THE ART OF INNOVATION
The Takamine story started four decades ago in the town
of Sakashita, Japan, with a small group of luthiers
crafting modest numbers of high quality acoustic guitars
following established designs and using traditional
methods. Forty years on, and Takamine guitars are
cherished by thousands of players the world over and
championed by some of the most talented and celebrated
musicians on the planet.
And in this time we’ve introduced technological innovations
in order to meet the needs of musicians who are themselves
constantly pushing the boundaries of acoustic music.
Carefully selected tone woods are stacked, turned and gently
seasoned for many months in precisely controlled atmospheric
conditions before use. We check guitar tops for resonance,
grain and quality, while different levels of flexibility are
compensated for by subtly varying the dimensions of the
bracing. And whilst we’ve always held the traditional skills of
the luthier in the highest esteem, we’ve never been afraid
to advance the art of guitar building by embracing new
technology and ideas.
These guitars incorporated the first incarnation of the now
legendary palathetic pickup, which set the standard for the
industry. Unlike the retro-fit pickups used by other
manufacturers, our pickup is an integral part of the bridge
assembly, collecting both string and soundboard information.
Now in its latest state-of-the-art form, it continues to be
highly revered by the acoustic guitar connoisseurs.
B R I N G
I T
T O
L I F E
CONTENTS
Timeline
05
Takamine TLC
- Care of your instrument
06
- Strings & action adjustments
08
- Troubleshooting guide
11
Pre-amps
- Cool Tube and CT4-B pre-amps
12
- TK-40 and TP-4 pre-amps
16
- TRI-AX
18
Frequently asked questions
20
Servicing your Takamine
22
Owners information
22
Luthiers checklist
23
