Santa Cruz

“The Orchestra Model represents the perfect balance of comfort, projection, and tonal sophistication. Originally designed for players who needed an instrument that could project in ensemble settings, the OM has become a favorite among fingerstyle players and singer-songwriters.  With its balanced frequency response and comfortable 14-fret neck, the OM excels at everything from delicate fingerpicking to assertive flatpicking.”   – From the Santa Cruz Website

It is no secret that we here at Maple Street Guitars are big fans of Hawaiin Koa.  It’s scarcity notwithstanding, it is easy to see why builders and players have historically found Koa so appealing—it is not only visually arresting, but has extremely desirable tonal qualities.  Like other tonewoods that tend towards the brighter end of the sonic spectrum, such as mahogany or even sapele, Koa presents a clarity and directness that is very appealing, particularly for fingerstyle and melodic applications. However, Koa offers an additional degree of warmth, color, and harmonic content; whereas its brighter tonewood brethren are often sometimes more dry. Moreover, Koa is known to mature in a more dramatic manner overtime, particularly with regard to its frequency response.

This particular Santa Cruz OM Koa is, without question, one of the most resplendent displays of Koa’s natural beauty that we’ve ever had the pleasure of displaying. Seldom have we encountered Koa with this degree of curl and color variation, where one can get lost in the deep ripples of caramels, chestnuts, and golds. Tying the aesthetic theme together is a very tasteful two-ring rosette that features a Koa accent, as well as an unadorned flamed Koa headstock overlay. It is otherwise clear that there was a deliberate decision to let the wood do the talking when it came to this guitar’s design (a very tasteful move, in our opinion!). Rather than heaps of bling, the gorgeous Koa and Adirondack are paired with relatively no-frills 28-style appointments, where a classic wooden herringbone purfling and zigzag/zipper backstrip ornaments serve as playful delineation and no more.  

Of course, more important than the visual draw of this OM is its voice.  As one would generally expect from any great OM, this Santa Cruz is endowed with excellent balance and overall clarity; and, being a Santa Cruz, this OM presents with an broad, robust, and direct vocal nature. Naturally, the Adirondack top contributes additional headroom in terms of projection, as well as an extra degree of crispness to the note, while also enhancing overall sustain.  In truth, as this guitar was only recently produced, the top is still admittedly a bit stiff, particularly given the slightly longer break-in period associated with Adirondack spruce. Thus, the promise of the future here is indeed very exciting given the starting point!   Regardless, we are most impressed by the firm and colorful nature of the notes in the upper registers, which sing out with a very clear and well-sustained quality—in fact, this is true of the treble strings in general. Meanwhile, there is a pleasing crispness and definition to be exploited in the bass, where notes readily stand apart as needed without fading into muddiness—this is particularly appealing for counterpoint. And, of course, thanks to the innate properties of the Koa, there is a tinge of warmth that tempers the brilliant, open, and forward voicing of and Adirondack-topped OM.  All in all, there is abundant beauty here to draw the player into a Koa-induced stupor at the outset; yet, this guitar simply oozes with the potential of what has still to come as the instrument is played-in and matures.  Indeed, it is a rare delight for both the eyes and the ears.

Condition

This guitar has no structural or cosmetic wear to note.  EXCEPTIONALLY FINE Condition

• 14-Fret 000/OM Bod
• Adirondack Spruce Top
• Scalloped Adirondack Spruce X-Bracing with Hot Hide Glue
• Flamed Koa Back and Sides
• Ivoroid Body Binding
• Wooden Herringbone Top Purfling
• Single-Ply Side Purfling, 3-Ply Back Purfling
• Zipper Backstrip and Endpiece
• Nitrocellulose Body Finish
• Mahogany Neck, V Neck Contour with Volute
• Ebony Fingerboard
• Ivoroid Fingerboard and Headstock Binding
• Mother of Pearl “SCGC” Logo and 2mm Mother of Pearl Dot Fingerboard Inlays
• Square Peghead Profile
• Flamed Koa Headstock Veneer
• Satin Nitrocellulose Neck Finish
• Ebony Belly Bridge
• Bone Nut and Saddle
• Beveled Tortoiseshell Pickguard
• Nickel Waverly Tuners with Oval Buttons
• 25.375” Scale Length
• 1.75” Nut Width
• 2 3/16” String Spacing at the Bridge
• Ameritage Hardshell Case