The 7 Best Takamine Acoustic Guitars for Songwriters & Performing Artists 2024

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So you’re ready to adventure outside of the “Big 3” acoustic manufacturers and are in search of the Best Takemine Acoustic Guitars for your next studio session or gig.

This Japanese Guitar brand is revered as being high-quality, innovative, and makes fantastic stage guitars (they pioneered the modern-day electronics and pickup system).

However, when you’re first researching what Takamine offers, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by which model will best suit your needs as a guitar player.

That’s where Song Production Pros comes in!

Using my 25+ years of guitar playing, countless hours in guitar shops, and research, I’ve compiled the definitive Takamine Guitar reviews shortlist for every use case and scenario.

So sit back and grab your favorite drink and let’s dive in!

The Short Answer

The best Takamine acoustic guitar is the GN93CE. It’s a fantastic stage guitar that will sound great plugged in, is genre-agnostic, and affordable (read full review here).

If you want the premium version of this guitar (handmade in Japan and all solid-wood), then the best high-end Takamine acousticd guitar is the P7NC (read full review here).

-Brad Johnson (Founder/Writer of Song Production Pros)

Best Overall: GN93CE

Best Overall
Takamine GN93CE
  • Topwood: Solid Spruce
  • Body Wood: Black Walnut with Quilted Maple Center
  • Body Shape: NEX
  • Bracing: X-Bracing
  • Country: China
  • Neck Wood/Radius: Mahogany/12''
  • Fingerboard: Laurel
  • Frets: 20
  • Electronics: Takamine TK-40D Preamp with Built-In Tuner
  • Case: N/A

While not the best Takamine acoustic guitar, it gives you an affordable, flexible, and quality guitar the brand is known for.

The TK-40d preamp system ensures clear, precise sound when amplified, while the built-in tuner and equalizer make on-stage adjustments a breeze.

The GN93CE is exceptionally comfortable to play with, thanks to its NEX body style and mahogany neck. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, this guitar will impress.

Pros
  • You'll feel confident in your stage tone with this guitar's great electronics
  • It has a built-in tuner, 3-band equalizer, and notch filters to assist with eliminating feedback
  • Split-saddle design aids in some of the best intonation for a guitar in this price range
  • This guitar has excellent projection, clarity, and sustain for the price
Cons
  • Not an authentic Japanese handcrafted Takamine. The GN93CE is built at scale in their Chinese factory.
  • The acoustic tone isn't as full as some other acoustic guitars in this price range
  • Doesn't come with a case
4.1
GN93CE
Construction4
For Picks4.5
For Fingerstyle4
For Recording3.9
For Travel/Gigging4

Full Review:

I’m going to be honest, the GN93CE is not Takamine’s best guitar. So, why did I choose it for the Editor’s Choice? Because of the price, you get all the best of what Takamine offers without breaking the bank.

The GN93CE isn’t a flashy instrument at first sight but is consistent with Takamine’s reputation for an excellent stage guitar.

The TK-40d preamp system in this Takamine delivers a clear, rich sound when amplified. It comes with a built-in tuner and equalizer for simple on-stage adjustments. These electronics are the differentiating factor that makes this guitar stand out from others in this price range.

This Takamine acoustic-electric guitar has a solid Spruce Top with a beautiful three-piece back constructed of walnut and flamed Maple. This gives the instrument excellent projection, dynamics, clarity, and sustain. The Takamine split-saddle design also aids in perfect intonation for a guitar at this price and keeps the action low.

The NEX body style and mahogany neck of the guitar I demoed resembled an electric guitar and rested comfortably in my arms. It’s slightly smaller than a traditional dreadnought guitar. Still, it has the projection of a Jumbo, which was also a pleasant surprise.

It’s worth noting that the GN93CE also has a cutaway dreadnought version if you want something a little more traditional.

It isn’t all upside, though. The GN93CE isn’t made in Japan, and the Chinese manufacturing compromises some quality for cost. The quality control from the Chinese factory doesn’t seem to be at the same level as Takamine’s Japanese one. You may need to have the guitar set up by a professional to get the most out of your purchase.

Suppose you’re looking for an affordable guitar that can be used for various genres and playing styles. In that case, the GN93CE won’t disappoint!


Best Premium: P7NC

Best Premium
Takamine P7NC
  • Topwood: Solid Spruce
  • Body Wood: Solid Rosewood
  • Body Shape: NEX
  • Bracing: X-Bracing
  • Country: Japan
  • Neck Wood/Radius: Mahogany/12''
  • Neck Shape: Asymmetrical
  • Fingerboard: Ebony
  • Frets: 20
  • Electronics: Cool Tube CTP-3
  • Case: Hardshell

This authentic, handmade Japanese Takamine gives you expert construction, tone, and playability. If you want the best from this innovative brand, this is it.

The P7NC is an all-solid-wood design featuring Takamine's NEX body style for maximum comfort and playability. At the same time, the Cool Tube preamp brings warmth and depth to your plugged-in tone—the reason why these guitars are favored by so many performing artists.

Pros
  • Handmade in Japan
  • Beautifully constructed design with playability and tone at the forefront
  • Asymmetrical neck suits all playing styles and genres
  • Cool Tube preamp brings record quality tone to your stage performance
Cons
  • It's expensive
  • If your primary purpose is to play live, then you may want to consider a more affordable Takamine due to the risk of damage
4.5
P7NC
Construction5
For Picks4.8
For Fingerstyle4.5
For Recording4
For Travel/Gigging4.3

Full Review:

The P7NC is the “Rolls Royce” version of the GN93CE. The most significant differences will be in the wood material and the construction.

First, the P7NC features a solid Spruce top with a solid rosewood back and sides. This will give the guitar more overtones and emphasis on the lows and high-end of the guitar. This tonewood combination makes notes “bloom” as you play and can create complex tones.

There is also an ebony fingerboard with an asymmetrical neck design. Ebony has always been a favorite of mine because it has a glassy feel that makes playing up and down the neck a breeze. The neck will also change contours to make playing whatever genre and style you throw at it easy.

The last key differences are that this is a handmade guitar from the Japan Takamine factory, including the premium Cool Tube CTP-3 preamp.

This may not be the best travel and stage guitar because of the solid-wood, handmade design (laminate guitars suit this better because of their durability). However, for the home and studio, this is a fantastic option.

If you’ve had your eye on a premium acoustic-electric guitar that will inspire you to play and keep a smile on your face for years to come, the P7NC is the Takamine for you.


Best for Fingerstyle: P1NC

Best for Fingerstyle
Takamine P1NC
  • Topwood: Solid Cedar
  • Body Wood: Sapele
  • Body Shape: NEX
  • Bracing: X-Bracing
  • Country: Japan
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood
  • Frets: 20
  • Electronics: Cool Tube CT4B II
  • Case: Hardshell

While the P1NC has the same NEX design layout as some of the others on this list, what makes it stand out for fingerstyle guitar is the solid Cedar top wood.

Cedar delivers a warm and mellow sound with lovely overtones. The wood will respond to a light touch and brings out the nuances in your playing.

Couple this with an excellent price tag for a Japanese-made Takamine; the P1NC is ideal for gigging fingerstyle players who crave exceptional sound and playability.

Pros
  • This guitar has a rich and warm tone that is perfect for fingerstyle playing
  • Because of the smooth neck design, your fingers will be able to dance up and down the neck with ease
  • Comes with hardshell case
  • With its premium electronics, you'll get the guitar's authentic sound when playing through a PA or amp
Cons
  • Cedar doesn't respond the best to aggressive playing styles
  • Cedar is a softwood and can crack and dent easily
4.3
P1NC
Construction4.5
For Picks3.5
For Fingerstyle4.5
For Recording4.5
For Travel/Gigging4.3

Full Review:

When choosing the best Takamine acoustic guitar for fingerstyle playing, you should search for one that responds quickly to a light touch.

The P1NC is one of these guitars!

The X-braced solid Cedar top is a beautiful tonewood for fingerstyle. Cedar is a softwood with a pleasant overtone and a warm sound. The hardwood Sapele back and sides complement the Cedar by adding projection and subtle high-end clarity, similar to Mahogany.

The NEX body shape’s squeezed waist, split-saddle, and pinless bridge design add to the guitar’s balanced articulation, intonation, and sustain.

Fingerstyle is a delicate dance between your fretting and plucking hand. Having a neck that allows your fretting hand to move up and down freely is critical. The P1NC passes this test with flying colors! The mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard have a glassy feel to it, making playing jazz chords and lead lines up the neck a breeze!

Also, as is typical with best Takamine acoustic guitars, this model includes electronics, so you may faithfully re-create the guitar’s intimate sound on stage.

This is another high-quality Pro Series Takamine handbuilt in Japan; you won’t be disappointed with it!


Best for Flatpicking & Strumming: P6JC

Best for Flatpicking & Strumming
Takamine P6JC
  • Topwood: Solid Spruce
  • Body Wood: Solid flame maple (back), Maple (sides)
  • Body Shape: Jumbo Cutaway
  • Bracing: X-Bracing
  • Country: Japan
  • Neck Wood: Maple
  • Neck Shape: Asymmetrical
  • Fingerboard: Ebony
  • Frets: 20
  • Electronics: Cool Tube CTP-3
  • Case: Hardshell

The P1NC is for players who want to make a big, bold statement with their music. The construction of this guitar is meant to give you big, bold, and articulate tones the harder you strum.

The Cooltube CTP-3 preamp system gives the guitar's plugged-in sound more depth, making it perfect for live performances.

Whether playing on stage or in the studio, the Takamine P6JC will deliver outstanding sound quality when playing with a pick.

Pros
  • It has a beautiful, bright sound that will cut through the mix
  • The asymmetrical neck profile fits the shape of your hand perfectly for chords and lead lines
  • You'll sound incredible on stage with the Cooltube CTP-3 Preamp System
  • Built at the Japanese factory
Cons
  • Solid wood construction is more fragile than their laminated guitars. This can make traveling with the guitar more unpredictable
  • Not the best option for more delicate playing styles
4.2
P6JC
Construction4.5
For Picks5
For Fingerstyle3.5
For Recording3.5
For Travel/Gigging4.3

Full Review:

Suppose you’re a flatpicker or strummer looking for the best Takamine guitar that delivers a loud tone that can hold its own against other instruments. In that case, the Takamine P6JC is an excellent option for you.

Takamine acoustic guitars are known for being bright and crisp, and the Takamine P6JC is no different.

The Maple back and sides brighten your sound while boosting its volume, projection, and note articulation. The solid spruce top ensures you’ll have even greater dynamics in your tone for very expressive playing.

The P6JC is a loud acoustic guitar with a bright and clear tone. The asymmetrical neck profile of this performance-oriented acoustic feels comfortable in your grip. It feels smooth as you play up and down the guitar. The most excellent aspect about this performance maple neck design is that it makes playing for long periods a breeze, even for a larger-bodied guitar.

The P6JC comes equipped with a Cooltube CTP-3 preamp system, which keeps with the company’s tradition of being excellent stage guitars. The tube within this preamplifier fattens up the plugged-in sound, giving the guitar’s tone more depth and weight.

If you’re primarily a country, bluegrass, pop, or rock player, the Takamine P6JC Acoustic-Electric Guitar will not let you down.

Oh yeah, there’s also a 12-string version of this acoustic guitar if you’re into that Hotel California vibe (which was also recorded with a Takamine).


Best for Gigging: TSP178

Best for Gigging
Takamine TSP178
  • Topwood: Arched Maple or Hawaiin Koa
  • Body Wood: Maple or Hawaiin Koa
  • Body Shape: Thinline
  • Bracing: X-Bracing
  • Neck Wood/Radius: Mahogany/12''
  • Fingerboard: Ebony
  • Frets: 21
  • Electronics: Palathetic with Tuner
  • Case: Softshell Case

This Takamine Acoustic features the best of electric and acoustic guitar design, making it an excellent choice for any stage performer.

With its Thinline body type, the TSP178 is comfortable to play for long sets and sounds great in any environment. Takamine's renowned craftsmanship & innovation can help you rest assured that this guitar will perform flawlessly for your live performances.

Pros
  • Excellent dynamics and projection from such a small guitar
  • It's a beautiful Japanese guitar that is expertly made
  • Innovative tube preamp creates a fat tone that sounds like a record on stage
  • It's easy to play and sonically diverse
Cons
  • Not the best choice for a pure acoustic tone
  • Comes with a softshell case and not a hardshell
4.1
TSP178
Construction4.4
For Picks5
For Fingerstyle4
For Recording4
For Travel/Gigging5
Takamine Thinline Review (TSP178)

Full Review:

If you gig frequently, you know how crucial it is to have an acoustic-electric guitar you can count on. One that is adaptable, comfortable, and sounds fantastic in any space or sound system.

Building stage guitars is Takamine’s bread and butter.

The TSP178 is one of the best Takamine acoustic guitars for gigging because it combines the best aspects of an electric and acoustic instrument into one. The Thinline body style has a narrow, comfortable body and a shorter-scale neck that makes the guitar enjoyable to play for long periods.

This guitar comes in two different construction types: Maple or Hawaiin Koa, both with an arched back.

The solid Flamed maple top and maple back and sides have a bright sound with excellent dynamics and projects while the solid Hawaiin Koa has similar tonal characteristics to maple, but with a bit more midrange punch.

Because this is a thinline acoustic-electric guitar, the unplugged sound will be thin compared to others on this list. However, when plugged in, this instrument comes alive, making it best-in-class for live tone.

This is thanks to the Cool Tube-IIIN preamp system with three-band setting equalization, an onboard tuner, and sweepable notch EQ to ensure your performance is free of feedback.

The TSP178 is a “swiss army knife” acoustic-electric guitar that any style of guitarist can use. If you’re searching for the perfect high-end stage guitar, this Takamine electro-acoustic model should be at the top of your list!


Best for Recording: P3NY

Best for Recording
Takamine P3NY
  • Topwood: Solid Cedar
  • Body Wood: Solid Sapele (back), Laminated sapele (sides)
  • Body Shape: New Yorker (Parlor)
  • Bracing: X-Bracing
  • Country: Japan
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood
  • Frets: 21
  • Electronics: Cool Tube CT4B II
  • Case: Hardshell

The Takamine P3NY is perfect for recording. Its well-balanced tone is surprisingly robust for a tiny guitar, and the Cedar top provides great resonance when played softly. 

The Sapele back also gives you good projection and compression for a radio-ready recording. 

So if you're looking for an acoustic-electric guitar with a big sound in a small package, the Takamine P3NY is perfect.

Pros
  • This guitar has a rich, balanced tone that records well 
  • Beautiful vintage look
  • Punches above its weight for the price
  • Comes with CT4B II preamp system with three-band EQ for tonal flexibility
Cons
  • Laminated wood sides is a letdown for the price, however it does provide a more durable guitar
  • Cedar is a softwood that can easily dent and crack
4.3
P3NY
Construction4.3
For Picks3.5
For Fingerstyle4.5
For Recording4.8
For Travel/Gigging4.3
Takamine P3NY Review

Full Review:

Takamine is well-known for being a great stage guitar with its excellent preamp design and comfortable body shapes. However, does Takamine hold up to being mic’d in a studio?

Well, I’d dare to say there are some guitars in Takamine’s line-up that rival the “Big 3” when it comes to a balanced, rich tone that records well. The Takamine P3NY is one such guitar.

The “New Yorker” acoustic-electric guitar’s tone is surprisingly robust and well-balanced for a tiny guitar. When played softly, the Cedar top allows the entire resonance of the instrument to sing. At the same time, the Sapele back provides good projection and compression for a “radio-ready” recording out of the gates.

While the guitar’s modest appearance won’t turn many heads, and the laminated wood sides are a bit of a bummer for a guitar in this price range. Still, when it comes to this Japanese-made guitar, you won’t find much to fault regarding its sound and construction.

Suppose you’re playing guitar in the studio often and are looking for a reasonably priced guitar that punches above its weight. In that case, the Takamine P3NY is a guitar to consider!


Best for Budget: GD20

Best for Recording
Takamine GD20
  • Topwood: Solid Cedar
  • Body Wood: Okoume
  • Body Shape: Dreadnought
  • Bracing: X-Bracing
  • Country: China
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Fingerboard: Ovangkol
  • Frets: 20
  • Electronics: Takamine TP-4TD Preamp with Built-In Tuner (cutaway only)
  • Case: Gig Bag

The Takamine GD20 acoustic guitar is an excellent choice for budget-conscious musicians. 

Constructed from solid Cedar, this guitar delivers a warm, rich tone perfect for beginners and experienced players alike.

With great value and superb craftsmanship, the Takamine GD20 is perfect for beginner and intermediate guitarists.

Pros
  • The solid wood top is rare at this price range
  • The dreadnought (cutaway or non-cutaway) design produces a lot of volume while still retaining note clarity
  • Durable construction with a gig bag included
  • The slim Mahogany neck makes playing less fatiguing
Cons
  • Cedar-topped guitars have a limited dynamic range. This can be a problem for players who have more aggressive playing styles.
  • The cutaway version comes with electronics and is almost $200 more
3.6
GD20
Construction3.5
For Picks4
For Fingerstyle3.5
For Recording3.5
For Travel/Gigging3.5

Full Review

The Takamine GD20 is a fantastic value for money, and a great beginner/intermediate acoustic guitar. It’s made of solid Cedar, which is rare at this price range. Most guitars on the market competing for the entry-level player would be constructed from laminated wood.

The dreadnought design of the acoustic guitar produces a lot of volume while retaining clarity and delicacy. It has a slim mahogany neck that makes playing more comfortable and enhances projection. The instrument also has Mahogany back and sides for good projection and additional resonance.

Intonation issues are a common problem with more budget-friendly guitars. The instrument can sound out of tune when playing around the neck in various spots. Takamine incorporated a split-saddle design element into their pro-series guitars to address this issue inventively and include it on the GD20 guitar.

There are no electronics in this guitar, so you will not be able to plug this guitar into a PA or amp system. This shouldn’t be a big problem for most, but it is something to be aware of when looking at which Takamine Acoustic Guitar to get.

This guitar has a well-balanced tone that won’t disappoint and is a great first acoustic guitar for any aspiring player!


The Best Takamine Acoustic Guitars Buyers Guide

When you browse the Takamine acoustic guitar catalog, you’ll notice they have a wide range of guitars to select from. The options might appear infinite and overwhelming if unfamiliar with the best Takamine acoustic guitars.

However, once you understand how they structure their line-up, finding the perfect guitar isn’t as hard as you might think. The following Takamine Reviews Buyer’s Guide will assist you in determining what to look for while shopping for a Takamine guitar.

Body Shape

Acoustic guitars come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Each type has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Before you make a purchase, consider your playing style and the body shape that would accomplish what you’re after.

Classical Body

This body design is small and intimate. The classical design will come with nylon strings, making this a great guitar body shape for beginners.

Takamine classical guitars keep it relatively traditional with this body shape; however, a few designs feature an oval soundhole that helps project the sound over more distance.

Dreadnought

The dreadnought body shape is the most copied and imitated acoustic guitar bodies in history. It was designed in 1916 by C.F. Martin Guitars.

A dreadnought design is loud and projects sound across a room. It has a mid-range forwardness with big low-end bass response.

If you’re playing in a band and need an acoustic guitar that can hold its own, a traditional Dreadnought design is what you’re looking for!

FXC Body

This Takamine guitars body style is similar in size to a Grand Concert. A Grand Concert is a shorter-scale guitar that has “slinky” playability.

The FXC body has a shallower body design, making them great stage guitars because they are less prone to feedback.

FCN Body

The FCN is Takamine’s full-size nylon string guitar. It’s got more modern playability than the Classical Body shape making it great for the stage or studio.

Jumbo Body

A classic body design made famous by Gibson Acoustic. The Jumbo body is built to be loud, have a balanced tone, and have stunning clarity when playing chords.

The Jumbo guitar has several distinctions from a Dreadnought. The most notable is the pinched-in waist shape. This feature boosts the guitar’s articulation and minimizes “mid-range mud” that can plague a dreadnought.

New Yorker

The New Yorker is Takamine’s take on a parlor-sized acoustic guitar. It’s the tiniest of their full-size body types, and it’s a breeze to play. This design has outstanding articulation and balance between the strings, making it ideal for intimate fingerstyle music.

NEX Body

An original body design for Takamine, the NEX is the most versatile in the catalog. The NEX is a scaled-down Jumbo with a similar projection to the Jumbo/Dreadnought but a thinner shoulder. The slim shoulder allows for improved playability in higher frets.

This modern design makes it great for jazz, blues, country, pop, and rock.

OM Body

Although these guitars are lightweight, they have a good amount of power. Because this body style is very responsive, this guitar works excellent for players with a lighter touch.

The OM Body has an excellent dynamic range and tonal balance across all strings.

Takamine NEX vs Dreadnought

The Takamine NEX has a Jumbo body design and a projection similar to a dreadnought. However, the narrower middle and upper bout compared to a dreadnought guitar, alongside the cutaway body design, makes accessing the upper frets easier and keeps the guitar more comfortable against the body.

The NEX has more balance and tonal focus than a dreadnought and more modern versatility and playability.

Tonewood

Tonewoods are the materials used to construct your guitar. They have a significant impact on the sound of your instrument. Knowing how different tonewoods affect tone may assist you in selecting the perfect Takamine acoustic guitar for you.

The Soundboard (Top Wood)

The soundboard (or top wood) is the most critical tonewood in an acoustic guitar. It will have the most influence on your instrument’s projection, playability, and dynamics.

Takamine uses various tonewoods on the soundboard, with solid spruce and solid Cedar being the most popular. However, there are alternative choices for guitarists seeking something unique.

Cedar Wood
Cedar Tonewood

Cedar

Cedar’s softness makes an excellent material for guitar players who want their instruments to respond to delicate playing. Cedar is both warm and percussive, making it great for fingerstyle and classical guitarists.

Cedar is typically utilized on nylon-stringed guitars, but it has also become popular among steel-string guitars, especially for singer-songwriters.

The disadvantage of Cedar is that it’s prone to cracking, and the guitar’s sound degrades when subjected to hard picking or strumming.

Spruce Tonewood

Spruce

Solid spruce is the most used top wood for acoustic guitars. Solid spruce is a softwood with a broad dynamic range and musical versatility.

Guitars with a solid spruce top have loads of dynamic range, which means it quickly responds to lighter picking and hard strumming while maintaining clarity in the notes.

Solid spruce is an excellent all-around tonewood that can be utilized in various styles, from country, blues, pop, and rock & roll.

Koa

Koa wood is a very beautiful-looking tonewood sourced from Hawaii. It’s similar to solid Mahogany, although Koa wood has a brighter sound. Koa is an excellent soundboard choice for players who strum with the pads of their fingers and who would benefit from a more natural treble in their tone.

However, if you’re a hard picker or dislike excessively bright acoustic guitars, this top wood probably isn’t suitable for you.

Figured Ash

This tonewood is very beautiful to look at. It’s a hardwood with a bright, aggressive tone and good sustain.

Body Wood

A guitar’s body wood influences the guitar’s EQ curves. In contrast, the top wood is responsible for playability, dynamic range, and projection.

Takamine Guitars offers a variety of body woods in its acoustic line. The most popular are Rosewood, Mahogany, Sapele, and Maple.

Rosewood Tonewood

Rosewood

One of the most well-known woods used in acoustic guitar construction is Rosewood. However, Rosewood is becoming scarcer in guitar making due to overharvesting, while certain species are even endangered.

Rosewood can still be found on higher-end acoustic guitars. It is famous for having a scooped midrange that benefits the singer songwriter who need their voice to sit on top of the guitar. Rosewood creates a sound with plenty of overtones and a smooth high end and is a classic pairing with a solid spruce top guitar.

Mahogany Tonewood

Mahogany

Mahogany is popular for guitar body construction because of its unique feel, warm midrange, and smooth, vintage resonance.

Mahogany naturally compresses sound. This makes it an outstanding body wood choice for recording artists and guitarists who haven’t yet developed control in their strumming hand.

Sapele

Sapele has a similar sound to a Mahogany back and sides guitar but has a brighter tone. It’s a versatile body wood that works for a wide range of playing styles.

Maple Tonewood

Maple

The beauty of maple wood is obvious, and guitarists often choose a guitar made of Maple based on looks alone. It’s frequently said to have a brilliant and bright tone. However, it’s a very transparent tonewood with excellent projection.

Strummers will appreciate Maple because it has few overtones, so each chord note has clear and pure articulation.

Cocobolo

Cocobolo is a hardwood that gives notes an immediate attack with long sustain. It has a rich sound with beautiful overtones.

Bubinga

Bubinga has a warm, balanced sound with a bright midrange and clarity across the entire EQ spectrum. Bubinga also has a beautiful sustain.

Figured Ash

Figured Ash has a tight and punchy high-frequency response and a beautiful look.

Koa Wood
Koa Tonewood

Koa

A Koa guitar has a bright and focused sound due to the density of the wood. Koa’s high-frequency emphasis, however, will mellow out over time.

Nato

Nato is a more cost-effective alternative to Mahogany. It shares the same dark look and tone.

Ovangkol

Ovangkol is a wood that has the characteristics of both Rosewood and Koa. It is slightly less scooped in the mid-range than Rosewood and has a brilliant high end similar to Koa.

Taylor Guitars introduced Ovangkol as a more environmentally responsible alternative to Rosewood. It’s a versatile tonewood that will serve just about any player style and musical genre.

Quilt Maple

Quilt Maple has a similar tone as regular Maple, except the grain pattern is more exotic and visually striking.

The Takamine Acoustic Guitar Series

Takamine acoustic guitars are categorized by series. Takamine has you covered whether you’re shopping for a beginner guitar or a world-class build at a more affordable price than the competitors.

Takamine GN93CE G Series NEX Cutaway

G Series

The Takamine G Series guitars are designed with versatility, quality, and sound in mind. These reasonably affordable guitars come in various body shapes, tonewood combinations, and electronics.

The Takamine G Series guitars have the same characteristics as the Pro Series guitars, such as a split saddle design and a pinless bridge system for ideal intonation and great action.

However, to keep costs lower for the G Series guitars, these guitars are built in China instead of Japan. So you are sacrificing a bit of the build quality with these guitars.

Suppose you are searching for a great playing guitar that will satisfy all musical genres at an affordable price. In that case, the Takamine G Series is worth looking into!

Takamine Pro Series 7 Dreadnought Cutaway

The Pro Series

The Takamine Pro Series is a collection of hand-crafted acoustic-electric guitars made in Japan by Takamine. Suppose you’re a serious musician searching for a fresh alternative to the big-name acoustic manufacturers. In that case, the Takamine Pro Series won’t let you down.

These guitars are expertly made, have a great sound, and are comfortable and easy to play. Some guitars in this line-up come with remarkable aesthetic features like the snowflake inlay making the Pro Series an under-the-radar beautiful acoustic guitar.

The Pro Series has a body shape and tonewood style to fit any type of player. The onboard proprietary electronics contain an actual tube in the preamp (series 4 and up) to help preserve and fatten the guitar’s natural sound while plugged into an amp or PA.

This guitar is designed for the performance artist who doesn’t want to sacrifice playability, tone, and craftsmanship. The Pro Series makes it obvious why so many famous artists favor Takamine!

Takamine TF77PT OM Legacy Series

Legacy Series

The Takamine Legacy Series is a tribute to popular yet discontinued guitar models. As a manufacturer grows, it will inevitably push the envelope in design and build to satisfy modern and forward-thinking guitar players.

However, certain guitar models helped define the brand’s acoustic sound, and this is where Takamine’s Legacy Series comes in.

The most popular guitars in the Takamine catalog get recreated in this collection, which pays homage to their classic versions.

Takamine Limited2021

Limited

The limited series is something to pay attention to if you’re searching for the most outstanding, unique Takamine guitar.

Only a handful of these guitars are produced yearly, and Takamine does not skimp on any design features.

The Limited series is a work of art that will inspire you to make art with extraordinary materials and unique custom designs.

Takamine EF450C Thermal Top

Thermal Top

If you want a vintage-inspired guitar with a big sound that has a worn-in tone, the Takamine Thermal Top Series has you covered!

The tonewood is torrefied in a high-heat, low-oxygen environment to give the guitar the aged sound of decades past.

Many of the guitars in this series have excellent sound quality and beautiful design elements. Some of the pick-guards definitely took some inspiration from a Gibson acoustic!

Signature Series

Takamine guitars boast an impressive list of musicians who use their guitars.

I think it’s fantastic (and interesting) that so many Signature Series guitars are Japanese-made for USA Country Artists.

The Signature Series boasts models from Kenney Chesney, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, and Glenn Frey, to name a few.

Takamine TC132SC

Classical & Hirade

These guitars are built for the modern professional classical artist in mind. The all solid wood cedar or solid spruce top and Rosewood back and sides make for a great-sounding guitar.

This series comes in different shapes and tonewood combinations to satisfy any type of musician and playing technique.

TSP178AC Thinline Body

Thinline

The Takamine Thinline series debuted at the NAMM trade show in 2019 and is intended for electric guitarists who want to make a quick switch to an acoustic-electric guitar on stage.

While this guitar sounds good unplugged, it shines when plugged in through its electronics system for live performance.

The lightweight body structure minimizes feedback, and the short-scale neck is effortless and comfortable to play.

The Thinline is Takamine’s evolution into creating the best stage guitar in the world!

Electronics and Pickups

Takamine guitars’ claim to fame is creating the first acoustic-electric guitar. Takamine has improved its reputation by creating its own proprietary acoustic electronics as one of the best on-stage performance guitars.

Takamine electronics include:

  • Preamps
  • Pickups and Transducers

The preamps that Takamine guitars feature depend on the model.

Cooltube Preamp

The best Takamine acoustic guitars feature the Cool Tube preamp that makes the amplified sound rich and fat, similar to what you hear on classic records. The Cool Tube preamp includes a 3-band EQ, built-in tuner with a mute, notch eq, and gain control.

Other guitar models include variations of classic Takamine preamp designs. They come equipped with a three-band eq (or four-band eq), built-in tuner with mute, notch EQs, and gain control.

It’s important to know that if you’re replacing your Takamine acoustic-electric guitar components, not all electronics will be compatible with every guitar.

Tri-Ax 2 Active Pickup

Takamine offers other pickup systems, such as the Tri-Ax 2 Active Soundhole Pickup and the Palathectic Pickup, that complement the preamp section of the guitar.

When blended with preamp sound, the Tri-Ax 2 Soundhole Pickup has been described by some users as “frosting on a delicious cake.”

Palathectic Pickup

The Palathectic Pickup is also used in conjunction with the onboard preamps. It is excellent for stage performers who want to prevent feedback while playing loud and painting a balanced sound. Having these two electronics systems working together gives you more flexibility in your live tone.

Soundboard Transducer

Another option for adding more flavor to your electro-acoustic guitar is to install the Soundboard Transducer from Takamine. This transducer should be placed next to your other pickup for a more realistic plugged-in acoustic tone.

FAQ

Your most asked Takamine questions answered:

What are Takamine guitars known for?

Takamine Guitars are well-known for their excellent on-stage acoustic-electric playability and tone.

Like the NEX, their body shapes and styles play a lot like an electric guitar. Making it a perfect road companion for performers switching between electric and acoustic throughout their sets.

While Takamine is a Japanese brand, they are prevalent in USA Country Music.

What Takamine does Blake Shelton play?

Blake Shelton, the famous Country Star on the Voice, has often been seen playing the P5DC Takamine guitar model.

What model Takamine guitar did Glenn Frey play?

Glenn Frey of The Eagles favorite Takamine guitar was the EF360S.

This model was the inspiration for the Signature Series Glenn Frey Model EF360GF.

To Recap

Takamine isn’t as well-known as Martin, Gibson, or Taylor. However, they have been producing high-quality guitars for over 50 years. They are the preferred instrument of many of our favorite musicians.

Also, the Takamine brand makes some of the most fantastic stage guitars available, and it should be a must-have for any musician who performs frequently.

If you’re new to the Takamine line-up, the GN93CE is the winner overall for this best Takamine acoustic guitars list due to its construction, electronics, budget, and versatility.

Check it out today!

A picture of Brad Johnson (Owner & Writer of Song Production Pros) playing and testing a guitar at the Sam Ash Westminster Store. The guitar being played is a Taylor 814ce.

Why you can trust our content

Brad Johnson, the creator of Song Production Pros, researches and writes these reviews.

He's been playing music since he was nine and has played, used, and owned many instruments and pro audio gear. His reviews are based on hands-on experience, user-generated reviews, and subject matter expert reviews.

Please refer to our page, Our Review Process, for more details on how we approach writing our review articles.

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AUTHOR
Brad Johnson
Brad is the creator of Song Production Pros. He writes songs and surfs on the weekends when he's not too busy with family or this website. He writes music under the moniker FJ Isles, and can be heard on all streaming services.