Reviews of the Best Takamine Guitars!

I want to tell you about my experience with Takamine guitars. You are bound to run into them if you are searching out the perfect acoustic guitar for your needs. I have just one piece of advice to offer you; be careful! There are plenty of deals to be had among the Takamine models. But not all Takamine acoustic guitars are of the kind of quality that a dedicated musician is going to want to play regularly.

Jasmine S35	Jasmine S34C	Jasmine S33
Cheap beginner guitar. Lacks quality	Cheap, full-sized guitar with small guitar feel	Decent, cheap starter guitar with hardshell case

Jasmine S34CFM	G440C	G340
Flame Maple(FM) body produces brighter sound than S34C - USED ONLY	Attractive, beginner guitar - USED ONLY	Slightly bigger than the G440C - USED ONLY

FXC G260C	G340SC	Jasmine S341
Light-weight, smaller-bodied guitar	Excellent upgrade for intermediate player - USED ONLY	Large, cheap guitar - USED ONLY

GS330S	GS430S G NEX	G406S New Yorker
Buy this for sound quality, not looks - USED ONLY	Beautiful, solid top beginner's guitar- USED ONLY	Small, finger-picker guitar - USED ONLY

G511SS	Concert 132S	Jasmine OF JS141 1/4 Scale
Sweet, warm sounds - USED ONLY	Awesome sounding guitar! - USED ONLY	Inexpensive guitar for 4-6 year old child

Jasmine JS241 1/2 Scale	G340LH Left-Handed	Jasmine Dreadnought Lace S33LH Left-Handed
Cheap guitar for 5-8 year old child	Big, warm sound for lefty. Mahogany back & sides	Cheap, left-handed guitar

Behind the Scenes at Takamine

Takamine acoustic guitars are made by hand in Japan. The company has a long history of guitar craftsmanship. But not all Takamine guitars are created equal. While the better class models of Takamines are made by hand in Japan, the company also owns factories in Korea where the lower models of Takamine guitars (as well as their sub-line of guitars known as Jasmine guitars) are made.

While the hand crafted Takamine guitars can hold their own with many other guitar manufacturers, the ones that are factory made tend to be of poorer quality workmanship. Even so, there are a number of the Takamine factory-made models that are of better quality than other acoustic guitars in their price range.

Quality of Takamine Acoustic Guitars

A top of the line Takamine acoustic guitar is made with solid tonewoods. There is also a lot of attention to aesthetic details such as patterned bindings and intricately decorated sound holes and mother of pearl inlays in the neck. These guitars can fetch quite high prices comparable to many of the mid-line Gibson and Martin models.

Lower priced Takamine guitars, particularly those created in the Korean factories may be priced as low as $99. Unfortunately, the quality of these lower priced guitars is reflective of their lower prices. When compared to their higher priced brothers they tend to look downright rough.

In addition, the lower priced Takamines tend to be made of laminated woods which is reflective in their reduced tonal quality and resonance.

The exception to this is the G series of Takamine guitars which are made with solid spruce tops. While more expensive than the entry level Takamine and Jasmine models, these solid top acoustic guitars may be plain, but their solid top gives them a better tone and resonance. With prices between $199 and $599, the G-series guitars make for excellent guitars for beginning guitarists.

Comparing the Competitors

Take for example the Takamine G340SC. This one has a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany, dreadnought sized body for an extra-large sound. Its price tag is only $299; a reasonable price for a new guitarists first instrument. Only Yamaha can compete with the Takamine’s price for a solid top acoustic guitar.

The Yamaha FG720S Acoustic Guitar also has a solid Sitka spruce top and laminated mahogany body and costs about $70 less than the Takamine and plays just as well. However, the Yamaha name (which is more usually associated with motorcycles and other motorized equipment) tends to be off putting for those who want a guitar whose name sounds like a real guitar.

When it comes down to whether or not you should buy one of the Takamine acoustic guitars, just keep in mind that while not all Takamine guitars are created equal, there are some excellent deals to be had if you keep your eyes open. And you can save yourself a good deal of money by purchasing a Takamine acoustic guitar, especially if this is your first guitar and you are looking at buying a beginner’s model.

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