The new SCGC RS model is another modern interpretation of a vintage Gibson jumbo. We have had great successes with our previous "Slope Shoulder Classic" inspired instruments. For these slope shoulder jumbos we choose perfectly quarter sawn, narrow, stiff, spruce brace stock, and then we double taper it. The first taper extends out beyond the bridge plate and then the second taper drops to the linings. This heavily knifed bracing style is something unique to Santa Cruz that we developed exclusively to create the woody, dry, explosive tone that the old Gibsons were prized for. It creates a light low mass brace, while not losing the snap and explosiveness that can be the result of a scalloped bracing design.
There has been considerable interest over the years in the old Gibson Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe (mahogany) and Radio Grande (rosewood) models. These guitars were setup for Hawaiian style and therefore had a very wide deep neck (2 _"), and white lines instead of frets. They were also very deep in the box. They had only 12 frets clear of the body and the soundhole was moved way down towards the waist.
Many of these instruments have been converted to Spanish style playing and have been favored by players such as Jackson Browne and many other notables. Converting them destroys their originality and therefore value as a collectible. We decided that with such a unique sound (very different from the Martin inspired 12 fret dreadnought) it was worth building a "Stage Deluxe" inspired instrument as a "one off" just to see what the interest was.
We built it with an extra deep box, moved the sound hole south and joined the neck at the 12th fret. We gave it a 1 13/16" nut and 2 5/16" spacing at the bridge so it leans toward a modern fingerstyle setup specs but can be played with a pick just fine as well.
We bound it with tortoiseshell, put a light tobacco finish on the mahogany sides, back, and neck and a rich tobacco and amber sunburst on the top. Black binding on the fingerboard, and an ebony headstock overlay complete its elegant vintage appearance.
Well so much for our one off, we had people fighting for the first one before the Austin Summer NAMM where we introduced it and so far we can't build them fast enough. This is a modern classic you'll want to see!
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