suburude63 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner vs. J45 TV ???? I have never read this being discussed > I have heard good things about the SCVS sounding very much like vintage J 45s. Any experiences youd like to share?? :- suburude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glynsong Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 I've got an SCGC VJ which is only different from the VS in the scale length being 25.5, basically .I own 2 J45's neither being a TV series. Both are mahogany-1adi-1 german. The SCGC is sonically much more matured/broke in and responsive all across the tonal freqency then my Gibbys, but the Gibson offers up that bit more dry and thumpy character that alot of us here just can't do with out. The Santa Cruz would be a great addition to your slope shouldered quiver.Go for it= =D>/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Just because it copies the looks of a J45- don't confuse it with an actual J45. I've played about three of them, and none of them sounded like a J45. OK- just not the same. (How's that for a clear description? ) FWIW- I really like Santa Cruz small body guitars- I think they are exceptional. But their efforts at large bodies have always left me cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Just because it copies the looks of a J45- don't confuse it with an actual J45. I've played about three of them' date=' and none of them sounded like a J45.[/quote'] +1 -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Its very much a personal preference. For me the build philosophy of Richard Hoover and company at Santa Cruz reflects the way a guitar should be built..... tonal considerations take precedent over warranty considerations. They are built very light for a reason and this translates into a guitar that is loud, balanced and responsive. I think their dreads are amongst the best out there. Each top is individualy braced based on its characteristics rather than efficiency/cost of production and as a result every geet I've played has been outstanding. Hey play them yourself as the TV may have a little extra to offer too. At the prices demanded for either of these guitars they should be outstanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glynsong Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Congratulations SB63=d> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Suburude, I have two that are close to what your asking about. I have a SC VJ mahogany sitka and a Gibson OJ mahogany adirondack. The OJ has more volume but the VJ has it over the OJ in balance and tone. The VJ is oh so comfortable and easy to play for me as well. I feel that my SC VJ sounds like a mixture of a J45 and a Martin D18, if that makes any sense. I really think if someone is looking for the Classic Gibson slope shoulder sound the only way to find it is in a good Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I've see a lot of Santa Cruz guitars in my lifetime....(I'm about 40 miles from there) They make a good sounding guitar....BUT they are very lightly braced.....and I have seen MANY with the fretboard 'dive' after the fret board meets the body (fretboard bending down towards the back on the top sounding board) , and collapsed tops between the fretboard and the bridge (with the resulting hump behind the bridge and the angled bridge and saddle) They give a lifetime warranty for the new ones, but buying used, I would be careful. All these guitars had light strings.........so, just be careful on buying a SCGC used guitar.....you are on your own for repairs....By the way, the light bracing gives it a great sound. But many other guitar makers, like Froggy Bottom, have VERY Light bracing and I have never seen this problem with FB's.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadeedo Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I like SC guitars very much. I've owned a rosewood OM and a DPW/M, both of which were first rate. Both also deserved to be kept, but at the time I had them my desire to spend time with the next guitar down the trail was such that I just wouldn't keep a guitar no matter what. So I sold them both and bought other models (what were they again?) that were not any better, and probably were not as good. Fast forward... After years of looking for a J-45, I finally found one last winter that I'm pretty sure I will be keeping. It's a 100th anniversary model (1994). My friend had a SC VS that he brought over a few months ago, and we played 'em side by side. They sounded different, for sure. In fact, I was somewhat surprised because my DPW/M sounded very much like an old Martin. So, naturally I expected the VS would sound like a Gibson. The VS definitely sounded great in its own way. Bell-like, very resonant, with a pleasantly unmuddy symphony of overtones. But quite unlike the Gibson sound, which I identify with great note separation, fairly quick decay, and a kind of soulful honk -- especially the old vintage models. Nevertheless, perhaps because we are both Gibson guys, my friend and I thought my 45 was at least as good as the SC VS. As for TVs, the two I have played (a brand new 45 and Southern Jumbo) offered me nothing I didn't already have in my 15 year old. I have more volume and more roundness and sweetness. Maybe the TVs will catch up with time. They may generally be worth the upgrade from the MC models today. But even there, I'd recommend playing the particular specimen before deciding, if possible. The day I visited the shop with the two TVs, there was also a MC J-200, which in my view sounded the best of all, my J-45 included. That was a good'un! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modac Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 They make a good sounding guitar....BUT they are very lightly braced... Many of the Wartime J45s are very lightly braced as well. That's one of the reasons so many modern J45s don't sound like them, and one of the reasons Gibson made the Legend series and the True Vintage series, which are more lightly braced. The braces on the Santa Cruz Gibson style guitars aren't scalloped, like they are on their Martin-style guitars, however----the braces are double tapered. Structurally, the double tapered bracing should be stronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suburude63 Posted June 11, 2009 Author Share Posted June 11, 2009 Many of the Wartime J45s are very lightly braced as well. That's one of the reasons so many modern J45s don't sound like them' date=' and one of the reasons Gibson made the Legend series and the True Vintage series, which are more lightly braced. The braces on the Santa Cruz Gibson style guitars aren't scalloped, like they are on their Martin-style guitars, however----the braces are double tapered. Structurally, the double tapered bracing should be stronger.[/quote'] the double tapered bracing ? What exactly is double tapered bracing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glynsong Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 Double tapered braces are shaped along the length of the brace going from the intersection of the X out towards the the soundboards kerfing in a tapering in height as well as its width rather than peaks and valleys like scalloped braces. The tone bars are also shaped in a simular fashion to achieve that punchy with great sustain quality.Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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