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Thats really lovely! A short scale OM is a great thing, but that sunburst really puts it over the top!
Welcome!!
I would suggest that you contact the couple of dealers that specialize in lefty guitars – they have more than a few Santa Cruz in stock, and that would be your best first choice. I would not recommend that you consider a custom for your first Santa Cruz – at least, not unless you’ve had the opportunity to spend a considerable amount of time with a few different ones just to make sure that the size you’re considering is really ideal, and hopefully you’ll get a sense of how different woods can flavor the tone.
You don’t really say why the Taylor is your favorite – is it size, or playability, or tone, or ?? – What other guitars have you had, and what would you consider your second favorite, and even third? Each of those may have qualities that you should consider when thinking about a Santa Cruz.
As soon as I read deep rich sound of mahogany, I flashed on a nice OOO, or OM, but maybe even a D-12. Those would also have the better trade-in or resale value if you decide to go custom at some point. The other guitar that I immediately thought of is an OMG in mahogany that I played in SoCal – but not a lefty. Still would have loved to justify that one –
A Santa Cruz guitar can open you up to a new level of experience in playing – there’s a lot to consider, but very few ways you can go wrong – feel free to ask away! You’d be hard pressed to find a group of better enablers!
I went north to see Carolyn Sills and her group perform at Lagunitas Brewing on Sunday (they were great, as usual!) and during break asked her about that – Richard and Tommy have known each other for many years, and apparently Tommy just dropped by completely unexpectedly to say hi. Alot of excitement in the shop, but nothing more than old friends catching up – for now –
Tommy has been a promoter of Maton for years, and also has a close relationship with Jean Larrivee, so even if he has Richard build him something (which I have zero evidence of that happening) I doubt there would be a Signature model coming out of it –
You know, I’ve not really bonded with any H13 I’ve tried, owned 2, and I’ve really tried with all the great reviews they’ve gotten, but they just don’t work for me. Now the H, especially standard scale with 14 fret neck, is somehow just exceptional to me, doesn’t have quite the bottom end of a slightly larger OM, but darn good enough, and the size/shape just feels great. Its either too generic to get much attention, or something, but I really keep my eyes open for these, and if they have that 1-13/16” nut, I stay on it until I figure out how to make it work. But I don’t think they made too many, cause they are hard to find. I have my Sonia, which is all that in Sitka/EIR, and a wonderful guitar, but I would still love to find one in mahogany, maybe with a euro spruce top. That would be truly yummy – but I obsess – 😉
I like colors! But, I have to admit I’ve not bought anything with color, but that may very well have to do with not finding one. I really liked some of the decorated guitars that were done by Peter Cree, and if I had felt myself with some extra money at the time there were one or two I would have bought in a heartbeat. Too many of the decorated guitars are too machine decorated looking – something that was done by hand, with the appearance of an artists touch, would be extremely appealing to me.
It would be extremely interesting to see if Richard could collaborate with a good graphic artist to embellish a SCGC or two (or 6) with some custom decoration while in the white (sealed) then getting the nitro applied. Maybe they could just do the sounboards before being glued onto the body? Hmmmm –
for those interested – https://www.creestudios.com/art-guitars/
Had to give it a few days – it came from Hawaii, had that musty smell that was a combination of humid Hawaii, old bar room, and too long in a case. Strings were green, but still sounded strangely good. Had intended to let it sit and acclimatize for a couple weeks, since I’ve had a couple guitars come from Hawaii, and the extra humidity doesn’t do anything good for them, tone-wise. But – I’m just too impatient. So I threw on a set of SC lights and tuned it up – ehh, ok, not great – its buzzing all over. Needed to give the neck a bit of relief – it was dead flat. That helped alot. Give it another couple days – yup, sounding better, but still needs to dry out a bit more. And it could use a little love – dress the frets, clean it up, new saddle thats a less loose fit. Its got an active undersaddle pickup, sounds pretty good, but maybe it’d sound better without it? Can’t wait to see if I can get Stephen or maybe Gerard to do a little tweak on it – might try Bruce, who knows –
But – its a wonderful H – such a great size, and the koa/sitka has a really nice warm tone. Not something that would rank on anyones top 10 list, but the kind of guitar you would feel privileged if you were stuck on a hawaiian island with it. And, this may be one that doesn’t love the SC strings – I’ll try another kind in a few months. And its got all the wonderful characteristics of an almost 30 year old SC – can’t tell you exactly what those are, but its a feeling when you pick it up and play it – hate to say it, but if new ones felt like this, I’d be so much more inclined to buy new – but too many like things “perfect” –
Now, I guess I’ll really have to try and sell one of the koa top Hs – my wife is bound to balance the Paypal account one of these days –
Interesting, but I think its way too high a price, unless you’re a collector – But it is extremely local to me, so if anyone wants me to pick it up for them, just send me the cash – 😉
Regardless of anything, the tonal difference between ivory and good bone is gonna be pretty minimal, and no matter what anyone tries to tell you, the continued sale and use of ivory from any source only leads to increased demand and poaching of elephants just for their ivory. Just like illegal drug sales and distibution has severely negative effects in the neighborhoods it happens in, this poaching is being done by gangs and armed militant groups that also threaten the lives and safety of villages and local residents. And on top of that, anything with ivory can be impossible to travel with (and can possibly get seized at borders).
Its everyones choice, but before considering ivory, exhaust options with strings, picks, and really good bone saddle and nut (which you would already have on a SCGC instrument) and set-up. Scarcity and cost might be appealing for some, but the secondary costs of ivory are too great for me –
I wonder what Richard could build for 3 million – Probably have a few more bathrooms ( as well as sound better! ) –
😉
Definitely add me!! And I assume Matt is a reasonable contact as agent for stateside distribution of your CDs? Make sure he keeps his inventory up!
Wow – never heard of them, but they look really nice! Unfortunately, they don’t look terribly drop-in for the Schallers –
I’m planning to be at the Cremona Music festival in September, and am really looking forward to seeing what’s happening in the guitar (and violin) building scene over there!
Great to have you back! I’ve caught a bit of your career thru the occasional Facebook post (I’ve been avoiding Facebook almost enirely for a while now) and it sounds like you’re in a great place and the music is sounding great. Hope to see you here more often!
Unless they’ve used Hiscox cases, they may not have the definitive answer. But I’d definitely just call the shop and ask –
Beyond that, if the measures all look good to you, I’d order it from a place that’d let you return it if it doesn’t fit the way you’d like –
I know Eric Skye uses a Calton for his 00, and I’ve seen a 00 (not SCGC) fit nicely in a Visesnut case, but dealing with them has been pretty flaky. Beyond that, its not a size I have much experience with, at least in aftermarket cases –
