2019 Julian Gaffney Modified Dreadnought Fiddleback Mahogany & Sitka Spruce - Natural
Description
Gaffney 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.
Julian 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase. Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.
No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.
Specifications:
Brand: Julian Gaffney
Model: Modified Dreadnought
Year: 2019
Color: Natural
Weight: 4 lbs 13 oz
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Fiddleback Mahogany
Neck: Fiddleback Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlays: Custom Rectangles
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 21
Nut: Original Bone
Nut Width: 1-3/4"
Radius: 16"
Scale Length: 25.25"
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .841"
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .892"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
Body Length: 20.25"
Lower Bout: 15.875"
Upper Bout: 11.875"
Body Depth: 4"
String Gauge: 12-53
Bridge: Ebony with Individual Roman Numeral Bridge Pins
Tuners: Rodgers with Ebony Buttons
Electronics: None
Condition: Excellent — light play wear consistent with careful use, no structural issues
Includes: Original Hardshell Case
Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
"An extraordinary balance of power, finesse, and depth — a rare feat in today's world." - Dream Guitars
"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
"This superb Mod. Dread. by luthier Julian Gaffney... built towards the end of his apprenticeship with the renowned luthier." - Reverb seller listing
Shipping policy:
Shipments 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 . 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.
Julian 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase. Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.
No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.
Specifications:
Brand: Julian Gaffney
Model: Modified Dreadnought
Year: 2019
Color: Natural
Weight: 4 lbs 13 oz
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Fiddleback Mahogany
Neck: Fiddleback Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlays: Custom Rectangles
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 21
Nut: Original Bone
Nut Width: 1-3/4"
Radius: 16"
Scale Length: 25.25"
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .841"
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .892"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
Body Length: 20.25"
Lower Bout: 15.875"
Upper Bout: 11.875"
Body Depth: 4"
String Gauge: 12-53
Bridge: Ebony with Individual Roman Numeral Bridge Pins
Tuners: Rodgers with Ebony Buttons
Electronics: None
Condition: Excellent — light play wear consistent with careful use, no structural issues
Includes: Original Hardshell Case
Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
"An extraordinary balance of power, finesse, and depth — a rare feat in today's world." - Dream Guitars
"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
"This superb Mod. Dread. by luthier Julian Gaffney... built towards the end of his apprenticeship with the renowned luthier." - Reverb seller listing
Shipping policy:
Shipments 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 . 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.