Santa Cruz advice please

[Organic Sounds Select Guitars]

Hi SRQ,

The 1929 00 does surprisingly well with a flat pick and handles light strumming just fine. However, for heavier strumming and overall versatility, you might want to lean more towards the H-13 or OM, OM/PW, OM Grand or any of the various dreadnought models (square or slope shouldered).

Here is a video that I made recently with 5 Santa Cruz guitars - no H-13 in this group, but you can compare the 1929 00 with some other larger guitars. I hope its helpful.

Good luck with your choice!

[SRQ]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Santa Cruz make some pretty good guitars - I've got an "RS" which I really love playing.

However, they do excel in their 0, 00 and H13 models.

We can tell you what we would choose but no-one can tell you what would suit you and your music best.

This is my "RS"

Thank you for that. I sincerely enjoyed hearing that lovely song and that fine guitar being put to such good use. Kudos.

[SRQ]

Originally Posted by Organic Sounds Select Guitars

Hi SRQ,

The 1929 00 does surprisingly well with a flat pick and handles light strumming just fine. However, for heavier strumming and overall versatility, you might want to lean more towards the H-13 or OM, OM/PW, OM Grand or any of the various dreadnought models (square or slope shouldered).

Here is a video that I made recently with 5 Santa Cruz guitars - no H-13 in this group, but you can compare the 1929 00 with some other larger guitars. I hope its helpful.

Good luck with your choice!

Larry that was incredible ! Thank you so much for posting :-))

[SRQ]

Originally Posted by jaymarsch

I know three singer songwriters who play Santa Cruz H models. One has the 12 fret, one the 13 fret and one the 14 fret model. All three sound fabulous either fingerstyle or strummed. I think the H model is a very versatile guitar. Whether it is the sound and feel that you are looking for is for your ears and hands to determine.

Best,
Jayne

Well that is a very telling answer indeed thank you Jayne

[SRQ]

Originally Posted by LakewoodM32Fan

I do not have access to sales figures to say what is their most popular.

But overall the most popular body sizes tend to be in the OM and dreadnought ranges. 00 sizes and parlor (0) sizes are less frequently discussed here in relation to the other two.

I owned a nice Martin Custom 00 which I'm now consigning with a local shop, because of exactly your concern. I too am a strummer and ultimately this 00 has a volume ceiling (due to it's size, not any fault of it's construction which is great) that just doesn't suit my strumming playstyle, which is often heavy handed.

Whenever I fingerpicked it, it was fabulous. But I play in that manner maybe 5% of the time, or less.

For an all-rounder, singer songwriter, I'd definitely look at an OM or a D, depending on how much volume you want, and how comfortable a D is for you to play. I love my 2 Ds but they're not comfortable for me to play for long stretches due to my body's ergonomics, so if I'm only able to take one guitar somewhere (and I know I'll be playing for a while), it's going to be one of my OMs or GAs.

Yes I am preferring the couch-ability of OM and GA over Dreads more and more!

[Organic Sounds Select Guitars]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Santa Cruz make some pretty good guitars - I've got an "RS" which I really love playing.

However, they do excel in their 0, 00 and H13 models.

We can tell you what we would choose but no-one can tell you what would suit you and your music best.

This is my "RS"

Andy, that was wonderful!

[BrunoBlack]

Originally Posted by Organic Sounds Select Guitars

Hi SRQ,

The 1929 00 does surprisingly well with a flat pick and handles light strumming just fine. However, for heavier strumming and overall versatility, you might want to lean more towards the H-13 or OM, OM/PW, OM Grand or any of the various dreadnought models (square or slope shouldered).

Here is a video that I made recently with 5 Santa Cruz guitars - no H-13 in this group, but you can compare the 1929 00 with some other larger guitars. I hope its helpful.

Good luck with your choice!

Great demonstration Larry. They all sound terrific in your hands.

[eljay]

I have one and it's a lifer with me.

Feather light (well, almost) and a joy to play.

SCGC notes that the VS takes inspiration from the J-45--but it does not sound much like a Gibson.

FWIW, I had a RW SCGC OM that I never bonded with; love at first strum with the VS.

Good luck with your quest!

[Kerbie]

Originally Posted by Haasome

Great demonstration Larry. They all sound terrific in your hands.

Yep, very true. Larry, that was fun. Makes me want to buy another SCGC.

[Mr. Jelly]

The best all around guitar is the Santa Cruz Vintage Southern. It's a sleeper but if do a YouTube search they rave about them. I mean people that have vast experience with many high end guitars claim it's the Swiss army knife of guitars.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...tail&FORM=VIRE

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...tail&FORM=VIRE

[sayheyjeff]

A real lover of Santa Cruz guitars here. Lucky to have 2 and am seriously thinking about another. If you are anywhere near me, welcome to come by on a decent day and see what you think (they are not for sale, but you can learn a ton playing them). We can play outside. Some on the forum have found the occasional SC that didn’t grab them. I don’t have that great an ear, or a load of musical talent, however, I have never found one I thought wasn’t among the better guitars I’ve had the opportunity to play. As far as which model, I give first consideration to the guitar model(s) I like best and compliment what I already am lucky enough to have.

Jeff

[Graylocks]

For a performing songwriter I highly recommend the OM Grand. Wonderfully rich and resonant but capable of great delicacy. I have a K&K mini in mine. A veteran sound engineer at a festival said to me a few years ago My god! Your guitar is the most amazing sound I've ever had the joy of mixing!

Of the guitars I've owned the OM Grand sounds as if a goodall and a collings had a child.

[SRQ]

[QUOTE=Mr. Jelly;6537072]The best all around guitar is the Santa Cruz Vintage Southern. It's a sleeper but if do a YouTube search they rave about them. I mean people that have vast experience with many high end guitars claim it's the Swiss army knife of guitars.

Thanks that wasn't on my radar screen at all and yeah, must say very much what I'm looking for. Is it my imagination or is it a bit smaller than e.g a J45?

[brencat]

Originally Posted by SRQ

Thanks that wasn't on my radar screen at all and yeah, must say very much what I'm looking for. Is it my imagination or is it a bit smaller than e.g a J45?

Santa Cruz dreads are dimensionally smaller than a comparable Martin (1/4" shallower) so I wouldn't be surprised to find the Vintage Southerner a notch smaller than a J-45 also (but can't say with certainty).

I am one of those who did not bond with the Santa Cruz OM or OM Grand. No matter the wood combination, I find them entirely too "pretty" sounding for the old time and fiddle tunes I like to flatpick. The OM/PW was much more to my liking, but even there, my heart was always with a bigger guitar.

My main is a 2012 D/PW in Sitka over EIR. It's a phenomenal all-arounder. Santa Cruz guitars are also exceptionally forgiving to play and I've never had to use anything besides Light strings since they are so lightly built and resonant. Mediums tend to choke them.

Happy hunting!

[eljay]

Originally Posted by SRQ

Is it my imagination or is it a bit smaller than e.g a J45?

I have both and I've never notice a difference; both very comfortable to play.