were the few that had actually glued snakeskin to their guitar bodies.”

McMahon continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with respect to finishes, textures, and designs.  “Similar to McMAHON Artistry’s approach to carving itself, the creation of new designs is a result of the passionate and the obsessive, an alchemy of the old and the new,” he says.                                       

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