Bill Putnam Jr. and Richard Hoover on Building Things That Last

Universal Audio’s Blue Stripe Sessions spotlights the people who share our passion for creativity and craftsmanship.

Named after the iconic 1176 "Blue Stripe" compressor created by Bill Putnam Sr., one of the most influential pieces of studio gear ever made, Blue Stripe Sessions is a series about the people and ideas shaping music and technology today.

In this episode, UA CEO Bill Putnam Jr. sits down with Richard Hoover, founder of Santa Cruz Guitar Company, to talk about what it takes to build something that lasts.

Fifty years in, Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover is still asking the same questions that drove him from the start. 

About Richard Hoover and Santa Cruz Guitar Company

Richard Hoover founded the Santa Cruz Guitar Company in 1976 in Santa Cruz, California. Now in its 50th year, SCGC remains one of the most respected builders of handmade acoustic guitars in the world, known for combining traditional construction methods with material science and modern lutherie research. Hoover has spent five decades asking the same questions about what makes an acoustic instrument work, how wood behaves over time, and what it means to build something intended to outlast its maker.

For Bill Putnam Jr., who grew up around the hardware his father invented, Hoover's approach to craft resonated immediately. Both founders work in analog domains, inherited traditions they chose to extend rather than replace, and are still in the business of building things that hold up over decades.

— UA Staff

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 1176 Blue Stripe compressor? 

The 1176 Blue Stripe is an early revision of the Universal Audio 1176 FET limiting amplifier, designed by Bill Putnam Sr. in the late 1960s. It is distinguished by a blue stripe on the faceplate and is widely considered one of the most influential pieces of studio hardware ever made. Modern versions are available as the UA 1176 hardware unit and as UAD plug-ins.

Who is Bill Putnam Sr.? 

Bill Putnam Sr. was an audio engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur who founded Universal Audio in 1958. He designed the 1176 compressor, developed early stereo recording techniques, and built Western/United Recorders in Hollywood, where artists including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and the Beach Boys recorded. His son, Bill Putnam Jr., leads Universal Audio today.

Who is Richard Hoover?

Richard Hoover is the founder of Santa Cruz Guitar Company, which he established in Santa Cruz, California, in 1976. Santa Cruz Guitar Company is widely regarded as one of the finest makers of handmade acoustic guitars in the United States, known for combining traditional lutherie with material science and modern construction methods.

What is Blue Stripe Sessions?

Blue Stripe Sessions is a video interview series from Universal Audio featuring conversations between UA CEO Bill Putnam Jr. and makers, engineers, and artists who share a commitment to craft and quality. The series takes its name from the 1176 Blue Stripe compressor, created by Bill Putnam Sr.