Introduced in 1978, the FTC Model is one of Santa Cruz Guitar Company's earliest explorations beyond the traditional flat-top guitar design. Developed during an experimental period for Richard Hoover, the FTC combines a flat soundboard with an arched back, delivering a voice with remarkable focus, projection, and tonal complexity. The design quickly attracted the attention of notable players, including Eric Clapton who purchased one of the first guitars to roll off the line. Decades later, the FTC remains a standout in the Santa Cruz lineup, valued for its unique blend of power, focus, and musical versatility.
Santa Cruz Guitar Co. completed this FTC in July of 2019. Constructed with a 25.375" scale length, it features a Cedar Top with carved Mahogany back and sides. A lot of FTCs are Spruce/Maple, so the intriguing Cedar/Mahogany wood complement sets this one apart. It delivers a woody character that pairs well with the immediacy of response. FTC stands for "Fingerstyle Traditional Cutaway," and the Cedar top is an excellent choice for a finger style player. Warmth and woody character with a lighter touch. With a modern approach to playability, the FTC goes where you want it to, and the cutaway provides easy access to the upper frets.
This 2019 Santa Cruz FTC is gently used. It shows some very minor signs of play and use, but these are high-end, boutique guitars so it's no surprise the previous owner was careful with it. The "Dark Fade" top finish is more like a subtle cherry/ambertone sunburst—gorgeous, and accented beautifully by the Art Deco inlays on the fingerboard. Like every Santa Cruz, this FTC feels like an artfully-crafted guitar built with precision, care, and uncompromising attention to detail. The current setup is nice and approachable—low enough to get around, but not too low that you can't dig in. The nut measures 1-11/16", and the string spacing is 2-1/4" at the saddle.
This 2019 Santa Cruz FTC hits the nexus between art and a functional instrument. This is a stunning work of art that produces inspiring tone that will push your art to another level. While this model is intended for fingerstyle playing, it sounds nice with a pick, too. In particular, the Cedar tops out in a way that gives you a dry, old-time sound. When you approach with a lighter touch, there is woody detail aplenty, all with a subtle you'll get from a boutique guitar. Plus, the details are just right—wood purling all around. It's just such a finely-made instrument! It includes its original Ameritage case.