Takamine P7DC Acoustic-electric Guitar Demo - Sweetwater Sound

[@howabouthetruth2157]

I gigged professionally ( now retired ) for on and off over 35 years, and speaking of acoustic guitar only ( I did perform in bands with electric guitars as well.), I played in several duo & trio acts as well as my solo act. I can honestly say, that all 3 of the Takmine acoustic electrics I owned & performed with were OUTSTANDING instruments plugged in or played w/o any amplification. EVERYBODY loved them as well. I'm embarrassed that I don't remember the exact model numbers for 2 of them, with 1 being the nemesis for a Martin D28 with solid spruce top & mahogany back, sides & neck, and the other was the cutaway with solid cedar top & Mahogany sides, back & neck with real turquoise rosette & fretboard markers, but how could I EVER forget my 1998 LTD. Dear LORD what a fine guitar in every aspect!!! ( And I really don't like most of their other LTD models released for each year, more due to their looks. I'm sure their tone was amazing though.) But I really loved my 1998 LTD. ( It was the one with the natural solid spruce top & palesandro back & sides & mahogany neck. The rosette had an abalone "sun" with exotic wood inlays as "flames" from the sun, and it had a mother of pearl "moon" at the bottom of the rosette, with dot markers up the neck of MOP starting with "a full moon" and each marker was "a waning moon" that gradually turned into thinner "crescent moons". VERY original design. Google up "Images for Takamine LTD 1998" and be prepared to be shocked at what a beautiful instrument. They were a very limited model. ) It also had killer smooth HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE GOLD PLATED TUNERS. I don't care what ANYONE says, the Takamine preamp system sounds more acoustically natural & warmer than anything else I ever tried. The Fishman stuff was "OK" but sounded too bassy & clinical. The patented system Takamine uses, simply sounds closer to a real acoustic tone, because if ya listen closely, the finest un-mic'd acoustic guitars actually have a natural sweet & warm "distortion". All 3 of my Takamine's, when picking a single string, the note would actually "bloom" for a second, the mark of a truly fine acoustic guitar, and that is UNPLUGGED. I HATE cheaply made guitars, so I make NO claims about their cheaper series. ( Or anyone else's for that matter.) But as far as their higher end instruments, I say to you all, do NOT let "made in Japan" scare you away. Their hand-made hi-end models have ALWAYS been made BETTER than everyone else, and the quality is equal to the finer Martins & Taylor's. I am only comparing to hand made "factory" guitars. REAL Takamine's are all made under one roof BY HAND by extremely talented & experienced luthiers. Just ask ANY player who has owned a hi-end Takamine, and I'm willing to bet you will get the same response from them as you are from me right now. And by the way........I AM ONE OF THE PICKIEST, MOST DEMANDING GUITARISTS YOU WILL EVER MEET. I ONLY LIKE GUITARS THAT PLAY WELL & HAVE "THE BEST TONE & SOUND PROJECTION". What blows me away the most, is comparing the prices of the hi-end Takamine's to the prices of the competition, more often than not, the Takamine will be THE BETTER SOUNDING GUITAR, REGARDLESS OF THE LOWER PRICE. Of course no 2 guitars sound exactly alike and there will always be variables, but in my experience, generally speaking, you just can't fault the good Takamine's. A long time ago, the Martin family was considering suing Takamine for using their headstock shape on the earlier Takamine's. They flew to Japan, and was greeted ( THEIR OWN WORDS ) by the warmest friendliest & EXTREMELY talented & experienced lutheirs, who had no clue WHY the Martin's were there. They did not know it was wrong to use that headstock shape. After a lengthy tour & watching how these ultra-fine craftsmen were building the Takamine's, the Martin family was SO MOVED & SO IMPRESSED, they asked them only to stop using the headstock shape & paid them a ton of praise & respect for such an operation building some of the finest acoustic guitars obtainable from ANY factory setting. THAT IS A TRUE STORY.........If those old Japanese masters could impress the Martin family, just think of what YOU will discover when you give their finer instruments a serious try. I did, and I am very grateful. PEACE & GOD BLESS.

[@frankstephenson1746]

I’ve had my cedar top EAN15 on stage with $5000 Gibson and Martin guitars. Plugged in the Tak was the better sound every time. Best $1500 I’ve ever spent. I’m looking at a P7 because I wore the guitar out gigging.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@frankstephenson1746 Brother I believe ya! Quick little story: When I got my 1st Takamine, ( the SANTA FE, I finally remembered ) the cedar top cut-away with turquoise rosette and turquoise fret markers ( Arapaho Indian theme ), my partner and I were in an a rather large lounge/restaurant, setting up to do a quick sound check one afternoon for our coming gig that evening. I had to take a restroom break, so my partner asked if he could play my new Takamine (plugged into the PA of course. ) While in the restroom, which was a good distance away, and several walls separating my location to the stage, I was absolutely astonished at the sound. It sounded like he was playing my guitar totally unplugged, just outside the restroom door........only louder of course. I was almost tempted to peek outside just to see if he was, lol. But I knew better. Other than the old fashioned method of using expensive high end mic's on stands placed in front of an acoustic, I have never heard such a warm, authentic reproduction of an acoustic guitar, as the onboard Takamine system back then. I owned & gigged all 3 of my Tak's from 1990 through 2003/4. So I don't know anything about latest onboard electronics for acoustic guitars these days. But back then, the Tak systems definitely blew away the Fishman systems ( even on high end guitars ) that sounded far too bassy, and "clean/sterile". To my ear, the Fishman system sound closer to an electric guitar played through a really clean amp. Perhaps they've improved since my gigging days.......I really don't know.

[@uhhsed]

tl;dr

[@AtomicLobotomy]

Just heard Tom Holloway do a bunch of Elvis numbers in club in Tokyo with a Takamine--his voice was incredible but he accompanied himself solo on a Takamine electric acoustic and the sound he was getting out of that guitar--him just playing solo--totally blew me away. Sorry didn't catch the model. But decided on the spot I wanted a Takamine guitar. Will explore a bit more. I'd never heard of this guitar maker before and I live in Japan.

[@mail4chuan]

Yeah, he is back. One of those who influence my 1st Taka :-)

[@rclarkrep100]

Just picked up P7NC Play lot of lead acoustic and appreciate your demo with soloing seems like it has very good action and electronics for PA

[@BrianHarbut-v5k]

Excellent review! Much appreciated. Thankyou! 👍

[@jessehuerta2028]

nice sampling of the sound of the guitar.

[@MARK.CATLI28]

this guitar is perfect!!!

[@ajayverdhanmaurya]

brad davis is back \m/

[@tk3141]

Good review, thanks :)

[@That_IT_Trainer]

If you play it without plugging it in. Is there a big difference between the pd5c and pd7c sound wise? I usually play unplugged so would love to know. Thx anyone

[@MartyMartin87]

*Awesome!!!*

[@rubbersole79]

If you didn't want the preamp, I suppose you could mount a small tv in there....

[@sotirzvanidjubre4109]

You can watch Mr Bean while playing

[@arnaldodelahoz]

may you make a video about Takamine gd51ce please?

[@thelearningimperative6797]

Is it just me or can anyone else not tell the difference between cool tube and not?!

[@MrPopmuzc]

I played this guitar at Gearfest last year and you have to play it to believe it. Yes, you can hear and feel the difference. Playing this guitar took Taylor and Martin off my list.

[@joshuahendrickson4854]

There is a difference with the preamp and without, but to my ear, it isn't that big a difference. The sound is slightly fuller with the prieamp.

[@miguel_juh]

Que estilo é esse que você tocou no inicio do vídeo? parece um pouco com o estilo country.

[@knightman_cometh]

Take my money!

[@aigor9668]

for 2,5 k guitar that under saddle alone was sounding like sht and then I wanted to hear how It sounds with cool tube, but i heard just some random shredding .. :D noicee

[@Cloudriveband]

Cool tube? Lol more like a fancy led light?

[@frankstephenson1746]

Not much can be done with no voltage Gimmick yes, but the Camen pre amps are the best in the biz

[@andrzejostrowski1000]

Brzmi fajnie, ale cena też zajebista! Ja kupiłem Takamine z litym swierkowym topem, dołożyłem Chinola Fishmana Pressys + i za 900zł+120zł też mam elektroakustyka Takamine. Robocizna własna. 🙂 No może dźwięk 🔔 nie tak jedwabisty... 🤔 😂

[@Givingitashot]

Can I ask if you prefer light or medium strings?

[@atlgator1928]

Givingitashot. Guess not.