VGS 2020: From a small fledgling guitar company starting life in Japan back in the late 1950’s, Takamine has become one of the world’s most revered guitar brands. And Takamine’s success is utterly genuine, not created by marketing gimmicks, but by making guitars that put simply, are consistently damn good!
The key ingredients for making these great guitars has always been innovation and craftsmanship. Takamine’s history is a timeline littered with real innovations that have stood the test of time.
The 1960’s saw the introduction of many effective design and manufacturing improvements as Takamine became one of Japan’s leading classical guitar and mandolin builders.
In the 1970’s Takamine guitars soon become available worldwide and the development of the under-saddle Palathetic™ pickup revolutionized amplified acoustic guitar design, fuelling Takamine’s success on a worldwide basis.
The fact that their guitars are adopted and loved by world-class artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and many more, pretty much says it all.
With so many drool-worthy guitars in the Takamine range, it’s a tough call to choose ones that really stand out. We’ve settled on three wonderful guitars that are newly released in the UK and just about reaching dealers showrooms.
PTU441S Parlour Satin
The PTU441S Parlour Satin model is crafted in Takamine’s Japanese factory which is situated high in the Minami Alps, an area with a long tradition of fine woodcraft. This is a limited-edition model, specially made for the UK market and with only a very small number available, you could think of it as an instant collector’s item. Featuring a solid spruce top and solid rosewood back, this little parlour also has a beautiful satin finish. For players seeking extra-special guitars, this model offers great looks and stunning sound.
GD90CE
Next up is the GD90CE. This is a cutaway dreadnought that features a rare and really beautiful Madagascan rosewood back and sides and a spruce top. This is a big sounding guitar with an upscale feel and distinctive sound. For players seeking stage-worthy features, the onboard TK-40D preamp system provides superb amplified acoustic sound quality.
GN77KCE
Our final chosen guitar is the GN77KCE; a beautiful Hawaiian Koa model (top, back and sides) that sounds as great as it looks. This guitar is equally at home with fingerstyle or bold strumming. The luxurious clear gloss finish really complements the mini-jumbo NEX cutaway body. As with our other two guitars, this has the onboard preamp system so it’s ready to perform anywhere.