Takamine GS330S

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:55 pm

Beware guys! This $299 job will make you wonder! It is almost TOO light!

It made me sell my beloved Yamaha to a fellow at work who is just learning and the Yamaha and him hit it right off!

I can't wait to put some DR Rares on her. I got mine off ebay for 112.50 (used, sniped it at 102 from two other bidders) after playing one at Sam Ash...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Takamine-GS330S-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=516304&src=00633&247SEM

Check out the reviews!
It outplayed every Martin and Taylor under a grand that I have tried!

PS- What do you use on a satin finish? Lemon oil?

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:20 pm

Charley, I got my daughter a Takamine GS530S for the same price a couple years ago and it is a very nicely built and sounding guitar. Very big value for the money. It is solid spruce top and bottom.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:05 am

That is the spruce version and mine is the cedar/mahogony version. Mine has no pickguard. It looks like the 530 does not have dots on the fretboard either. For others who haven't seen these guitars, they are on top so you can see where you're going.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:37 pm

Her 530 does have dots - I had to look at a pic of her playing it to make sure. They are small.

The rosette and purfling around the outside of the top are really beautiful.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:59 pm

OH-OH! I put DR Rares (12s) and it sounds sweeter, but I lost volume. The last set (2 years at least!) I bought was Guild Phosphor bronze (Don't know if they are the same since Fender), before I bought some Martin Marquis last week for the Yamaha. I wasn't real happy with those either. I need something with volume but not fat either. Is it right that there are flats for acoustics? I like 'em on my bass!

qwezirider · Post by **qwezirider** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:21 pm

Stupid question: is the neck adjustable? Just curious at such a low price. Eyeballing one on ebay right now just based on what you're saying.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:42 pm

Yes, there is a truss rod adjustable in the soundhole on the 530.

http://www.takamine.com/?fa=series&sid=524

qwezirider · Post by **qwezirider** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:02 pm

Duhhhh....if I didn't have a moment of pure laziness, I'd have done that legwork, eh? I apologize for that.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:17 pm

As does the 330. The difference is whether you want "natural"(330, cedar top) or standard finish (530, spruce top)...

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:31 pm

Bruce, not implying laziness, just sharing the Takamine site info. They really are very well made for the money. Bruce Springsteen plays several EF series Taks, as does Glen Frey, Nils Lofgren, Dave Stewart, Nancy Wilson, and a LOT of country artists.

winston · Post by **winston** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:00 pm

I have owned a Takamine since the very early 70's. Mine has the original scroll lettering.

They are great guitars. To my ears at least, my F series guitar sounds better than my friend's Martin from the same era. It has a nicer neck and is therefore easier to play as well.

BTW they age really well too.

teb · Post by **teb** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:07 pm

...and me! I bought a cowboy hat, I've had a hard life, I'm working on that "Silver Fox" hair color and expect to become a country star any day now (haven't been to prison yet, but I'm working on it). My acoustics are a Tak EN12C12, cedar top with the always lovely lacewood back and sides and my six is a spruce over rosewood TAN16C. Charlie, I haven't found anything that sounds better on mine than D'Addario EXP coated light gauge strings. Not cheap, but great tone and they last pretty well.

qwezirider · Post by **qwezirider** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:11 pm

"Bruce, not implying laziness, just sharing the Takamine site info."
**********************************************

Oh, I know you weren't, John. I sure was, though. Momentary laps of thinking on my part. I sure appreciate the link, though.

I have a Takamine 12 string that I've like for several years. Seeing the prices on these and the reviews in this thread has me thinking about a 6 stringer.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:49 pm

I'll give those a try Todd. I also plan on putting in a K&K western Mini. They are supposedly the best sounding , least intrusive pups out there, short of the REAL expensive stuff.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:38 am

Agree, I think Takamines are great guitars for the money. (Used to have one but sold it.)

But they have two major price points don't they? Their higher end are still made in Japan and their budget ones are made in China (?).