Santa Cruz OM/PW

Understated elagance - no bling! Indian Rosewood back and side, Sitka top - SC Tuners; standard scale length etc. Date on this guitar June 26, 2008.

Best sounding guitar I've ever played!

What can I say.... the finish and workmanship on this guitar is perfect!!! Finish is drop dead gorgeous!

I expect this guitar to last me a life time with very little maintenance. It is light and very well built.

Customer service is the best! Have been on the phone with SC asking dumb questions, and they were very gracious and helpful.

2008 - Sitka Top, Rosewood back and side, ebony fret board, Understated elegance - Beautiful finish, OM style, Santa Cruz tuners, Neck is just right.

I have been playing for 35 years... and this one is my "holy grail!" The sound is warm, punchy, ballanced... I love it!! Best sounding guitar I've ever played.

Finish is perfect

This guitar is light but well built and should last a life time.

Great. I've called the company twice for basic information about the guitar... and they were very gracious.

I wish I had this guitar 30 years ago. I compared it with Martin OMs' and Collings OMs'.... In my opinion, this guitar reigns! And yes, if it were stolen I would definitely replace it.

OM style body. Indian Rosewood sides and back and a Sitka spruce solid top. Handbuilt in the USA.

This guitar is a very nice sounding guitar. It is excellent for fingerstyle guitar. It has a very nice "piano like" bass and maintains a very rich, full sound as you move up to the higher strings. When you hit a note the guitar resonates beautifully with natural harmonics. It's really a great guitar for the price and when I bought it I compared it with countless other guitars, more or less expensive, and found this one to stand out in its price range.

It came really well set up and is a very playable guitar. Action was maybe a bit higher than I desired but after a bit of adjustment at the store it ended up pretty ok. The finish is simpler because of the lower price, but still very nice in my opinion. I personally prefer simpler looking guitars.

So far so good. I know Santa Cruz guitars are known to be fragile (lighter bracing which means more vibrations from the top), but if they are kept adequately humidified they should be fine. I live in Canada where it's dry in the winter. I only use a Planet Waves humidifier in the soundhole, and this have worked out fine so far.

Haven't had any use for customer support yet.

I have been playing guitar for 20+ years, but fingerstyle for only 3-4 years.
I love the sound of this guitar. When I bought this guitar I was initially looking for a guitar in the $500-1000 price range. I ended up buying a much more expensive guitar, but with this guitar I just love picking it up and just strumming or playing melodies. I've played soo much more than I would have on a cheaper guitar. I played so much I wore out the frets pretty fast.

Built in June 2002 (this is written in pencil on the inside of the top). I bought it new in June 2003. Standard OM/PW with open-back Grover tuners. Simple appointments, but built and woods are top quality, which is how I like it. Beautiful sitka top with even silking all over. The top was quite pale at first, but now has a warm honeyed color with the cross-grain becoming more apparent. Forward-shifted, scalloped braces that are a work of art in themselves. I have to peep inside with a mirror almost every time I change strings. Back and sides are close-grained, very dark rosewood. The neck is a beautiful piece of close-grained, dark stained mahogany, with a very comfortable soft v-shape. Frets are fairly thin. Beautifully shaped ebony bridge (more rounded than Martin) with countersunk ebony bridge pins and a bone saddle with a z-shaped edge for proper intonation. Bevelled soundhole and pickguard. My only slight cosmetic dislike is the black plastic fretboard binding, which looks just too much like plastic next to the ebony fretboard. It's no big deal, but I would have preferred no binding at all and either a lower price or Waverly tuners instead, which is why I give it a 9.

I play almost exclusively solo fingerstyle in a variety of styles (John Fahey, John Renbourn, Jacques Stotzem...), both with fingerpicks and bare fingers. The guitar is versatile enough to fit these different styles. The overall sound is warm, dark and rich, with a firm, slightly dry and woody bass that can be loud and punchy if you dig in. Trebles are bright, full and rounded no matter how high you go (I hate thin, metallic trebles) with a hot midrange. The sound is well balanced between the registers. Despite the naturally strong bass, it is easy to put more emphasis on the treble if you want to. The sound has the definition and clarity of a mahogany body but with the warmth and depth of rosewood. It's a joy to play fast alternating bass patterns a la Fahey because the notes will never get blurred. The rich, rounded tone make slow lyrical pieces stand out very well too. There are absolutely no dead spots, no frequencies dominating others. The dynamic range is very good. It responds equally well to a soft touch with bare fingers as to agressive picking with fingerpicks and thumbpick. Sustain is good, but not impressive, especially when fretting notes on the bass strings. Maybe you can't have a precise, punchy bass and endless sustain at the same time.

The action was too high at the nut. I know action is a matter of personal preference, and that it is better to have it too high than too low, but I think almost any player would have agreed on this. Once adjusted however, the guitar played like a dream.
The top is so perfectly bookmatched that it is very hard to see where the two pieces meet. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish is perfectly applied and the inside is as neat as the outside. The fretwork is very impressive, but the thin frets wear out quickly (OK, I play a lot). I will have to replace the frets in the near future, maybe with medium high frets.
The tuners work very well, but the plating on one of them is peeling off. This shouldn't happen on a guitar in this price range. Maybe I'll replace them with the new SCGC tuners. I still give this category a 9 because the rest of the guitar is absolutely flawless.

I don't gig, but I take this guitar to camps and workshops and to play with friends. The finish is nitrocellulose lacquer and is easily scratched superficially. I don't really mind scratches and dings that come from lots of playing, but I hate stupid bumps against chairs, mic stands etc. so I take care of it. I intend to keep this guitar for a long time, and in good shape. I wouldn't use it in crowded bars or outdoor events. Too expensive for that.

I've emailed the company with regard to the tuners and received a prompt and friendly reply that answered my question. Otherwise I haven't dealt with them and hope I won't need to.

Been playing for 20+ years. I'm an amateur player and never had much gear, just a few nice guitars (Guild D-25, Gibson L-00, Larrivee DV-09). Presently I have this one and a Larrivee OM-01. The OM/PW is by far the best of them all. I compared it to the usual brands, and this one stood out above the rest (along with other SC models which were too expensive). There was a Martin OM-28V that came very close, but this one sounded a bit more rounded and richer and I liked its looks better. I also love Lowden (now Avalon) guitars, but they are very different beasts. Although I spent a lot more money than I originally intended, I love the sound, the playability and looks of this guitar (in that order)and play more and better (hope so!) than ever so it was certainly worth it. There is nothing I hate about it, although I don't like to think of the state of my bank account after the purchase. I wouldn't say it's "fantastic value", it's a really great guitar that is priced right, and certainly one of the best in its category. So I give it a 9. If lost etc. I would go shopping for another model (and maybe end up with the same, maybe not) because I just love to do that. But I have a strong feeling that I must never sell this guitar because I would very much regeret it afterwards. And now stop reading this and play your guitar.

Basic but beautiful. Guitar is surprisingly light. After playing this guitar, my high end Gibson feels heavy and clunky. Craftmanship is superb all around.

Sounds like an orchestra. Amazing volume for such a light body. Again, blows away my Gibson. Great guitar for fingerpicking.

Excellent all around. Plays like an electric. Action was great as new and required little adjustment. Guitar never goes out of tune. Even with a new set of strings without stretching, keeps its pitch.

Don't think the guitar can handle heavy bluegrass strings so serious flatpickers should stay clear.

Since it's light I see it as being more delicate. No flaws as far as construction. I often wondered how a "plain guitar" like this costs as much as it does. Play one for a month and you'll see the money goes towards only the things that matter - sound, construction, attention to detail.

No kidding, I'm sold on Santa Cruz guitars. I'm now saving for a Tony Rice Model. This is a gushing review I know, but I don't think I trust another guitar company after playing the OM-PW. Too think it's one of their most basic models too!

Outstanding. The cost will set you back, but you'll be so pleased with a Santa Cruz you won't think about. I mean, you probably play guitar more than you drive your car, so why not spend a little on a guitar you won't have any regrets about?

The best features of this guitar are the most important features of all.The Way it looks the way it sounds and the way it feels. I just
really cant imagine it getting better than this OM-PW, and I
am a glass is half full kind of person. A sweet spruce top so clean
I think i can see the future. Rosewood back and sides that are almost as rich as the very tone they help to create. The neck feels like a friends handshake. Mahogony and Ebony grace the left hand. Yea!
its that good. I spend way to much time in Music stores and I have played a ton of guitars. These are fine instruments. Twelve people
work in the shop that produces this guitar. Thats not a factory,
thats a custom shop and you can tell in a matter of seconds.

I like to play many different styles of music. Finger picking, blues, rock, old country, whatever mood I happen to be in. This om-pw
to my ears does them all very, very, well. The sound is rich but not to much bass. Its full and still has a top end. Rich and sweet. I can
feel it resonate against my chest as I play it Damn!

top-notch

Solid! but treat it like a piece of art. Take care of it!

learn about Humidity I need to learn how to spell

I love em and I leave em but this will be for life. I love it!

Basic box to look at. Was the best sounding in the store when I bought it about a year ago. There is nothing special in this one.
Great sound and playablility has the standard tuners not the expensive oen ... works fine. You get what the description says.

Very nice case. The end pin catches on the lining as it fit so tight. But it sure doesn't rattle around.

This is where it shines ... one of the best acoustic flattops I have heard. I also play a Collings D1A. The OM PW is not as good as the Collings but it a rosewood box ... it is very different guitar ... but it also has great sound.

Perfect no problems ... nothing fancy but that is the way I like em'.
Can't pick the fancy stuff. Fully functional and more than adequate.

Setup is a matter of taste ... I had to cut the saddle down some and may have to lower the nut eventually.

I have very good luck with DAdderio EXP strings but they kill my fingers and have too much string noise for the studio. Elixir Nano light 12 to 52 work better.

Not any complaints so far. Tuners are a little loose feeling but mechanically fine.

I do keep a hudimifier in the case ... as AC and heat in the house is hard on the good wood insruments.

No opinion ... as I have had no issues.

I sent the factory an email and told then what a nice job they did on building this particular OM. Got a nice reply, it impressed me that someone took the time to answer.

I been playing all type of guitars for 50 years or better. Into Bluegrass for the past 10 years. I currently play in a hot picking band so playability and sound are where it's at .. we do a lot of swing and border on jazz as well ... I ain't into pretty but I'm big on function. I generally use the Collings on Stage .. and the ON PW for jamming ... but would not hesitate to use it too.
I believe part of the secret in the OM great sound is the small box... I find most of the larger boxes too bassey to us in a pure acoustic setting like we play. The OM is very efficient a mid range and the top is loose enough at the edges of the top to let it vibrate. The volume is susprising and like I said ...great tone.

Also I belive the one I have is one of those rare instruments when everything came together the right way. The day I bought it I played every guitar in the store .. the high end Taylors and the several Tony Rice modles as well ... this little OM was by far the best guitar in the store.

Expensive but worth it.

Not sure how applicable this is? Lack of ornate features and simple styling was what attracted me to this guitar in the first place. Can't pretend to have enough experience to say how much the advanced 'X' bracing has to do with the sound of this guitar, or how it would compare to the standard OM model. I give it a "10" as it has all the features I want in a guitar and everything is very high quality.

This is the main reason I'm adding my review. My dealer mentioned this guitar opened up more and quicker than any guitar he has ever had. He didn't feel it was a dog when it first arrived, but wasn't until it had been in the shop several weeks and had some playing time that it started to get attention. I've owned it almost a year, and even though it's hard to compare over that period of time, I'm confident it's continuing to improve significantly! Have been so impressed with it, that I just bought the Santa Cruz dreadnought P/W version. The bigger guitar obviously has a deeper, more booming bass and I'm very happy with it, but the thing I keep thinking is I prefer the OM/PW in every other way. If I'm lucky, the dreadnought will improve as much as the OM has. At this point I prefer the sound of the smaller guitar over anything I've owned. At one time in addition to the OM/PW I also had a 30 year old Martin 000 and a newer Larrivee OM. Sold them both as it didn't make much sense to keep guitars I didn't play. Even my friends who are diehard Martin fans would admit the 000 didn't come close in any way. I hope I'm still around when this one turns 30! I use it primarily for fingerstyle, but it has plenty of punch for group playing. Never had a small(er)-bodied guitar with such full low and mid range.

I've never seen a Santa Cruz with anything but incredible fit and finish. Factory set up was good. On the advice of my dealer I had a lower saddle cut for seasonal humidity changes. Works very well.

Of course this is just a guess, but I haven't seen anything that gives me any concern about how it will hold up over time. One of the things that I like best is it's very light construction, so I wouldn't subject it to harsh conditions. The only other guitar I own that has a similar light feel is a Gibson L-00. It's still going strong after 65 years and I can't help but think the Santa Cruz is constructed at least as well as a depression era budget model.

Don't want to sound like I can't be critical, but have only had one contact with the factory - a few days ago before I bought my 2nd Santa Cruz. They were very helpful and took the time to thoroughly answer everything I asked even though it must get tiring responding to calls like mine. Limited lifetime warranty. My dealer gives them high marks.

I'm not immune to incredible craftmanship, but don't rate fit and finish anywhere near sound. This guitar has both! I have a weakness for buying guitars and have had quite a few. Can say without hesitation that this is the last one I'd want to lose. Would replace it in a heartbeat. Even if it's sound stabilizes at this point (and I don't have any reason to suspect it won't continue to improve) it will remain my favorite guitar. If you prefer ornate decoration, this probably wouldn't be the model to consider. The combination of size, quality, and especially sound make it exactly what I'm after in a guitar.

Over 25" scale string length. Indian Rosewood back and sides. Spruce top. Open Grover Tuners. 1 3/4" nut. Included case. Fairly plain guitar, which I like. See the Santa Cruz Guitar web site.

Balanced. Sweet. Clear but beautiful sustain. Perhaps more bass or midrange than most guitars of this size. And thus more volume.

Perfectly set up. Great Finish. Hey, this counts more than features.

The Guitar has an amazingly live sound for a box that seems so solid.

Emailed the company once and they got right back!

I've been playing 37 years. No guitar does everything well. Every player needs 10. I bought this guitar because it suits my style well. It came with Elixer strings and that is what I keep on it. I fingerpick and flatpick churchlick style and play alot of simple bar chords when singing. This guitar is great for the first two and OK for the third. Read what the maker says on their web site about the bracing style of this guitar. Blues fingerpickers may want a raunchier manhogany sound. Pure swing players may want a sharper chop chord sound. Lead guitarists may want a shriller treble to cut through the band. But if you want a beautiful round tone that rings well with itself and that still allows lovely distinct notes, this guitar does it. And when I say rich or sweet, don't think bland. There is an important element of power or depth behind the fullness of the sound. I like the wide nut. I went from a shorter scale length OM with a narrower neck and am still adjusting this guitar. Note that scale length and nut width make a big difference. If you fingerpick or play flatpick within chords a lot--as in church lick style--the wider nut is wonderful. It helps you articulate--play cleanly. The longer scale length gives more tension--making for a little more force needed and much quicker response. The setup was the best I've ever seen on a new guitar. Let me digress...there is nothing I hate more about looking at new guitars than off-intonation and bungled action. There are companies building a lot of guitars that are very very good until it comes to making them playable. If you want a guitar to ring with itself instead of against itself the intontation must be correct. And all the sound in the world isn't going to help if the action isnt't the best.... I was and am very impressed with the factory setup of this guitar. I've had this guitar months now and it is still pretty tight sounding. This is partly the longer scale length and partly its newness I suspect. It seems to have a narrow comfortable volume level. This makes the dynamics subtle and makes it nice recording. For live acoustic performing, there are louder strummers. If you hit these strings hard they do not loose any tone but do not necessarily get hugely louder. This is a guitar for players who want precision, expression and a rounded rich tone for strumming or fingerpicking. It is going to be hard to find a guitar with this playability and this sound anywhere near this price. Check this one out. I like it a lot.

My Santa Cruz OM/PW was built in 2000.It is solid Rosewood back and sides of the highest quality with a gorgeous solid Spruce top.I bought her without a pickup.Tommy Allen, owner of West Mobile Music in Mobile,Alabama sold me a Sunrise pickup and pre-amp.The pre-war tuners seem to work well and I perceive no problems with them.As stated in the previous review, this is a well built handmade guitar.This guitar is simple elegance.

I mainly play at church and at nursing homes and my OM/PW has a great and responsive sound. I especially like the way it sounds with my SWR California Blonde (which I also bought from Tommy's West Mobile Music).It has encouraged me to do some writing of songs and to be creative in my playing style.The sound is definitely rich and full and sounds much bigger than it's size. I have owned many other high end guitars over the years and this one seems to be a keeper.Of course my friends will laugh when they read this, since I do not keep a guitar very long.This Santa Cruz may be different, guys !

Excellent set up and of course I rely on Tommy at West Mobile Music to take care of me there with all my collection.There are no flaws on this guitar except for hang marks from hanging on a guitar hanger.It seems that Santa Cruz guitars are notorious for this.It must be a reaction to the lacquer.My OM/PW is very well made with no mistakes,the bookmatching and fit and finish are superb.Thanks to the careful eye of the Richard Hoover team.

This has been a very dependable guitar so far and I will definitely rely on it.Oh, and she has a lifetime warranty.

I haven't had to deal with any warranty issues thus far but I don't expect any problems. Santa Cruz is a rock solid company. If I do need any adjustments or minor repairs, I do feel very confident with my local Santa Cruz dealer at West Mobile Music.Tommy is well liked in this industry and gets calls from around the world about guitars. Santa Cruz has the best dealers in my opinion but I believe they have the best dealer in my home town.

I have been playing since 1970 and have owned lots of high end guitars. I presently have narrowed down my collection to a Tom Anderson Classic, Fender "Evil Twin" amp,Gibson Limited Edition ES-135,Santa Cruz OM/PW, SWR California Blonde.I would hate it if it were stolen, but would make a bee line to see Tommy the next day for another.Compared to other OM's, Larrivee makes a nice guitar (I had owned 3) and Goodall makes a Grand Concert which is nice.Santa Cruz wins out over them all for what I needed at this time. I am well pleased.

This Santa Cruz OM/PW was made in 2001. It has a Sitka spruce top and Indian rosewood sides and back. All solid wood construction... no laminates here. The neck is mahogany with 20 frets, 14 to the body. The body is finished in a mirror perfect high gloss lacquer and the neck in a satin lacquer.

The body style is "orchestra" or 000. The orchestra designation indicates 14 frets to the body and a scale length of 25.375" as opposed to the shorter scaled Martin 000 standard(24.9). The guitar has Grover "vintage style" open geared tuners, a lovely wood herringbone rossette, the way cool Santa Cruz logo set in abalone in the headstock, 2mm pearl dot position markers and came with a top of the line TDK hardshell case.

It's not a "flashy" guitar, but it is (in an understated way) very elegant.

The guitar more or less perfectly suits the styles of music I play... old time country/string band music with side trips into bluegrass and jug band music. I am primarily a flatpicker as you might have guessed.

The tonality of this instrument is nothing short of astounding. The "PW" in the name stands for Pre-War and indicates a forward shifted bracing pattern that enables the guitar to deliver an exceptional amount of bass/lower mid-range for a body of this size (15.2" lower bout). It does this without sacrificing a bright open treble end. And then there's the volume... man, does this thing pump out sound. When you listen you get the feeling you're playing a small drednaught rather than a smaller bodied instrument.

The guitar is remarkably responsive and can whisper or growl based on the player's atack with the pick. I have a Gibson J-45 which also exhibits this quality. I have yet to push this instrument beyond the limits of its headroom. With fairly aggressive picking the sound holds together and remains crystal clear and at times almost exhibits a reberverative quality.

Do I like this guitar? No, I love this guitar. I have had a number of acoustics over the years, many of which left my possesssion without a tear shed. From the moment I picked this guitar up and played that first run I knew that, like my J-45, this guitar would be with me for life.

I'm a bit on the obsessive side and have never had an instrument come from the factory set up to my satisfaction, that is until this Santa Cruz came along. It has a bone nut and saddle and the set up was flawless. I'll give it a few months to settle in and then perhaps take it to my local luthier for adjustment, but "out of the box" the OM/PW was set up perfectly, to my mind, a testement to Santa Cruz's attention to detail.

All woods are perfectly bookmatched and flawlessly finished. Again, I'd say this is a testement to Santa Cruz's attention to detail. The bone nut and saddle wer carved to a delightful level of perfection. Sorry if I sound overly enthusiastic, but this guitar really merits superlatives.

The instruments appears and feels rock solid so I'd have to say it could withstand the rigors of gigging. Re: the hardware... guess I would have preferred Waverly tuners so we'll have to see how these vintage Grovers hold up. For the moment, the're smooth and accurate.

The finish is perfectly applied and I'm sure quite durable. Even though this is Santa Cruz's least expensive guitar the didn't seem to skimp on any assembly related features/quality. Lacquers can be subject to checking if exposed to temperature extremes and are also somewhat more sensitive to sweat, oils, etc. than a polymer finish. I sure with appropriate care this finish will be as handsome 20 years down the road as it is today.

I have an unquestionable feeling of quality as regards all aspects of this guitar so I guess I'd have to say yes to the dependibility question and yes, I would gig with it sans a backup instrument.

I've only contacted Santa Cruz once via e-mail prior to buying the guitar as I was curious as to which Santa Cruz they felt migh be my best choice for the style of music I play. Their response was prompt and thoughtful.

The guitar is warranteed for life to the original owner and I have little doubt that Santa Cruz would honor this warrantee at any point down the road. The comapny as a whole seems to reflect a high degree of pride in their instruments.

I've been playing (dare I say it) for 35 years. As mentioned, I own a Gibson J-45 (which I also love). Over the years I've owned Matins, Larrivees and Taylors. Many of these guitars, while good instruments, left my hands willingly as I traded one for another. My J-45 and now this OM/PW will be with me until I get planted!

I have an SWR California Blond acoustic amp, Alesis NanoVerb effects unit, Boss AD-5 acoustic instrument processor, Boss TU-12H tuner, some good microphones and other odds and ends. I'm not really much of a gear head. I like to keep it simple.

As you might have guessed, I'm utterly satisfied with this guitar so I don't feel as if any questions weent unanswered prior to purchase. If it were lost or stolen first I'd cry, then I'd call the insurance company and then order another one to be shipped overnight!

What do I love about the instrument? The sound man, the sound. It is beautifully musical. I love the size. I'm not a big guy and I can really wrap myself around this little sweetheart. It's beautiful to look at (simple, understated, flawlessly constructed) and even more of a joy to play. This guitar makes me a better player. Not to beat a dead horse, but the only other guitar I've owned that has given me this feeling is my J-45. For me it's a "lifetime" instrument.

I do wish it had the higher end Waverley tuners, but these Grovers seem pretty solid. I can't imagine Santa Cruz would put junk on any of their instruments. Time will tell how well the Grovers hold up, continuing with their present smooth/tigh response.

By now you've no doubt gathered that I love this guitar. Playing it is an absolute unbridled pleasure. At around $2,000 I'd have to say a guitar of this quality is a bargain. The appointments are simple... no flashy inlays... but still beautifully elegant.

If your considering a Taylor or Martin in this price range you owe it to yourself to give one of these a try. You will not be disappointed.