McNally D-32 - Sitka Spruce & Indian Rosewood #326

The McNally D-32 is a commanding yet beautifully refined dreadnought that brings Ciarán McNally’s distinctive approach to guitar making into a powerful, full bodied format. It is an instrument with tremendous presence, but also one shaped by restraint, balance and an intimate understanding of how a great acoustic guitar should respond beneath the hands.

Ciarán’s journey into lutherie began at only fifteen, when a simple repair to the ground wire in his first electric guitar opened the door to a lifelong fascination with instrument making. By sixteen, he had constructed his first guitar on the family kitchen table. He later studied at the Lagan Lutherie School in Belfast and earned a diploma in musical instruments from London Metropolitan University. His professional career included serving as a senior craftsman for George Lowden Guitars and as production manager for Atkin Guitars, giving him experience throughout every stage of constructing thousands of exceptional instruments. After continuing to develop his own guitars alongside that work, Ciarán became an independent luthier in 2020 and devoted himself fully to McNally Guitars.

His instruments are grounded in a thoughtful union of American and Celtic guitar making traditions. Ciarán seeks to combine the warmth, complexity and lingering sustain associated with Celtic guitars with the clarity, definition and strong fundamental presence of great American acoustics. The D-32 captures that vision in especially compelling fashion, pairing the authority and projection expected from a dreadnought with a level of nuance and tonal sophistication that invites far more than powerful rhythm playing alone.

Part of the McNally Foundation Series, the D-32 offers a direct expression of Ciarán’s design philosophy through a carefully chosen combination of body shape, tonewoods and elegant appointments. The Foundation Series preserves the all solid wood construction, individual voicing and meticulous craftsmanship central to every McNally guitar, presenting them through a focused collection that places sound, feel and enduring quality above ornamentation.

A Sitka spruce top provides an ideal foundation for the D-32, bringing responsiveness, clarity and an expansive dynamic range. Indian rosewood back and sides add depth, harmonic richness and a broad sense of dimension around each note. Together, these woods give the guitar a voice that is powerful without becoming unruly, with a deep and authoritative bass, a colorful yet defined midrange and trebles that retain sweetness and separation even beneath a strong attack.

The generous 15.75 inch lower bout and 4.7 inch body depth allow the D-32 to move an impressive amount of air, giving chords weight, scale and physical presence. Its 12 inch upper bout contributes to the guitar’s substantial silhouette, while Ciarán’s careful voicing keeps the response balanced across the entire register. The result is a dreadnought with the power to drive a full ensemble, yet enough sensitivity to reveal the smallest variations in touch. Flatpicked lines emerge with clarity and force, open chords bloom with rich overtones, and fingerstyle passages retain a surprising degree of intimacy and detail.

A full 25.4 inch scale length provides firm string tension, excellent projection and a confident response beneath the pick. The 1 3/4 inch nut width offers comfortable room for precise fretting, while the 2 1/4 inch bridge spacing gives the picking hand ample space for articulate fingerstyle work. These dimensions make the D-32 remarkably versatile, equally capable of handling forceful rhythm, melodic flatpicking, alternate tunings and expressive solo arrangements.

The visual presentation is restrained, organic and unmistakably McNally. Figured maple bindings create a graceful frame around the Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood, highlighting the guitar’s strong lines with warmth and natural contrast. Wood fiber purflings and a matching wood fiber rosette lend the instrument an earthy elegance, allowing the beauty of the tonewoods and craftsmanship to remain at the center of the design.

Ebony is used for the fingerboard, bridge and headstock facing, establishing a sense of continuity throughout the instrument while adding richness and refinement to its appearance. The gold foil McNally logo decal provides a tasteful signature at the headstock, distinctive without disturbing the guitar’s clean aesthetic. A gloss body finish brings depth and brilliance to the woods, while the satin neck finish offers a smooth and effortless playing surface.

At 4 pounds 9 ounces, the McNally D-32 feels solid, balanced and alive in the hands. Complete with a hard case, this Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood dreadnought is a gorgeous example of Ciarán McNally’s ability to honor tradition while establishing a voice entirely his own. Powerful, expressive and beautifully composed, the D-32 is built for the player who wants the authority of a great dreadnought with the complexity, sensitivity and lasting refinement of a truly exceptional handcrafted instrument.

Other specifications include:

• Sitka Spruce Top
• Indian Rosewood Back & Sides
• Ebony Fingerboard, Bridge & Headstock
• Wood Fiber Rosette
• Figured Maple Bindings
• Wood Fiber Purflings
• Gloss Body Finish
• Satin Neck Finish
• Gold Foil Logo Decal
• 25.4” Scale Length
• 15.75” Lower Bout
• 12” Upper Bout
• 4.7” Body Depth
• 1 3/4” Nut
• 2 1/4” Bridge Spacing
• Hard Case
• 4 lbs 9 oz
• #326

For more information about the McNally D-32, please contact us.

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