Sound Pure's Take

Condition: Used, Very Good

You'd be hard-pressed to find many dreadnoughts that sound better and play easier than this Santa Cruz D-12. It screams old-school elegance, from the herringbone purfling and rosette to the slotted headstock with butterbean tuners, but the throwbacks don't stop with aesthetics. The 12-fret design with a shorter-scale, soft-V neck contributes to a classic sound and feel perfectly complementing the vintage look, and that timeless sound is naturally accentuated by the warm woodiness of those mahogany back and sides and rounded tone of the Sitka spruce top. Combined with a 1.75" nut width, you get an extremely versatile guitar that accommodates any playing style, from well-balanced strumming to delicate, expressive fingerpicking. The only facet pointing to a 21st-century guitar is the included LR Baggs system, allowing you to plug in and play with clarity and confidence from studio to stage.

SP Luthier Notes: Partial refret (7) and setup

From Santa Cruz Guitars

Legendary artist and first call session ace, Norman Blake, has long appreciated the power and sensitivity of the original dreadnought design with 12 frets clear of the body. SCGC’s prototype D-12 Model was commissioned to showcase Norman’s playing style by adding clarity and sustain for an articulate response to the flat pick. Building a guitar with 12 frets clear of the body creates more air volume, which allows greater amplitude and sustain. The hand tuned X-bracing insures increased bass response, while the top voicing and 4-1/4 inch sound hole size combine to achieve great presence in all ranges. This eliminates the tendency of the traditional dreadnought towards boominess at the expense of midrange and treble. The controlled integrity of Mahogany sides and back impart clarity and definition to the guitar’s complex acoustic presence. The D-12’s sheer volume, complexity and incredible sustain make it a truly inspiring stage partner.
Model
D-12
Serial
6134
Year
2010
Body Wood
Mahogany
Body Finish
Clear/Buffed
Top Wood
Sitka Spruce
Top Finish
Tinted
Back Stripe
Zipper
Binding
Ivoroid
Side Purfling
None
Rosette
Herringbone
Top Purfling
Herringbone
Bracing/Voicing
Scalloped
Neck Finish
Clear/Matte
Width at Nut
1 3/4"
Fingerboard
Ebony
Peghead
Slotted
Peghead Binding
None
Peghead Overlay
Ebony
Headstock Inlay
SCGC Mini
Bridge
Ebony
Scale Length
Short Scale
Neck Shape
Round
Side Dots
White
Fingerboard Inlay
Long Diamond & Squares
Neck Width at 12th Fret
2 3/16"
Fingerboard Binding
Black
Pickguard
Tortoise
Tuners
Nickel Waverly
Electronics
L.R. Baggs Anthem
Case
Hardshell

Warranty

This item is sold without the Sound Pure 3-year warranty (used / B-stock / dealer-exempt). Coverage terms for items in this category live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Returns

Try Before You Buy: take it home, commit only when it's right. Program details →

Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

Come hear it in our control rooms.

Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.