Takamine fever!

[sydsbluesky]

We have threads for many of the great makes - Martin, Gibson, Ovation and Taylor, but I think Takamine deserves at least 20 seconds of fame.

What do ya'll think about them?

They have an undeniable track record. Unlike many artists, that will endorse a company and have a custom model made, people actually use these guitars. I've seen quite a few live acts, The Eagles, most notably, using them on stage.

Why would someone with more money to burn than a CEO in a bull market play what many guys refer to as "gigging," also pronounced, "second rate," guitars? Just the fact that none of the Guitar Nuts present on this forum has put up a topic on them, while Taylor, Martin, Gibson and Ovation are all touched upon if not wholly, than partially tunes up with this opinion.

So, prevailing opinion puts them as a working guitar. What does this forum think?

[sydsbluesky]

I'll start things off.

I have three acoustics, not counting nylon or 12 string.

I have played several dozen acoustics in the last few years, as well. Guitars ranging from 50 to 4000 dollars in price.

My first guitar was a Takamine EG241, a now discontinued budget model, featuring laminated spruce on top and laminated nato on the back and sides.

350 bucks. A no frills, solid guitar, with a very solid case... always important.

For the price, it's absolutely unbeatable. The electronics are awful without feedback reduction, but they're tolerable in some settings with it.

If I weren't working on a high volume stage show with a need for a cutaway and in the studio, then I wouldn't ever need to upgrade it.

I put it up against every other guitar in its price range when I got it, which was back in the old days when I knew little, but I'd been playing bass for a year or so, and knew what sounded good, and knew what felt good. This guitar won out in every area, against the deans, washburns and fenders it was up against.

In short... for 350 bucks, the guitar kicks a$$.

One more review to come...

[jonesboy]

I've always liked Taks, but a Taylor 114 won out over a G-series for my first acoustic. Found myself in the Marietta Guitar Centre a month or so ago, however, and got a screaming deal on a Japanese Tak with solid Cedar top and solid Mahogany back (EAN10C) - plays like a dream, sounds amazing, looks absolutely beautiful. I'm a really big fan. Probably the biggest surprise for me was the fact that it still has amazing tone when being played very quietly. I guess what I mean is that it sounds like the same guitar when played lightly as it does when strummed with aggression - amazing stuff.

[b4nj0]

I've had a Tak since 1980. A (basically) budget model F360s with a solid spruce top, laminated back and sides. I was taken by a review of a sister model (F312s?)which I now recognise as a parlor (sic) guitar. I loved it for about 25 years until I got a hand made, all solid timber Yamaha LS400vt. There was no contest.

In no way am I going to ever denigrate my beloved Tak- it was (I believe) one of the so-called "lawsuit" models- but it only ever comes out of its case for old-times' sake these days. I guess that's more about having too many instruments really!

Bottom line- a great guitar.

Respect to you Mass. K. Hirade. (RIP)