This Cheap Old Guitar Is Better Than You Think

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[michaelroethle]

As someone who doesn’t have a lot of money to throw around, I appreciate these videos covering hidden guitar gems

[matthewseed]

More from the dog please. Love the way he just sits and watches you play.

[clancyrice]

In 1982, when I was 15, my parents bought me my first guitar, a used 1975 lawsuit Takamine. A lot of guitars have come and gone over the past 41 years, but I still have that Takamine. It has aged wonderfully. It sounds better now than it ever has.

[sundaynightdrunk]

The reason that one sounds so good is it's an EF-360S. The "S" was for a solid spruce top, with laminated back and sides. The "E" indicates the electronics. So that aged spruce is (mostly) what you're hearing, and you got the exact model people seek out. The difference to a D-28 is obviously solid back and sides, which makes quite a difference as well. Nice find!

[martinaddison]

I had the good fortune of seeing Eagles play live many times since the early 70s when they toured with their highly collectible Martin guitars. On the Hotel California tour, they brought Takamines and left the Martins safely at home. As Rhett stated, from a distance they look like Martins. As a certifiable gear-head I have always taken binoculars to shows and I noticed at that show - those aren't Martins! A little known fact, the acoustic intro we hear on Hotel California is a Takamine. Here's a quote from Don Felder: "The acoustic guitar in the intro is a Takamine 12-string with a DeArmond pickup. We miked the acoustic and put that in the center of the mix. Then we took the pickup’s output and ran it though an Echoplex and a Leslie. We miked that in stereo so it has this left-to-right kind of swirling, ethereal characteristic.

[lpjbird]

I have several Japanese made acoustics from the 70’s that are Martin lookalikes and surprisingly so sweet sounding & easy playing.
A couple I’ve had since the seventies…one’s a Gould another’s a Kasuga, a couple 1970 Epiphone’s that in 1970 were made in Japan instead of kalamazoo, Michigan that I purchased for next to nothing. The Japanese really knew how to make great guitars, still do!

[dangipson]

Sadly, mine disappeared in 2017. Beautiful tone and voice. It was a gift in 1974, used, from my brother in law, meant to bring me back to life. It worked. I fell in love with it, returned to playing, recording and touring.

[bwall]

When my Dad passed back in April, he left me a Martin and an Arbor Acoustic from 1978 Based on a D-35. Same deal. Has the Martin style stamp on the brace inside the sound hole. Sounds and records fantastic. Like a Vintage Martin. Maybe not a Pre-war but a Martin from the 70’s.

[ChrisOpat]

As a long time owner of a lawsuit era F360S, it's nice to see these guitars getting their due.
They are fantastic value for the money!

[fperreault]

I tend to like the build quality and sound of Japanese guitars. One of my guitars is a 1989 Takamine 6-string and was looking at a new Takamine 12-string. I saw your video with you holding the lawsuit 12-string and decided that I needed to check it out. I headed off to Music-Go-Round, played the guitar and wow, what a sound. So much better sounding than the new model. I bought it, took it home and proceeded to go over it. I did a bit of work to it cleaning things up and I replaced the worn bridge saddle. I also installed a LR Baggs Anthem since I find Takamine electrics too brittle sounding. It now looks, plays and sounds fantastic! Thanks Rhett for pointing me in that direction. I'm a happy boy!

[scottsozmtns]

My uncle got a “Lawsuit Tak”, in the late 70’s & that axe had such a smooth & gentle sound but had really good volume as well. Your spot on when speaking about the Tak’s! Great video!!

[chriss]

I have one from ‘78. It’s my go-to acoustic. I also have an early 80’s Japanese electric that just kills called an Aria Pro 2 cs-400. Currently my go to electric.

[rodcampbell]

Had a lawsuit era 12-string that sounded phenomenal. These are fantastic finds!

[vincenzo]

What a great find! That takamine you picked did sound better than the other one. Such a great dry vintage sound 👍

[davidbarlow]

Takamine have been a very popular acoustic here in the UK since at least the 80s. Ive worked with quite a few singers who've sworn by them.

[robertdablemont]

I have one, I bought new in ‘79. The electronics still work and I still love it.

[robrainwater]

These are great! I'm lucky to have my dad's 1976 Takamine F385 12 string that he bought new in 1977. Records like a champ, and sounds better then any of the Martins I've played.

[raydowley]

Nice find Rhett and your dog just loves the sound as well 🐶

[jorgehuamanmusic]

Welcome to the lawsuit guitar club, Rhett. I bought my 1981 Takamine F360s about 9 years ago for $320, and I love it. I also tune it to D standard.

[newdeltamusic]

My mom gave me her Takamine D-28 copy when I was still my teens -- the 1980s. Fast forward to 2015 or so, when I had been playing with younger guys in The Big Idea: they see my "old Martin knockoff" and I heard for the first time "Lawsuit Takamine."

It now stays in the home studio. At some point it became priceless to me, anyway. Takamine & Co. F-360S, July 1977.

I now have a "Mystery Martin" (copy with no information, no numbers, to be found on it anywhere, no name on the headstock ...) that I use to play out and about that also sounds.. amazing. But that's a different story, eh?