2021-05-17

The Happy Traum Signature Model HT/13





Design Your Own

Below are the standard specifications for this particular model. Like all SCGC guitars, this model comes available with a long list of custom options that can be added for no additional charge. Click here to see all the options available to you, and design your own.

Happy Traum taught the world how to play guitar. This includes Richard Hoover, who learned from Happy’s “Fingerpicking Styles for Guitar” when he was just a teenager, years before the two would forge their friendship. To be able to build a signature model decades later for such an icon in the guitar world is not only an honor, but a privilege that Santa Cruz Guitar Company takes very seriously. As Happy himself so eloquently put it, “like all musicians, guitarists form a personal, loving relationship with their instrument. Years of bonding with the particular feel and sound of the wood allow you to predict what the guitar is capable of producing, its strengths and limitations, its dark lows and brilliant highs and, above all, the satisfying feel of the vibrations of the wood against your body. When a dear friend whom you admire has put his heart and soul into building an instrument especially for you, it adds immeasurable to its quality, imbuing the guitar with a spirit that goes far beyond wood, strings, frets and bracing.”

Happy Traum was taking full advantage of Santa Cruz Guitar Company’s custom shop capabilities long before it became their norm.  His first Santa Cruz was a Cocobolo/Adirondack H/13 model with a custom neck and finish; years later he worked with Richard once again to design an all Mahogany OM with wood bindings, abalone appointments and custom inlay.  When Richard proposed they collaborate on an official Happy Traum Signature Model Guitar, they combined the tonal, aesthetic and playability elements that Happy enjoyed in both custom builds to come up with a winning recipe, now forever known as the HT/13: Genuine Honduras Mahogany back/sides paired with salvaged, old growth Redwood and Adirondack bracing/hot hide glue in a small but deep bodied guitar delivers a bright, rich and clear tone with quick responsiveness, hearty low end and exceptional volume. The guitar is tastefully bound in ivoroid with abalone appointments and a custom top finish, rendering the HT/13 as stunning to behold as it is to play.

In Happy’s own words:  “Luthiers are a unique breed of human being: philosopher-craftspeople who are sensitive to and highly knowledgeable in the intricacies of grain, color, shape, thickness, bracing and, above all, tone. Richard Hoover is, to me, in the top echelon of this rarefied world, acutely aware of the origins, history and sustainability of the various woods he works with. He gleans and scavenges them from abandoned railroad tunnels, sunken logs, long-forgotten furniture and ancient, prehistoric boards dug up from the depths of the tundra. He and his talented staff then assemble gorgeously crafted instruments with a keen eye for detail and coaxing the best sounds possible from them.”

Body

Wood Type

Mahogany

Back Stripe

S29

Binding

Ivoroid with Ivoroid Tail Wedge

Top

Wood Type

Old growth Redwood

Rosette

Abalone

Purfling

Abalone

Bracing/Voicing

H 13 Scallop/Tapered

Neck

Peghead

Slotted

Peghead Binding

Ivoroid

Overlay Material

Ebony

Headstock Inlay

Santa Cruz Ivoroid Script Logo

Width at Nut

1-3/4″

Neck Shape

V

Fingerboard

Side Dots

Black

Inlay

42 style with Happy Traum Signature at 18th

Width at 14th Fret

2-3/16″

Binding

Ivoroid

Scale Length

25.375

Finish

Top

Custom Finish

Back & Sides

Tobacco/Buffed

Neck

Tobacco/Matte

Setup

Pickguard

Tortoise

Tuners/gears

Waverly Nickel w/ Ivoroid

Richard Hoover on the Happy Traum Signature Model HT/13:

Today we made a dream come true! The Happy Traum Signature Model completes the circle begun in 1969 when I snuck into George Brown’s Newsstand to get the new Ramparts Magazine.

My hometown of 17,000 then was in the middle of the Great San Joaquin Valley and a vast cultural void. Ramparts was the only, bomb in every issue, alternative press I could access. Instead, I found a book that changed my life.

In the upper racks, next to the Police Gazette and Swank was a book with a picture of Mississippi John Hurt on the cover. How the heck did adults even know who John Hurt was, I wondered. This turned out to be Happy and Artie Traum’s Fingerstyle guitar method with Tablature, a way to see how to play guitar just like my musical heroes on the old records.

The dream that’s come true is mine. That instructional book from Happy Traum made a bond between me and my guitar that has become the determining factor in my life’s direction. Its influence has affected my choices in education, my circle of friends, my career as a guitar maker, my good fortune in marrying up and the lasting and fulfilling friendship with Happy and Jane Traum and their gifted family.

I’m far from alone. Happy is the musician’s musician, having supported and launched a hundred stellar careers. From the beginnings in Washington Square, through Woodstock (the state of mind), and with many of today’s vibrant new acoustic artists, you’ve heard Happy’s personal rock-solid guitar and vocal presence at least 10,000 times. The number of times you’ve heard his influence in the recordings of others is incalculable.

Thank you Happy and family for your service to others and for your profound influence on me and the values of Santa Cruz Guitar Company. I hope that we have captured some of the spirit of your fine legacy through the loving creation of your signature model. May everything go your way!

Big love,
Richard Hoover
Santa Cruz, California
May 2021

Design Your Own

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Comments/Notes

Woods

Tonewoods - Back & Sides

Indian Rosewood - no extra cost

African Blackwood - $2,300 upcharge

Brazilian Rosewood Tier 1 (old growth, limited) - $14,500 upcharge

Brazilian Rosewood Tier 2 (old growth, limited) - $10,500 upcharge

Cocobolo - $1,400 upcharge

Figured Mahogany - $1,200 upcharge

Flamed Maple - $1,400 upcharge

Koa - $2,700 upcharge

Mahogany - standard

Old Growth Mahogany (1930s) - $2,500 upcharge

Quilted Sapele - $1,700 upcharge

Sycamore - $1,200 upcharge

Walnut - $1,200 upcharge

Tonewoods - Tops

Adirondack - no extra cost

Ancient Sitka Spruce (3,000 years, limited) - $6,000 upcharge

Bear Claw European Spruce - $400 upcharge

Bear Claw Sitka Spruce - no extra cost

Canadian White Spruce - no extra cost

Carpathian - $400 upcharge

Cedar - no extra cost

European Spruce - no extra cost

Figured Mahogany - $400 upcharge

Koa - $800 upcharge

Mahogany - no extra cost

Moon Spruce - $400 upcharge

Old growth Adirondack - $1,800 upcharge

Old growth Sitka Spruce - no extra cost

Redwood - standard

Sinker Redwood - $400 upcharge

Tunnel 13' Redwood top (limited) - $1,400 upcharge

Neck Woods

Flamed Mahogany - $600 upcharge

Flamed Maple - $600 upcharge

Mahogany - standard

Bracing

Bracing Pattern

Adirondack bracing with hot hide glue - standard

Sitka Spruce bracing - no extra cost

Additional Body Modifications

Please Select

1929 Style Specifications - no extra cost

Left Handed - no extra cost

Neck Customizations

Nut Width

1-3/4" - standard

1-11/16" - no extra cost

1-13/16" - no extra cost

Custom nut width - please inquire for pricing

Bridge Spacing

2-3/16"- standard

2-1/4" - no extra cost

2-5/16" - no extra cost

Custom bridge spacing - please inquire for pricing

Neck Profile

Round neck profile - $500

V-neck profile - standard

Custom neck profile - please inquire for pricing

Scale Length

25.375" scale length - standard

Additional Neck Customization:

Solid peghead - $400 upcharge

Slotted peghead - standard

Low profile neck - no extra cost

Custom Wood Parts

Custom Wood Overlay

Ebony Overlay - standard

Brazilian Overlay - $200 upcharge

Cocobolo Overlay - $100 upcharge

Koa Overlay - $100 upcharge

Snakewood Overlay - $200 upcharge

Custom Wood Overlay - please inquire

Custom Wood Fingerboard

Ebony Fingerboard - standard

Brazilian Fingerboard - $300 upcharge

Cocobolo Fingerboard - $300 upcharge

Custom Wood Bridge

Ebony Bridge - standard

Brazilian Bridge - $250 upcharge

Cocobolo Bridge - $250 upcharge

Snakewood Bridge - $250 upcharge

Binding Options

Body Binding

Ivoroid - standard

Black - no extra cost

Tortoise - no extra cost

Brazilian Rosewood - $600 upcharge

Cocobolo - $550 upcharge

Koa - $550 upcharge

Maple - $450 upcharge

Snakewood - $600 upcharge

Indian Rosewood - $450 upcharge

Mahogany - $450 upcharge

Figured Mahogany - $450 upcharge

Sycamore - $450 upcharge

Walnut - $450- upcharge

Backlit tortoise - $350 upcharge

Fingerboard Binding

Ivoroid - standard

Black - no extra cost

Tortoise - no extra cost

Brazilian Rosewood - $300 upcharge

Cocobolo - $275 upcharge

Koa - $275 upcharge

Maple - $250 upcharge

Snakewood - $300 upcharge

Indian Rosewood - $250 upcharge

Mahogany - $250 upcharge

Figured Mahogany - $250 upcharge

Sycamore - $250 upcharge

Walnut - $250 upcharge

Backlit tortoise - $250 upcharge

Peghead Binding

Ivoroid - standard

Black - no extra cost

Tortoise - no extra cost

Brazilian Rosewood - $300 upcharge

Cocobolo - $275 upcharge

Koa - $275 upcharge

Maple - $250 upcharge

Snakewood - $300 upcharge

Indian Rosewood - $250 upcharge

Mahogany - $250 upcharge

Figured Mahogany - $250 upcharge

Sycamore - $250 upcharge

Walnut - $250 upcharge

Backlit tortoise - $250 upcharge

Unbound - no extra cost

Inlay Options

Body Inlays

42-style body in abalone (rosette, top purfling & fingerboard extension) - $2,000 upcharge

45-style body in abalone (rosette, top purfling, fingeboard extension, back border, side border & tail wedge) - $5,000 upcharge

Abalone back border - $700 upcharge

Abalone back strip - $200 upcharge

Abalone snowflakes in bridge feet - $250 upcharge

42-style body in blue paua (rosette, top purfling & fingerboard extension) - $2,400 upcharge

45-style body in blue paua (rosette, top purfling, fingeboard extension, back border, side border & tail wedge) - $5,500 upcharge

Blue paua back border - $840 upcharge

Blue paua back strip - $300 upcharge

Blue paua snowflakes in bridge feet - $300 upcharge

Tail wedge in ivoroid - standard

Tail wedge in abalone - $400 upcharge

Tail wedge in wood to match bindings - $400 upcharge

Rosette

cowboy rope - no extra cost

herringbone - no extra cost

ivoroid - no extra cost

purfle combo - no extra cost

1929 style ivoroid (with tortoise) - no extra cost

Brazilian Rosewood - $375 upcharge

Cocobolo - $375 upcharge

Koa - $375 upcharge

Maple - $375 upcharge

Snakewood - $375 upcharge

Figured Mahogany - $375 upcharge

Walnut - $375 upcharge

Abalone - standard

Blue paua - $400 upcharge

Top Purfling

cowboy rope - no extra cost

herringbone - no extra cost

S29 / H/13 style - no extra cost

purfle combo - no extra cost

Single black - no extra cost

Abalone - standard

Blue paua - $840

Fingerboard Inlays

2mm dots in ivoroid - no extra cost

2mm dots in mother of pearl - no extra cost

2mm dots in abalone - no extra cost

42 style - standard

45 style - no extra cost

Diamond and squares short pattern - no extra cost

Diamond and squares long pattern - no extra cost

Snakewood century blocks - $2,000 upcharge

MOP century blocks - $2,000 upcharge

No inlays on fingerboard - no extra cost

Deco pattern in MOP- $600 upcharge

Tree of life in abalone - $1,500 upcharge

Tree of life in paua - $1,800 upcharge

Diminished frets with custom inlay - please inquire

Custom Fingerboard Inlay - please inquire

Peghead and Heel Cap Inlays

Torch inlay in abalone - $400 upcharge

Flowerpot inlay in abalone (with or without logo) - $425 upcharge

Tree of Life inlay in abalone - $500 upcharge

Tree of Life inlay in blue paua - $750 upcharge

Songbird inlay in MOP with MOP vines - $900 upcharge

Songbird inlay in MOP with abalone vines - $1,050 upcharge

Scrimshaw Heel Cap (design of your choosing) - $550 upcharge

Initials in Heel Cap - $300 upcharge

Custom Peghead Inlay - please inquire

SCGC Logo Options

SCGC logo in MOP on peghead - no extra cost

SCGC logo in abalone on peghead - no extra cost

SCGC logo in MOP on fingerboard - no extra cost

SCGC logo in abalone on fingerboard - no extra cost

Santa Cruz script logo in ivoroid on peghead - standard

Finish

Finish

Natural Finish - no extra cost

Sunburst top - no extra cost

Buttered toast sunburst top - no extra cost

Vintage tinted top - no extra cost

Custom sunburst top - standard

Full body sunburst - $400 upcharge

Gloss neck - $400 upcharge

Set Up Options

Choose Your Tuners

Nickel Waverly - no extra cost

Nickel Waverly with ivoroid buttons - standard

Nickel Waverly with Ebony buttons - no extra cost

Gold Waverly - no extra cost

Gold Waverly with Snakewood buttons - $120 upcharge

3-on-a-plate gold Waverly with Snakewood - $140 upcharge

Gotoh 510 Chrome - no extra cost

Gotoh 510 Gold - no extra cost

Gotoh 510 Gold with black buttons - no extra cost

Gotoh 510 minis Chrome - no extra cost

Gotoh 510 minis Gold - no extra cost

Pickguard

Tortoise pickguard - standard

Dalmtian pickguard - no extra cost

Tortoise pickguard unattached in case - no extra cost

Dalmatian pickguard unattached in case - no extra cost

Bridge/End Pins

Ebony bridge/end pins with MOP dots - no extra cost

Ebony bridge/end pins with abalone dots - standard

Ebony bridge/end pins with ivoroid dots - no extra cost

Bone bridge/end pins - no extra cost

Pickup Installation and Strap Button

LR Baggs Anthem - $500 upcharge

K&K Pure Mini - $250

Strap button - no extra cost

Other (please inquire)

Case Upgrades

Black Tooled Leather Cowboy Case - $200 upcharge

Brown Tooled Leather Cowboy Case - $200 upcharge

Calton Case - $1,200 upcharge

Standard Ameritage Case -- included

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