Takamine G230

This was my first REAL guitar. When I first learned to play, I had a show guitar, one that you hang on the wall or shove into your closet; not made for playing. After a while, I was sick of it. I finally realized what a terrible guitar I had when I went into the local Guitar Center and tried out several various guitars. I set my eye on a classic Cordoba 3/4. I didn't even look at the steel stringed guitars, because I was sure I wanted a classic. To make a long story short, I went into the Guitar Center with the money to buy a guitar a month later, and they had sold the Cordoba. However, I could play the show guitar no longer. I tried out this Takamine G-230, and my delusions of classic guitar playing immediately vanished. I came out of Guitar Center that day $200 poorer but one great guitar richer and happier.

This guitar has an amazing brassy sound. Not exactly enchanting, but it definitely has a great folk song kind of feel to it. The action is perfect, and the body curves perfectly to fit my knee. It's like this guitar was destined to be played by me, and I become one with it every time I sit down and strum out a song. In short, I am in love with this guitar. I want to marry it and have little guitar children.

As you go down the neck, the frets get smaller. That sounds naive, but I mean really small. By the time I capo up to the fourth fret, I'm already having trouble playing a G. This guitar is also moderately difficult to tune. The strings change pitch rather drastically, rather quickly. The keys are easily knocked out of place, as well, but they will never slide out of place by themselves. It doesn't take a genius to see that this is somewhat of a beginner's guitar.

What can I say? This is high quality handmade at it's best.

The only thing that prevents me from giving this guitar a 5 is the fact that I know that, with this guitar costing only $200, there must be SOME difference in quality between this and the guitars that cost thousands of dollars. The 5 spot should be reserved for exceptional guitars like those. In my opinion, there are far too many 5 pick reviews on this website. But I'm getting off topic. Anyway, your experience with this guitar may differ from mine, if only slightly, because no two Takamines are the same. This ends my review of the Takamine G-230. If you have any questions, comments, interpretations of strange dreams, theories concerning the meaning of life, etc., email me at furryanimalme@hotmail.com. No worries!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com