2004 Santa Cruz Tony Rice Dreadnought Natural
Folks, since I have seldom had the privilege of handling a Santa Cruz guitar, I am indebted to their website for the following as an introduction to this listing (those of you who are already familiar with this design’s virtues might skip this part):
“The strength of the typical dreadnought guitar is in its power and volume, which is achieved by the guitar’s large body size. The increased air space also gives the instrument a predisposition to the bass range, an asset to some playing styles and a detriment to others. The Santa Cruz D Model has a unique tapered bracing, voiced to enhance the midrange and treble without compromising the bass volume. This voicing gives the D Model a more even balance and a greater versatility than traditionally braced dreadnoughts. The Santa Cruz Guitar Company Dreadnought Model was carefully conceived to accommodate the modern player’s need for sophisticated balance with more substance in midrange and treble. To deliver these qualities in the acceptable dreadnought-sized body required a very non-traditional approach, as compared to the factory offerings of the day. SCGC’s innovative D Model remains a mainstay of artists who require acoustic volume without compromising the quality of higher frequencies.
The Santa Cruz Tony Rice signature model is not intended to be a copy of Tony's own 1935 Martin D-28 but rather a modern reinterpretation of the characteristics that make pre-war dreadnoughts so desirable for flatpicking. Clear note separation, articulate bass notes and strong highs and mids were goals in making the Tony Rice model. This model was designed with help from Tony Rice himself, featuring a Sitka Spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides. Years of Production: 1990 – present.”
Then, regarding this particular’s specs and such, I consulted the company’s friendly customer service department, giving them the serial number:
To: akmgj@bellsouth.net
Thank you for contacting us, I’m happy to help! TR-4433 is a standard Tony Rice Signature model from 2004. All standard specs, including Indian Rosewood back/sides and Sitka Spruce top, can be found here: https://www.santacruzguitar.com/tony-rice/ Hope this helps!
Christina Webster, Santa Cruz Guitar Company, 151C Harvey West Blvd., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, 831-425-0999
That doesn’t leave me much to tell you except that this guitar is in really excellent condition. I found a pin-head-sized chip on the side of the headstock, a bit of wear on the back of the neck, and a pick strike or two at the sound hole: that’s it. For a 15-year-old guitar, that’s about a 9.5 out of 10 in my experience and suggests the care, if not reverence, with which I and the previous owner have handled it—so it probably needs a good work-out or two! While it plays great as it is, with the action at a hair over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, the saddle is high and I might take it down a bit. The Fishman pickup accessed through the end pin jack has the controls discreetly at the edge of the sound hole and it works fine, although I never needed to use it.
The case is custom-made by Ameritage for Santa Cruz and is probably worth $500 by itself. It has the SCGC name plate on the side, that’s real leather trim, and the interior is designed for maximum protection of this fine guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this outstanding guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.
Thank you for your interest in this incredible Santa Cruz dreadnought guitar.
SPECIFICATIONS: 2004 Santa Cruz TR-4433
Body Wood Type Indian Rosewood
Back Stripe S29
Binding Ivoroid
Top Wood Type Sitka Spruce
Rosette Violin Purfle Combo
Purfling Violin Purfle Combo
Bracing/Voicing Tapered
Neck Peghead Solid Square
Peghead Binding Ivoroid
Overlay Material Ebony
Headstock Inlay SCGC
Width at Nut 1-11/16
Neck Shape Round Barrel
Fingerboard Side Dots Black
Inlay 2mm dots
Width at 14th Fret 2-3/16
Binding Ivoroid
Scale Length 25.375
Finish Top Clear
Back & Sides Clear/Buffed
Neck Clear/Matte
Pickguard Tortoise
Tuners/gears Nickel open-back
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.