Gallagher G50 Mahogany Sitka Spruce 2008

The Gallagher G50 is the model with which the story of Gallagher Guitars began. When founder J.W. Gallagher built his first guitar in 1965, he was fifty years old and named the model the G50. Not long after, this also became the first Gallagher owned by bluegrass legend Doc Watson. His famous instrument, affectionately called "Old Hoss," can be heard on the iconic recording of Will the Circle Be Unbroken and grew into one of the best-known acoustic guitars in American folk and bluegrass history.

This 2008 G50 continues that tradition with a full-solid mahogany body and a solid Sitka spruce top, entirely in accordance with the model's original specifications. The combination of mahogany and Sitka spruce produces a warm, direct, and powerful sound with a pronounced midrange, a dry attack, and excellent projection. 

This makes the G50 particularly popular with flatpickers and bluegrass guitarists, while singer-songwriters and strummers will also appreciate the clear definition and dynamic response. The guitar features an ebony bridge and fingerboard, ivoroid binding around the body and headstock, the distinctive Gallagher "G" on the headstock, and the classic style rosette, details that have defined the character of this model since the very first G50s.

This 2008 Gallagher G50 is a beautiful example of the traditional craftsmanship for which the Tennessee builder has been renowned for decades. It is undoubtedly one of the best-sounding dreadnoughts in our range, and the signs of wear show that the guitar is well broken in! There are some scratches and dings on the top, along with very light signs of playwear and a lacquer chip on the body. The lacquer has lifted at the volute and on the sides, and furthermore, signs of a neck reset are visible around the heel.

With its rich history, high-quality materials, and open, powerful sound, this is a dreadnought that feels effortlessly at home on stage, in the studio, or during an acoustic jam session. For lovers of American boutique guitars, the G50 is an instrument with a story and a sound that has more than stood the test of time.

This instrument has been carefully inspected for originality, condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.