{"product_id":"julian-gaffney-modified-dreadnought-2019","title":"Julian Gaffney Modified Dreadnought 2019 Fiddleback Mahogany \u0026 Sitka Spruce","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo sales tax for US customers outside California.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\"\u003eGaffney guitars rarely come up for sale, and when they do they tend to move quickly among players who already know the name. If you've been looking for a contemporary hand-built dreadnought that offers real tonal depth and a setup that's genuinely ready to work, this is a serious instrument from a builder whose reputation is still growing. Worth picking up now rather than tracking one down later.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJulian Gaffney is a New York-based luthier who came up through a serious apprenticeship and has built a devoted following among players and collectors who prioritize craft over name recognition. His Modified Dreadnought is not simply a scaled or tweaked version of a standard dread — it's a deliberate rethinking of the format, aimed at balancing the projection and low-end authority of a traditional dreadnought with fingerstyle responsiveness and articulation across the full frequency range. The result is a guitar that plays convincingly in both strumming and fingerpicking contexts, which is genuinely uncommon in guitars at this body size. This 2019 example is built with a Sitka spruce top and fiddleback mahogany back, sides, and neck — a combination that's warmer and more focused than a rosewood-backed instrument, with excellent note separation and a midrange that sits well in a mix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe construction details on this guitar reflect Gaffney's attention to playability as much as tone. The ebony fretboard sits on a fiddleback mahogany neck with a 16\" radius, which keeps chord voicings comfortable across the full width and suits players who move between positions. Neck thickness measures .841\" at the first fret and .892\" at the twelfth, a profile that's substantial without being chunky — the kind of neck that disappears in your hand after a few minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 25.25\" scale length is slightly shorter than a standard Martin dreadnought, contributing to a slightly lower string tension that makes the guitar feel easier under the fingers while still providing enough headroom for the bass strings to develop. The nut is bone at 1-3\/4\" width, and action is currently set at a uniform 3\/32\" on both the first and sixth strings at the twelfth fret — a low, even setup that plays effortlessly. The ebony bridge is fitted with individual Roman numeral bridge pins, a Gaffney signature detail that's both functional and distinctive. Tuning is handled by Rodgers tuners with ebony buttons, which complement the aesthetic without drawing attention to themselves. The guitar weighs in at 4 lbs 13 oz — notably light for a full dreadnought-sized body with a 20.25\" body length and 15.875\" lower bout — which contributes to the liveliness and resonance you feel through the top. The guitar is in excellent condition throughout, with no structural issues and only the kind of light play wear consistent with careful ownership. Comes with a high quality hardshell case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"product-spec-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBrand: Julian Gaffney\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eModel: Modified Dreadnought\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eYear: 2019\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eColor: Natural\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eWeight: 4 lbs 13 oz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eTop: Sitka Spruce\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBack \u0026amp; Sides: Fiddleback Mahogany\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNeck: Fiddleback Mahogany\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eFretboard: Ebony\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eInlays: Custom Rectangles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eFrets: Original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eFret Count: 21\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNut: Original Bone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNut Width: 1-3\/4\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eRadius: 16\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eScale Length: 25.25\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNeck Thickness at 1st Fret: .841\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eNeck Thickness at 12th Fret: .892\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eAction 1st String at 12th Fret: 3\/32\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eAction 6th String at 12th Fret: 3\/32\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Length: 20.25\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eLower Bout: 15.875\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eUpper Bout: 11.875\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBody Depth: 4\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eString Gauge: 12-53\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eBridge: Ebony with Individual Roman Numeral Bridge Pins\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eTuners: Rodgers with Ebony Buttons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eElectronics: None\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eCondition: Excellent — light play wear consistent with careful use, no structural issues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"product-spec\"\u003eIncludes: Original Hardshell Case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpts from real online end-user reviews:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"An extraordinary balance of power, finesse, and depth — a rare feat in today's world.\" - Dream Guitars\u003cbr\u003e\"A rare opportunity to compare two nearly identical, equally exquisite guitars from luthier Julian Gaffney. Both are fingerstyle-friendly modified dreadnoughts...\" - The North American Guitar via YouTube\u003cbr\u003e\"This superb Mod. Dread. by luthier Julian Gaffney... built towards the end of his apprenticeship with the renowned luthier.\" - Reverb seller listing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe buy, sell, and take trades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBe sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/gibson-guitars\" title=\"Vintage and used Gibson guitars at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGibson guitars\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e - vintage \u0026amp; used\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/vintage-fender-guitars\" title=\"Vintage and used Fender guitars at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFender guitars\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e - vintage \u0026amp; used\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/amps\" title=\"Vintage and used guitar amplifiers at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage \u0026amp; used guitar amplifiers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e - Northern California's largest selection\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/collections\/effect-pedals\" title=\"Vintage and used effects pedals at Mahar's Vintage Guitars\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage \u0026amp; Used Effects Pedals\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping policy:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Julian Gaffney","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56421076238502,"sku":"G-2241","price":11999.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0455\/7527\/4662\/files\/julian-gaffney-modified-dreadnought-2019-fiddleback-mahogany-sitka-spruce-2298690.jpg?v=1777918818","url":"https:\/\/www.maharsvintageguitars.com\/products\/julian-gaffney-modified-dreadnought-2019","provider":"Mahar's Vintage Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}