The Santa Cruz FS was designed from the ground up to be a different kind of acoustic guitar.

The Santa Cruz FS was designed from the ground up to be a different kind of acoustic guitar. Inspired by a diverse group of artists that included Michael Hedges and Will Ackerman, the FS model was designed to excell in alternate tunings and an (at the time) new complex finger style approach to the guitar. Jeff Traugott, one of many luthiers who would rethink the acoustic guitar in the following years, was part of the original Santa Cruz team that designed this model.

Fast forward nearly forty years, and in hindsight the FS model feels like a guitar that was way ahead of its time. The fingerstyle approach it favors has only grown broader in its appeal and influence, and the subsequent decades following its release would see a number of independent luthiers pursue similar designs.

All these years later it remains a great instrument and an absolute pleasure to play. It's very resonant and dynamic and really shines in drop and open tunings. While you can certainly flatpick and strum this guitar (it will still sound great) it's incredibly expressive with a fingerstyle approach. The wider nut and cutaway are thoughtful and welcome assists for more complex arrangements. This guitar is simply a must play for fingerstylists.