Santa Cruz

“Given the opportunity to hear a truly sophisticated guitar, players experienced a paradigm shift in what they thought possible. This time-tested design ensures large bass response and overall volume. The Pre War design package is presented with understated and elegant appointments to emphasize master grade materials, tone and workmanship. Under the hood, the Pre War design package honors its pre-WWII predecessors with an advanced X and scalloped top bracing. The OM/PW's versatility and ergonomics lend great appeal for traditional picking styles and impressive rhythm work. Expect the predominant bass and throaty presence of the surviving pre-war antiques. Includes a unique 50th heel cap and interior label.”   – From the Santa Cruz Website

We have been privileged to represent Santa Cruz Guitars for more than 30 years, having first become a dealer in the early 1990s. Since that time, Santa Cruz has grown from relative obscurity to become one of most respected small producers of acoustic guitars in the world. As Richard Hoover and his great crew would undoubtedly attest, the journey to this point has been no walk in the park—running a small business of any sort, particularly one that is centered on hand-crafted instruments, is a tremendous challenge!  Thus, we are very excited for our friends out in Santa Cruz as 2026 marks their 50^th anniversary (quite coincidentally, 2026 also marks our 45^th anniversary, so it’s celebrations all around!).  To commemorate this momentous accomplishment, Richard and the gang are offering limited 50^th Anniversary runs of five of their most significant models, beginning with the 1929 00 and the OM Pre-War (OM P/W).  These Anniversary models are distinguished by a tasteful Mother of Pearl “50” heelcap inlay and a special interior label; but, more importantly, Santa Cruz has made a deliberate effort to offer these models at a more attractive price point.

The OM P/W and its counterpart the D P/W first appeared on the scene in the late 1990s as more budget-friendly models, costing approximately 25% less than standard Santa Cruz models at the time.  Not surprisingly, they became very popular! Folks who were focused on alternatives from major manufacturers (e.g., a Martin OM-28) we suddenly able to consider a more refined handmade guitar.  Now, almost 30 years later, the OM P/W enjoys a more elevated status in the Santa Cruz line, as its Advanced X bracing represents a slightly different voicing compared to the Scalloped X bracing of the Standard OM.  This Advanced X bracing is consistent with pre-WWII Martin bracing patterns in a general sense (as Martin actually changed their bracing several times in the pre-WWII era), and it is associated with a more open and prominent bass presence, as well as a more immediate response. 

The choice of Sitka spruce (the current industry default for steel string acoustic guitars) for the soundboard on the OM P/W is admittedly a departure from established pre-war spec, where Adirondack/Red spruce would have been the default soundboard material. Even so, the pairing of Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood is one of the most effective, and therefore classic, combinations of tonewood “ingredients.”  The Sitka spruce top delivers a distinctive clarity and sustain, as well as a broad dynamic range from the outset that then becomes enhanced as an instrument is exercised (i.e., played-in). Meanwhile, Indian rosewood, contributes a rich, harmonically complex, and colorful tonal quality to the overall voice of the guitar. 

As interpreted by the our good friends at Santa Cruz, the classic Sitka spruce/Indian rosewood OM recipe, as seen here on the OM P/W, projects with a vocal quality that is broad, robust, and direct, while also displaying the balance and clarity that one would expect of any great OM.

Most importantly, one readily detects the signature Santa Cruz spice of highly-refined vintage dryness that produces and extremely satisfying airiness to their voicing, while contributing a distinctive crispness to the note edge.  We are always quick to mention here at Maple Street Guitars that there is no such thing as the “perfect guitar;” yet, in playing such a wonderfully dynamic instrument as a Santa Cruz Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood OM, it is hard to find much room for improvement. Indeed, once you start playing this OM P/W, you will quickly find that it is a hard guitar to put down!

• 14-Fret 000/OM Body
• Sitka Spruce Top
• Scalloped Advanced Pre-War X-Bracing
• Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
• Black Body Binding
• Single Violin Top Purfling
• Violin Purfle Combo Rosette
• Nitrocellulose Body Finish
• Mahogany Neck
• Modified V Neck Contour with Volute
• Ebony Fingerboard
• Black Fingerboard Binding
• Mother of Pearl “SCGC“ Logo
• Mother of Pearl Dot Long Pattern 2mm Fingerboard Inlays
• Square Peghead Profile
• Ebony Headstock Veneer
• 50^th Anniversary Mother of Pearl “50” Heelcap Inlay  
• Satin Nitrocellulose Neck Finish
• Ebony Belly Bridge
• Bone Nut and Saddle
• Beveled Tortoiseshell Pickguard
• Nickel Waverly Tuners with Butterbean Buttons
• 25.375” Scale Length
• 1.75” Nut Width
• 2 3/16” String Spacing at the Bridge
• Ameritage Hardshell Case