Tipping a cap to the man at the helm of Santa Cruz Guitar Company for 50 years, guitar #20,000 is a one-of-kind solute to founder Richard Hoover. All old Growth Mahogany H13 model with full body sunburst, a favorite for Richard and crew, is graced with stunning Purple Heart century block fretboard inlays with inlay of Richard working on a build in the early days make up of wood and Pearl plus Pearl inlays of significant dates to Richard and SCGC at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 15th and 17th frets with Ebony fleur de lis accents. The slotted headstock overlay is beautifully done with Purple Heart overlay with Ebony Fleur de lis and Gold Pearl 20,000 inlay and logo to match. Both fretboard and headstock are edged in Abalone Pearl trim while the Purple Heart pyramid bridge with matching inlays complete the accents. Are you looking for a one of a kind collector’s build? A 1 of 1? A unique guitar with significance? Look no further than #20,000.
Features include cowboy rope purfling graces the top border as well as the back and double backstrip, full backlit tortoise bound body, fretboard and headstock grace the edges, and Mother of Pearl rosette, custom tortoise wedge, Waverly Gold engraved tuners, old growth Mahogany neck with slotted headstock, 1 3/4″ nut width and more. Interior label signed by Richard Hoover.
The Santa Cruz story of #20,000
At the core of this special build is full-body old-growth Mahogany, a material chosen not just for its beauty, but for its provenance and expressive tonal character. Within Santa Cruz’ shop, Richard Hoover has long championed Mahogany as a serious tonewood: he observed that mahogany’s articulation, clarity and mid-range presence offered a compelling alternative to Rosewood. This guitar carries forward that legacy — the backs, sides (and neck) crafted from select old-growth Mahogany, paired with voicing and bracing tuned to highlight the wood’s responsiveness, warm fundamentals and crisp articulation.
Embedded in the fretboard is a timeline of defining dates in the Santa Cruz Guitar Company narrative:
- •10-69: The year Richard built his first guitar
- •2-72: Richard and Beth’s hippy wedding
- •7-77: The year Richard met Tony Rice
- •10-79: The year Eric Clapton sent a letter commissioning Richard and the company for a guitar
- •01-86: The year Richard met Happy Traum
- •12-89: The year Richard bought out his last partner and took sole leadership of the company
- •9-2026: Celebrating 50 years of Santa Cruz Guitar Company!
In addition to the date-markers, a custom inlay portrait of Richard appears on the fretboard — a quiet homage to the maker, the mission and the hands that shaped the vision.
This instrument is built to play like a finely tuned heirloom. The old-growth Mahogany gives rich and resonant tone throughout the register: fast-responding, warm in the bass, clear and articulate in the mid-range and sweet in the treble. This guitar stands at the intersection of milestone and craft. It isn’t just the 20,000th instrument built—it is a statement: of what the Santa Cruz Guitar Company has always stood for; a tribute to the hands and history behind its creation; and an invitation to the next player or collector ready to carry it forward.
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SCGC’s concept for the H13 is to achieve power beyond what would be expected in a small-bodied guitar. Two fundamental lutherie tricks make this possible. A longer string length (increased saddle pressure) and more air space via a deeper body (increased volume/bass). To place the bridge in the optimal position for power and maintain the longer string length, the neck needs to join the body at the 13th fret. Matched with the deeper body (4 7/8″), this is a gorgeous classic with power and presence expected from a much larger instrument. This body size is the perfect vehicle for the all old growth Mahogany #20,000.
Includes Ameritage hardshell case and Lifetime Warranty.
Free shipping in the continental United States.
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