Gallagher GA-50

The G-50 has the honor of being J.W. Gallagher’s first Gallagher guitar.  J.W. was 50 years old so naturally it became the G-50.  This was also the first Gallagher guitar that Doc Watson owned.  His G-50 became known as “Old Hoss” and was played on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”  Doc’s G-50 had rosewood fretboard and bridge.  We also use similar bracing to the original G-50s.

The G-50 line are mahogany guitars that can be built in any of the body shapes that we offer.  Mahogany is a great tone wood and not to be undervalued because of its popularity.  It tends to give warmth, clarity and a good mid-range punch.  Mahogany is crisp, dry, and woody which makes for great strumming and flatpicking players.  Gallagher has used different varieties of mahogany such as Honduran and Sapele, which is often called “African Mahogany.”

For the soundboard, we use top grades of Sitka spruce, just like J.W. started using in the 60s.  Good quartersawn Sitka is lightweight but also stiff which lends itself for high velocity of sound.  Sitka can take a strong attack and still maintain clarity.

The appointments are consistent with the first G-50 and varies slightly from other body sizes in the 50 line of guitars:

• East Indian Rosewood bridge and fretboard
• Dot markers
• Ivoroid binding for body and headstock
• Gallagher “G” on headstock
• Rope triple ring rosette
• BWBW purfling/trim
• Checkerboard backstrip
• Bone end pin and bridge pins