If you can't afford a Santa Cruz 00-1929...
 

...but you want something like it (all Hog, 00-12 finger-picker), what do you get?

Waterloo WL-12 MH
Alvarez Masterworks MPA66ESHB
Martin 00-17

Something else?

I'm thinking in the under $1750 and under range. And, I'm saving up for the Santa Cruz, too. :)

My vote...Waterloo

Breedlove Frontier or USA series concertina body shape.

I've got the Artist Series (Laminated back and sides) of this model. My top and the applied "shadowburst" are beautiful.

I was/am floored by the build quality, sound, and playing ease of this $459.00 guitar.
The Baggs electronics are pretty good too.

Fantastic value. (IMO)

I have the Masterworks MAP66shb and it is a sweet guitar. Very responsive with good note separation and not boxy sounding at all. It does have 2 and 1/8” string spacing at the saddle which is a little crowded for finger style but 1 and 3/4” at the nut. 24” scale.
Martin 0017 would also be a great choice.

Best,
Jayne

I ran into a good deal on mine. Which I will never sell. Used I got it off eBay for $2,350. If I remember correctly. Granted I don't see any at that price but if you save a little while longer and shoot low ball bids to some on Reverb and eBay you might pull one out of a needy seller.

Just save up for the SCGC.

(Potential) answer to the OP’s question :
Which ever one sounds best !

Waterloo!!!

You can definitely find used 1929's for the same price or cheaper than a Martin 00-17. I'd personally just save the money that would be going to a placeholder guitar and put it towards your 1929 fund. Then you don't have to deal with selling a guitar once you get the one you really want.

That said, the Waterloo's are really nice and are priced well.

Martin 00-17 Authentic 1931

:DI second this, but only if you can afford a Santa Cruz 00-1929.:D

Ha! No kidding. If I could afford that I wouldn't have made this post. Maybe I'll get the Martin and the SCGC!

Waterloo...

Jumbo King

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fcc6a4b4bb.jpg

I recently purchased a Waterloo WL-12 Mahogany and I couldn't be happier with it. Beautiful sound and sustain that goes on forever. I have no regrets.

Have you tried an Eastman? I can’t afford a 1929, but I’d like an all Mahogany 00 size. I haven’t had my hands on the Eastman yet, but I have liked every Eastman instrument I’ve played thus far.

Agree totally, don’t compromise. Buying another guitar will tie up valuable dollars that will make you wait longer for the Santa Cruz.

While the Santa Cruz 1929 is a fantastic guitar, absolutely gorgeous, you might enjoy any of the Martin 15 series. I would also look at:

Waterloo
00-17s
000-18

Save up funds and find a decent used SCGC 00-1929. You can spend an additional $1k+- and get a top-tier all hog instrument.

Why compromise? The SCGC 1929 instruments are simply wonderful.

Santa Cruz, Waterloo, Martin all nice American made guitars, they get my vote. Save for the Cruz!

well, comparing new prices, you can get a 00-17A new with warrantee for $3600. Can you get a new SC 1929 for that?

This. Hard to get there if you keep buying others.. get the one you want or you’ll
Just keep wanting...

Find a real nice '30's Kalamazoo KG-14 (the guitars that Waterloos copy). Not only are these featherweight old mahogany guitars beautiful to own, the ladder bracing is a great counterpoint to X-braced guitars, so it would be a nice wingman to the Santa Cruz when you finally bring one home.

I have a Martin 00-15m that i love, but for this thread, all mahogany Waterloo!!

It has a truss rod,...

Santa Cruz can be a little hard to afford, but there is little that compares favorably to them. If you want a SC, don’t put your money into anything else, just keep your eyes open and keep saving your money, and one may suddenly show up used, and you can jump. I’ve found some really outstanding SC guitars over the years - all used - and have very, very rarely been disappointed - and then, almost always in the seller -

Thanks for all the input, all. I love threads like these.

I played a SC 1929-00 once at Maple Street Guitars and, other than playing an Olson at Gruhn one time, I've never played a guitar I loved more. I'm likely to just keep saving for the SC, but it's still fun to see others opinions.

I'm late to this party and already have a Waterloo WL -12 Mh, but I am with the "wait for the Santa Cruz" crowd. I love my all mahogany Waterloo and the 14-fret WL-14 that followed it but am realistic enough to believe that the SC could be better.

Used Webber’s and Northwood will give you far more at a reasonable price.

The 00-15, 00-17A, Waterloo Mahogany top and the SC 1929 are all great. The 1929 has a unique voice. I sold mine as the saddle spacing was too narrow. I bought a vintage 1937 00-17 and never thought about it since. I sold my 1929 full sunburst for $2900 and paid $4500 for the 1937. If money is tight you just can’t beat the Waterloo new for about $2,000 or used for maybe $1700 if you can find one, play it a few years while you save up for the 1929.

Larrivee:https://www.larrivee.com/products/000-40m

You can get the 00-40m for the same price--special order, probably for about $1,225.

As mentioned, the Martin 15 series is great as well.