Takamine Archtop?

[Woody Sound]

Never seen these before, looks nice!

Takamine Archtop jazz Natural | Reverb

[Doctor Jeff]

That does look nice!

Look at this headstock—you don’t see many like this…



Wonder when this was made?

[Gitterbug]

I hope somebody has the answer. I also believe that many of us have already consulted Google and found just this one sample. The design resembles some D'Aquistos (headstock shape, tailpiece) to the extent that it might be a prototype/one off built by same Asian makers behind some recent D'A reissues. If it sounds anywhere as good as it looks, it's just great,

[Cunamara]

Huh! I've never known of Takamine to make an archtop, but it sounds like this may be the only one in existence. My first thought was that the body seemed reminiscent of an Eastman, but the cutaway horn is very different. Actually, the shape seems similar to that of the J-15E that they made in the 1980s (also found in the Google search). I wonder if this is just a one off or possibly a prototype, although given the limitations of the market I can't picture that now is the time Takamine would want to delve into this as a commercial venture.

I have owned a Takamine F340S since 1979, it was my first guitar. Basically a D-18 copy cosmetically, although internally apparently quite different. It has been just good enough as a flat top, for all these years, to deter me from ever seriously looking at replacing it despite being a $200 guitar.

I also have a Takamine EC132C classical which is a very nice guitar to play. Amplified that leaves a lot to be desired, but amplifying classical guitars is really hard anyway. My semi hollow Rick Turner Renaissance RN-6 nylon string sounds vastly better plugged in.