Maurice Paul Guitars

My studio is situated on the Redcliffe Peninsula just North of Brisbane, Australia. I mostly make classical guitars in the traditional Spanish method that range in size from 380mm to 650mm scale length, and custom fit them to my clients. As well as classical guitars I make a range of acoustic guitars in a variety of styles and woods, but try to utilize the Australian varieties as much as possible. My acoustic guitars are a little unconventional and have a bracing pattern that seems to bring a fullness of sound that the traditional X bracing doesn’t quite achieve.

I have been fortunate to have studied lutherie under Chris Wynne of “Thomas Lloyd Guitars” at Montsalvat in Eltham, Victoria and Richard Howell of “Howell Guitars” in Mornington, Victoria. As a result of my association with Richard Howell, I now make his “Prelude” series of classical guitars.
Richard Howell has a reputation for making some of the most coveted classical guitars in the world including those in the style of Ignatio Fleta and De Torres. As a result of this reputation, and after studying under him for two years, I was fortunate enough to be asked to make children’s guitars for the Suzuki Music School both here in Australia and in America. You can see this range on my products page as well as on the following website: southerncrossguitars.com.au. As a bass player, I have a keen interest in bass guitars and enjoy the artistic freedom that a modern instrument like this allows. I make an electric bass with a distinctive body style designed by my daughter Madeleine Mei using Australian woods which are second to none in both beauty and tonal quality. My preference is for simplicity so a neck through bass with a P- bass pickup and only volume and tone controls is my favourite... mind you I will make a bass in any style and as complicated as you want.

Moving to Queensland was an inspired decision as this state has the best woods compared to anywhere in the world. I have obtained nearly all my wood from Linton’s of Meleney in the beautiful Glass House Mountains North of Brisbane. Varieties available include Blackwood, Sassafrass, Australian cedar (hardwood for necks), Camphor Laurel, Huon Pine, Celery Top Pine, Queensland Maple, African Blackwood which is very much like ebony, Gidgi, and New Guinea Rosewood. Some of these are not Australian, but hard to resist due to their beauty and tonality for guitars.

Australia has some of the best luthiers in the world partly due to the availability of some of the best tone-woods for instruments, but also a cultural desire to achieve a reputation for excellence. Although I am new to this scene, it is my hope that I will be able to show the rest of the world, along with all the other Australian luthiers, that if you want a good, no a great guitar, then this is the place to look.