Acoustic electric guitars have the best of both worlds. They have the sound quality of acoustic guitars, yet they can be amplified at will just like electric guitars. The presence of internal pickups and powerful preamps has made acoustic electric guitars a popular choice among musicians and enthusiasts alike. As a testament to its popularity, almost all guitar makers feature a line of acoustic electric guitars that will meet the requirements of every customer. The best acoustic electric guitars right now are from Takamine, a Japanese company known for its innovativeness, craftsmanship, and overall quality. Ask guitarists that you know, and they will immediately name Takamine as among their favorites. Today, too, you will learn the top 5 Takamine acoustic electric guitars.
Contrary to what is usually concluded, Takamine is not the name of their founder. The name actually came from their original address at Sakashita, Japan. Their original factory was at the foot of the Takamine Mountain, hence the name.
The company was founded during the growing interest of music in the country and was also a seat of innovation. One of the most influential persons who led to the popularity of the company is Mr. Mass Hirada. He upheld high standards and quality products, and as such, the classical line of guitars was named after him. The company is also one of the first guitar manufacturers that saw the potential of acoustic electric guitars by introducing them in 1978. Though they have more than two dozen acoustic electric models, here are some of the best:
Limited Edition 2009 LTD2009
This six-string acoustic electric guitar has the small NEX cutaway for its body shape. It has solid spruce top with an abalone rosette as well as a finger board of ebony. Solid mahogany and mahogany make up the back and the sides respectively. Adding additional class are the ivory appointments and the beautiful MOP and shell. The guitar already sounds good, thanks to the generous quality of the wood, and the internal electronics can deliver crisp audio for large crowds. The limited edition 2009 is equipped with the CTP-2 cool tube, which actually uses a state-of-the-art vacuum tube to provide excellent features for a live concert or a studio recording.
Takamine Keystone EF381C
This is a 12-string dreadnought with one cutaway that improves the guitarists' access to the higher frets. The soundbar is solid spruce top with the back and sides created from durable maple. Build quality again shows in the mahogany neck and the fingerboard made from rosewood. If that is not yet enough, the tuners are made from chrome. All these materials contribute to a rich-sounding guitar that is complemented by a strong preamp: the CT4B. The preamp has three-band equalizer and one volume control band. For accurate tuning, the preamp even has a pitch shift indicator.
Hirade Classical TC132SC
This is a design derived from Mr. Hirade's sketches. It is a nylon-string classical cutaway guitar with a solid cedar top and solid rosewood on the back and rosewood on the sides and fingerboard. The tuners are gold classical and evoke the color of classical guitars. The uplifting sound output is even made better with the first-generation cool tube onboard preamp. It has tone controls for bass and treble, a midrange control, blend control, and another input for a second source pickup. The preamp, which utilizes a vacuum tube for better results, is accented by a chromatic tuner a well.
Takamine Keystone EF341SC
Another keystone model with a dreadnought body style with a single cutaway, this time it only has the common six strings. It has a solid cedar top and snowflake inlays to accent the dark colors. The back and sides are made of maple wood, and the fingerboard is made of rosewood. It also has chrome tuners and a bound fretboard. The rich sound of this guitar is made even richer through the CT4B preamp. The onboard preamp has four sliders: three for tone adjustment and one for volume. Precise calibration is possible with the pitch control button, and there is even a pitch shift indicator.
Takamine G Series EG260C
The charm of this G series guitar comes from the FXC cutaway board style. It has a spruce top and nato wood for its back and sides. The fingerboard is made from rosewood, and the tuners are chrome. Adding to its elegance is a choice of three finishes: brown sunburst, wine red, and gloss black. Abalone makes up the rosette and the inlays to accentuate the design. Finally, it has the onboard TP4T preamp with a built-in tuner and a three-band equalizer to ensure that the best signal is transmitted.
