| Takamine Guitars is a Japanese company | | | | prices. They have an excellent budget |
| whose 40+ year history has been | | | | line of guitars that has also achieved |
| dedicated to creating high quality | | | | some popularity because even though they |
| guitars. They are always striving to | | | | are inexpensive, they are known to have |
| improve on the traditional notion of the | | | | good quality. |
| guitar by building instruments that are | | | | Currently Takimine has around twenty |
| unique in their excellence. | | | | different guitar styles. Some of these |
| The company headquarters is currently | | | | are acoustic, some are electric, and |
| located in Sakashita, Japan, near a | | | | some are acoustic/electric styles. These |
| mountain range that bears the companys | | | | models include the Limited Edition 2006 |
| name- the Takamine Mountains. Over forty | | | | Series, the Signature Series, the |
| years ago it started as a family run | | | | Takamini, the Naturals, the |
| guitar making business and has since | | | | Supernaturals, and the Nashville. The |
| evolved into a company that develops and | | | | guitars are designed to appeal to a |
| builds a score of guitars that are | | | | range of tastes style preferences. |
| shipped throughout the world. | | | | Takamine has also gotten some press |
| In order to understand Takamines | | | | because of the various artists who play |
| development and growing popularity, one | | | | them. In particular, Noal Gallagher of |
| would need to go back to 1960s Japan. | | | | Oasis played a Takamine Guitar during a |
| That is a time when playing the guitar | | | | popular unplugged performance. Other |
| and popular music was becoming popular. | | | | artists include Jon Bon Jovi, Kenny |
| As more people wanted to take up the | | | | Chesny, Garth Brooks, Brad Davis, Linkin |
| instrument, the need increased. Takamine | | | | Park, Bjorn Berge, Montgomery Gentry, |
| started manufacturing guitars during | | | | Christine Kane, and Toby Keith. For more |
| this time period, largely to meet these | | | | artists visit the website. |
| needs. | | | | Here is what one person has to say about |
| The need grew, and so did their | | | | their Takamine guitar: |
| business. As a result of this, they | | | | About the Takamine EAN-10C |
| hired Mr. Mass Hirade in 1968 to add | | | | The sound of this guitar is what sold |
| skill and creative talent to their team. | | | | me. Balanced across the tonal spectrum. |
| They needed someone who could help | | | | Rich and full a great all around rhythm |
| develop and create guitars that would | | | | acoustic guitar. Very easy to play, the |
| appeal to the changing musical tastes of | | | | guitar does not get mushy when you dig |
| the nation. One of his biggest | | | | into it. The electronics are superior to |
| contributions was the development of | | | | anything on the market for live playing, |
| their Classical model, a guitar that | | | | comes with build in tuner as well. |
| achieved great popularity. | | | | Whether I am playing with friends or |
| Takamine is known for two things- the | | | | solo the guitar works. Nice and loud but |
| quality of their instruments (Hirade | | | | not overly so, I would have to say |
| played a big part in this) and their | | | | excellent for accompanying vocals. |