1976 Gallagher G-70 Acoustic Guitar w/Hiscox Case

This is a certified Bluegrass machine!

Handmade in Wartrace, Tennessee, these old Gallaghers made a name for themselves with their incredible build quality and a tone that "rings like a bell". Famously played by Doc Watson; his G-50 nicknamed "Ol' Hoss" appeared on countless records and has no doubt helped make the brand synonymous with the bluegrass scene. Anyone who owns a Gallagher will be able to tell you these are one of the vintage guitar market's best kept secrets!

This G-70 dates from early '76 and would have been one of the last guitars built under the supervision of founder J.W Gallagher, while his son Don was starting to take over management; an internal stamp reads "J.W. Gallagher & Son". While Gallagher Guitar Co. are now based up the road in Murfreesboro, TN, they have kept sales records of every guitar sold, and so we know this particular guitar was originally ordered and shipped to a private customer in New Zealand in 1976.

For a nearly 50 year old guitar, this thing is impressively solid feeling, with almost no soundboard belly and a good neck angle, with action measuring 2.75mm on the bass side and 2.25mm on the treble side - with a healthy amount of saddle left. We have appropriately strung her up with John Pearce #250 Bluegrass strings and she sounds like a cannon!

There is plenty of play wear and checking in the lacquer finish, with some belt rash on the rosewood back - but it all adds to the charm! A vintage Barcus-Berry Hot-Dot pickup is fitted, either original to the guitar or a very old addition - these are one of the earliest piezo pickups and sound great, but as with most passive acoustic pickups, it is recommended to run it through an external preamp to get the most out of the pickup.

Includes non-original Hiscox case.

Available at our Wellington store.