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Which model would people say are the biggest sounding Santa Cruz guitars with the most bass? I’ve never been able to play any of their slope shouldered offerings, how do they compare tonally with the their dreads?
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IMHO….Tony Rice Pro or 1934 Braz/Adi.
1993 Martin Custom HD-28 IR/Sitka
2001 SCGC Custom F Cutaway Maple/German
2008 SCGC Custom OT Madi/Italian
2015 SCGC Custom OM “The Tree” Hog/ European
2016 SCGC Custom 1934 D45 Braz/ AdiThe Bay, The Gulf Stream, The Open Ocean are particular about who they share their Secrets with.
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I agree with Zorro. The TR Pro is a monster, a magnificent monster.
– Paul –
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The slope shoulders are my favorite, the dreadnoughts for me personally (though I’ll get attacked for this) have too much projection of low end and top end to feel like they have a super deep fundamental power. The tapered braced sloped shoulders with adirondack and a few other things though really have the depth and balance to my ear. I don’t play bluegrass or country though, so if you do you may find that the Dreadnoughts are where it’s at for you. If you are a big fan of Martin dreads you’d probably like theirs. My favorites of the D models are the VA and D12. 1934 Mahogany also really good.
For me the vintage southerner or RS is where it’s at though with the shorter scale. They have a more fundamental sound that just jives with me. I think they are better for pop, soul, gospel, R&B, singer song writer… pretty much everything … except that the D does bluegrass, country, country folk, and classic rock acoustics better and the smaller guitars do jazz better. My two favorites are RS and OOO, followed by something like a Firefly, OM Grand, or Skye or something to fill in. I’d be just happy to have an RS and OOO only though. Right now all I have is an OM Grand just as a disclaimer. Definitely don’t order italian spruce if you want fundamental low end… and I wouldn’t suggest sitka either since it doesn’t have the thump. Adirondack for me is the only way to go if you pick or strum.
Another disclaimer, my favorite vintage guitar would have to be something between a Southern Jumbo (J45 type) and an actual Jumbo J-200 whatever Everly Brothers type thing. Those really make me happy. Nothing tops santa cruz for me though, vintage or new.
Any dread or slope shoulder dread is going to be the biggest bassiest sounding… if you share with me some of your goals and musical tastes I think I could help you narrow it down more.
I’ve compared a sitka VS, adirondack VS, and 8 vintage gibson acoustics together back to back to back… and then picked out the adirondack VS and the best two gibsons by ear and then played those back to back. Santa Cruz VS took it away, but I still felt like it could have been more guitar. That’s why I prefer the 12 fret, old growth adirondack, old mahogany, brazilian bridge and fingerboard, old growth braces, hide glue…. all that stuff… to me it does make a difference because I spend so much time solo with the guitar. The stock offerings are not the pinnacle of what the company can do sonically, but they put great craftsmanship into everything. Feel free to contact me for any information… I’m a nut for these things
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For me the SCGC D/PW or the RS Offer up the most useful bass! THEN you’ve got the Baritone Brozman different guitar journey for sure if your into serious drop tuning styles.
The SCGC VS and VJ are as good as slope shoulder types get. I prefer the shorter scale 24.75” VS over the longer scale 25.375” for a little more supple playing feel.
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My 2003 SCGC Tony Rice (sitka) could pull in the bass like no other, my main guitar for 6yrs. Slopes are my fav dread style, I moved to my current 2001 VJ for a tad less bass and the mahogany vibe which keeps my toe tappin. I gave up on dreads a while back, afraid there’s no fiddle tunes sneaking out when I play, rock on.
EIR dreads have a special kind of rhythmic bass which is great for many things. A good 17″ jumbo can have a very different kind of bass, like a piano bass or what ever I’m trying to say. My 2014 Eastman AC630 maple/engelmann 17″ jumbo has that covered… sold my Goodall.
Wish I could be of more help help. bert
SCGC VJ, Collings CJmhAsssb, Bourgeois 00, Eastman E20OM-TC, AC630 jumbo & El Rey4 archtop, bottleneck reso.
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Another vote for the TR Pro. Every one I’ve played has had enormous volume.
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