McNally S-32 - Sitka Spruce & Indian Rosewood #327

The McNally S-32 is a beautifully refined small body guitar that captures the distinctive voice and artistic vision of Ciarán McNally. Ciarán’s journey into lutherie began at only fifteen, when repairing a loose ground wire in his first electric guitar awakened a fascination with how instruments are made. By sixteen, he had built his first guitar on the family kitchen table. His formal training would eventually take him through the Lagan Lutherie School in Belfast and the musical instrument program at London Metropolitan University. He later served as a senior craftsman for George Lowden Guitars and as production manager for Atkin Guitars, gaining experience through every stage of building thousands of exceptional instruments. After years of developing his own designs alongside that work, he became an independent luthier and devoted himself fully to McNally Guitars in 2020.

At the heart of Ciarán’s work is a desire to unite two great schools of acoustic guitar making. His instruments marry the warmth, complexity and lingering sustain associated with the Celtic tradition with the definition, clarity and strong fundamental presence of the finest American guitars. The S-32 embodies that philosophy beautifully, offering a voice that feels rich and dimensional while retaining the focus and articulation needed to keep every note distinct.

Part of McNally’s Foundation Series, the S-32 presents Ciarán’s unmistakable craftsmanship within a thoughtfully curated collection of body styles and tonewood combinations. The Foundation Series retains the all solid wood construction, elegant detailing and carefully voiced character for which McNally is known, giving players a direct path into his work without sacrificing the qualities that make these guitars special.

A Sitka spruce top gives this guitar clarity, responsiveness and generous dynamic range, while Indian rosewood back and sides add depth, color and a beautifully expansive harmonic character. The compact S body brings immediacy and intimacy to the sound, yet its 14.2 inch lower bout and 4.1 inch body depth allow it to produce a remarkably complete voice. Trebles emerge with sweetness and definition, the midrange remains clear and expressive, and the bass carries warmth without overwhelming the balance of the instrument. It is equally inviting beneath a light fingerstyle touch or a confident flatpick, responding with nuance while retaining excellent composure as the player leans into it.

The shorter 24.9 inch scale lends the S-32 a relaxed, supple feel beneath the hands, making bends, vibrato and extended chord shapes especially comfortable. A 1 3/4 inch nut and 2 1/4 inch bridge spacing provide an ideal amount of room for articulate fingerstyle work while remaining familiar and accommodating for strumming and flatpicking. With a 10 inch upper bout and carefully proportioned body, the guitar settles naturally against the player and encourages long, effortless sessions.

McNally’s understated visual language allows the beauty of the materials and workmanship to speak for themselves. Figured maple bindings frame the Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood with graceful contrast, while wood fiber purflings and a matching wood fiber rosette bring a warm, organic elegance to the design. Ebony is used for the fingerboard, bridge and headstock facing, giving the instrument a sense of visual continuity and quiet sophistication. The gold foil McNally logo decal provides the perfect finishing touch, tasteful and distinctive without disturbing the guitar’s restrained character.

A gloss body finish illuminates the grain and natural color of the tonewoods, while the satin neck finish maintains a smooth, fast and inviting playing surface. Weighing 4 pounds 1 ounce, the McNally S-32 feels substantial enough to inspire confidence while remaining beautifully balanced and comfortable in hand. Complete with a hard case, this Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood S-32 is a gorgeous expression of Ciarán McNally’s evolving legacy, combining his deep professional experience, Celtic heritage and modern sense of refinement in an instrument made to inspire for generations.

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
• 24.9” Scale Length
• 14.2” Lower Bout
• 10” Upper Bout
• 4.1” Body Depth
• 1 3/4” Nut
• 2 1/4” Bridge Spacing
• Hard Case
• 4 lbs 1 oz
• #327

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

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