any Takamine fans out there?

[P Thought]

This thread is a "trigger" for me: I want all these guitars.

I bought my first guitar in 1976, a Takamine F-360. I learned three chords in six or seven keys. Bought a C-140SH in 1980, a really loud classical. Same chords, no picks.

A couple years ago, with my wife's approval, I went looking for a "nice" guitar. I knew Takamines tended to offer lots of quality for the money, so I started looking for the solid-top dreadnoughts on e-Bay. I was surprised to find that (25 years ago) the headstocks had changed!

GAS set in. Now I have, in addition to the two above, an F-349, F-340S, and an F400S 12-string. Those all have the "lawsuit" headstocks. I added a cool electric, a GX-200T "Takstrat", whose headstock is my avatar. I also bought a C-128, and a C132S, which I gave to my daughters. During this time I acquired a Martin 00 15-S, and I gave it to my son, wanting to keep my collection Takamine-pure! Signs of sickness. One more: an all-solid spruce/mahogany acoustic/electric dreadought EF-340S BG. That's the "nice guitar" I set out looking for--it's teaching me to play, and to use a pick--so I'm trying very hard to stop buying Takamines now.

A couple of things: 1) there's a nice little Takamine forum with loads of information and pictures. Nice people (except for me,) nice guitars; 2) the Martin thing apparently stopped short of an actual lawsuit, but the story above is pretty much right other than that; 3) I hope nobody waves an F-360SD in front of me (sunburst version,) because I'm afraid my willpower will crumble; and 4) though the "lawsuit" guitars are still very cool, the current Takamine acoustics are much improved, with better design, craftsmanship, tonewoods, electronics and everything. Some are truly world-class instruments.

As part of my Tak-addiction cure, I'm working on putting together a tele-style guitar. No potential for addiction there, I see by watching TDPRI. It's almost ready; I just don't know where I'll put it.

[Stuco]

I would go for a Larrive at that price point. Much more guitar for the money imo.

[P Thought]

Originally Posted by TraditionalCountry

1.What's the model number on that black one Toby Keith plays?

2.How do you pronounce it?Is it pronounced 'tack-uh-meany"or "tack-uh-mine"?

3.Does the tone get radically better as the street price on the various Tak models increases from about $500.00 to $1200.00?

Thanks,
Malcolm

1. My guess would be the EF341SC. Has electrics I think. Check Takamine.com.

2. Tock-uh-meany

3. Oh, yes. And on up, to maybe $4,000. Models move from all laminated, to solid tops, to solid back & top, to all solid. Bling and finish slides up, too, and there are several electronics options. They have some all-solid koa models right now with really cool inlay work, and the annual limited-edition models are always cool.

[HOBBSTER01]

My personal (and favorite) is an EAN-10C.
It's not a Matin or Taylor when it's unplugged but blows both away in an amplified venue.
Plays better than any acoustic I've owned and I've owned many.

[Brewdude]

Interesting thread. Can one of you knowledgeable folks answer this question for me-

Somewhere around '73/74 I bought a TAMA jumbo, model 9558/S, for something like $250 and to this day is still my favorite acoustic. It's styled very much like a D-28, almost a dead ringer. I can vouch for this since back then a buddy had a D-28 which I borrowed for a couple weeks and the feel of the neck and body was identical to my Tama. Where the D-28 was more delicate sounding, trebley and softer in volume the TAMA had much more bass response and was noticeably louder.

The music store I worked in at the time got in two of these guitars and I bought one of them. Never saw any TAMAs around after that, and someone told me that they were made by Takamine. Is this accurate?

I'd post a pic but don't have a digital camera.

[Joe-Bob]

I have two.

One is a Hirade H-5.

The other is a Takamine FP350SMCSB with a digital preamp.

[Darrell]

I spent the afternoon at Guitar Center yesterday. Tried maybe a dozen Martin's and Taylors from 499 to 3499. Before I left, I tried a Takamine GS430S. I was very surprised that it sounded just about as good and played just about as good as the others. At 299, that guitar is a heck of deal. I thought the SJ body style was a bonus too.

[Savvy75]

Not an acoustic... But a solid electric that I thought may be of interest!

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...bafc87dd9b6609

[P Thought]

Originally Posted by Brewdude

Interesting thread. Can one of you knowledgeable folks answer this question for me-

Somewhere around '73/74 I bought a TAMA jumbo, model 9558/S, for something like $250 and to this day is still my favorite acoustic. It's styled very much like a D-28, almost a dead ringer. I can vouch for this since back then a buddy had a D-28 which I borrowed for a couple weeks and the feel of the neck and body was identical to my Tama. Where the D-28 was more delicate sounding, trebley and softer in volume the TAMA had much more bass response and was noticeably louder.

The music store I worked in at the time got in two of these guitars and I bought one of them. Never saw any TAMAs around after that, and someone told me that they were made by Takamine. Is this accurate?

I'd post a pic but don't have a digital camera.

Interesting. My sister had a Tama, a dreadnought with some abalone inlay. Nice guitar. Not made by Takamine. She passed away. Her husband kept the guitar. I haven't seen one since.

[BigMike]

I have an EAN10 which is a great gigging guitar, but not quite in the same league as my Martin HD28...........

[P Thought]

Originally Posted by BigMike

I have an EAN10 which is a great gigging guitar, but not quite in the same league as my Martin HD28...........

The Takamine EF360S BG plays in that league, it really does.

[Brewdude]

Originally Posted by P Thought

Interesting. My sister had a Tama, a dreadnought with some abalone inlay. Nice guitar. Not made by Takamine. She passed away. Her husband kept the guitar. I haven't seen one since.

Yup, that's the one I have. So they were not made by Takamine after all then? Looks they were only made for a short time in the early 70s from what I understand.

Attended the annual Vintage guitar show in Seattle a few months back, and there was a real pretty Takamine on offer for a couple grand. The info was that only a few were ever made. Looked pretty cherry. Very elaborate fingerboard inlay. Didn't play it and now I regret that.

[slowpinky]

Does this include nylon strings?

Years ago(1984ish?) I remember seeing a photo of west coast jazzer Peter Sprague on an album cover with his Taki Classical with a Florentine cutaway - one of the EC series from the early 1980's. the sound of his nylon string(and his playing of course) on the album sold me right away and being young and impulsive I ordered one in from Japan. Cost a fortune back then - and when it arrived it was actually the model with the Selmer type cutaway and despite several string changes I couldn't get that tone from it
pickup or no. Over the years though and despite one unfortunate mishap with a clumsy band members right boot, it has become a beautiful sounding instrument. I've replaced the piezo of course and set it up myself - and it remains the one guitar that I have kept throughout the last 25 years or so - records beautifully.

[ceedubya]

This is my first guitar now it ain't no high end Tak but it's fine for me since i'm just learning. I bought this particular guitar based on a recommendation from the friend teaching me and for the money it hasn't dissappointed. The only problem i've had is one of the tuning machine started pulling away from the headstock. I contacted musiciansfriend and they sent me free of charge new tuning machines (grover). i installed them myself and she plays like a champ now and stays in tune much better now too. It's a Jasmine S35 paid a whopping 99 bucks.

[bignote]

Plugged in, Takamines can't be beat.

[mudbean]

Count me in the Tak Club - A short while back, I got an EG530SC from CraigsList. Bought it as a stage backup for my "gigger," an Ibanez AW100EC - and it immediately usurped #1 status, relegating the Ibby to backup duty. I'm currently scanning the CL for an EG334SC or EG360SC (nicer fretboard inlays) to replace the Artwood altogether.

mud

[guitarzan13]

Originally Posted by bignote

Plugged in, Takamines can't be beat.

Amen... The TK40 preamp is awesome. My son's is a EG530SSC
VERY nice guitar!!!!!!!!!!!11

[mudbean]

Originally Posted by mudbean

Count me in the Tak Club - A short while back, I got an EG530SC from CraigsList. Bought it as a stage backup for my "gigger," an Ibanez AW100EC - and it immediately usurped #1 status, relegating the Ibby to backup duty. I'm currently scanning the CL for an EG334SC or EG360SC (nicer fretboard inlays) to replace the Artwood altogether.

mud

Here she be:







mud