SOLD: '02 Takamine EAC38C - Santa Fe

[wingsdad]

Tak's Japanese-made Santa Fe Series models have been produced since 1993. Each year brings a new limited-run edition, and the EAC38C was 2002's. This one was the 12th born on June 2, 2002, and I bought her last year from her original owner, one of the operators (guitar tech) of my Local GAS Station, a Tak dealer:

I paid $900USD for her with the original Tak thermoplastic molded case.

Family & Financial priorities force me to give her up for adoption.

Specs:

Body Shape: FXC C/A; 15-3/4” lower bout
Rosette: Semi-precious stone
Top: Solid Spruce
Inlays: Semi-precious stone
Back: Solid Rosewood
Sides: Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany. Slotted headstock. 1-7/8” nut.
Fingerboard: Ebony, 21-fret, 25-5/8” scale
Bridge: Ebony. Pinless.
Electronics: CT4B
Tuners: Engraved Gold with Amber buttons
Features: Native American design Rosette/Inlays feature Turquoise, Coral, Azurite-Chrysocolla, stained maple. Maple-bound body.
Finish: Gloss Natural

The FX/C body is small, about classical size, and the wide, flatter radius fingerboard slotted headstock & pinless bridge provide classical-like characteristics. However, it's intended as a STEEL-STRING fingerstyle guitar. I've never tried nylons on it, but I'd surmise they'd need to be heavy-tension to keep the neck in line.

To give you an idea of her size compared to a dread, her she is in my guitar humidor cabinet, 5th from left (dead center):

I could put more pics up if any of you would like to see more, but I don't expect much interest here in Electric Ladyland.

If you're interested, drop me a PM with a serious offer.

One good friend fellow fretter has expressed curiosity already.

She's gonna be going on consignment where I bought her, soon.

Thanks.

 

[wingsdad]

To bump this thread, a few more pics....

some detail

these 2 indoors w/ flash

 

[wingsdad]

Bump...

Hello! Hello! Hello!...

Is there anybody in there? in there? in there?

Still available.

Any questions?

 

[evenkeel]

Wings,
If I was in the market for a slot head I'd be all over this.

Beautiful guitar. :AOK Hope you find a good home for her.

 

[wingsdad]

Keel,
Few understand or appreciate the benefits of the slotted head, and the pinless bridge to an acoustic's tone & volume qualities. You most surely do, so thanks for chiming in.

I was lucky to land her, I hate to have to let her go, but life's a beach and the tide's rollin' high.

 

[Eric]

Few understand or appreciate the benefits of the slotted head, and the pinless bridge to an acoustic's tone & volume qualities.

I don't. I've only seen/played one guitar with a pinless bridge -- it has something to do with tension/angle, I take it? Care to elaborate?

 

[wingsdad]

Yeah, the tension/angle is surely part of it, Eric. But the biggest impact in improving eveneness of tone (delivery level of the hi-mid-lo freq vibrations) and in turn, volume is that the string vibrations transfer directly through the bridge to the top, helped by that flatter angle and with no gaps from slots in pins or coloration by the material of same. It's just wood n' steel.

The slot head contributes similarly; less wood to absorb vibes above the nut, and again, the string angle isn't bent, but virtually straight-ahead toward the bridge.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

It's a purdy thing, but I just got me a new acoustic so no can do. I hope it finds a good home!

 

[wingsdad]

And a mighty fine acoustic did ye get, Steve :drool ...

Oh...since compensated bridges (saddles) seem to be a recurring topic of discussion lately in other threads....notice this guitar's TWO compensated saddles: one for the wound lo/mids, one for the trebles.

It's the little things that make the big differences...

 

[Rockette]

I can't believe this is still F/S.

 

[wingsdad]

I can't believe this is still F/S.

Well, I really didn't expect it to fly outta here fast. Not that many fret-netters are as excited about finer acoustic guitars vs. electrics. Not when about 3 Squier pine Teles or Agile LP clones can be had for the same dough.

And I'm about ready to put my other prized Santa Fe up for adoption. ESF-93. The first model of the Santa Fe breed. a/k/a
1993 Limited Edition

Life happens. The harem I'd gathered over more prosperous times must be thinned to the essentials. Family first. Wood n' steel second.

 

[Rockette]

Why not cut & paste your F/S & link over at WAG? Can't hurt. At least they tend to more appreciate finer acoustics and aren't so afflicted with tunnel-vision and, (let's call it frugality.)

 

[oldguy]

Well, I really didn't expect it to fly outta here fast. Not that many fret-netters are as excited about finer acoustic guitars vs. electrics. Not when about 3 Squier pine Teles or Agile LP clones can be had for the same dough.

And I'm about ready to put my other prized Santa Fe up for adoption. ESF-93. The first model of the Santa Fe breed. a/k/a
1993 Limited Edition

Life happens. The harem I'd gathered over more prosperous times must be thinned to the essentials. Family first. Wood n' steel second.

I think it's a beautiful acoustic, Mick, and certainly priced right.:AOK Now as far as the pine Teles or Agile LP clones go, well, there are always going to be the converts to the darkside who want the amph thunder rather than the bliss of gentle wires vibrating towards the heavenly muse sent to guide them.:what
That being said, in my particular case, with Dee having rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and myself having the cubital tunnel surgery, we just aren't in a postion to buy much of anything now. We're doing good to keep up with the house and truck payments and utilities, to be honest.
Also, please keep in mind the state of the economy at the present time. I'm betting that the same conditions pursuant to you selling such a fine acoustic may also prevent many others here from purchasing it.
I seriously doubt frugality, tunnel vision, or lack of appreciation for fine acoustics is the sole reason it hasn't been snapped up, but of course, a wider advertising base is always the best bet when trying to sell an item.
Best of luck with the sale, some lucky dog will no doubt end up with an excellent instrument. :applause

 

[Childbride]

She's gorgeous. they both are.

and Wings is a straight shooter with pristine equipment.

right now, nothing is happening for ourselves...

as everything is about a wedding for BG that happens in august.

 

[Eric]

Not that many fret-netters are as excited about finer acoustic guitars vs. electrics. Not when about 3 Squier pine Teles or Agile LP clones can be had for the same dough.

Guilty as charged. Sorry -- I don't have enough faith in my guitar skillz or knowledge of what I truly like/need/want to spend serious money on something nice. I think it deserves a better life than I could give it.

Good luck finding a home for this guitar. Really.

 

[wingsdad]

... Not that many fret-netters are as excited about finer acoustic guitars vs. electrics. Not when about 3 Squier pine Teles or Agile LP clones can be had for the same dough. ...

Reading Eric's 'guilty as charged', and nowre-reading this, I must apolgize if that comes over as offensive. My intent was simply that if one really prefers electric to acoustic, then why not have a few electrics fro the cost of one acoustic like this? Or , for that matter, one electric in this range?

...I seriously doubt frugality, tunnel vision, or lack of appreciation for fine acoustics is the sole reason it hasn't been snapped up, but of course, a wider advertising base is always the best bet when trying to sell an item.

I do believe that's it, og...I haven''t been agressive iin marketing her, and that may be because I really don't want to let her go...or her older sister, who started her bloodline with Tak...

Why not cut & paste your F/S & link over at WAG?...

While I've taken a peek over there now & then to see what old friends are up to over there (vs. over here), and I may be i the member base still, it's a matter of personal principle, a couple of incidents that occurred that led to me bailing, I never returned, and can't/won't. (and I'm not talking about thngs that happened to me, per se...but to friends, as well).

 

[Kazz]

Wings I hear you there bro. I too left the W long ago to never return. That being said your git fiddle is beautiful and would make anyone a great acoustic. I already have 2 in a very very nice Washburn D46 that I got a steal on from Dave at RGG which is about the only thing about the old W that I miss that is not already over here at The Fret dot Net. To me at least Toaster was/is good people.

I also have a very very nice Parkwood PW340FM that I have been meaning to list for sale for about a year now and just have not gotten around to it. Now that we have upgraded houses it might be time to do that....as well as spend some more personal time with the D46 and the dark sided instruments I have too.

 

[Eric]

Reading Eric's 'guilty as charged', and now re-reading this, I must apologize if that comes over as offensive. My intent was simply that if one really prefers electric to acoustic, then why not have a few electrics fro the cost of one acoustic like this? Or , for that matter, one electric in this range?

Thanks, but it's not like you're wrong with your original statement. At the lower level of guitars, I think it's often more important for people like me to explore what different electric guitars have to offer, and cheapies from China tend to offer a good opportunity for that.

If and when one specializes, that's when a high-end classical-type acoustic would be a great option. Until that point, it's like the question of whether you'd want to hire someone with 20 years of experience or a fresh grad -- the experience is great, provided you know what you need and it's an exact fit with the candidate's experience. If you're not sure or if you need something different, the cheap youngster might be a wiser option.

Odd how I feel like I'm defending myself, even though I'm basically agreeing with you.

 

[wingsdad]

Traded For These 2

She was on consignment and I stopped by my dealer (where I'd bought her 2 years ago) on Saturday to check on her...ran into these 2 new arrivals you see here in my den/music room: a New Peavey PowerSlide and an Ibanez SZR-720TGB (NOS, '08)...

Went back yesterday and cut a deal swapping the Tak for these, a new Guardian LP hardcase for the Ibanez, a 3-pack of D'add EXL110 strings, a Long Hollow Leathers suede strap and a couple of decent guitar cables. The PowerSlide is packaged with a 3-point strap, cable, gig bag and a strange metal slide.

Actually, the deal isn't over yet...had to cut it short as the store was closing at 5. May have one more NOS item to be thrown in when I resume talking it out with the owner.

 

[piebaldpython]

Congrats on unloading your Takamine. What do you think of the PowerSlide? How do you like the "blend" on it from bucker to single coil? I've been tempted to add one to my herd.

 

[wingsdad]

pie-

Yeah...a commodity trading move...whether I get to keep these 2 remains to be seen, but I laid out $0 and now have a couple of easier-to-sell pieces. I DO want to keep them, but so did I want to keep the Tak. Ya do what ya gotta do...

The 'blend' works just like Washburn's Variable Contour Control (VCC) on the import model Idols (i.e., WI-67, etc). So it's not an actual 'tone control', in that sense. I describe it as variable 'fat' to 'biting'.

I'd tried one at the dealer's months ago, and thought this would be cool...a standup lap steel. It also can be slung w/the 3-point strap/buttons to play 'normal', although it's a chunky squareneck, because the neck is contoured to handle it that way.

This black one just came in after about 6 months of waiting for him to get another. I took it (and the Ibanez) for a ride thru a ValveKing Royal8 and a Fender SuperChamp XD (used, modded w/ Eminence Rajin' Cajun).

(that's what's still up for discussion to add to my 'horse trade', since the Tak will bring them a few more bucks than the 2 guitars and other junk I had them throw in would've...one of those 2 amps.)

For $200 ($250 list)? For a slideman like you? Why not?

The metal bridge & nut are my question marks. After I get a chance to play it a bunch more, I'll try to do a full review in its own thread. Same with the Ibanez.