Product: Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
11/15/2006
at
05:01pm
by
Paul Goricki
Features
:
9
My 2006 Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner is based upon the venerable slope shoulder short scale Gibson dreadnoughts of the 1940s. The VS is flawlessly constructed, having a sunburst Carpathian Spruce top (European Spruce) and a Mahogany neck, back and sides. It's the lightest guitar I've owned and yet it is obviously built to last. The neck feels just right for my average-size hand and the tuners are Santa Cruz's high-end ivoroid buttons. I'll rate the instrument a 9 for features, because it lacks built-in electronics or an onboard tuner, if you're interested in that stuff. I'm not.
Sound
:
10
I bought the VS because I simply got tired of the sound of my great sounding Martin HD 28, which I had owned 14 years. I wanted a new sound and the Vintage Southerner has it- punchy, but sweet- and surprise- a beautiful sound at all levels up the fingerboard. It's not a do everything guitar or a D28 or an auditorium-size guitar. It is what it is- it's tone and power suit the singer/songwriter stuff I do- mostly rhythm work with arpeggios. A breathtaking sound... a Mercedes-level J-45.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Just what you'd expect from an expensive instrument-
first-rate quality.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
The finish on the VS is nitro. I'm a bit of a "pounder" so I immediately sent the guitar to Dan Roberts for an additional piece of pickguard material around the soundhole. What he and his luthier buddy did to the guitar was great- an addition that is both functional and tasteful. I also added a strap button- why are guitars sold with just an endpin, anyway?
Customer Support
:
10
To discuss my guitar with the guy who built was a unique experience for me. Who knows it better than the luthier? The warranty is lifetime to the original owner. The Santa Cruz Guitar Company is known for its relaxed, helpful service.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've played guitar for about 38 years and I owned a lot of acoustic guitars during that time: Silvertone, Gibson, Taylor, Martin, etc. The Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner suits my needs now. The guitar has resurrected my interest in playing acoustic guitar. There really is no substitute for a good high-end acoustic guitar.
