Takamine EAN 45C

ip · October 5th, 2003, 02:42 PM

I'm thinking of buying this model what do people think - could I get something better for the money?

Ian

Raymond · October 6th, 2003, 09:32 AM

I've had two and from time to time I keep getting back to them

That model is very beatiful!

Now, this is a 1200 - 1500$ guitar, right? I would check a Martin or a Tacoma before proceeding...Just my 2 cents.

Wally · October 7th, 2003, 11:14 AM

OR a Gibson...I have seen brand new J-50 and J-45 guitars for $1350. Anytime a Made in Asia guitar gets over $5-600, I suggest looking at American made instruments. At a price of over $1200, there is no way I consider anything but USA- made. you get more for your money sound-wise and used market value-wise.

Raymond · October 9th, 2003, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally

OR a Gibson...I have seen brand new J-50 and J-45 guitars for $1350.

The J-45 has always been the acoustic guitar of my dreams....Current production Gibsons are very good, but don't get anything from the "dark" period (from the 60s to the early 90s)

A local shop was selling a used 70s J-45 for 1300 and just by inspecting the instrument you could tell that the craftsmanship was poor. The neck was disaligned, rest of glue everywhere...juts dreadful..I told him that I could get a new one for the same money and he said "this guitar is vintage"...a clue please?

The poor quality of that era has been well documented. Just check out any of Dan Erlewine books.

Wally · October 9th, 2003, 12:21 PM

My take on Gibsons is that I prefer anything from '58 on back and the early '90's on. I have a limited production '92 J-30 rosewood that shrinks from no guitar and surpasses most in richness of tone and physical beauty. It is a 25 1/2" scale. The J-45/50 guitar is a 24 3/4" scale. I love my '46 J-45 and have been much impressed by the J-45/50's that I have seen built in the last decade or so. I just did a set up and a properly compensated bone saddle for a customer on a new J-45 Rosewood that is a killer guitar. The only problem is that Gibson is calling it a J-45 while it has a natural top...very confusing in a vintage sense. My vintage mind would have called it a J-50 RW, but it ain't my call, is it?

newbie · October 9th, 2003, 02:19 PM

i find myself wanting a pre '60 j45, or even a 60's or 70's 45 or 50 for the right money from time to time. but everytime i play one, i hate the neck. nothing wrong with it, i just dislike those necks. lotsa vibe and mojo for sure in those old 45's though!!! just wish i could find one with slim neck profile like a taylor.

kinda funny to me, because i prefer a big chunky v neck on a tele :?

Wally · October 9th, 2003, 03:11 PM

Newbie, if you like a Taylor neck, you certainly would not like my '46 J-45. The neck on it makes a Jeff Beck Strat neck, which was modeled from his '54 Tele and is huge, seem rather small in comparison. There is a sonic magic that happens with big necks on acoustic guitars. I grew up on Gibsons and favor round necks. V necks as on some Fenders and D-28 Martins are not to my liking...I get two sore points in the bones of my fretting hand's index finger and thumb. I have to have the roundness filling my hand up. Different strokes, eh?

October 5th, 2003, 02:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
ip TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 12	Takamine EAN 45C I'm thinking of buying this model what do people think - could I get something better for the money? Ian

October 6th, 2003, 09:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Raymond Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Herndon, VA Posts: 2,417 3 Photos	I love Takamines I've had two and from time to time I keep getting back to them That model is very beatiful! Now, this is a 1200 - 1500$ guitar, right? I would check a Martin or a Tacoma before proceeding...Just my 2 cents. __________________ "That's a hard pill to swallow, buddy; when you find out what the blues is all about"

October 9th, 2003, 02:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
newbie Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 226	gibson acoustics i find myself wanting a pre '60 j45, or even a 60's or 70's 45 or 50 for the right money from time to time. but everytime i play one, i hate the neck. nothing wrong with it, i just dislike those necks. lotsa vibe and mojo for sure in those old 45's though!!! just wish i could find one with slim neck profile like a taylor. kinda funny to me, because i prefer a big chunky v neck on a tele :?

October 7th, 2003, 11:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,645	OR a Gibson...I have seen brand new J-50 and J-45 guitars for $1350. Anytime a Made in Asia guitar gets over $5-600, I suggest looking at American made instruments. At a price of over $1200, there is no way I consider anything but USA- made. you get more for your money sound-wise and used market value-wise.

October 9th, 2003, 12:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,645	My take on Gibsons is that I prefer anything from '58 on back and the early '90's on. I have a limited production '92 J-30 rosewood that shrinks from no guitar and surpasses most in richness of tone and physical beauty. It is a 25 1/2" scale. The J-45/50 guitar is a 24 3/4" scale. I love my '46 J-45 and have been much impressed by the J-45/50's that I have seen built in the last decade or so. I just did a set up and a properly compensated bone saddle for a customer on a new J-45 Rosewood that is a killer guitar. The only problem is that Gibson is calling it a J-45 while it has a natural top...very confusing in a vintage sense. My vintage mind would have called it a J-50 RW, but it ain't my call, is it?

October 9th, 2003, 03:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,645	Newbie, if you like a Taylor neck, you certainly would not like my '46 J-45. The neck on it makes a Jeff Beck Strat neck, which was modeled from his '54 Tele and is huge, seem rather small in comparison. There is a sonic magic that happens with big necks on acoustic guitars. I grew up on Gibsons and favor round necks. V necks as on some Fenders and D-28 Martins are not to my liking...I get two sore points in the bones of my fretting hand's index finger and thumb. I have to have the roundness filling my hand up. Different strokes, eh?