So...you want a small guitar, but a LOUD guitar, something comfortable, but with depth and dimensionality. Something different. Something that covers a lot of territory with looks that kill. 

Look no more. This H13 from Santa Cruz is the answer. For those of us torn between small and large guitars, 12 and 14fret, this historic compromise sounds like nothing else. 

From the days of Nick Lucas, to the era Dylan, this body style has proven a favorite, and Santa Cruzs interpretation, as usual, surpasses even the original. It's a showman's instrument as designed by a master wood-whisperer. A "Stradivarius" blues box. 

What’s up with thirteen frets? The historical precedent for this classic shape was the Gibson "Nick Lucas Special" from the 1920s and '30s, the one Bob Dylan holds in early photos. The “H” designation is an acknowledgement to the guardian of the lore of all things vintage and stringed, Maestro Paul Hostetter, who commissioned SCGC to build the prototype in 1978. In spite of the question of whether the historic 13 frets to the body had any basis in acoustic science, our reason for using it does.

SCGC’s concept for the H-13 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 (more downward pressure at the saddle) and more air space via a deeper body (increased volume and bass response). 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. Cool, huh? This is a gorgeous classic with power and presence expected from a much larger instrument. Perfect for aggressive fingerstyle blues and vocal accompaniment, the H-13 feels really sweet to hold.

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