TAMA TC-8
- classical body, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1977-78.
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The Tama trademark is better known on the Hoshino-produced quality drum sets. Nevertheless, the Tama trademark was used on two series of acoustic guitars offered during the mid- to late 1970s. The first series introduced was entry level to good quality D-45 shaped acoustics that featured a laminated top. However, the quality level jumped on the second series. The second series featured a solid top, mahogany neck, and East Indian and Brazilian rosewoods, as well as a light oil finish.
One way to determine a solid top acoustic from a ply or laminated top is to check the cross section of the wood on the edge of the soundhole. If the wood seems continuous, it´s probably a solid top. If you can see layers, or if the inside of the edge is painted (check the wood inside the top - if it is different in appearance from the outside it´s probably laminated), then the top is plywood. No, it´s not the sheets that you build houses with! A plywood top is several layers of wood glued and pressed together. However, a solid top guitar will resonate better (because it´s one piece of wood) and the tone will get better as the wood ages, (Tama Guitars overview courtesy Michael R. Stanger, Stringed Instrument Division of Missoula, Montana, Model descriptions courtesy Michael Wright, et. al., Ibanez, The Untold Story).
One way to determine a solid top acoustic from a ply or laminated top is to check the cross section of the wood on the edge of the soundhole. If the wood seems continuous, it´s probably a solid top. If you can see layers, or if the inside of the edge is painted (check the wood inside the top - if it is different in appearance from the outside it´s probably laminated), then the top is plywood. No, it´s not the sheets that you build houses with! A plywood top is several layers of wood glued and pressed together. However, a solid top guitar will resonate better (because it´s one piece of wood) and the tone will get better as the wood ages, (Tama Guitars overview courtesy Michael R. Stanger, Stringed Instrument Division of Missoula, Montana, Model descriptions courtesy Michael Wright, et. al., Ibanez, The Untold Story).
Instruments previously produced in Japan from 1975 through 1979 by Ibanez. Distributed in the U.S. by the Chesbro Music Company of Idaho Falls, ID.
TAMA Acoustic Guitars Models
TAMA 3548
- classical body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1974 only.
TAMA 3550
- classical body, solid spruce top, jacaranda back and sides, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, rosewood bridge, mfg. 1974 only.
TAMA TC-10
- classical body, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1977-78.
TAMA TC-15
- classical body, solid spruce top, solid jacaranda back and sides, mfg. 1977-78.
TAMA 3551
- classical body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA TG-80
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, mfg. 1977-79.
TAMA 3552
- classical body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, deluxe binding, mfg. 1974 only.
TAMA 3553
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1974 only.
TAMA TG-80/12
- similar to the TG-80, except in 12-string configuration and six-per-side tuners, mfg. 1979 only.
TAMA 3554
- grand concert body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1974 only.
TAMA TG-120
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1977-79.
TAMA TG-120-12
- similar to the TG-120, except in 12-string configuration and six-per-side tuners, mfg. 1979 only.
TAMA 3555
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA TG-135
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, solid three-piece rosewood back and sides, mfg. 1977-79.
TAMA 3556
- grand concert body, solid spruce top, jacaranda back and sides, mfg. 1974 only.
TAMA TG-160
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, jacaranda back and sides, mfg. 1977-79.
TAMA 3557
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, jacaranda back and sides, mfg. 1974 only.
TAMA TG-190
- dreadnought body, custom hand-made, mfg. 1978 only.
TAMA 3557/12
- similar to the 3557, except in 12-string configuration and six-per-side tuners, mfg. 1975-76.
TAMA TW-07
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, snowflake inlays, mfg. 1977-79.
TAMA 3558
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, jacaranda back and sides, mahogany neck, ebonized fingerboard, abalone inlays, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA 3560
- dreadnought custom body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebonized fingerboard, abalone inlays, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA TW-09
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, snowflake inlays, mfg. 1977-79.
TAMA TW-10
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, solid three-piece rosewood back and sides, snowflake inlays, mfg. 1977-79.
TAMA 3560/12
- similar to the 3560, except in 12-string configuration and six-per-side tuners, mfg. 1975-76.
TAMA 3561
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, wood herringbone binding, mahogany neck, ebonized fingerboard, abalone snowflake inlays, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA 3563
- dreadnought Renaissance body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, wood herringbone binding, mahogany neck, ebonized fingerboard, MOP tree-of-life inlays, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA 3565
- dreadnought D-35 style body, solid spruce top, three piece jacaranda/rosewood/jacaranda back and sides, mahogany neck, ebonized fingerboard, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA 3566
- dreadnought D-41 style body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebonized fingerboard, abalone inlays, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA 3568
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebonized fingerboard, small tree-of-life inlays, mfg. 1974-76.
TAMA 3570
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, cat's eye inlays, mfg. 1975-76.
TAMA 3571
- dreadnought body, solid spruce top, pearl binding, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, cat's eye inlays, mfg. 1975-76.
TAMA 3575
- dreadnought body with new style bracing, mfg. 1976 only.
TAMA 3576
- dreadnought body with new style bracing, shaded top finish, mfg. 1976 only.