Santa Cruz OM Ancient Kauri & Old-Growth German Spruce

This very special ancient Kauri OM from Santa Cruz Guitar Company has two fascinating stories to tell. The first is that of the wood itself, the ancient Kauri, "which was unearthed in the beginning of the new millennium and radiocarbon dated at 45,000 years old. Buried immediately during the historic cataclysm and, being starved of oxygen, the anaerobic environment kept this wonder of nature free from decay, capturing it in a place without time…until today." These mighty trees were once similar in stature to the sequoias of North America. As he often does, Richard Hoover has paired this extraordinary wood with another old-growth wood, in this case German spruce. It's part of his commitment to using sustainable resources in his guitars.

The rich color and figuring of the Kauri is highlighted by a striking orange sunburst on the top and an irregular "negative" rope purfling. The tone is something all its own. It is lush like a rosewood guitar, but much stronger in the midrange, with warmth for days. A solid bass is matched with clean, clear highs, making for an exquisite soloist's instrument (hear Lance show off its potential in the video below). We couldn't be more thrilled to share this incredible offering from Santa Cruz Guitars.

“Through responsible harvest; we can show others how to make the best things on earth without compromising the world we live in.” - Richard Hoover