This Takamine No.5 was nade in Japan in 1988.
Despite being a lower model number compared to the No.6,7,8 & 10, it sounds better than most of them and that of other brands. Sometimes this is due to a particular batch of wood, other times it depends on how the wood has aged, and more often than people know, it depends on its previous history and its previous owners.
The way it has been maintained and the type of music being playing played on it all help to shape its final tone.
I have had many customers coming into my shop. I ask them to rate each guitar to make sure I'm not being biased. The price of each of my guitars reflects the ratings of my customers.
Work done on the guitar:
I have enhanced the bracing to maximize the loudness and dynamic response. I have also tuned the soundboard to resonate to the note of G so the guitar now sings with every note you play.
The action is set up perfectly, not too high and not too low, this allows for the greatest dynamic response yet is easy to play.
The frets have been mirror polished to provide smooth touch, note bending and long-lasting string life.
The basses are nice and deep yet clear, and the trebles sing out like bells yet are pleasing to the ear.
Note separation is good, you can hear the individual notes being played.
It also has plenty of sustain.
Please have a listen to the sound demo video I made for another Takamine No.5. This guitar is even better than the one in the video.
Sound demo: https://youtu.be/xrfKcYIF5WA
Specifications:
Top: Solid Cedar
Back & sides: Indian Rosewood Double-plate
“Laminated” is not a suitable word for Japanese made guitars. These "laminates" were made from 2 layers of solid wood glued together with natural resins. The Japanese perfected this technique so well these double-plates were as good as solid woods and far more resistant to cracking.
Fingerboard: Ebony
Neck: Mahogany
Scale 653 mm
Width at Nut: 51mm
Its action is set to 3.5 mm under E6 and 3.00 mm under E1 with very little extra room on the saddle
Shipping is about $60 Australia wide. For international buyers please contact me for shipping costs.
A brief history of Takamine's Classical Guitars:
The company was founded in 1959 and got renamed Takamine Gakki in 1962. In 1968 Masaru Kohno who was one of the best classical luthiers in the world was in charge of supervising the classical guitar production. Masaru Kohno shot to fame after winning the world-renown Liege Concours National de Guitares (classical guitar builders competition).
Takamine's classical guitars had the same rosette and design as Kohno's personal line. Models no.20,30 & 40 were intermediate level while No.5,6,7,8 & 10 were advanced level, these also had Kohno style purflings and bridge.
Thanks to the high-grade tonewood used to make the guitars, The excellent craftsmanship and the supervision of highly skilled luthiers, Takamine classical guitars sound better than many high-end guitars currently being produced.
The quality of vintage Takamine guitars rivals and often surpass modern guitars in the $3500-$10000 range.