2021 - Santa Cruz D Prewar Custom - Adirondack Spruce & Cuban Mahogany

Description The 2021 Santa Cruz D Prewar Custom – Adirondack Spruce & Cuban Mahogany is a reverent yet inspired reimagining of the golden-era dreadnought, built with the kind of soul, craft, and tonal nuance that only Santa Cruz Guitar Company can deliver. It’s a love letter to the most iconic flat-tops of the 1930s, infused with modern precision and vintage authenticity. And behind it all stands Richard Hoover, a luthier whose name is synonymous with integrity, tone, and the pursuit of perfection. For decades, Hoover has quietly—but powerfully—shaped the direction of the boutique acoustic guitar world. As the founder of Santa Cruz Guitar Company, he pioneered the small-shop ethos of the 1970s, long before it was fashionable. His focus on responsible sourcing, tonal voicing, and hide glue construction helped usher in an era where guitars could be as expressive as the artists who played them. This D Prewar Custom embodies his legacy—a work of art born from tradition, vision, and an unwavering devotion to tone. At its heart is a master-grade Adirondack spruce top, offering that unmistakable blend of high headroom, snap, and harmonic bloom. It’s a soundboard that begs to be driven hard but responds with grace to even the softest touch. The back and sides are Cuban mahogany, a rare and historic tonewood that recalls the rich, dry warmth of early dreadnoughts, with added clarity and definition. Together, they create a voice that’s wide open, woody, and full of air—capable of both powerful rhythm and articulate lead work. Inside, the top is braced with Advanced X Adirondack spruce bracing, meticulously voiced by hand and secured with hot hide glue—a traditional adhesive revered for its superior resonance and ability to bring wood to life. The result is a guitar that feels effortlessly alive, its every note carrying vintage DNA and modern responsiveness in equal measure. Visually, the guitar is both refined and striking. The violin purfling top border and violin purfle combo rosette are subtle nods to classical craftsmanship, lending the guitar a bespoke elegance that stands apart from standard herringbone fare. The ivoroid body, fingerboard, and headstock bindings add a touch of vintage warmth, set against the rich depth of a fully buffed finish and tinted top that feels authentically aged. The zipper backstrip completes the vintage motif with just the right touch of ornamentation. The Honduran mahogany neck is carved to a classic V shape with a volute, offering exceptional comfort and vintage flair, topped with an ebony headstock veneer and adorned with a Mother of Pearl SCGC logo inlay. The solid square peghead, fitted with nickel Waverly tuners, holds tuning with old-world class. The 2mm MOP dot inlays on the fingerboard are understated and elegant—classic without being flashy. Players will appreciate the slightly shorter-than-standard 25.375" scale length, offering a slinkier feel and enhanced warmth, while the 1 11/16" nut width and 2 3/16" bridge spacing strike a perfect balance for flatpickers and fingerstylists alike. The tortoise pickguard is the final visual touch, anchoring the guitar's aesthetic in prewar tradition. Weighing in at just the right heft and housed in a hard case, the 2021 Santa Cruz D Prewar Custom is more than a nod to the past—it’s a fully realized modern classic. It speaks to those who know tone, who revere craftsmanship, and who understand that the best guitars don’t just sound great—they feel like old friends the moment you strum the first chord. This is Richard Hoover’s vision come to life: a dreadnought that honors the legends but is built for the player who demands excellence in every detail. Other specification include: Adirondack Spruce Top Cuban Mahogany Back & Sides Advanced X Adirondack Spruce Braces Hot Hide Glue Construction Ivoroid Body, Fingerboard & Headstock Bindings Violin Purfling Top Border Violin Purfle Combo Rosette Back Stripe Zipper V Shaped Neck with Volute Ebony Headstock Veneer 2mm MOP Fingerboard Dot Inlays MOP SCGC Headstock Logo Inlay Peghead Solid Square Overlay Material Ebony Fully Buffed Body & Headstock Finish Tinted Top Matte Neck Finish Tortoise Pickguard Nickel Waverly Tuning Machines Hard Case 25.375" Scale Length 1 11/16" Nut Width 2 3/16" Bridge Spacing 4lbs 4oz 7637 For more information about the Santa Cruz D Prewar, please contact us. Manufacturer Santa Cruz Body Style Dreadnought Actual Weight 4.4 Condition Excellent Model D Prewar Year 2021