When and where did you first play an SCGC?

[Daniel]

We're all a little nuts about these guitars. 

I bet you can remember the first time you sat a Santa Cruz on your lap and heard that tone.  Tell us about it!

[Daniel]

Mine was at Steve Swan's shop in Burlingame, CA in 2001.  I had just finished my Master's program and was looking to reward myself for 6 years of hard work.  I wanted to try out dreadnoughts of different wood types to find out what my ears liked best.  Steve dropped (not literally) 4 SCGC dreads on me, 2 1942 Bluegrass D's and 2 Tony Rice Professionals.  I melted when I heard and played the TR Pro with the European top and the Brazilian back & sides, but I liked the powerful punch of the Adi/Mahogany 1942 Bluegrass D too.  Either way, I knew I was going home with one of them.

In the end it was the 1942 Bluegrass D.  The $4000 price difference forced my hand, but I have not regretted my decision and will never sell this guitar. 

Daniel

[Matt Sarad]

Guitar Solo in San Francisco around 1980. I had been looking at a Somgyi and a Martin Custom order when I walked into the shop and saw the FTC, for a whopping 1000 dollars. I found the money in a month or so, but the guitar was gone. I called up Bruce and Richard and that's how I ended up with Dreadnaught # 97.

[Alex64]

My next door neighbor's house sometime in 2007. 

He called me one evening to tell me I needed to come over and see something.  When I walked in, he handed me an H Model that he had just picked up used.  I couldn't get over how it felt and how it sounded so I was hooked from that point on.  I actually played it on stage quite a bit when I sat in with his band which only made matters worse. 

In late 2007, I found my 2006 OM/PW used at Artisan.  They promised me I'd love it so I took a deep breath and went for it without even trying it.  Talk about a leap of faith!  Told them it needed to be stage ready so they recommended and installed an LR Baggs I-Mix.  And life has been wonderful ever since.  Picture is Maryanne playing it the day it arrived.

[magwa]

Can't exactly remember the year.  I would guess 1979.  Raising three girls didn't allow a lot of extras.  But an easy trip to Carmel to placate the "boss" was in order. I HATE "shopping".  Especially around places that sell upscale stuff for upscale prices to upscale customers.  So, Irene and I wandered separate ways. 

Alas!  I found a music store. A wonderful music store that many of you know.  He's moved away and does web sales these days, I'm told by a good source.

He put a SC dred in my lap and went about his business. I had to forget the purchase that day...too many future college credits to pay for the girls....But I never, ever forgot the tone.

It took me almost 30 years and many, many "false starts" on other acoustics.  But I never forgot that day.  Still haven't.  The girls all have more letters after their names than I can count. The boss and I are retired. 

And I have that tasty D12 dred that I'll pass on to a loved one after they pry it from my cold, stiff hands.

[RichM752]

That very D12 you speak of was my first taste.

[imwjl]

I got to try another guitar at a jam long ago. I remember the logo, and that it seemed turbo charged and sure footed if compared to normal getting through life.

[magwa]

That very D12 you speak of was my first taste.

RichM,

I was going to ask whether I should say "sorry", or, "great!". 
But thenI realized that I knew the answer.

[Svea]

Possibly the very first Santa Cruz I played was Matt Hayden's OM. I was at a guitar party in maybe 2002, and Matt graciously loaned it to me while I hammered out a few songs with it to please the crowd. There's a recording of that somewhere. It really suited my style. (Sorry Matt, I probably handed it back with strings that were toast!) After that I went on to try a few instruments in possession of Steve Swan. The short scale OM was a mind blower. The one that really tripped me up was an OMPW at Schoenberg's shop. I loved the tone, feel, response, everything. I was about to pull out my wallet, when I noticed a small crack in the rosewood. I still really wanted it if they could offer a discount or have SC repair it. But SC said no go. They had to return the guitar to the factory. I was so bummed, because I thought that was THE ONE.

But that's ok. I went back to Schoenberg's several years later and bought a used "1942 Bluegrass D", almost identical to Daniel's. Since then I have learned (not mastered) the art of the flat pick! I'll try and post some pictures of good old 42-D in the other section.

[whiteoak]

Actually haven't yet and i realize that doesn't make much sense to most but i read about SC's philosophy and small shop practices and decided that i would no certainly enjoy a Santa Cruz.I already own a couple of acoustics from  bigger builders and never read or hear anything but good about Santa Cruz.Thanks for having me.Mike S.

[Scott H]

I played my first Santa Cruz guitar, an OM, this August, at Maple Leaf Music in Brattleboro, VT, while on vacation. It is still the only one I have played. The next paragraph will give an idea of what I thought of the experience.

Last week I bought a OOO that I found on eBay at a price too good to pass up, hoping that my new-found faith in SCGC was well-founded, and would justify my ignoring the normal, common sense advice about not buying a guitar without first playing it.

My new guitar arrives today. I'll write again to report on the current state of my faith when I have played it.

[Alex64]

Scott.  I bought both my SC's (an OM/PW and a VS) on faith and I am thrilled with both of them.  Suspect the same will happen for you.  Only problem is that my wife keeps calling the OM hers even though I have graciously already agreed to call it "ours" :0). 

Enjoy your new treasure and welcome to the forum.  Definitely let us know how it all goes.  Pictures are good.

Alex

[Scott H]

Scott.  I bought both my SC's (an OM/PW and a VS) on faith and I am thrilled with both of them.  Suspect the same will happen for you.  Only problem is that my wife keeps calling the OM hers even though I have graciously already agreed to call it "ours" :0). 

Enjoy your new treasure and welcome to the forum.  Definitely let us know how it all goes.  Pictures are good.

Alex

Thanks, Alex! I'm glad I'm not the only one to be so carried away by the incredible sound of these guitars that I bought one without hearing it first. I will definitely report on it when it arrives, and post a picture or two, since OOO's seem t be under-represented on the Forum.

By the way, my current #1 instrument is a Martin SWOMGT (Sitka top, cherry b/s), which I love, but I suspect that the new Santa Cruz will take her place in my heart, if my Brattleboro experience is any indicator. I also play a Seagull dreadnaught and a Recording King RO-16, plus several old beaters that I have restored so that they at least LOOK good... (Anyone interested can see them on my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravensperch/sets/72157629551490035/ .)

I also have a YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/hunter71950) where I post my music behind some slide shows of the art and other objects I make, an some other photos from my hard drive. (I use the name Slim Jimsøhn for my online recorded music.)

[Oldmanonthebike]

Bought and heard my first Santa Cruz guitar years ago before Buffalo Bro's was Buffalo Bro's. They were called Tradditional Music. Bob sent me pictures ( in the mail, no email yet ) of a Model F because I was asking about a Gibson J-185.  I had him ship me the guitar based on the two photos.  What I got was a stunning Model F with German Maple back and sides, flamed Maple neck, German spruce top, ebony finger board, bridge and headstock, art deco inlays and even frets on the little fretboard extentions on each side of the sound hole.  Nice guitar! I loved the tone of the guitar but it seemed a bit to quiet which was ok because I was only playing for myself at the time.  Then I took the guitar one day to a friend of mine who plays very softly all the time with light gauge strings. I took it just to show it off, but when he sat in front of me and played that guitar with the sound hole facing me, WOW. I told him that was the loudest that I had ever heard him play. It sounded so good.  Wish I still had that one.  I learned alot about maple guitars because of that guitar. I wonder how it would have sounded while playing on the couch with a sound port in the upper bout?

[Scott H]

My new guitar arrives today. I'll write again to report on the current state of my faith when I have played it.

My newly-purchased OOO (Sitka/EIR, serial number 3292, built in 2006) arrived yesterday, and after putting her through her paces I am ecstatic to report that the guitar is as beautiful, and beautiful-sounding, as I had anticipated. What a joy! Only my Martin SWOMGT is less than thrilled...