There are numerous unpolished gems in the world of musical instruments but not many with roots going back over 500 years. This degree of rarity, unmatched by any other tonewood, is the hallmark of the Santa Cruz Tree Guitar, a genuinely unique item for the avid collector or purist connoisseur. This stunning guitar is made from ‘The Tree,’ a single tree that was discovered in a tropical rainforest north of the Amazon, making it arguably the scarcest and most sought-after tonewood in the world.
So, what is ‘The Tree’ and what makes it so incredible?
The story unfolded in 1965, when a 500-year-old mahogany tree was discovered deep in the Honduran jungle of Chiquibul. More than 100ft high and 10ft wide at the base, it took fellers weeks to bring down this enormous leviathan of nature. And when it finally came tumbling down, the tree fell backwards and ran off course, eventually coming to rest at the bottom of a ravine in a position that was, at that time, inaccessible. It lay there, largely forgotten about, until the late 1970s, when sawmill owner Alan Mauney stumbled upon The Tree in his search for timber.
Today, this is still considered to be the very best mahogany available, and with so little of it now left, there is a heavy premium on raw materials with this level of quality and heritage.
Why owning a Santa Cruz Tree Guitar is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Beyond its unique mythology, one of the most striking features of the Santa Cruz Tree Guitar is its exceptional tonal qualities. The distinctive tonewood has a warm, rich sound with incredible sustain, making it ideal for precision players who demand the very best in tone and performance.
Additionally, the Santa Cruz Tree Guitar is clearly a beautiful work of art and totally unique, the teardrop patterning not seen on any other wood on the planet. This wood binding on the body and fingerboard adds a rich vein of elegance to the instrument's design, while the tail wedge, Indian Rosewood back strip and custom peghead overlay, also made from ‘The Tree,’ provide a vivid streak of visual flair. For a peghead to be made from the same ultra-premium wood as the body is yet another example of this guitar’s singular character. Meanwhile, the wood-style rosette and purple combo top border further enhance the guitar's aesthetic appeal, and the SCGC logo on the fingerboard adds a touch of distinction.
The fact this wood only comes from one specific tree carves it out a unique niche in musical history. At Art of Guitar, we ordered and paid for this guitar around 18 months ago and have only just taken delivery, as we knew just what a remarkable collector’s piece we would have on our hands. Rumour has it that there is now only enough wood left to build a number of new guitars that is definitely in the single fingers – making it even more important to snap up a guitar like this when the opportunity presents itself.
Finally, it’s also important to note that the harvesting and production of tonewoods can have a heavy impact on the environment. So the Santa Cruz Guitar Company has taken a responsible, sustainable approach to the use of tonewoods in their instruments, committing to sourcing materials in a responsible manner and becoming actively involved in conservation and reforestation efforts in the Amazon region. Given its inspirational backstory, The Tree range fits this ethos beautifully.
With its balanced tone, dynamic range and exceptional playability, the Santa Cruz Tree Guitar exemplifies the best in modern luthiery. All this combined with its dramatic heritage makes it a true collector's item, sure to inspire and delight any musician, collector or guitar enthusiast.
So, what is ‘The Tree’ and what makes it so incredible?
The story unfolded in 1965, when a 500-year-old mahogany tree was discovered deep in the Honduran jungle of Chiquibul. More than 100ft high and 10ft wide at the base, it took fellers weeks to bring down this enormous leviathan of nature. And when it finally came tumbling down, the tree fell backwards and ran off course, eventually coming to rest at the bottom of a ravine in a position that was, at that time, inaccessible. It lay there, largely forgotten about, until the late 1970s, when sawmill owner Alan Mauney stumbled upon The Tree in his search for timber.
Today, this is still considered to be the very best mahogany available, and with so little of it now left, there is a heavy premium on raw materials with this level of quality and heritage.
Why owning a Santa Cruz Tree Guitar is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Beyond its unique mythology, one of the most striking features of the Santa Cruz Tree Guitar is its exceptional tonal qualities. The distinctive tonewood has a warm, rich sound with incredible sustain, making it ideal for precision players who demand the very best in tone and performance.
Additionally, the Santa Cruz Tree Guitar is clearly a beautiful work of art and totally unique, the teardrop patterning not seen on any other wood on the planet. This wood binding on the body and fingerboard adds a rich vein of elegance to the instrument's design, while the tail wedge, Indian Rosewood back strip and custom peghead overlay, also made from ‘The Tree,’ provide a vivid streak of visual flair. For a peghead to be made from the same ultra-premium wood as the body is yet another example of this guitar’s singular character. Meanwhile, the wood-style rosette and purple combo top border further enhance the guitar's aesthetic appeal, and the SCGC logo on the fingerboard adds a touch of distinction.
The fact this wood only comes from one specific tree carves it out a unique niche in musical history. At Art of Guitar, we ordered and paid for this guitar around 18 months ago and have only just taken delivery, as we knew just what a remarkable collector’s piece we would have on our hands. Rumour has it that there is now only enough wood left to build a number of new guitars that is definitely in the single fingers – making it even more important to snap up a guitar like this when the opportunity presents itself.
Finally, it’s also important to note that the harvesting and production of tonewoods can have a heavy impact on the environment. So the Santa Cruz Guitar Company has taken a responsible, sustainable approach to the use of tonewoods in their instruments, committing to sourcing materials in a responsible manner and becoming actively involved in conservation and reforestation efforts in the Amazon region. Given its inspirational backstory, The Tree range fits this ethos beautifully.
With its balanced tone, dynamic range and exceptional playability, the Santa Cruz Tree Guitar exemplifies the best in modern luthiery. All this combined with its dramatic heritage makes it a true collector's item, sure to inspire and delight any musician, collector or guitar enthusiast.
