A strong guitar from the work shop of Richard Hoover's Santa Cruz Guitars! A nod to the Martins of yesteryear - this example dates to 1997 (now nearly 30 years old), and features some elegant player approved specs. It has been well cared for, and tonally has opened up beautifully. It's constructed with a an Adirondack spruce top - herringbone binding and rosette. The back & sides made of straight grained light Indian rosewood. Cosmetically the body is in very good shape, with light nicks and dings present, but structurally sound. Internally it has 40's style rear shifted X bracing, and thin maple bridge plate. A light weight and resonant soundboard. A 25.4" scale length, combined with the 12th fret to the neck design, it places the neck joint closer to the soundhole - providing a nice immediate warm tone. The neck is constructed out of mahogany with a comfortable vintage C profile, measuring .91"-and tapering lightly to .94" at the seventh. Light weight slot peghead equipped with Waverly tuners Ebony fingerboard with Martin style Diamond inlay pattern. Frets and fingerboard are in good shape with some mild indentation overall. The finish has naturally relic'd from play along the fingerboard edge, the nut width measuring 1 29/32" - excellent for fingerstyle. The truss rod functions as it should. One will note a sealed crack present in the mahogany profile near the open position running about 4" or so - likely from internal pressure of the truss rod. Tested in our shop - the truss rod appears to function as it should. Includes original hardshell case.