(SOLD) Takamine TSA500 Acoustic Sunburst 1993
Takamine TSA500, sunburst, made in Japan 1993. What a looker! Takamine stuff always wins hearts around here, and this one is especially dashing, so hold onto your hats. The body is Tak's 'Nex' shape, which is a scaled down take on the J-200 style jumbo shape, designed to be a little more comfy than a dreadnought to play and balance well with vocals. It really does sit well: the deeper curve and smaller shoulders mean it feels a little like a 000, but with the big booty of a larger body guitar. The sound is warm and airy, with a tuneful low end and crisp jangle on the top. The neck is a slim, comfy C shape, it's easy to enjoy. The sunburst finish rounds it all off nicely: rich red-brown fading to black, adding some cowboy swagger to the mix. Lovely.
Model: Takamine TSA450
Made: Japan, 1993 (serial 38040661)
Finish: sunburst top, natural back and sides, gloss poly
Body: 'Nex' scaled down jumbo shape, solid spruce top, laminate mahogany back and sides
Neck: mahogany, rosewood fingerboard, dovetail joint, 25.5" scale, 15" radius
Weight: 2.045kg
Pickup: none
Mods: none
Case: Takamine hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has some dimples near the top edge in the waist area, scuffs along the back edge and some dimples on the bottom shoulder and bottom corner. The sides have some dimples in the bottom corner and the elbow area. The front has some dimples along the back and bottom edge, elbow area and near the bridge, as well as some paly wear on the shoulders. Overall: very good condition (7.5/10).
Playing condition notes: action is moderately, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. The frets have some normal wear but are pretty even with no major buzz issues, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 12/54 Moonshiners strings.