Santa Cruz OM, East Indian Rosewood & Adirondack Spruce

Back in the 1980s, Santa Cruz was one of the first companies to reintroduce the versatile, classic Orchestra Model, taking elements of the old pre-war Martin OMs and refining them into something all their own. This SCGC OM is essentially an OM-28 with some premium tonewood and aesthetic upgrades. The top is Adirondack spruce, prized for its stiffness and lightness. Though it can take several years to fully open up, it rewards the dedicated player with a tone that becomes warmer, more nuanced and complex over time. The Indian rosewood back and sides provide a more balanced version of that scooped-out mids rosewood sound. In keeping with tradition, Adirondack bracing and hot hide glue construction further recreate that classic OM sound. With a tone complex and rich enough to satisfy a solo fingerstylist, it's also got the dynamic range needed for flatpicking in an ensemble. Understated but beautiful appointments, like a western-inspired cowboy rope purfling and snakewood on the rosette and binding, finish off this versatile classic.