Pre-Owned Santo 1976 Dreadnaught Cutaway Electric Sunburst

Here are Truetone, we've had a lot of unique instruments.  Sometimes one comes in that stops us in our tracks immediately.  This is one of those, with quite the backstory.  This guitars was custom-built for internationally known artist, author and singer/songwriter Alicia Bay Laurel in 1976 by the late master guitar builder, David Santo.

Santo originally built guitars for classical guitar luthier Michael Gurion in New York City before opening his own shop in Costa Mesa, California and has built custom guitars for some of the better known folk rock musicians, as well as serving as the main builder of the Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic bass series.  In the world of acoustic guitar aficionados, he is a legendary luthier.  Santo built a small number of guitars each year, making this a rare find - and this is the only one like it.

Alicia Bay Laurel is an American artist, author, and musician. She is best known for her 1970 book Living On The Earth, a notable guide for participants in the American back-to-the-land movement of the 1960s and 1970s.  She has also released 8 albums and toured the world as an accomplished guitarist/singer/songwriter.

In 1976, Laurel made a drawing for the headstock of this custom build, which Santo executed in ebony, mother-of-pearl, abalone and purple clamshell hinge.   It's beautiful - be sure to zoom in on the photos to see the detail.

The top is made up of Sitka Spruce, the back is Indian Rosewood and the sides are Honduran Mahogany.  The resulting sound is quite powerful - the guitar projects incredibly, with a richness that is well balanced across the tonal spectrum.  Everyone here was supremely impressed after a single strum.  The guitar also sounds great when picking single notes.  The neck is quite comfortable and easy to play.  As an added bonus, the fretboard features stars, a nice touch to go along with the majestic headstock.

This instrument comes with an after-market (industry standard) Carlton hardshell flight case and has the original Santo-designed passive pickup.  It had a Santo-designed FRAP preamp box, which unfortunately stopped working.  The pickup is still installed in the guitar, so you can plug it, but there is not a high level output.  The techs in our shop have setup the guitar play perfectly, and does it ever!

All in all this is a very unique, one-of-a-kind instrument.  There is no other like it.

Serial Number: 046

nut width: 1.75"
neck profile: medium/soft V
string spacing: 2.28" (at the bridge)
scale length: 25.5"
fretboard edge: medium rolled