Santa Cruz is getting ready to release a first set of what will be an ongoing series of “Vault” guitars at this coming January’s NAMM show. Built from some of the most special woods in the company’s inventory, in some cases reaching into founder Richard Hoover’s personal collection, these instruments are bound to be among the most collectable Santa Cruz guitars ever made. Peghead Nation co-founder Teja Gerken recently visited the Santa Cruz shop, where he got a preview of the first four guitars as they were in production. In Part 1 of these two videos, Richard Hoover discusses the project, and in Part 2, Richard shows Teja each guitar as they’re being constructed.
The first batch of Vault guitars will consist of a Dreadnought, an H13, an OM, and FireFly with the following specs:
Dreadnought
A custom D model featuring Bryn Athyn Cathedral Brazilian rosewood back and sides and a Fort Ross Chapel redwood top. The guitar will have 45-style abalone inlay, backlit tortoise binding on its body, fingerboard and peghead, an abalone back strip, rosette, and top border in a 45-style neck extension and heel inlay. Bryn Athyn Cathedral Brazilian rosewood is also used for the peghead overlay, which features Moderne Vault inlay with a Diamond Window, Mother of Pearl Santa Cruz script logo inlay. The guitar also includes Moderne Vault fingerboard inlay, a Bryn Athyn Cathedral scrimshaw heel hap, tortoise pickguard with ivoroid border, engraved nickel Waverly tuners, a Brazilian rosewood bridge, gold EVO fret wire, Moderne Vault inlay in the ebony bridge’s feet, and a clear finish.
H13
A custom H13 model featuring Ancient Kauri back and sides, Purple San Lorenzo sinker redwood top, H13 scalloped and tapered Adirondack spruce bracing, and hot hide glue construction. Snakewood binding and tail wedge. Gold Awabi 45-style inlay, purfle back strip, top purfling, 45-style neck extension and heel inlay. Solid square peghead, Ancient Kauri peghead overlay, Rococo Vault 14K gold peghead inlay with Ruby Window and Santa Cruz script logo in Gold Awabi. Rococo scrimshaw heel cap, engraved gold Waverly tuners, Snakewood bridge with 14K gold Gold Awabi inlay. Gold Evo fretwire, Ancient Kauri finish.
FireFly
A custom FireFly featuring Microflame Walnut back and sixes and an ancient sinker Bald Cypress top. Ivoroid binding. Black/maple/black side purfle on body, abalone purfle on peghead. Flag of Nations back strip, abalone rosette and top border. Microflame Walnut peghead overlay, mother of pearl Santa Cruz script with emerald jewel inlay, mother of pearl century block fingerboard inlay, Howling Wolf scrimshaw heel cap, abalone snowflake inlay in bridge feet.
OM
A custom OM featuring master grade Brazilian rosewood from Richard Hoover’s personal collection and an ancient Sitka spruce top that was recovered from Alaskan permafrost. Scalloped Adirondack bracing with hot hide glue. Snakewood binding with blue paua in a 45-style inlay on the body, fingerboard and peghead. Blue paua back strip, rosette, and top border in a 45-style neck extension and heel inlay. Custom “Forget-Me-Not” scrimshaw heel cap, Brazilian rosewood peghead overlay, fancy flowerpot with Vault Window sapphire peghead inlay, blue paua 45-style fingerboard inlay with SCGC in blue paua at the 12th fret. Engraved nickel Waverly tuners, Snakewood bridge with blue paua snowflake inlay.
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