Santa Cruz H13 "Buttered Toast", Adirondack Spruce & Mahogany

Santa Cruz's H model is named for Paul Hostetter, described as "the guardian of the lore of all things vintage and stringed", who commissioned the very first Gibson-inspired H model prototype back in 1978. The thought behind the H13 design is fascinating, so we'll let Santa Cruz do the talking:

"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."

The end result, especially when upgraded with an Adirondack spruce top, achieves those goals in spades. This is a very satisfying guitar to pick and sing with, and with that "Buttered Toast" sunburst and cowboy rope purfling and rosette, it's quite a looker, too.