AMAZING VINTAGE 1977 J.W. GALLAGHER DOC WATSON HERRINGBONE BONE TONE SWEET LOUD RESONANT

Here's a truly wonderful find, a Near Mint 1977 J.W. Gallagher Doc Watson model - lightly played in her Original Hard Shell Case. Every time one of these comes in, I honestly revel at just how great, grand, and freaking loud these bones have tone and command.These guitars are mostly Pre-War Martin D-28 Herringbone inspired and the G folks have always known how to get it right.

Gallagher Dreadnaughts have a 25.25" scale length (Martin's are 25.4) The Gallagher Doc Watson has mahogany backs/sides as does a Martin D-18. D-28's are rosewood ('bone is a nickname for pre-war Martin D-28 Herringbone's that are Brazilian).
Prior to Gallagher's Doc played a D-18 (at early Newport gigs), a Les Paul gold top, J-45's and others but was partial to guitars that leaned a bit towards Gibson's-heard him make that comment, hence the slightly shorter than Martin scale on his Gallagher's. His Gallagher signature model has neck shape similar to a Les Paul at Doc's request.
Forgive me

The Doc is the most enduring model and not hard to see why. This guitar just rings like a bell and sounds flat out brilliant for damn near any style of playing. This one is in fine condition as you can see from the imagery. Super ambered AAAA Sitka , sweet deep Mahogany, with Ebony and Pearl on the fretboard and bridge. There is some great finish checking but adds to the very cool vibe with this monster guitar. Top materials and craftsmanship in every way.

Small and common crack between the neck and the small space between the soundhole (shown)and two small cracks (shown) on the sides that seem stable. Otherwise the instrument is exceptionally clean with a only a few small pecks and nothing through the finish. 

Original red lined cardboard/clapboard style case. Action at the 12th 1/8" with a little leeway on the saddle and bridge for a shave before a reset. Hardly any fret or fretboard wear on this beautiful guitar.

And it sounds like the heavens in a resonant voice!

The Doc Watson Model is by far the most recognized Gallagher Guitar. Since Doc and Merle helped J.W. design this guitar, you can’t go wrong.

• Mahogany back and sides
• Sitka spruce top
• 1 3/4″ neck with jumbo frets

The first Doc Watson model was built in 1974 after Doc had been playing a G-50 for six years. J.W. and Don met Doc and his son, Merle, at the Union Grove Fiddlers’ Convention in 1968. When J.W. and Don were choosing guitars to take to the festival, they had only one mahogany guitar finished. But it had a problem. During the building process, the guitar had cracked along the side of its body. The crack had been repaired, but J.W. didn’t want to sell the guitar because of the blemish. But it was the only mahogany guitar they had, so they decided to take it for display only.

J.W. went up to Doc and Merle as they were picking under shade tree. Doc invited J.W. and Don back to his house to check out the guitars. J.W. brought a G-70 (the top of the Gallagher line at the time) and the blemished G-50 for Doc to try out. Doc really liked the sound of the G-50, but J.W. didn’t want to sell it because of the crack. Doc told J.W. and Don that he didn’t care about the crack – it was the sound that he loved! J.W. made a deal with Doc that he could use that guitar for as long as he wanted, with no strings attached (“except the ones on the guitar”) as long as when Doc was finished playing it, he would send it back. J.W. didn’t want a blemished guitar out in the world.

After playing the G-50 for six years, Doc decided he was ready for another guitar. Doc had learned how to play fiddle tunes on a Les Paul guitar, so Merle brought a Les Paul neck to the shop and asked if Gallagher could make a similarly sized neck for Doc’s new guitar. Thus, the Doc Watson models all have a 1 3/4” neck with jumbo frets. All Doc Watson models have mahogany back and sides, Sitka spruce tops with voiced bracing, and herringbone purfling and rosettes.

The Doc Watson Model is by far the most recognized Gallagher guitar.  Since Doc and Merle along with J.W. are the one’s that designed this guitar, you can’t go wrong
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This item will ship in a a carton weighing approximately x 26 lbs and measuring 50 x 18 x 8 inches originating from Boulder Colorado 80305. Domestic shipping plus insurance is shown in the shipping calculator in this listing.

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