The Dreadnought: the design that introduced boutique lutherie. In the early 1970's, it was the rare player who would consider any guitar smaller than a dreadnought. Stellar players were handicapped by the traditional D's predominate bass and thin trebles. The strength of the typical dreadnought guitar is in its power and volume, which are achieved by the guitar's large body size. The increased air space also gives the instrument a predisposition to the bass range, an asset to some playing styles and a detriment to others. The Santa Cruz D Model has a unique tapered bracing, voiced to enhance the midrange and treble without compromising the bass volume. This voicing gives the D Model a more even balance and a greater versatility than traditionally braced dreadnoughts.

The Santa Cruz Guitar Company Dreadnought Model was carefully conceived to accommodate the modern player's need for sophisticated balance with more substance in midrange and treble. To deliver these qualities in the acceptable dreadnought-sized body required a very non-traditional approach, as compared to the factory offerings of the day. Using time honored lutherie skills, SCGC created a Trojan Horse - familiar on the outside, dangerous on the inside. SCGC's innovative D Model remains a mainstay of artists who require acoustic volume without compromising the quality of higher frequencies.

This special Santa Cruz Custom D model was made in 2000 and features a stunning set of flamed Koa on the back and sides.  Koa, like Mahogany, has a relatively high velocity of sound when considered as materials for backs and sides and thus contribute much to overtone coloration. Where rosewood guitars can be thought of as having a reverby, sometimes "metallic" sound, mahogany and koa guitars are better described as sounding "woody."  Between the two, koa seems to have a little more fullness in the midrange, while mahogany tends to favor the bass (to some extent) and the treble.  The Koa on this guitar is rich and powerful with a focus in the midrange that seems to fall in between mahogany and rosewood.  The high end is crystal clear without being overpowering.  The tapered X bracing is advanced so that the bass is not lost with Koa back and sides.

This guitar also features a custom nut width of 1 3/4" which makes playing complex chord shapes a breeze.  The fretboard and headstock are bound in Ivoroid and is a classy upgrade on this D model.  The dalmatian pickgaurd and ebony tuner buttons seal the deal... this guitar is gorgeous!

This guitar shows a single dent on the top below the pickguard, shown in the photograph.  There is a few spots where the finish is checking around the bindings, common as Nitro finishes age, also pictured.  There is a blemish on the upper bout that was in the wood at the factory before the finish was applied, also pictured. Original hardshell case included.

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