Gallagher Guitars is a company that takes great pride in the uniqueness of its guitars.  Having made less than 3000 guitars in 35 years each instrument may stake its own claim at being unique.  As with any handmade product no two Gallagher guitars turn out exactly alike.  Each guitar has its own personality that develops from day one in the assembly process and continues to mature in the lap of its owner.  The personification process is advanced as many musicians give names to their instrument.  Doc Watson for example plays “Donald” named after its maker.  Steve Kaufman can usually be found playing “Hazel” named after Hazel (Gallagher) Brannon, Don’s mother.  No doubt you too may have a name for your instrument (besides the name you called it when you were trying to learn that new song).  Every picker’s goal is to be able to make his guitar sing, but for just a minute let’s look at this truly special guitar that would have truly inspirational stories if it could only talk. 
     In 1972 J.W. Gallagher began working on two very special sister guitars, which became the prototype of the 75 Special.  These sisters were designed to have all the bells and whistles without becoming gaudy; J.W. had no tolerance for gaudy guitars.  But these guitars were a testament to the man whose instruments carried his name around the world in less than ten years as a full time luthier.
       Unfortunately, J.W. completed only one of these instruments #243, which was sold to friend Dr. Jim Rouse on July 22, 1976.  When J.W. left us in 1979, he left unfinished #242 and its parts sit in the shop collecting dust.  The beautiful neck with the carving on the heel had caught the eye of many Gallagher employees over the years.  Finally, in 1996 a couple of those employees convinced Don that it was time for  #242 to be completed.  So after almost 20 years of sitting on the dark dusty shelves in the stock room #243 finally saw the light of day.
      As you can see this instrument is truly very special. But its uniqueness cannot be fully explained with pictures.  This guitar is truly cross-generational with three generations of Gallagher’s taking part in its creation.  This guitar is a very special one to us, we hope you like it.