This guitar is simply breathtaking. After carefully setting it up, the Santa Cruz 1934 D has surpassed all expectations, outshining every other guitar in my collection. And that’s a collection that includes some truly exceptional instruments: two other Santa Cruz OM models, a Collings OM, a Bourgeois D Vintage Heirloom, and a Huss and Dalton TD-R. Yet, this 1934 D possesses a feel and sonic character that places it in a league of its own.
My sincere gratitude goes to the Santa Cruz Guitar Company for their unparalleled attention to detail and exquisite craftsmanship. While I have experienced Brazilian Rosewood guitars before – from brands like Martin, Taylor, and Bourgeois – and appreciated the nuanced tonal differences compared to East Indian Rosewood, none truly justified the premium price, even when those guitars were significantly less expensive than this 1934 D.
What sets the Santa Cruz 1934 D apart is not just the use of Brazilian Rosewood, but the utilization of genuine old-growth Brazilian Rosewood – “the good stuff,” as aficionados say. This guitar amplifies the desirable qualities I’ve noted in other Brazilian Rosewood instruments, elevating them to an entirely new level. This is unequivocally a lifetime instrument, an heirloom piece in both its visual beauty and its sonic magnificence.
Incredibly, this particular guitar was just completed earlier this year. It’s currently at what is theoretically its sonic starting point, the “worst it is ever going to sound,” and it’s already the finest guitar I have ever played. The prospect of how its tone will evolve and deepen in the years ahead is simply thrilling. The Santa Cruz 1934 D is not just a guitar; it’s an investment in a legacy of sound.
