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| ...so it's in the family. My Takamine TNV340S arrived today, and boy am I happy. For those who aren't familiar with Taks, they are well-crafted, nice playing, and very good sounding guitars made in Japan and distributed by Fender/Kaman. They compete very well in all the aforementioned categories with Martins and Taylors, at much lower prices for a comparable quality.
This particular model is one of their top of the line, with solid bearclaw spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, abalone trim and a very nice electronics package. I got it as an FRG at what I think is a steal (about 1/4 the MSRP for a new) and so far, I'm lovin' it. I can't find a single flaw anywhere that would make it FRG. Very sweet player, nice balanced, loud tone that'll only get better as it ages and opens up with use (and it'll get a lot of use).
Some pics:
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Location: Jet City | I love that top. Kinda reminds me of my ex-wife's stretch-marks. |
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Location: Whitecourt, Ab | Beautiful unit, g8r. Was the pickguard an option? |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Wow... woulda been nice if it arrived a few days earlier.
Damon - that image is now stuck in my mind... thanks! |
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Posts: 3969
| Ed - no options were available since it's an FRG, strictly as is. I'm debating whether to replace the pickguard with a clear one to show off all the figure. Beal has a TNV460 that he put a clear pickguard on and it looks very nice. |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Nice Sergio! Hope to see it at the next jam or Amelia if ya got room. Clear pick guard would look good. |
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Location: enid, ok | I, too love the top, and do not know Damon67 or his ex-wife. But yes, thanks for that image. I was laughing 'till I realised what you'd done to me. Also, I would give seious thought to the clear pickguard. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Very nice, Sergio. Enjoy. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | That's about as much bear claw as I've ever seen. Nice. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Just asking, but if you wait too long before getting the clear pickguard won't you risk a witness shadow due to some wood being more exposed to light and air?
I don't see the stretch marks, like you see in some bearclaw patterns. Maybe that's the reason this is an FRG. The pattern is spaced out, almost like strokes of flame you see in some maple, but wider. Very nice. |
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Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by an4340:
Just asking, but if you wait too long before getting the clear pickguard won't you risk a witness shadow due to some wood being more exposed to light and air? Absolutely right. Gotta make up my mind quickly. |
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Location: Tennessee | Congrats. Takamine makes some great guitars, and the good ones are really good.
I'd lose that particular pickguard, but I'll bet a Greven tortoise one with a lot of clear in it would look really great on that guitar ... the bearclaw would show through in places. |
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Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | That has some seriously nice bearclaw! Very coool!!!
Enjoy, g8r. Sounds like you got a great deal. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | JUST BEAUTIFUL !!! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | JUST BEAUTIFUL !!! |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Love that top Serge, just got there a little too late eh? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Beautiful bookmatching...
Lose the pickgaurd. |
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Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | OK, personal opinion. But I've taken photos of lots of guitars like this and yes the pickguard never looks quite "right". But in person, I REALLY like it? You can argue if it serves any purpose or not. Some will say that if you have good playing technique you don't need the pickguard. But at least to me, in good (naural) light a high quality pickguard with nice beveled edges looks very classy. Hell, thsi whole GUITAR looks very classy.
I said this on the other board but I'll repeat it here: I never liked bearclaw. It always seemed like defective wood to me. UNTIL I saw how Takamine does it. I think they do the best bearclaw in the business !!!
Dave |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I agree about the Bearclaw Tupp, it's more frequently aesthetically distracting than appealing... but, this one, in particular, is very good...
However, you're wrong about Pickguards... only good Pickguard is clear and the best Pickguard is none at all... I know this for a fact. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | It's a beautiful guitar!
I have my own opinion as far as BC and PG's go but... that is a beautiful guitar.
In a few more years it will even get better! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | "Acoustically" speaking, Woodrow... |
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January 2006
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The bookend bearclaw is about as nice as I've ever seen. Tak has picked up a number of big name artists. They're gaining momentum in the CW venues. It can't hurt their marketing. |
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Location: Veedersburg, Indiana | Just absolutely beautiful. Enjoy enjoy and then, enjoy. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | JMO, lose the pick guard. Play it 'till it's got a soundport like Trigger. |
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It's a wood box, but still Kaman...