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Review by
a visitor on 9.4.2008
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I bought this guitar from GuitarTex in San Antonio Texas for 2900 slightly used. I played this instrument for about an hour, and have never heard such rich, full tones in a guitar. For an OM sized guitar, this instrument produces more volume than my New Martin D28.
This is an excerpt from the Santa Cruz Guitar Company website
"Each Santa Cruz guitar receives an extraordinary amount of individual attention due to our "bench style" of building, which necessitates that each worker not only perform his own specialty, but also review the work of those who have completed stages before him. Over half of all the instruments that we build are custom orders, reflecting to a high degree the personality and unique playing needs of the buyer. Every guitar top is graduated and tuned by hand to attain maximum resonance and sustain, ensuring a high level of consistency of sound within each standard model line as well as the ability for custom voicing. The balance, tone, volume, and response of a Santa Cruz guitar are established before the guitar is strung. By limiting the number of instruments built, we can practice a style of lutherie born from a genuine love of the guitar, as opposed to a production line approach that might favor greater numbers at the expense of our attention to detail. "
From :
santacruzguitarcompany.com
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Features |
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Santa Cruz guitars are extremely well made, with attention to detail in every aspect. If you research Richard Hoovernulls philosophy on building guitars, and of course play one, you understand why these guitars are the best in the world. Everything detail in this this intrument was made for tone. The careful selection of woods, the hand tuned bracing that is done on EACH guitar. SCGC only produces around 700 guitars a YEAR! Each one hand made.
This model with itnulls rosewood back and sides, and silky sitka top, has a warmer tone that is even across the tonal range. It lends itself well to flat picking as well as heavy strumming, and is a very versatile intrument. I am a singer songwriter/ lead player, and this instrument wears all hats quite well. It is an OM in appearance, however it is much more complex, and rich and full than itnulls Martin namesake ever was, including the great Golden Era series, it is a Fantastic instrument.I had a Fishman Matrix infinity installed, and use it through a Fishman Aura on stage. I debated over the Collings guitars ( another wonderful maker) and the nullCruz, I just liked the nullCruz better. This instrument is considered a " boutique" instrument, and is in a whole other category in instruments that Taylor, or Martin just cannullt touch. |
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Playability |
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This is one of the most versatile instruments I have ever played, it does everything I ask of it |
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Quality |
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Every inch of this guitar was made to sound good, every brace, every line and curve, and because of attention to detail, you wont find a more beautiful instrument, The quality does not get any better than this intrument. |
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Durability |
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This guitar is fantastic, and I have had no issues with it. It does seem too nice an instrument for live gigs, but thats why I purchased it. It is equiped with excellent tuners, and is very well made. I wouldnt want to use it on outdoor gigs, and am considering a Composite Acoustic for gigs like that. It is fairly new, and guitars under 3 years old or so need time to settle in. I havent had to adjust it yet, but truss rod adjustments are neccesary on almost all new acoustics until the settle in. I gave it a good rating instead of a great durability rating because the finish is a bit light. It is covered in an extremely high quality nitrocellulose finish. this is made to deliver tone, unlike other makers that apply a finish that is bright and shiney, but kills tone. Also, in the interest of shher tone, the necks are hand fitted dovetail. This, in my opinion, is not as durable as a bolt on neck, but was done for sheer tone. Bolt on necks are easier for the builder, but these guys are after tone, and an integral neck is the best way to go. Larrivee still uses hand fitted necks for the same reason. |
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Overall |
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I traded in two Martins on this and a Santa Cruz H13 and paid a fair amount. I did this because I have never played a finer instrument ever. The only other guitar that comes close to this one is my friends 1927 Martin "0" sized parlor guitar with a deep body. That guitar had a magical chime like ring to the notes that equaled, not surpassed the null Cruz |
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