Rockbridge Guitar Company founders, Randall Ray and Brian Calhoun.

Rockbridge Guitar Company

Brian Calhoun and Randall Ray founded Rockbridge Guitar Company in 2000. As experienced luthiers and guitar players, their goal was to build guitars of exceptional tone and beauty from the highest quality tonewoods. Each Rockbridge guitar is a handcrafted instrument of superb workmanship and sound. In 2006, master woodworker Adam McNeil joined the team and has been an integral part of the company ever since.

When Randall and Brian were building the first Rockbridge Guitars, they combined their favorite qualities of the vintage Martin and Gibson guitars that they loved so much. By adding their own innovations to these designs, they developed a formula that gives Rockbridge Guitars their own unique sound.

Performing on his Rockbridge Slope w/ Bluegrass band, Walker's Run

Randall Ray

Randall was introduced to fine craftsmanship at an early age while hanging around the woodshop where his father built antique rifle reproductions. In 1990 Randall began building his own guitars while living in Rockbridge County, VA. His massive knowledge of guitar history and the intricacies of how his favorite guitars were constructed played a major role in the development of the early Rockbridge Guitars. Randall began playing the guitar in 1970. Now, an accomplished musician, Randall still plays his guitar every single day. He is a fan of many genres of music, but his favorite guitar player of all time is Clarence White.

Picking a tune on the 200th Rockbridge Guitar

Brian Calhoun

Brian grew up in Rockbridge County VA where at a young age he learned how to play the guitar and also immersed himself in the art of lutherie. He took on mandolin building and violin building apprenticeships, and particularly excelled at inlay work. Brian currently executes all the custom inlay work for Rockbridge Guitars and also inlays the high end custom models for Stelling Banjo works. In 2000, Randall Ray, one of Brian’s early guitar mentors, suggested that they collaborate by building a few guitars together. Soon it became clear that they had built something special, and Rockbridge Guitar Company was born. Brian is now married to internationally acclaimed rock violinist Ann Marie Calhoun. They split their time between VA and Hollywood, CA.

Preparing to glaze some pottery

Adam McNeil

Adam was born into a family of fine craftsmen in Rockbridge County VA. When he was very young he began learning the meticulous art of woodworking by helping his father in the family furniture making business. As Adam honed his woodworking skills , he also expanded his artistic horizons by following his passion of making pottery. Adam was a college athlete and he is still very active in many sports. Although he played drums while growing up, Adam did not start playing the guitar until he joined the team with Brian and Randall in 2006.