Santa Cruz’s Vintage Southerner is quick, lively, and oh so fun to play. Richard Hoover and co take inspiration from the Gibson J-45, the Epiphone Texan, as well as their own VA model, for this slope shoulder powerhouse. Mahogany back and sides are here upgraded with Adirondack Spruce on top and hide glue construction, plus Adirondack brace stock. A tasty sunburst, rectangular bridge, and Ivoroid bindings make for a classic aesthetic. The setup is easy on the hands with a 24 3/4” scale and 1 11/16” nut, plus this one has had a strap button installed at the heel so you can strap up into it and maintain good posture. This SCGC VS comes to us from 2019 and is in excellent playing shape, ready for more action.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, bluegrass, ameritage, scgc, dreadnaught, allen shadd, 7547

Cream of the crop, with sweet froth on top and a caramel center—our 2011 Santa Cruz F is a delight for hands, eyes, and ears. We love the balance between bass and treble registers, and the lively, energetic quality that comes out under a flatpick; and the unwound strings cut quickly and smoothly through the mix. The bass register is warm and present, but plays nicely with the mids and top end, making it a powerful fingerstyle guitar (we tested it in DADGAD and C9, purely for science. It’s wide awake and very expressive down there). On the tonewoods front, we’ve got the tip top of the top shelf here: 90-year-old Bearclaw Italian Spruce on top, old growth Brazilian Rosewood back and sides (harvested in 1930; their oldest and best). All bound in Flamed Koa with gold Gotoh Delta tuners to set it off. Adirondack braced top, hide glue construction throughout.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, ameritage, scgc, 1125, richard hoover, fingerpicking

If there’s one thing that binds together all of The Tree guitars we’ve seen, it’s clarity and power. This 2019 OM from Richard Hoover and co at Santa Cruz is no exception—more so since the entire body is built with heavily quilted The Tree Mahogany! The top is braced with Adirondack Spruce, hide glue construction throughout, and Brazilian Rosewood bindings and rosette for added class. Such a beauty; you’ll want to handle this OM in raking light so you can best see the chatoyance of the woodgrain—its three dimensionality is mesmerizing.
Ready to have an heirloom instrument with some of the most distinct tonewoods known to humankind? Look no further!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, ameritage, modern guitar, mahagony, the-tree, adriondack

The Santa Cruz model H is like a good friend: easy to be around, able to hold a good conversation, and ready for any adventure. This small-bodied beauty from 2018 is only four pounds, and responds handsomely to both fingers and picks; it’s a smaller guitar with a full-size voice. This one is decked out with Indian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce, herringbone trim, and a 14-fret neck join for extra fretboard access. Grained Ivoroid bindings and open back nickel tuners round out the Santa Cruz image of the modern-traditional flattop.

Other keywords: richard hoover, lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, 00, ameritage, 14 fret

Powerhouse and like new! We’ve taken in a Santa Cruz OM from 2020 that’s got projection to spare, and clarity to share. Brick-red Cocobolo back and sides with a creamy Moonspruce top, Koa bindings and Waverly tuners, and custom Abalone headstock appointments. Satin neck feels oh-so-silky in our hands, and everywhere else is buffed to a high sheen gloss that really catches the light. We’re impressed by this one, it’s got a rich and crisp voice that belies its age.

Other keywords: richard hoover, lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, 000