Description
The spectacular Santa Cruz H13 is based on a Gibson Nick Lucas Special owned by Paul Hostetter; the "H" represents his last name, and "13" signifies the frets to the body.
This great little guitar was built during 2013 in Santa Cruz, California, and is in very good, clean condition with light wear. A small back crack, located just to the treble side of the center strip and below the neck block, has been professionally repaired and cleated. Fret wear is light, and there are only a few small scuffs and dings to the finish. It has been played, allowing its magnificent voice to develop and indicating how beautifully it will continue to mature with use.
The original Ameritage hardshell case is included.
As discussed below, this design comes from a pivotal phase in the evolution of the modern steel-string acoustic guitar. The combination of a centrally located bridge and an extra-deep body delivers a remarkably full, rich voice with outstanding representation across the entire frequency range, accompanied by complex overtone structures.
That same tonal complexity can, in some contexts, focus the instrument's versatility. These guitars are best suited for solo performance or very small ensembles, and they are spectacular for recording, as the sheer richness of the overtones can occupy a sonic space that might otherwise compete with other instruments in a dense mix.
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Paul Hostetter was a well-known and highly respected independent musician and craftsman—building, restoring, repairing, and appraising instruments ranging from guitars, banjos, and mandolins to cellos and double basses. Originally from Michigan, he worked for Motown as a session player during the mid-1960s, including adding rhythm guitar to a number of Marvin Gaye records. In the 1970s, he moved to San Francisco, then settled in the Santa Cruz area to set up his shop, where he continued to work until his passing in 2019.
Nick Lucas was not only one of the most popular and influential artists of the 1920s, he was a true pathfinder for the guitar as a solo, leading instrument.
Gibson built the legendary Nick Lucas Special for eleven years, from 1927 to 1938. During its run, the model evolved in had key structural areas. It originally featured a 12-fret neck in 1927 and 1928, shifting to a highly prized 13-fret configuration from 1929 to 1933, and finally resting at a 14-fret design from 1934 to 1938. It was one of these highly prized, deep-bodied 13-fret models that Bob Dylan famously played during his ground-breaking early-1960s acoustic era.
Sonically, the defining feature of the Nick Lucas—much like Gibson's oversized Roy Smeck Hawaiian models—was its extra-deep body. This increased chamber depth added considerable power to the low- and mid-frequency output, yielding a remarkably full, rich voice that defied the guitar’s compact footprint.
Parallel to Gibson's experimentation, the C.F. Martin guitar company was introducing the 14-fret neck on their revolutionary OM (Orchestra Model) in late 1929, designed at the direct request of banjo players (notably Perry Bechtel) migrating to the guitar in dance bands.
Santa Cruz H13 Materials and Construction
The Santa Cruz H13 is built like many other Gibson models of the period. A Spruce top (Sitka now, might well have been Adirondack Red Spruce originally) is paired with Honduran Mahogany for the deep sides, back, body blocks and slotted-peghead neck. (In the 1930's, the sides and back were often Brazilian Rosewood). The kerfed linings are basswood. The pyramid bridge and bound fingerboard are Ebony. The top and back are bound, and a proprietary red/black 'S29" herringbone pattern specific to this model is used for top purfling and the back center strip.
A set of Waverly open gear, cream plastic buttons are at the head, and the truss rod adjuster is tucked well into the neck joint and usually requires a deep 3/8" socket, perhaps a small extension and a 1/4 inch ratchet. There is a standard strap pin at the tail block only. This guitar was usually played seated, not with a strap. The nut and compensated saddle are bone.
The Tobacco Sunburst finish is beautifully done with nitrocellulose lacquer.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: H13
- Instrument Manufacturer: Santa Cruz Guitar Company
- Instrument year: 2013
- Instrument Finish: Gloss Sunburst
- Instrument Class: Steel String Acoustic Guitar
- Instrument serial number: 1438, built during 2013 in Santa Cruz CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Very Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 3.52 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.60 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.43 in
- Scale Length Metric: 656 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.781 in
- Nut Width Metric: 45.25 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes
- Items in Case: N/A
- Case Type: Hard Shell Ameritage
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190927
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |