Julian Gaffney Modified Dreadnaught

Condition: Near mint and fine playing with little sign of being played.

Julian Gaffney builds an exceptional steel string guitar; having one in the shop is an absolute delight. Gaffney's Modified Dreadnought is the largest guitar in this builder's line up — patterned from the same name model designed by his mentor and teacher, Ervin Somogyi. The Mod-D was conceived as a more ergonomic dreadnought. In addition to added comfort, it is engineered to be loud and present with a commanding bass response and thick, full trebles.

I've known Julian for years, from the days he worked at Roger Sadowsky's NYC shop. Julian learned his lessons well and went on to apprentice with the legendary luthier Ervin Somogyi. Unlike many of Somogyi's apprentices, Julian has stayed close to Ervin's esthetic and builds a very Somogyi-style guitar. All that work and attention to craft has paid off; Julian has become one of our finest modern-day steel string guitar builders. He has gone deep into the heart of guitar building.

The Mod-D's esthetic is a nod to his mentor Somogyi in its sublime beauty. Its reverb-like tone is sonically rich and woody, with full bass, crystalline highs, and balanced mids. Julian's wood choices are exquisite; the beautiful Brazilian back, sides, and luscious redwood top are a perfect pairing. I love the subtle yet outstanding beauty of the rosette and headstock inlay. The fineness of the art and craftsmanship draws me in.

This guitar shines with the Somogyi pedigree, further enhanced by this builder's skills. It plays like a dream, effortlessly, with superb fretwork, string tension, and neck carve. This Mod-D's playability is Julian's expression of everything he learned from Roger Sadowsky.

Bottom line: if you are a fan of Ervin Somogyi, I'm sure you appreciate the fine work of Julian Gaffney. I certainly am.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.