TAKAMINE HE-8SS
- similar to H-8SS, except CT4B electronics, mfg. 2001-04.
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Takamine was originally founded in Japan during the early 1960s and is named from the mountain near their factory in Sakashita, Japan. Mass Hirade, who has a line of classical guitars named after him in Takamine's line, came to work for Takamine in the late 1960s, and it was at this time when Takamine began to take off. Originally, Takamine built guitars for Martin's Sigma series through the Coast distributors. Kaman Music Corporation bought Coast in the mid-1970s, which forced Martin to contract their Sigma guitars to another company. At the same time Kaman/Ovation encouraged Takamine to start building guitars under their own trademark. Soon thereafter, Kaman started importing Takamine-branded guitars into the U.S. (Takamine was also distributed in many other countries). Most early models were copies of popular American designs - especially several Martin models. Not only are many of these guitars similar in design, but the logo was a near match other than the name. In the late 1970s, Takamine, along with many other Japanese manufacturers, were sued by a few American guitar builders, including Martin, for trademark infringement. Takamine agreed to stop using Martin's logo on their guitars and came up with their own. Guitars from this era are known to most guitar collectors as the pre-lawsuit era, and many of these instruments have become extremely collectible today.
Takamine continues to produce a wide variety of acoustic instruments ranging from entry-level guitars to highly ornate and limited edition models. While most guitars were produced in Japan, Takamine has shifted some production to Korea and China in the 2000s. Also, Takamine briefly entered the electric market with a few models in the 1980s. Takamine is still part of Kaman Music and is viewed as a traditional alternative to Ovation's bowl-back guitars. In late 2007, the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation (FMIC) bought Kaman Music, which included the Takamine brand. For more information, visit Takamine's website or contact them directly.
Takamine continues to produce a wide variety of acoustic instruments ranging from entry-level guitars to highly ornate and limited edition models. While most guitars were produced in Japan, Takamine has shifted some production to Korea and China in the 2000s. Also, Takamine briefly entered the electric market with a few models in the 1980s. Takamine is still part of Kaman Music and is viewed as a traditional alternative to Ovation's bowl-back guitars. In late 2007, the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation (FMIC) bought Kaman Music, which included the Takamine brand. For more information, visit Takamine's website or contact them directly.
Instruments currently manufactured in Japan, China, and Korea since the early 1960s. Distributed by ESP Guitars in North Hollywood, CA.
TAKAMINE Acoustic Guitars Models
TAKAMINE 2002 LIMITED EDITION
- single cutaway dreadnought body, solid Sitka spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back, Indian rosewood sides, round soundhole with whale rosette, ebony fingerboard with 12th fret whale inlay, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, CT-4B...
TAKAMINE EN-12C-12
- dreadnought body with cutaway, 12-string, solid cedar top, Silky Oak back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, Graph EX pre-amp system, available in Natural finish, disc.
TAKAMINE TSF-48C
- similar to PSF-48C, except has Cool Tube electronics, available in Natural Gloss finish, mfg. 2006-present.
TAKAMINE TOBY KEITH EF250TK
- single cutaway jumbo-style body, solid spruce top, flame maple back and sides, round soundhole with concentric rings, white body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with MOP/abalone block inlays, Toby Keith silhouet...
TAKAMINE ENV-340SC
- similar to the NV-340S, except has a single cutaway and CTB-4 electronics, mfg. 2003-04.
TAKAMINE EG-522C
- classical style single cutaway body, spruce top, nato back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, TK4NT electronics, available in Gloss Natural finish, disc. 2011.
TAKAMINE G-124
- classical style, spruce top, round soundhole, bound body, wood marquetry rosette, nato or mahogany (2006-present) back/sides, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret rosewood fingerboard, tied rosewood bridge, three-per-side chrome tuners with plastic...
TAKAMINE EG-332C
- similar to G-332, except has single round cutaway, crystal bridge pickups, 4-band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1994-2003.
TAKAMINE EG-440CST Flame Maple
- similar to the EG-440C, except has flame maple top, back, and sides, available in Trans. Black, Trans. Blue, or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 2009-mid-2013.
TAKAMINE EF-341SC
- similar to F-341, except has single rounded cutaway, solid cedar top, crystal bridge pickups, 3-band EQ, current mfg.
TAKAMINE CP-132SC
- similar to C-132S, except single rounded cutaway, crystal bridge pickup, parametric EQ, mfg. 1980s-1999.
TAKAMINE TH-8SS
- similar to H-8SS, except features CTP-1 Cool Tube electronics, mfg. 2004-2012.
TAKAMINE 2003 LIMITED EDITION
- single cutaway dreadnought body, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back, rosewood sides, round soundhole with eagle rosette, ebony fingerboard with 12th fret eagle eye and dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, CT-4B electron...
TAKAMINE N-15
- dreadnought style, solid cedar top, round soundhole, 3-stripe bound body, 5-stripe rosette, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, rosewood strings through bridge, 3-per-side gold tuners with amber buttons, a...
TAKAMINE PSF-65C
- folk style, single rounded cutaway, solid cedar top, round soundhole, 3-stripe bound body/black crow rosette, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with turquoise dot inlay, turquoise eagle inlay at 12th fret, o...
TAKAMINE TNV-340S
- similar to the NV-340S, except has CTP-1 Cool Tube electronics, mfg. 2004-05.
TAKAMINE EG-523SC
- jumbo style single cutaway body, solid spruce top, flamed maple back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, TK4NT electronics, available in Black, Blue (2005-06), Red (2005-06), or Natural Gloss finish, disc. mid-2013.
TAKAMINE GD-30CE-12 12-String
- similar to the GD-30CE, except in 12-string configuration with six-per-side tuners, available in Gloss Natural finish, mfg. summer 2013-present.
TAKAMINE P3D
- dreadnought-style body, solid cedar top, solid saple back, sapele sides, round soundhole with concentric rings rosette, ivory body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with wood dot-in-dot inlays, three-per-side gold tu...
TAKAMINE GF-30CE
- FXC-style body with single cutaway, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with pearloid rosette, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, three-per-side chrome tuners, rosewood bridge,...
TAKAMINE EG-523CDX-HB
- similar to the EG-523SC, except has a three-piece quilt and flame maple back, available in Honey Burst finish, mfg. 2010-mid-2013.
TAKAMINE P3DC
- similar to the P3D, except has a single cutaway, available in Satin Natural finish, mfg. 2013-present.
TAKAMINE EG-124C
- similar to the G-124, except has a single cutaway and TP4T electronics, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2006-2013.
TAKAMINE G-334
- dreadnought style, spruce top, rosewood back/sides, round soundhole, wood bound body and rosette, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, three-per-side gold tuners, rosewood bridge with white black dot...
TAKAMINE EG-440CST Quilted Maple
- similar to the EG-440C, except has quilted maple top, back, and sides, available in Trans. Black, Trans. Blue, or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 2008 only.
TAKAMINE EF-341 Deluxe
- similar to the EF-341SC, except has a solid spruce top, disc. 2004.
TAKAMINE TC-132SC
- single cutaway classical body, solid cedar top, solid rosewood back, rosewood sides, round soundhole with marquetry rosette, rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side open-style tuners, rosewood bridge, CTP-1 Cool Tube electronics, gold hardwa...
TAKAMINE H-15
- classical style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, wood bound body, wooden rosette, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge with rosette matching inlay, 3-per-side gold tuners with pearl buttons, av...
TAKAMINE 2004 LIMITED EDITION
- single cutaway dreadnought body, solid Sitka spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with Celestial Constellations rosette, ebony fingerboard with acrylic mirror inlays, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge,...
TAKAMINE NP-15C
- similar to N-15, except has single round cutaway, crystal bridge pickups, parametric EQ, disc. 1999.
TAKAMINE EF-75S
- OM body style, solid spruce top, solid Brazilian rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge, TLD electronics, available in Natural finish, mfg. summer 2005-06.
TAKAMINE TNV-340SC
- similar to the NV-340S, except has a single cutaway and CTP-1 Cool Tube electronics, mfg. 2004-08.
TAKAMINE G-124S
- similar to the G-124, except has a solid spruce top, mfg. 1994-2005.
TAKAMINE EG-334SC
- similar to G-334, except has single rounded cutaway, ovangkol back and sides, crystal bridge pickups, 4-band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1994-2008.
TAKAMINE EG-440SC
- similar to the EG-440C, except has a solid spruce top, mfg. 2006-mid-2013.
TAKAMINE TF-341 Deluxe
- similar to the EF-341 Deluxe, except has Cool Tube electronics, mfg. 2004-05.
TAKAMINE TC-135 SC
- similar to the TC-132 SC, except has a solid spruce top and 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, Natural finish only, mfg. 2005-present.
TAKAMINE HP-7
- classical style, solid cedar top, round soundhole, 5-stripe wood bound body, wooden rosette, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge, 3-per-side gold tuners with pearl buttons, crystal bridge pickups...
TAKAMINE 2005 LIMITED EDITION
- OM style body, solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, round soundhole, cattail rosette below the soundhole made of wenge, silverheart, rosewood, and ovangkol, striped ebony fingerboard with wetland inlays, three-per-side tuners,...
TAKAMINE EAN-15C
- similar to N-15 model except, has single cutaway dreadnought body, DSP preamp system, padauk, ebony and maple rosette, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2001-04.
TAKAMINE TF77-PT
- OM-style body, solid cedar top, solid koa back and sides, round soundhole with abalone rosette, multi-ply body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with 11-12th fret Palm Tree inlays, black headstock overlay with vertic...
TAKAMINE EF360SBG
- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with concentric rings rosette, 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, three-per-side open gear antique nickel tuners, rosewood bridge, tortoi...
TAKAMINE EG-523SC-12 12-String
- similar to the EG-523SC, except in 12-string configuration, available in Gloss Black or Gloss Natural finish, disc. mid-2013.
TAKAMINE GN-30
- NEX-style body, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with pearloid rosette, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, three-per-side chrome tuners, rosewood bridge, black pickguard, ava...
TAKAMINE P3DC12 12-String
- similar to the P3DC, except in 12-string configuration with six-per-side tuners, available in Satin Natural finish, mfg. 2013-present.
TAKAMINE GN-30CE
- similar to the GN-30, except with a single cutaway, available in Gloss Black or Gloss Natural finish, mfg. summer 2013-present.
TAKAMINE P3FCN
- FXC-style body with single cutaway and nylon strings, solid cedar top, solid sapele back, sapele sides, round soundhole with concentric rings rosette, ivory body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with wood dot-in-dot...
TAKAMINE EG-523CDX-HB-12 12-String
- similar to the EG-523SC-12 12-String, except has a three-piece quilt and flame maple back, available in Honey Burst finish, mfg. 2010-disc. mid-2013.
TAKAMINE EG-124SC
- similar to G-124, except has single round cutaway, solid spruce top, crystal bridge pickups, and 4-band EQ, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1994-2005.