Tony Rice's personal 2007 Santa Cruz

TME is excited, honored, humbled, insert-your-favorite-adjective-here ... to host Tony Rice's personal 2007 Santa Cruz guitar. This instrument holds a special place in the development of the Tony Rice "Pro" model: according to Tony himself, it sounded and felt the most like an old guitar of any instrument Santa Cruz made for him over the years. (The instrument includes a letter from Rice attesting to this sentiment.)
Also included in this video, and offered alongside Tony's personal guitar, is a 1991 Santa Cruz Tony Rice Anniversary model ~ number 5 of a batch of 10 guitars made to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the working relationship between Rice and Santa Cruz. While Tony did not personally own that guitar, he did perform with it during a 1994 tour in support of the "Tone Poems" record.
The audio for the demos was recorded with a Samar VL37A ribbon mic, running through a Grace "Felix" DI. No other editing or EQ has been added.

[@mdwoods100]

Just read that Billy Strings bought the 2007 guitar, grats Billy, you are a deserving heir to this wonderful instrument. :)

[@staleyexplores]

i can't think of better hands for it.

[@als1023]

WOW that is the person I would choose to own it!! So happy he's making a good income after the years of dedication and travel to succeed. Thanks for posting !!

[@aaront879]

@DelNoah☘️ Either of those guys are worthy successors. I’m happy to see it in Billy’s hands.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

No. Shelby Robinson should have got that guitar.

[@raymondeaton5692]

Great demo and tribute to Tony. He was a friend and incredible guy. He had a unique approach to everything.

[@petergustafson7446]

I did some work at the Santa Cruz shop when they moved to Harvey west. Eric poulsen shaped the necks back then. He build me an my wife a guitar in that shoo for our wedding.

[@joepayne7843]

Just the history behind the guitar is priceless, and it sounds awesome.

[@toupower]

It would bring a tear to me eyes just to play a G run on such a guitar.

[@themusicemporium1177]

It nearly did for me as well -Andy

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

Andy, that first piece you played was sublime. That would put a smile on Tonys face.

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thank you! -Andy

[@bcp5296d]

DUDE, you really bring out TR's sound in several ways on stranger there. Goosebumps.

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thanks!

[@carpisch]

I own a Santa Cruz Tony Rice guitar and I love it! Best sounding guitar!

[@whimpypatrol5503]

Would you say it equals the actual 2007 SC once owned by Tony Rice?

[@stonybuckner9928]

wWow just found this vid thanks for sharing!! God Bless...May we all share our talents and God given gifts with the world as willingly as the great brother Rice

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Guys, when you hit, you hit hard! I have played that 07, and the FP top is something to behold! Great playing by the way. WOW!

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thanks, Shawn!

[@thecanadianflatpicker]

Wow that is incredible

[@slpc30]

Wow those are such amazing sounding guitars!!!

[@timothybaker6596]

As a huge Tony Rice fan and an acoustic guitar player this video makes me proud to be from the area and to have visited the store. Bravo 🙌

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thanks for that nice comment, Timothy. Feeling the love!

[@blairswanson44]

If I close my eyes on the 2007 demo - WHAT!!! ----well you get the idea. WELL PLAYED !!!

[@steveyarbrough2300]

That’s beautiful, Andy. What a feeling that must be. You and your partner really shine on “I Don’t Want Your Mandolins, Mister.”

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thanks, Steve!!

[@ptoverly]

prisoner's waltz, eh? but i don't bet my life on anything...:)

[@ptoverly]

oops, there's another video with ...Mandolins, Mister.

[@DaveMurphyMusic]

Fabulous guitars! Great job all the way around.

[@rhmlsiddle]

Great job. A wonderful tribute to Tony Rice!

[@davidlonergan7295]

Beautiful tone

[@themusicemporium1177]

Many thanks!

[@autumnoak1]

Nicely done! Omg

[@billyhillk5726]

Thank you 👍🇺🇸

[@scottyrovner8734]

Great demo on a great instrument

[@jonhart-dj7fn]

great demo and tribute from both of you!

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thank you kindly!

[@staleyexplores]

yep. french polish top and oiled neck. yes that seems like some obviously amazing choices for a top notch dread machine by the master himself.

[@ptoverly]

the playing, incroyable, as usual:)

[@themusicemporium1177]

🙏🙏🙏

[@HSet77]

And they are using a Samar VL37 or the active version - Samar VL37A mic - that's what I use - not often seen.

[@themusicemporium1177]

We love ours. Great sound!

[@peterpicker850]

Awesome to see them getting the use they deserve.

[@jayclark3523]

Magical

[@EricSkyeMusic]

Add you guys sound fantastic too!

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thank you, sir!

[@marktyson2001]

Sounding fantastic Andrew! Don’t expect those to last long…

[@themusicemporium1177]

Gracias, amigo!

[@RUNNOFT71]

Awesome video man. I had to stop it @ 3:55 when you did that slide up, bc it sounded so much like Tony's tone i had to rewind it a couple times.

[@themusicemporium1177]

Thanks very much, Nate!

[@TMoody]

I want.

[@michaelmullins1290]

A guy in the Kingsport Tn area has a Santa Cruz, with authentication letter that Tony called "Chocolate". It's a nice box too.

[@themusicemporium1177]

That's a legendary box!

[@michaelmullins1290]

@@themusicemporium1177 it was for sale. The story how he got it is priceless as well. Loved your video.

[@snapfinger1]

Flagship dreadnaught. Nothing else can perform like that.

[@EricSkyeMusic]

Oh my

[@billdedrick1914]

Incredible demos and playing... Tone and playing is spot on..Andy, what strings were used here on the Sc dreds?

[@themusicemporium1177]

Tony's 2007 had his nickel strings on it. The 1991 TR Pro had medium phosphor bronze (likely EJ17)

[@billdedrick1914]

@@themusicemporium1177 Are the nickels Martin Retro MTR13 (13 16 26 34 44 56) or Martin Retro MM13 (13 17 26 35 45 56)?

[@themusicemporium1177]

@@billdedrick1914 Not sure. We did not change them when the guitar arrived.

[@j.s.3113]

What Santa Cruz TR model was he playing on Salt Creek with Doc and Sean at 2002 Merlefest?

[@themusicemporium1177]

Not sure of the exact serial number, but it was likely one of the prototypes Santa Cruz made for him personally.

[@allenhughes12]

The SCGC 10yr model is listed on your website but the personally owned guitar is not.

[@themusicemporium1177]

The one Tony owned personally has sold

[@michaelmullins1290]

If this is the same Allen. I played a bit of music with you at the Boone family get together. I just ask my brother about you last week.

[@allenhughes12]

​​@@michaelmullins1290 hey Michael. I don't know why I'm just now seeing this but yeah I am one in the same. Hope y'all are well. You can find me on Facebook if you like.

[@marvFX01]

why would they not have moved the sound hole just a bit further back, rather than having the fretboard overhanging?

[@jordangunit3078]

This is awesome. What mix are you using there? Is it some kind of ribbon mic?

[@themusicemporium1177]

Samar Vl37A ribbon mic, into a Grace Felix DI

[@fiddlist1934]

How much for Tony’s guitar

[@themusicemporium1177]

That guitar has sold

[@FriedPickleRick]

Does anyone know the tune he plays in this ? Sounds almost like manzanita 1st variation

[@themusicemporium1177]

I'm 'trying' to play Tony Rice's intro to "Wayfaring Stranger." TRYING. -Andy

[@FriedPickleRick]

@@themusicemporium1177 you played it so good. It sounded beautiful. I could feel it in my soul

[@drakeshelburn]

It’s not hand written if he typed it

[@onehundredpicks5531]

And whats that santa cruz action?

[@danherrick5785]

Is the soundhole larger than standard?

[@themusicemporium1177]

Yes, all of Tony's SCGC guitars had a slightly enlarged soundhole.

[@longtalljay]

Which Andy is this? He plays this guitar as it should be played. (To my ears, he is a mature and tasteful player as TR was and BS isn't yet.) Mando player is also great on the "I don't want..." tune.

[@themusicemporium1177]

That's Andy Cambria, who works at the shop

[@7152381]

I wished Tony had added to his letter a simple stipulation that the guitar be sold to a 'working musician' however one might define that term. He did write, though; "Please make sure it gets played." I fear someone with a lot of money and a lot of un-played guitars will quickly take it away for good and no good.

[@themusicemporium1177]

Be careful what you wish for...

[@whimpypatrol5503]

I want to shrink my vocabulary when I think about it. Vaults, display cases, trophy collections and money belts break more spirits of more virtuosos than all the dumb down in music tastes over the last 50 years. What is it about guitars that fascinates the eyes and makes great guitars such discussion pieces for wealthy collectors? What's the point of a massive carved granite fireplace in a fancy Vale, Colorado log cabin if you never build a fire in it? Are these people expecting to entertain David Gilmore at one of their parties? The collector trend does remind me, though, of the '61 Les Paul my guitar teacher had acquired. But, when I was 14 and he17, he had as a child prodigy already aquired a den full of trophies, awards, ribbons for his guitar playing -- enough to make many adult super stars jealous.

[@TheRpkennedy]

What kind of capo is being used? Thank you.

[@themusicemporium1177]

A Taylor

[@blairswanson44]

It appears to me on some videos I've seen - see start of this one : kzbin.info/www/bejne/ineliIKsiNp2e5o , that Tony's dreadnoughts had saddles shaved quite a bit for low action. Is this the case with the 2007? It's something I prefer myself on my D.

[@themusicemporium1177]

Yes, low saddle & low action on this one for sure.

[@startreker8591]

That S hole is F W lol but sounds good

[@onehundredpicks5531]

But who cares about this one. No offense but i wanna know where 58957 the legend is? Edit I love this guitar too.

[@themusicemporium1177]

Good edit :) There's plenty to love about this one too!

[@jprice276]

Pam still has 58957. Doubt it’s going anywhere for the time being.

[@onehundredpicks5531]

Yeah she does. It was played live a few weeks ago by billy strings.

[@joeholland4936]

Playing with capo on third fret gives voicing not true.

[@themusicemporium1177]

Have to disagree with you there. See also, Tony Rice.

[@joeholland4936]

That doesn't change the truth.

[@TN-D18]

@@joeholland4936 Your opinion.

[@joeholland4936]

@@TN-D18 a capo, sir, changes the voice of the guitar. To hear the actual voice of the guitar no capo can be used. To hear a different voice of said guitar then a capo can be utilized. Not opinion. Fact

[@TN-D18]

@@joeholland4936 You be you. Not arguing.

[@RnRanimal]

player is bad match for that guitar.Needs to be "played"!