Santa Cruz 50th Anniversary Model H - Sitka Spruce & Indian Rosewood #1972

Few names in modern lutherie carry the same weight as Richard Hoover, founder of Santa Cruz Guitar Company. Since opening the doors of his small California workshop in the 1970s, Hoover has spent decades refining a singular philosophy: that a great guitar should feel alive in the player's hands. His instruments are celebrated not only for their craftsmanship, but for their soul, each one shaped with an obsessive attention to detail and an ear tuned toward balance, responsiveness, and beauty. The Santa Cruz 50th Anniversary H stands as a tribute to that remarkable legacy.

Built with a finely voiced Sitka spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, the 50th Anniversary H offers the kind of timeless pairing that has defined many of Santa Cruz's most beloved instruments. The Sitka top delivers clarity, power, and a wide dynamic range, while the Indian rosewood brings depth, rich overtones, and a warm, lingering bloom to every note. Together they create a voice that is articulate yet full-bodied, equally suited to delicate fingerstyle passages and powerful flatpicked runs.

Visually, this commemorative model is every bit as striking as its sound. Grained ivoroid body and fingerboard bindings frame the instrument with a classic elegance, while the combo purfle top border and matching combo purfle rosette add subtle complexity and refinement. The distinctive S29 backstrip provides a tasteful finishing touch down the center of the Indian rosewood back. At the heel, a grained ivoroid cap proudly bears the number "50," a quiet but meaningful reminder of the half century of craftsmanship and innovation this guitar celebrates.

The Honduran mahogany neck features Santa Cruz's comfortable round neck profile, giving the instrument an immediately familiar feel that invites long hours of playing. An ebony fingerboard and bridge provide a smooth, solid playing surface and contribute to the guitar's articulate attack and lasting sustain. The elegant VJ headstock shape, capped with an ebony veneer, recalls the classic lines of vintage American guitars while remaining unmistakably Santa Cruz. Black side dots keep the look understated and clean, while nickel Waverly tuning machines offer precise, reliable tuning with a touch of old-world style.

Every dimension of the 50th Anniversary H has been carefully chosen for comfort and performance. Its 25.375-inch scale length gives the guitar excellent tension and projection, while the 1 11/16-inch nut width and 2 3/16-inch bridge spacing strike a perfect balance between effortless chording and spacious fingerstyle technique. Remarkably lightweight at just 3 pounds 15 ounces, this guitar feels incredibly resonant in hand, as though every piece of wood is working together in harmony.

Protected in an Ameritage hard case, the Santa Cruz 50th Anniversary H is more than a commemorative instrument. It is a celebration of Richard Hoover's enduring vision and a reminder of why Santa Cruz Guitar Company has remained one of the most respected names in acoustic guitars for fifty years.

Other specifications include:

• Sitka Spruce Top
• Indian Back & Sides
• Grained Ivoroid Body & Fingerboard Bindings
• Grained Ivoroid Heel Cap with "50"
• Combo Purfle Top Border
• Combo Purfle Rosette
• S29 Backstrip
• Honduran Mahogany Neck
• Ebony Fingerboard Bridge
• VJ Headstock Shape
• Ebony Headstock Veneer
• Round Neck Profile
• Black Side Dots
• Nickel Waverly Tuning Machines
• Ameritage Hard Case
• 25.375" Scale Length
• 1 11/16" Nut Width
• 2 3/16" Bridge Spacing
• 3 lb 15 oz
• #1972

For more information about the Santa Cruz 50th Anniversary Model H, please contact us.