Richard Hoover’s passion for the acoustic guitar gave rise to a burning desire to discover how they were made and equally important, how they worked. In 1968, there was absolutely no information on the construction of the acoustic steel string guitars. In pre-Internet days, the other independent pioneers of guitar building may just as well have been on other planets.
Copying the assemblies of the important brands was straightforward, compared to truly controlling the guitar’s voice. Hoover turned to the printed body of knowledge on centuries of violin refinement as the sole source of the true way. Herein lay the key for taking his favored instrument out of the realm of the factories and into the enlightened practice of traditional lutherie. The quest included independent experimentation, the grace of mentors, countless repairs, restorations and the construction of numerous guitars and carved-top mandolins.
Throughout the process, a concept grew. If I try to figure this out by myself it will take forever. This simple 
frustration, voiced by Richard, would have a profound effect on the future of steel string guitar making. If I hold true to the principals and ethics of lutherie traditions, I can work as a team with others to accelerate the learning curve without compromise. This became the mission statement for the beginnings of boutique lutherie and the inspiration for the Santa Cruz Guitar Co.
We know that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and that through practice and study we will pursue ongoing improvement. Each of us has become masterful in our current specialties and collectively we embody nearly two hundred years of expertise. By adhering to the principles of physics and the tried and true practices of lutherie, SCGC guarantees the most sophisticated instrument of its kind. We will assure maximum sustain and complexity of overtones and maintain consistency of balance and tone specific to each of our standard models. To accommodate the subjective nature and personal requirements of EQ, tone and presence, we offer our considerable talents to deliver exactly what you need in a custom instrument.
Visit us at SantaCruzGuitar.com
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Eric Skye: “Blue Monk” | Santa Cruz GuitarsEric Skye performs a fingerstyle arrangement of the Thelonious Monk standard. Read More |
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Santa Cruz DBBA great baritone with a 12-fret dreadnought body. Read More |
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Vault Series | Santa Cruz GuitarsA limited edition line of custom guitars made from extra-special woods. Read More |
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California Bluegrass Association Sweepstakes | Santa Cruz GuitarsA Santa Cruz OM-PW was the grand prize at this year's fundraiser. Read More |
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Eric Skye and Jamie Stillway, “Chinquapin Hunting” | Santa Cruz GuitarsPacific Northwest guitarists perform the flatpicking standard on a pair of Santa Cruz flattops. Read More |
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Bill and Jilian Nershi, “Lonesome Blues” | Santa Cruz GuitarsString Cheese Incident guitarist and his vocalist wife perform a duet in the Santa Cruz shop. Read More |
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Five Santa Cruz Models | Santa Cruz GuitarsOrganic Sounds' Larry Sogolow demonstrates a selection of five new Santa Cruz guitars. Read More |
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Jackson Wetherbee, “Gimmie Love” | Santa Cruz GuitarsRoots-reggae artist performs his latest single on a Santa Cruz Custom D. Read More |
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Plek services | Santa Cruz GuitarSanta Cruz now offers Plek setup services for guitars of any brand. Read More |
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Santa Cruz OM Grand BrazilianA dream guitar built with stunningly beautiful Brazilian rosewood. Read More |
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Tree of Life OM | Santa Cruz GuitarBill Cooley plays a great custom Santa Cruz at The North American Guitar. Read More |
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Richard Hoover and James Nash | Santa Cruz GuitarThe Santa Cruz founder and flatpicking virtuoso team up for a presentation about the company at Organic Sounds Guitars. Read More |
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Parabolic Tension Strings | Santa Cruz GuitarA look at Santa Cruz' strings prior to installation. Read More |
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Eric Skye and Adam Levy, “Bag’s Groove” | Santa Cruz GuitarsAcoustic jazz guitar aces perform a spontaneous duet of the Milt Jackson standard. Read More |
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1992 Santa Cruz FSA modern classic optimized for fingerstyle playing. Read More |
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2007 Tony Rice Signature Model | Santa Cruz GuitarAndy Cambria demonstrates one of Tony Rice's personal signature model guitars at the Music Emporium. Read More |
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Lisa Liu and James Nash: “Blue Bossa” | Santa Cruz GuitarA spontaneous duo version of the jazz standard played on a pair of Santa Cruz OMs. Read More |
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Santa Cruz DADGAD StringsThe latest set of Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension strings is optimized for DADGAD tuning. Read More |
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Lisa Liu and James Nash: “Blue Monk” | Santa Cruz GuitarA great duo version of the Thelonious Monk standard played on a pair of Santa Cruz OMs. Read More |
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Moon Spruce | Santa Cruz GuitarsSanta Cruz founder Richard Hoover discusses "moon" spruce, choosing a top, and more on the Santa Cruz Coffee Break podcast. Read More |
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FireFly Custom Koa | Santa Cruz GuitarsFingerstyle virtuoso Richard Smith plays "Danza Paraguaya" on a small-body Santa Cruz. Read More |
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Santa Cruz Baritone StringsWe check out the latest addition to Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension strings using a pair of Santa Cruz baritone guitars. Read More |
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Santa Cruz at 45 | Santa Cruz GuitarsA 45th anniversary message from Richard Hoover and his team at Santa Cruz Guitars. Read More |
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Santa Cruz Guitar Company’s 45th Anniversary String SpecialBuy two sets of Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension Strings and get a third set free. Read More |
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2015 Santa Cruz 1929 000 CustomA great all-mahogany 12-fret with custom upgrades. Read More |
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Eric Skye: “Stella By Starlight” | Santa Cruz GuitarsEric Skye performs a fingerstyle arrangement of the jazz standard. Read More |
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HT/13 | Santa Cruz GuitarsHappy Traum plays and discusses his new signature model guitar. Read More |
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Santa Cruz HT/13A beautiful signature model for folk legend Happy Traum. Read More |
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Catfish Keith and Richard Hoover | Santa Cruz GuitarsThe blues guitarist discusses his signature model with Santa Cruz founder Richard Hoover and Peghead Nation's Teja Gerken during a Facebook Live session. Read More |
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Join Richard Hoover and Catfish Keith | Santa Cruz Guitars | Facebook Live, Friday, February 12The blues master and Santa Cruz Guitars founder talk about the Catfish Special guitar and much more! Read More |
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A True Custom Shop | Santa Cruz GuitarsEight Santa Cruz dealers discuss how they help their customers order their dream guitars. Read More |
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Santa Cruz’s Richard Hoover and Eric SkyeA conversation between the Santa Cruz founder and signature artist from a recent Peghead Nation Facebook Live event. Read More |
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Join Richard Hoover and Eric Skye of Santa Cruz Guitars on Facebook Live, Friday, December 11Peghead Nation hosts the Santa Cruz Guitars founder and one of their signature artists live on Facebook, Friday, December 11 at 3 PM Pacific Time, for a special conversation. Read More |
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1997 Santa Cruz OMBruce Molsky demonstrates his touring guitar. Read More |
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Eric Skye “Chinquapin Hunting” | Santa Cruz GuitarsEric Skye flatpicks the well-known fiddle tune on his Santa Cruz signature model. Read More |
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James Nash: “Jack-A-Roe” | Doc Watson Tribute | Santa Cruz GuitarsThe guitarist, singer, songwriter, and member of the Waybacks pays homage to Doc Watson with a medley of "Bright Sunny South" and “Jack-A-Roe,” a traditional song that became a mainstay of the Greatful Dead. Read More |
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Eric Skye and Jamie Stillway | Santa Cruz GuitarsEric Skye and Jamie Stillway play Skye's original "Kathryn By the Delaware" Read More |
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Santa Cruz Legends in Lutherie FSA stunning redwood and mahogany guitar, built in collaboration with Heartbreaker Guitars. Read More |
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Santa Cruz Guitar Company Shop Visit, Part 2Santa Cruz’s Richard Hoover and Carolyn Sills discuss the process of ordering a custom guitar. Read More |
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Santa Cruz Guitar Company Shop VisitSanta Cruz co-founder Richard Hoover discusses the company’s approach to building a custom instrument. Read More |
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Santa Cruz OM Grand 12-StringA powerful 12-String from California’s custom guitar specialists. Read More |
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Carolyn Sills Combo, “Feleena” | LR BaggsThe Western Swing group plays a song from their forthcoming album “Return to El Paso,” a celebration of the Marty Robbins hit song from 1959. Read More |
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Santa Cruz OM CustomA contemporary OM with a cedar top and walnut back and sides. Read More |
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Santa Cruz OM CustomAn Orchestra Model built with spectacular Brazilian rosewood. Read More |
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Santa Cruz Catfish SpecialAn all-mahogany 0-size 12-fret made for blues guitarist Catfish Keith Read More |
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Santa Cruz Brad Paisley (B/PW)A signature model dreadnought for country star Brad Paisley. Read More |
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Santa Cruz OO-SkyeEric Skye demonstrates his 00-size Santa Cruz signature model. Read More |
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Santa Cruz Otis Taylor ChicagoThe Santa Cruz signature model for bluesman Otis Taylor is all about mahogany. Read More |
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Santa Cruz FTC 40th AnniversaryRead More |
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Richard Hoover Among GiantsA short film about the history of Santa Cruz Guitars, with the founder of the company, Richard Hoover. Read More |
