We are proud to partner with the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, led by founder Richard Hoover and his team of talented luthiers. With this partnership in place we are able to bring you the finest selection of guitars possible, a selection hand pricked by our experts at Art of Guitar working directly with Richard and the team. See below for a sample of this fine selection and be sure to keep an eye on many more arrivals over time.
The SCGC Story
For over four decades, Santa Cruz Guitar Company has been committed to producing the finest handcrafted acoustic guitars in the world. From their humble beginnings in 1976, the company's founder, Richard Hoover, has devoted himself to creating instruments of unparalleled quality and beauty. At Santa Cruz, the focus is always on the smallest of details, resulting in guitars that are truly unique and remarkable.
What sets Santa Cruz apart from other guitar makers is their use of rare, sustainably-sourced tonewoods, and their unwavering dedication to creating guitars that are perfectly customized for the individual musician. Each guitar is crafted to meet the highest standards of excellence, utilizing techniques such as dovetail joint necks, parabolic and radial bracing, and a plant-based finish for enhanced resonance and repairability. With only 500 guitars produced annually, each instrument is meticulously crafted to meet the exacting standards of the company's master luthiers.
Santa Cruz guitars are known for their exceptional sound, with a tonal quality that is unmatched by other guitars in their class. The guitars are known for their balance, responsiveness, and projection, making them a favorite among discerning musicians around the world.
The company's dedication to producing the highest quality guitars has earned them a reputation among some of the world's most famous musicians. Tony Rice, Disappear Fear, Brad Paisley, and Elvis Costello are just a few of the artists who have recognized the exceptional quality of Santa Cruz guitars.
For guitar collectors and aficionados who value quality craftsmanship and exceptional sound, Santa Cruz Guitar Company is a name that is synonymous with excellence. Each guitar is a masterpiece, crafted by the hands of skilled artisans who are dedicated to producing instruments of the highest quality. From the selection of the wood to the final finishing touches, every aspect of the guitar is designed to create an instrument that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Richard Hoover
Richard Hoover's journey as a luthier began in 1966 when he first attempted to improve the tone of his old Harmony guitar. Though his initial effort was unsuccessful, he continued to pursue his passion for building guitars and honed his skills with various techniques and tools. In 1972, Hoover moved to Santa Cruz with the intention of becoming a guitar player, not a guitar maker. However, when his beloved Martin D-28 was stolen, he took it as a sign to finally pursue his dream of becoming a luthier. This led to the founding of the Santa Cruz Guitar Company in 1976, with two repairmen from Union Grove Music offering to invest in his business in exchange for teaching them to build guitars.
Richard Hoover's commitment to his craft is evident in his work and his influence is felt throughout the music industry. He is a compact, energetic man who takes his craft seriously and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of guitar building. The area around his desk is a testament to his passion, filled with curious bits of instrumental detritus, samples of tonewoods, unfinished necks, and half-shaped bridges. It is clear that for Richard Hoover and the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, building guitars is not just a business, but a labor of love.
Santa Cruz OM Custom "The Tree"
Introducing the Santa Cruz OM Custom "The Tree" - a truly exceptional guitar that combines exquisite tonewoods and expert craftsmanship to create an instrument of unparalleled beauty and sound.
Crafted from "The Tree” a highly prized and sought after wild figured Mahogany from a single famous tree that was over 500 years old when it was cut down in the 1960’s in Belize. Lost to the jungle, this tree was rediscovered over a decade later in the mid 1970’s lying in a ravine. Still considered to this day to be the very best Mahogany available, the mesmerizing geometric patterned figuring found on this premium set is an extremely rare find, plus there just is not much of it left in the world today. The fact this wood only comes from one specific tree makes it some of the rarest wood in the world, the body of this guitar is a work of art in and of itself. Paired with a Fort Ross "Chapel" redwood top and Adirondack braces attached with hot hide glue, this guitar delivers a balanced and clear tone with excellent projection and sustain.
The wood binding on the body, fingerboard, and peghead, all crafted from Indian Rosewood, adds a touch of elegance to the instrument's design. The tail wedge, Indian Rosewood back strip, and custom peghead overlay, also made from "The Tree," provide a unique touch of visual flair.
The wood-style rosette and purfle combo top border further enhance the guitar's aesthetic appeal, and the SCGC logo on the fingerboard adds a touch of
distinction.
The SCGC "Tree" finish on the back, sides, and overlay complements the instrument's natural beauty, bringing out the rich and unique grain patterns of "The Tree" mahogany.
With its balanced tone, dynamic range, and exceptional playability, the Santa Cruz OM Custom "The Tree" exemplifies the best in modern luthiery and is a true collector's item that is sure to inspire and delight any guitarist. So why wait? Come and experience the magic of "The Tree" at Art of Guitar today.
Santa Cruz F Model Custom
Introducing the Santa Cruz F Model Custom - a stunning acoustic guitar that combines vintage style with modern craftsmanship to create an instrument that is both beautiful and versatile. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Santa Cruz Guitar Company, Richard decided to bring a favorite older model back into production for a limited run of twelve guitars in 2016.
The flamed maple body of this guitar is simply breathtaking, with a distinct pattern that adds a touch of elegance to the instrument. The European spruce top delivers a balanced, clear tone with excellent projection and sustain, while the Adirondack braces attached with hot hide glue ensure a strong and resonant connection between the top and back.
The flamed maple neck provides a comfortable and smooth playing experience, and the cutaway design allows for easy access to the upper frets. The thin black back strip provides structural reinforcement while adding a sleek touch to the guitar's appearance.
The binding on the body and fingerboard is crafted from maple, adding a touch of contrast to the instrument's design. The unbound peghead and custom peghead maple overlay give the guitar a unique look and feel. The abalone rosette inlay and single top purfle add a touch of visual flair, further enhancing the guitar's aesthetic appeal.
The 42 style fingerboard inlay is not only visually striking but also functional, allowing for precise finger placement and control. Overall, the Santa Cruz F Model Custom is a versatile instrument that delivers a stunning combination of vintage aesthetics and modern build techniques.
Santa Cruz OM Custom
Introducing the Santa Cruz OM Custom - a guitar that captures the essence of the legendary OM model with modern craftsmanship and materials. Originally designed in the 1920s to be a large guitar capable of being heard over other orchestral instruments, the OM has since become a perennial favorite for its powerful and versatile voice for public performance.
The Santa Cruz OM Custom features a highly figured walnut body, which adds a stunning visual element to the guitar with its unique and intricate grain pattern. The moon spruce top and Adirondack braces, attached with hot hide glue, deliver a rich and complex tone with exceptional projection and clarity.
The abalone rosette and top border inlay add a touch of elegance to the guitar's design, while the 45 style fingerboard inlay, abalone fingerboard binding inlay, and abalone peghead binding inlay enhance the guitar's aesthetic appeal and create a cohesive look.
The abalone back strip provides structural reinforcement while adding a
unique touch to the guitar's appearance. All other specifications are standard to the OM model, ensuring that you get the exceptional playability and performance that Santa Cruz guitars are known for.
Santa Cruz D Pre-War Custom
Introducing the Santa Cruz D Pre-War Custom - an exceptional acoustic guitar that blends vintage style with modern craftsmanship to deliver a truly unforgettable playing experience. This guitar pays homage to the classic pre war acoustic guitars that are renowned for their rich, full bodied tone and exceptional craftsmanship.
At the heart of this guitar is an Old Growth Adirondack Spruce Top, which delivers a rich, complex tone with excellent projection and clarity. Adirondack braces are attached with hot hide glue, ensuring a strong and resonant connection between the top and the back and sides.
The body, neck, and peghead binding are crafted from ivoroid, a material that evokes the classic look of vintage guitars. The tail wedge is also made from ivoroid, adding a touch of elegance to the guitar's design. The herringbone rosette and top purfling add a touch of visual flair, further enhancing the guitar's aesthetic appeal.
The zipper back strip provides structural reinforcement while adding a unique touch to the guitar's appearance. The top is also tinted, giving the guitar a vintage look and feel.
Santa Cruz OM Custom "The Tree"
Introducing the Santa Cruz OM Custom "The Tree" - a truly exceptional guitar that combines exquisite tonewoods and expert craftsmanship to create an instrument of unparalleled beauty and sound.
Crafted from "The Tree” a highly prized and sought after wild figured Mahogany from a single famous tree that was over 500 years old when it was cut down in the 1960’s in Belize. Lost to the jungle, this tree was rediscovered over a decade later in the mid 1970’s lying in a ravine. Still considered to this day to be the very best Mahogany available, the mesmerizing geometric patterned figuring found on this premium set is an extremely rare find, plus there just is not much of it left in the world today. The fact this wood only comes from one specific tree makes it some of the rarest wood in the world, the body of this guitar is a work of art in and of itself. Paired with a Fort Ross "Chapel" redwood top and Adirondack braces attached with hot hide glue, this guitar delivers a balanced and clear tone with excellent projection and sustain.
The wood binding on the body, fingerboard, and peghead, all crafted from Indian Rosewood, adds a touch of elegance to the instrument's design. The tail wedge, Indian Rosewood back strip, and custom peghead overlay, also made from "The Tree," provide a unique touch of visual flair.
The wood-style rosette and purfle combo top border further enhance the guitar's aesthetic appeal, and the SCGC logo on the fingerboard adds a touch of
distinction.
The SCGC "Tree" finish on the back, sides, and overlay complements the instrument's natural beauty, bringing out the rich and unique grain patterns of "The Tree" mahogany.
With its balanced tone, dynamic range, and exceptional playability, the Santa Cruz OM Custom "The Tree" exemplifies the best in modern luthiery and is a true collector's item that is sure to inspire and delight any guitarist. So why wait? Come and experience the magic of "The Tree" at Art of Guitar today.
Santa Cruz F Model Custom
Introducing the Santa Cruz F Model Custom - a stunning acoustic guitar that combines vintage style with modern craftsmanship to create an instrument that is both beautiful and versatile. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Santa Cruz Guitar Company, Richard decided to bring a favorite older model back into production for a limited run of twelve guitars in 2016.
The flamed maple body of this guitar is simply breathtaking, with a distinct pattern that adds a touch of elegance to the instrument. The European spruce top delivers a balanced, clear tone with excellent projection and sustain, while the Adirondack braces attached with hot hide glue ensure a strong and resonant connection between the top and back.
The flamed maple neck provides a comfortable and smooth playing experience, and the cutaway design allows for easy access to the upper frets. The thin black back strip provides structural reinforcement while adding a sleek touch to the guitar's appearance.
The binding on the body and fingerboard is crafted from maple, adding a touch of contrast to the instrument's design. The unbound peghead and custom peghead maple overlay give the guitar a unique look and feel. The abalone rosette inlay and single top purfle add a touch of visual flair, further enhancing the guitar's aesthetic appeal.
The 42 style fingerboard inlay is not only visually striking but also functional, allowing for precise finger placement and control. Overall, the Santa Cruz F Model Custom is a versatile instrument that delivers a stunning combination of vintage aesthetics and modern build techniques.
Santa Cruz OM Custom
Introducing the Santa Cruz OM Custom - a guitar that captures the essence of the legendary OM model with modern craftsmanship and materials. Originally designed in the 1920s to be a large guitar capable of being heard over other orchestral instruments, the OM has since become a perennial favorite for its powerful and versatile voice for public performance.
The Santa Cruz OM Custom features a highly figured walnut body, which adds a stunning visual element to the guitar with its unique and intricate grain pattern. The moon spruce top and Adirondack braces, attached with hot hide glue, deliver a rich and complex tone with exceptional projection and clarity.
The abalone rosette and top border inlay add a touch of elegance to the guitar's design, while the 45 style fingerboard inlay, abalone fingerboard binding inlay, and abalone peghead binding inlay enhance the guitar's aesthetic appeal and create a cohesive look.
The abalone back strip provides structural reinforcement while adding a
unique touch to the guitar's appearance. All other specifications are standard to the OM model, ensuring that you get the exceptional playability and performance that Santa Cruz guitars are known for.
Santa Cruz D Pre-War Custom
Introducing the Santa Cruz D Pre-War Custom - an exceptional acoustic guitar that blends vintage style with modern craftsmanship to deliver a truly unforgettable playing experience. This guitar pays homage to the classic pre war acoustic guitars that are renowned for their rich, full bodied tone and exceptional craftsmanship.
At the heart of this guitar is an Old Growth Adirondack Spruce Top, which delivers a rich, complex tone with excellent projection and clarity. Adirondack braces are attached with hot hide glue, ensuring a strong and resonant connection between the top and the back and sides.
The body, neck, and peghead binding are crafted from ivoroid, a material that evokes the classic look of vintage guitars. The tail wedge is also made from ivoroid, adding a touch of elegance to the guitar's design. The herringbone rosette and top purfling add a touch of visual flair, further enhancing the guitar's aesthetic appeal.
The zipper back strip provides structural reinforcement while adding a unique touch to the guitar's appearance. The top is also tinted, giving the guitar a vintage look and feel.
Santa Cruz Custom 1929 - OO Model
This instrument’s design pays homage to the simple and elegant instruments made for players enduring the Great Depression of 1929. Vintage inspired appointments include scalloped bracing, a period correct script style logo done tastefully in Ivoroid and beautifully executed Ebony pyramid bridge, bridge pins, tuner buttons, head-plate and fretboard. The rosette is an exercise in austere elegance with a rich tortoise ring nestled in a vintage Ivoroid border.