This is a unique Santa Cruz OM/PW in that it was custom made for Gryphon Guitars with some very old Red Cedar from legendary Luthier Frank Ford’s supply of this fine wood. This is a very lightweight OM that is deeply resonant and perfectly suited to fingerstyle music. The voice is very clear and sweet with a big, open Cedar voice. Many players mistakenly feel Cedar is not powerful, but that’s a myth and this guitar is proof. This one has tons of headroom and is downright loud. This is not only a unique but a very special Santa Cruz OM, the pre-war bracing and the rare Red Cedar make it so.

From the Santa Cruz Website: “With its player-driven design that has 13 frets clear of the body, plus special soundhole and bridge locations, Santa Cruz Guitar Company’s H 13 Fret joins the SCGC H lineup with a sweet tone that capitalizes upon the best attributes of a 12-fret’s resonance and a 14-fret’s access. As a result, it’s ideally suited to fingerpicking, coaxing the sonic character of each note while projecting an overall tonal depth. Despite its small appearance, the H 13 Fret employs a body depth approaching that of a much larger dreadnought-sized guitar, producing extra volume and bass support to bolster its rich tone. Its comfortable size and complex tonal characteristics make it especially appealing to traditional players, soloists, and recording artists who demand maximum warmth and tonal versatility.” We agree, this guitar is strong and has great character. It’s great fun to play as well and the Koa is stunning.

Tony Rice is arguably the finest bluegrass picker the world has seen and for him to put his name on a guitar you know it’s special. The Tony Rice model from Santa Cruz Guitars is a powerhouse dreadnought design and this one really projects. The bass is huge and the trebles shoot across the room. The tone has a lot of character as well and like Tony it can handle multiple genres of music.

This one-of-a-kind guitar was commissioned by a collector fond of early Santa Cruz instruments. It features custom inlays by the now famous Larry Robinson, done completely by hand. The detail on the inlaid Butterflies is nothing short of amazing. Also featured is some of the nicest Brazilian you’ll find on any SC and Adirondack to top it off. The tone is strong, sweet reminiscent of prewar Martin small bodies. Warm bass and treble strings that are pure and fat.

From Schenk Guitars: “Unleashed at the 2006 Newport Guitar Festival, Schenk Guitar’s Killer Paint Series has burst open the door to a new world of acoustic guitar experience – limitless creativity in sound, playability and now appearance. When it comes to applying the finish to a Masterclass instrument, only a Master will do. Mike Lavalle’s prestigious work at Killer Paint Airbrush Studios has been sought out by clients such as Ford Motor Company and West Coast Choppers. His artistic genius behind the TRU-FIRE painting technique has rekindled the entire automotive art industry. Currently Mike is showing off his amazing techniques on several TV shows airing on The Discovery Channel, TLC, Outdoor Learning Network, The Outdoor Channel, Speed Channel and others.”” With absolutely no compromise in wood quality, sound, and playability, The Killer Paint Series releases a new dimension of musical expression for the artist and a new experience to the audience. What the guitar vocalizes visually sets the stage for what the artist projects musically.” – Rod Schenk This is very cool, this Schenk GK Tru-Fire Special Edition is an all wood guitar crafted with same high quality materials as all Schenk guitars, only these are finished in amazingly realistic Flame motifs by Mike Lavalle of Killer Paint Airbrush Studios. This 2006 Tru-Fire Grand Concert is crafted with Indian Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce and is labeled as the second ever made, #002. Mike Lavalle is well known in the finishing world and this is a very unique approach to guitar finishing. The finish is very thin and does not impeded the tone at all. You just a super cool look and style. Perfect or the stage, this is a true high-end guitar from top to bottom.

Rod Schenk has made a strong name for himself building top quality guitars inspired by the work of Kevin Ryan, his friend and mentor. Rod has a unique approach to guitar making, employing in-depth computer analysis to determine optimal bracing size and layout to enhance the voicing and capture as much energy as possible. This guitar surely has a lot of energy getting transfered from the strings straight to the top. It’s very lively and spirited. It reminds us a lot of a Ryan Nightingale and very similar is size as well. The Brazilian Rosewood here is just gorgeous and paired beautifully with Engelmann for a lush and angelic voice. There are also many subtle but elegant appointments such as Blue Paua top trim and headstock trim, a Florentine cutaway, Gold Gotoh 510s and a 12th fret Floral inlay. Stunning to behold and to play.