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1997 Santa Cruz FJ2-17
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Serial #: 08, signed label
Body width at lower bout: 17" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Scale length: 25 1/2" Body depth: 3"
Materials: Solid bookmatched highly figured fiddleback maple back and sides; solid bookmatched solid Sitka spruce top; solid flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard.
Hardware: Solid handcarved ebony hardware includes bound pickguard, adjustable compensated solid ebony bridge, and tuner keys; gold adjustable finger tailpiece and Schaller 16X1 tuners. Kent Armstrong Handwound PAF floating pickup with volume control and endpin jack.
Notes: A pre-eminent builder of master quality acoustic guitars since 1968, the Santa Cruz Guitar Co. has amassed a roster of star players, including Eric Clapton, Doc Watson, Tony Rice and many more. Renowned for their expertise in individually voicing acoustic guitars, Santa Cruz has produced over the years a very select number of fully carved archtop instruments, each carefully tap-tuned for optimal tonal response. In an era when many builders expect the amp to do all the work, the Santa Cruz archtop is built for acoustic performance first and foremost, with exceptional clarity and articulation, and a powerful, commanding voice.
This magnificent instrument is a superb example of their FJ2-17 model, a full depth, X-braced 17" archtop. The guitar is crafted of exceptionally figured AAA tiger flame maple on back, sides and neck, with a bookmatched solid Sitka spruce top, and solid ebony fingerboard, pickguard, and bridge. Traditionalists will delight in the Epi style reverse-Masterbilt headstock and the art-deco fan style fingerboard inlays, all in solid pearl. Neck profile is an elegantly tapered gentle D, with smooth low action over smoothly polished fretwork.
With extravagantly figured fiddleback maple, exquisitely bookmatched, this gorgeous guitar is in immaculate 100% original condition, without pick, buckle, thumb, fret or fingerboard wear. The time and expense required to produce one of these masterworks has made these Santa Cruz archtops the stuff of legend. Rarely seen on the vintage market, and long out of production, they combine peerless tone, effortless playability, and handsome design in one inimitable package. We've waited over two decades to find one of these, so don't dawdle: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original deluxe black arched hardshell case with plush lining.
