Gallagher
Gallagher
Also known as: Gallagher Guitar, Gallagher Guitars, Gallagher Guitar Company, Gallagher Guitar Co.
UnclaimedGallagher Guitar Company is a small acoustic guitar maker based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, building handcrafted instruments since 1965. The shop was founded by J.W. Gallagher, a woodworker who reportedly cut a dreadnought in half to study its construction before building his first guitar. After J.W.'s retirement in 1976 the company passed to his son Don, then to Don's son Stephen in 2015, and ...
Gallagher Guitar Company is a small acoustic guitar maker based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, building handcrafted instruments since 1965. The shop was founded by J.W. Gallagher, a woodworker who reportedly cut a dreadnought in half to study its construction before building his first guitar. After J.W.'s retirement in 1976 the company passed to his son Don, then to Don's son Stephen in 2015, and to David Mathis in 2019, who relocated the workshop while keeping the original molds, patterns, and equipment.
Gallagher's catalog centers on traditional flat-top steel-string acoustics built in small numbers, with each instrument taking around 70–80 hours over roughly three months. Standard models include the dreadnought-style G-70, G-60, G-50, and G-45S, along with the GA-72 grand auditorium, the A-30 auditorium, the SG-50 Sinker, the Ragtime Special, and the Bluegrass Bell. Signature and commemorative models include the Doc Watson, the Merle Watson Commemorative G-40, the Jim Hurst, the Josh Rinkel, the JP Cormier, The Shelby, and The Founders Guitar.
The brand is closely tied to flatpicking and bluegrass traditions, owing largely to its long association with Doc Watson, who played a mahogany Gallagher G-50 nicknamed "Ol' Hoss" on many of his recordings. The instruments are sold direct from the Murfreesboro shop and through a small network of acoustic specialty dealers.
Gallagher has 3 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Steel-string Acoustic Guitars. Their gear is featured by 5 artists, with the strongest followings in Folk, World, & Country, Rock, and Blues. Notable users include Doc Watson, Joe Bonamassa, and Johnny Cash.
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