John Cruz Custom Guitars™ is open for business and, as the boutique electric guitar market response has proven, business is good.
The company’s first 50 guitars, the ‘Premier Fifty’, sold-in to dealers in less than 24 hours. The initial run features two models in five different limited custom color schemes, which will be retired with the series. In addition, the guitars ship with a custom case and matching three-guitar case stand both outfitted in faux gator skin and emblazoned with ‘John Cruz Custom Guitars’ embroidery within their plush interiors.
The company had to pause its orders as they skyrocketed well over 100 master-built instruments. In addition, they have paused taking on new dealers as dozens of music stores all over the world have lined up to become an authorized dealer. According to the company’s CEO, founder and namesake, these are all great “problems” to have.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Cruz. “You never know how people are going to react to a new company selling a new brand of guitars. Sure, I’ve been around for a while; but ‘John Cruz Custom Guitars’ hasn’t. I’m humbled and inspired by the response and look forward to absolutely crushing it and exceeding everyone’s expectations.”
By launching the business, Cruz is able to realize the dream of owning his own company handcrafting electric guitars (and eventually basses) for discriminating players all over the world. In his role, he is responsible for every aspect of the instruments – from hand-selecting the body and neck woods, to determining the specifications, inspecting the final fit and finish, and every process in between.
Prior to starting the company in 2020, Cruz spent almost 30 years building instruments for the Fender Custom Shop, first as a builder in 1993 before becoming a Master Builder in 2003. He is most closely associated with recreating Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Number One”, Jeff Beck’s The Yardbirds guitar, Yngwie Malmsteen’s “Duck” and John Mayer’s “Black1” guitar.
Some of the artists he has built for over the years include Doug Aldrich of Dio and Whitesnake, Dave Amato and Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon, Jeff Beck, Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, John Mayer, Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Carlos Santana, Ike Turner, Jimmie Vaughan, Bono of U2 and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith.
Currently, the company builds two different models, the Crossville ST™ “S”-Style guitar and Crossville TL™ “T”-Style guitar. Each model features hand-selected tonewoods, performance-grade specifications, a wide range of options and finishes, and four levels of Cruz’s famous aging and distressed conditioning (Pristine™, Time Capsule™, Whole Lotta Playing™, Battle Axe™).
“Everyone that knows the name ‘John Cruz’ thinks of a legendary musical instrument builder that hobnobs with the rock-n-roll elite,” said Casino Guitars owner Baxter Clement in Southern Pines, N.C. “But when you sit down with John, hold his guitars, coax the true nature out of them, you see the real ‘John Cruz’ for the first time.
“John is a builder, a lover of the craft of making fine instruments, a good man and someone who, after a lifetime of building for the best in the world, is now starting something beyond special. We are more than excited to see what John has to offer to a whole new generation of players and are proud to be a part of this journey with him.”
John Cruz Custom Guitars’ Premier Fifty instruments can be found at authorized dealers. For more information and a list of dealers, go to www.johncruzcustomguitars.
