Roy McAlister brought his fine furniture making woodworking and finishing
skills to the Santa Cruz guitar Company in the mid-1990s and helped to significantly
raise the quality bar for the instruments produced there all through the late
1990s. Since striking out on his own, Roy's guitars have enjoyed high acclaim
from collectors and professional players alike and there are less than 150
of them in the world today. Roy McAlister's instruments were the talk of the
2007 Guitar Festival in Healdsburg, CA and his backorder list now stretches
out 7 years!
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| 2003 Smeckalister (SA-106 9-03) |
The 12 Fret Jumbo (dreadnought) based on the old Gibson
Roy smeck models is very popular and quite rare. Features incldue: Brick-red
Brazilian Rosewood back (fantastic "birdswing" grain figure)
and sides (vertical grain with bold black lines), Adirondack Spruce top,
Gold Schaller tuners with ebony buttons, Brazilian Rosewood bound Brazilian
Rosewood headstock overlay with pearl "M" logo inlay, 1 13/16" nut
width, Round neck profile, Ebony fingerboard with pearl side dots and
no inlay, Body depth 3 7/8" at neck and 4 7/8" at tail, Brazilian
Rosewood body binding with side purfling, Line type purfling, Abalone
and line purfling rosette, Vintage style sunburst top finish, Vintage
style pickguard, Ebony bridge with 2 3/8" string spread, Brazilian
Rosewood heelcap, Line type backstrip purfling, Brazilian rosewood butt
wedge with no end pin. he original back supplied by the dealer who ordered it developed a number of checks and I supplied a new Brazilian Rosewood back to Roy as a replacement. It took 15 months for this repair, but was well worth the wait. The matching binding work is flawless. Playing the guitar, one is immediately struck
by the magnificent sound. The string to string balance is very even,
with each note fully rich in harmonics. This guitar has the uncommon
characteristic of great sustain paired with a strong fundamental. This
is a rare opportunity to own a near new McAlister. Roy's current wait
time for new orders is 4-5 years. Brand new heavy duty custom Ameritage hardshell case. |
$7500.00
March sale price
$6500.00 |
|

2006 C cutaway (C13-196) |
A fabulous example of Roy's OM shape, named
for endorser David Crosby. Gorgeous vertical grain Brazilian Rosewood,
Tight grain European Spruce top, Sloane-Waverly strip tuners with Rosewood
buttons, Slothead Brazilian Rosewood frontal headstock overlay with pearl "Roy
McAlister" signature inlay, Matching figure Brazilian Rosewood rear
headstock overlay, 1 3/4" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood bound and
purfled Ebony fingerboard with no inlay, Koa body binding with side purfling,
Brazilian Rosewood top purfling, Brazilian Rosewood and abalone soundhole
purfling, Brazilian Rosewood bridge with bone saddle, No pickguard, Koa
heelcap, backstrip, and butt wedge, Fossilized ivory bridge pins, K & K
pure mini pickup. This guitar remains in mint condition. The voice has
developed very nicely some from play, but more tonal depth will come with
regular use. This is one of the finest sounding McAlister fingerstyle guitars
that I've ever had the pleasure to play. With black hardshell case. |
$7950.00 |
|

2008 Custom D (D-172) |
A gorgeous 42 style Dreadnought with special cosmetic
appointments. Stunningly beautiful Brazilian Rosewood with plenty of spiderweb
figure, Artist grade tight grain Adirondack Spruce top, Gold Gotoh G-98
style tuners, Ivoroid bound Brazilian Rosewood frontal headstock overlay
with pearl 45 style inlay, Brazilian Rosewood rear headstock overlay precisely
fitted around dart with pearl "M" logo, 1 11/16" nut width,
Ivoroid bound Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with pearl "Roy McAlister" signature
inlay, Ivoroid body binding with side purflings, Abalone 42 style top purfling
and soundhole rosette, Brazilian Rosewood bridge with bone saddle, Vintage
shape red turtle-oid pickguard, Ivoroid heelcap and butt wedge, 45 style
multicolored backstrip, Bone endpin and bridge pins, K & K pure mini
pickup. This guitar remains in mint condition. The only cosmetic flaw is
a small surface 1/4" surface check on either side of the backstrip
from a filled wormhole. The voice hasn't developed much yet, as the guitar
saw little play. A great bonus is the brown leather covered Cedar Creek
case, similar to one that I sold for $800.00 at discount last spring. |
$7950.00 |
|

2005 J-45 (101) |
This is the first example of Roy McAlister's take on the
legendary slope shouldered Gibson Advanced Jumbo, of which only 300 were
made between 1936-1939. This "Blonde AJ" has gorgeous orange-red
Brazilian Rosewood with great grain definition and inky black lines, Stiff
Adirondack Spruce top, Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony headstock
overlay with pearl "M" logo inlay, 1 3/4" nut width, a round
profile,comfortable neck that plays easily, Unbound Brazilian Rosewood
fingerboard with pearl Advanced Jumbo inlay, a 24 3/4 string length , Brazilian
Rosewood body binding with thin black-white-black side and back purfling,
Black and white wood top purfling, Abalone rosette, Brazilian Rosewood
rectangular bridge with 2 1/4" string spacing and drop-in saddle with
extensions to edge of bridge, Greven tiger stripe pickguard, Ebony heelcap,
Brazilan Rosewood backstrip with black-white-black purfling to match the
side and back edges, Ebony butt wedge with black-white-black purfling,
Gurian Ebony bridge pins with pearl dot. This guitar has an easy response,
a wide dynamic range, and a toneful voice in all ranges. A superb guitar
for blues, folk and country styles. Another knockout guitar from Roy McAlister.
This guitar comes with a beautiful hardshell Ameritage case. |
|

2004 42 Style C (David Crosby) Cutaway (C-165) |
This extremely clean example of Roy's highest profile
endorsement model has a huge voice and is exquisitely appointed. Fine
grain Adirondack Spruce top with aging toner, Gorgeous orange-brown highly
flame-figured Koa, Gold Waverly tuners with snakewood buttons, Macassar
Ebony overlay at rear of headstock, Brazilian Rosewood-black-white-black
bound black Ebony headstock overlay with pale abalone 45 style torch
inlay, 1 11/16" nut width, Round neck profile, Black bound Ebony
fingerboard with pearl 45 snowflake inlay, Cutaway body for easy access
to 18th fret, 15 3/8" lower bout width, 4 7/16" depth at tail,
Brazilian Rosewood body binding with black-white-black side purfling
and 42 style abalone top purfling and rosette, Ebony belly bridge with
2 1/4" string spacing and thicker bone saddle for better compensation
points, Red turtle-oid pickguard, Brazilian Rosewood-ivoroid heelcap,
Brazilian Rosewood backstrip and butt wedge have black-white-black purfling,
Under-saddle pickup (Fishman?), Bone bridge pins with abalone dot, Gold
strap button added to treble side of neck heel. This guitar is still
in like-new condition. The gigantic voice with solid low end would be
appropriate for playing rhythm in a Bluegrass jam session, but the clear,
penetrating trebles also make this a great jazz soloing guitar or fingerstyle
instrument. Another astounding example of guitar luthiery from Roy McAlister.
With tweed Cedar Creek |
|

2007 Smeckalister (SA-103) |
A virtually untouched 12 fret Roy Smeck
jumbo from last year. Dark reddish brown Brazilian Rosewood with excellent
grain definition (sides remind me of several Martin D-28s from 1948 and
match the headstock overlay), Adirondack Spruce top, Waverly tuners with
ivoroid buttons, Pearl "M" logo in headstock overlay, Rear
headstock overlay in Macassar Ebony, 1 3/4" nut width, Modified
V-shape neck profile, Ebony fingerboard bound in ebony, No fingerboard
inlay, Ebony butt wedge and body binding with wood line purflings on
side and top, Rosewood and wooden line purfling on inner rosette ring,
Thin blue abalone and wooden line purfling on outer rosette ring, Greven
tiger stripe vintage shape pickguard, Ebony rectangular bridge with 2
5/16" string spacing, Ebony endpin and bridge pins with pearl dots,
Ebony and ivoroid heelcap, Ebony and line purfling backstrip. Simple
cosmetics with superb materials and a rich, responsive voice make this
guitar a standout among all Smeckalisters that I have played. This is
as good as it gets. With new Cedar Creek tweed case. |
|

Roy McAlister OM-45 (OM45-170) |
This astonishing guitar represents the best efforts
of well-respected former Santa Cruz Guitar Company luthier Roy McAlister
as part of his Vintage series, recreating and reinterpreting some of
the classic Martin and Gibson designs from the 1930s. Dark brick-red
vertical grain Brazilian Rosewood ("unobtainium") with heavily
spiderwebbed sides and very tight, even grain on the back, Artist Grade
Plus Adirondack Spruce, Gold Waverly tuners, Bound headstock of dark
vertical grain Brazilian Rosewood with 45 style "torch" inlay,
1 3/4" nut width, Comfortable vintage V-shape neck profile, Ebony
fingerboard with 45 snowflake inlay, Ivoroid body binding and heelcap
with full 45 style abalone treatment on all body edges, Ebony bridge
with 45 snowflake inlay in feet, 2 3/16 string spread, and long drop-in
saddle, 45 style backstrip, Red turtle-oid OM-size pickguard, bone endpin
and bridge pins with ablaone dots. Roy chose to use the white pearl for
the 45 style inlay that Martin favored before going to snail shell. This
guitar has the famous Roy McAlister voice, solid and loud with clarity
and character in each blanced note from the nut to the end of the fingerboard.
This instrument was one of the three most discussed guitars at the 2007
Healdsburg Guitar Show held in Santa Rosa this past August. I am very
proud to be selling this new instrument with lifetime warranty for the
owner that waited 7 years to get it. With hardshell case. |
|

2003 Custom Herringbone Dreadnought (D-117) |
Displayed at the 2003 Healdsburg Guitar
Festival, this guitar is very closely specified to a wartime era herringbone
D-28. Red and black Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Artist grade Adirondack
Spruce top with no toner in the finish, Unbound vertical grain reddish
orange Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay without the characteristic
McAlister "-M-" pearl logo, Gold Waverly tuners, Diamond neck
volute, 1 11/16" nut width, Bone nut, Inbound Ebony fingerboard
with abalone 28 style diamonds and squares inlay, Ivoroid body binding
with black-white-black side purlfing, Herringbone top purfling, 4" soundhole
with herringbone rosette, Ebony bridge with 2 1/4" string spread,
Vintage color turtle-oid pickguard, Ivoroid-black-ivoroid heelcap with
gold strap button attached, Black-white-black back purfling, Vintage
size zipper backstrip, Solid Ivoroid bridge pins replace the "upgrade" fossilized
ivory bridge beens that had been added to the guitar, A new bone saddle
replaces the overly bright sounding and too low fossilized ivory bridge
saddle that had been added, Gold Taylor endpin replaces the Fishman pickup
output jack. Kept in immaculate condition, this instrument remians showroom
new. It looks as if the Japanese owner never played this guitar! The
voice is robust and focused, giving the player everything that he could
want in flatpicking or Bluegrass guitar. Of any dreanought that I've
had in the shop since selling the 1941 D-28 4 years ago, this instrument
best captures the spirit and function of an early 1940s D-28. With hardshell
case.
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|

2002 Custom L-OO (L-015) |
This custom guitar is a highly responsive
version of a 14 fret L-2. Reddish Brown Brazilian Rosewood (back is 40%
vertical grain, sides are 80% vertical grain), Adirondack Spruce top,
Gold Schaller mini tuners, Ebony overlay on rear of headstock, Ebony
and holly bound ebony front headstock overlay with pearl "-M-" logo,
1 11/16" nut width, Ebony bound ebony fingerboard with no inlay,
Fingerboard end is curved to the same line as the innermost soundhole
purfling ring, Ebony binding with black-white-black wooden side and top
purfling, Abalone rosette with black-white-black rosette purlfings, Dark
sunburst finish, Tiger stripe vintage Gibson shape pickguard, Fully scalloped
braces for deep, penetrating bass response, Ebony bridge with 2 3/16" string
spacing, Ebony heelcap, backstrip, and butt wedge, Ebony Gurian endpin
and bridge pins with pearl dot, Strap button added to treble side of
neck heel. Made with precision craftsmanship that Gibson could only dream
of, this extremely responsive guitar captures the spirit and charm of
an early 1930s L-2 models with modern playibility. This is the kind of
guitar that will make Collings and Bourgeois players jealous and embarassed.
Kept very clean with only a couple of small dings. Soem finish disruptions
on the backstrip pruflings. Tan Cedar Creek hardshell case with only
very light scuffing. A custom Calton case is available for another $500.00. |
|

2003 12 Fret Nick Lucas (L-134) |
Honduras Mahogany back, sides, and neck, European
Spruce top, Slotted headstock, Sloane-Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons,
Ebony overlay at rear of headstock is neatly fitted around the dart volute,
Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay is bound in Ebony and black-white-black
wood purfling, 1 3/4" nut width, Fossilized Ivory nut, Ebony-bound
ebony fingerboard with no inlay, 24 3/4" string length, Brazilian
Rosewood binding with wooden black-white-black side purfling and multi-layer
wooden line top purfling, Ebony Bridge with Ebony brdige pins, Abalone
rosette, Red turtle-oid pickguard, Brazilian Rosewood backstrip and heelcap,
Fishman pickup. Kept in immaculate condition, this great 12 fret Lucas
model has a well-developed voice for playing fingerstyle with light guage
strings or flatpicking fiddle tunes Norman Blake style with Bluegrass
guage strings. With AVS hardshell case. |
|

2001 Roy McAlister Custom Dreadnought (D-010) |
This D-18 inspired custom dreadnought
was Roy's 10th instrument made after he left the Santa Cruz Guitar Company.
I am very pleased to have it back after I sold it new originally in 2003.
Heavily bearclaw-figured Adirondack Spruce top, Heavily flame- and beewswing-figured
Honduras Mahogany, Waverly nickel tuners with ivoroid buttons, Brazilian
Rosewood headstock overlay bound with ebony and black-white-black wood
purfling and inlaid with pearl "M" logo, Fossilized ivory nut,
1 3/4" nut width, Ebony fingerboard bound with ebony and black-white-black
wood purfling and inlaid with long pattern 28 style abalone diamonds
and squares, 25 3/8" string scale, Fingerboard terminates at the
soundhole rosette with curve matching the inside purfling of the rosette,
Ebony body binding with black-white-black wood side purfling and multiple
top purfling, Abalone and wood purfling in soundhole rosette, Ebony bridge
with 2 1/4" string spread, Ebony and thin ivoroid layer heelcap,
Ebony and black-white-black wood purfling backstrip, Ebony and black-white-black
purfling butt wedge, Dalmation pattern pickguard, Strap button installed
in treble side of the neck heel. This guitar shows all of the same fine
woodworking skills that Roy exhibits in his 2007 OM-45 that is also for
sale here in the shop. This Mahogany-Adirondack dreadnought has a large
voice, a lively response, and the characterisitc even, clear tone that
Roy is famous for. This is a rare opportunity to own a near-mint condition
example of a guitar that would cost $9,000.00 if ordered today to be
delivered in 2115! With hardshell case. |