Dearnaley Model 1 Mahogany/ K&K Pure Mini Pickup 2026

2026 Dearnaley Model 1 – Reclaimed Mahogany / K&K Pure Mini Serial number #35

Something genuinely different for the serious acoustic player.

This 2026 Dearnaley Model 1 is hand-built in Wales by Cardiff luthier Dave Dearnaley, a maker whose acoustic guitars have developed a very strong following for their individuality, exceptional build quality and, above all, their remarkable tone and projection.

Dave’s approach is anything but conventional. His guitars are cylinder-built, using carefully selected reclaimed timbers, with his own hand-carved X-bracing pattern developed specifically around his unique body design. The construction is influenced by the work of makers including Stefan Sobell and Ervin Somogyi, but the resulting instruments are very much Dearnaley’s own.

The build philosophy is particularly interesting. Dave does not simply work to fixed thicknesses or conventional production methods; the body is built with the individual characteristics of each piece of timber in mind, with the top and braces carefully worked to achieve the required stiffness and response. His bridge design and neck construction are similarly driven by structural efficiency, stability and tone rather than decoration.

Independent reviews have highlighted the exceptional balance, clarity, sustain and stability of Dearnaley acoustics, while praising the combination of traditional aesthetics and genuinely modern thinking behind the construction. These are not guitars built to sit on a wall — they are serious working instruments designed to be played.

This particular Model 1 is built from reclaimed Mahogany and features a distinctive five-piece Khaya Mahogany neck with a Rosewood fingerboard. The slotted headstock is finished with an Ebony overlay and matching back strap, giving the guitar a wonderfully purposeful, understated appearance.

It is fitted with a K&K Pure Mini pickup system, making it equally at home acoustically or plugged into a good acoustic amplifier or PA.

Playability is faultless, with superb intonation and an exceptionally even response across the instrument. The balance and projection are genuinely impressive, particularly for Dearnaley’s distinctive smaller, deepened parlour-style body.

This is not a guitar for someone simply looking for another version of a familiar design. It is for the player who wants to hear something different — an instrument with its own voice, built by hand, from carefully chosen materials, with every aspect considered around tone, response and playability.

Supplied with a hardshell case.

A seriously interesting handmade Welsh acoustic from one of the UK’s most individual modern luthiers.

If you’re looking for something beyond the usual names, this deserves your attention.