Takamine F-360S (Martin Lawsuit) vs. Martin D-28

Comparing the sound of a 1977 Takamine F-360S (Martin Lawsuit) guitar with a Martin D-28

[MattinLancaster]

I ended up with a '77 Takamine F340 in college, when I had no idea about Takamine -- except that the one I had came from a local luthier who built violins, violas, other stringed instruments in the back. But he also had guitars and other stuff for sale out front. Of course he did a great setup on the Takamine. I played that for years, never even thought about a need to upgrade.
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Fast forward about 40 years to now, and my guitar guy has refurbished some grooved frets on that f340 so it plays perfectly. When my electric guitars started sitting in the closet, I decided to get a nice six-string acoustic that would be good to use when I played acoustic music for an audience.

I've tried Taylors, Gibsons, Martins, other brands I can't recall. But it struck me that if I liked that Takamine all these years, why not get a couple more? So instead of spending four figures on one Taylor, Martin or Gibson, I picked up a couple more lawsuit era Taks -- an f360s that's pretty and in really great shape, and an f400s that some guy locally was trying to unload.

So now I have three great lawsuit Taks, and I'm not just another schmuck who wrote a check to Taylor, Martin or Gibson. I bought aged wood that sounds good now. One hint: When I clip a capo and a tuner to the headstock of the f360s and walk up to the microphone, nobody can tell for sure what it is. I've had a couple people compliment me on a nice old Martin! : ))

[StevieZero]

The old Japanese acoustics are unbeatable...I have a 1973 Greco F250 its aged like fine wine...

[phishfan]

I picked up a 1974 Tak F340S about 30 years ago in perfect shape with a hard case for $150 and it's still kicking ass. Excellent guitar. I won't say it sounds better than my Taylors, but it has a sweet, dry top end that sits so well with other guitars and it plays beautifully. Great neck.

[robertraffaniello]

Great comparison. The Tak lacks the depth and bottom of the Martin, but some people may prefer that. The Tak is more "chimy". Just two different strumming sounds. I have a F375S.

[Steven-cnm]

Tak is brighter, the Martin has better mid range to my ears. Both are outstanding guitar's !

[Johnnylove]

Love the F series. I have a ‘78 F 340S. It is such a treasure. The more you play that 360s it’ll loosen up and gain the lower mids and bottom end. Great video. Put exact same strings on, on the same day, play it a week and then on the 8th day make a follow up video.

[ryanhamman]

Thanks for doing this! I always wondered how much better a Martin sounded and if it was worth the price difference.

[wesispradlin]

I had a Martin D-28, I like the sound of your takamine better than the d-28. I sold my martin and will be looking for one of these. I still love martins and still have a couple of them.

[liveconcerts]

Great guitar tone 👌 👏 👍 😍 🙌. I agree with your comments.

[kevinritenour]

Interesting demo. My 1981 F360 doesn't sound anything like that Takamine guitar, let alone the recording. It could be strings, the gauge, string material, pick material and or the the recording device itself? In your video the Martin sounds richer, has bolder mids and tight highs. The Takamine sounds thin and almost weak, almost like a laminate would sound. Id like to hear a revision to this demo with both guitar setup similar, played the same way and with the same strings.

[lindamorgan]

Thanks for the comparison, hope it is the strings that are making the tinny sound. I find "bright" guitars irritating, but many love the sound. I like to have some wood tones instead of the metal strings. I am not going to buy elixers if that is the case. I have asked at our music store for strings that are not bright sounding and they really cannot help me out. I think you did though so thanks again.

[dlsmpsn]

I have a Lam version Tak F-360 I purchased new in "73 and still own. I never practiced enough to become a very good player, but my impression of the sound has always been that it is very bassy and loud. I have done some investigation of it's origin and found that there was originally a agreement to copy the Martin, but Martin decided to withdraw their consent and Takamine mutually agreed. Takamine had decided that they wanted to start making their own designed guitars, and they just went on their own.

[davidmacgillivray]

I have an older Takamine F365S that I picked up about 30 years ago and noticed that the it has the Takamine name on the headstock similar to the shape of the Guild logo… is this common? Great sounding guitar to this day!

[roberttosa]

People hear what they want to hear. Enough said

[Noud]

My experience with the Takamine is that it is indeed less deep sounding than a good Martin 
but others could also conclude the Takamine sounds less boomy. For sheer acoustic reasons
I would choose for the Martin but my Takamine has an under saddle pick up and when that 
"comes on stage" all the lows are there and my Takamine sounds like "nothing more to desire 
for". Most Martin's have that strong lower end or should I say "deep lower end". But the difference
between my Martin D28 en my later D35 made me choose for the latter. It simply has a more
"springy" sound, more lively. So even you can really tell a lot of differences already between
two Martins of about the same year of production! Thanks for the vid.

[michaellacy]

I also have both a Martin d-28 and a Takamini f360S. I like them both but the Martin has a distinctive articulated sound. To me it sounds richer. The Takamini is a great sounding guitar though. I played it to death for several decades before I got the Martin. Bought it for $120 in about 1975. Recently had extensive fret and fingerboard repairs and it plays better than brand new!

[paullambert]

I have a 375 s from 1975 and at the time I think they were better guitars than the Martins. Martin was at a low point then. And some of my friends have had to have repairs done to their necks and elsewhere on the guitars. Mine still is totally intact and plays great. My one complaint is the necks were too narrow. Thanks. 🔪🎸

[revzone]

Martin never threatened to sue, they sent a letter asking them to not use the logo font that resembled Martin's..

[russg.]

Martin sounds warm, full, and pleasing. The Takamine sounds tinny to me.

[kwaktak]

I had a 1973 Takamine F-360 but it was the model with the laminated top and I had it in college so it took a beating. I tried to have it fixed but the cost would have exceeded the value of the guitar. I've since obtained a Larrivee and a Martin D-16GT and both eclipsed the Tak in the tone and workmanship departments. I've also been learning luthery as a hobby and at one point I'd hoped to put a new solid top on the F-360 but when I opened it up I decided it wasn't worth it.

FWIW the neck joint is a butt joint (not a dovetail) bracing is MUCH different than anything Martin does. The pattern is similar but the size of the braces and the quality of the glue work and gaps - not to mention an oversized spruce bridge plate instead of maple or rosewood - are the reason why the tone is so different.