All user reviews for the Takamine TS97C

So.. I've had a few thinline guitars before and smaller bodied guitars that I generally liked the tone of but mostly played because the shape allowed it to sit somewhere you couldn't with a Jumbo or Dreadnaught.

Well.. I've always liked Takamine and Cedar top that Glen Hansard plays gives me a strange excitement we'll say.

So I have an S34c Jasmine by Takamine that appears to be from 2000 and it has been a great balanced and loud guitar perhaps lacking in subtlety but doing the big strummer thing so well that it's hard to deny.

Well the TS-97C fills in the stuff the Big Girl doesn't do so well.

As it turns out I have 12-53 on the s34c NEX which is 25.5" and 11-49 on the 25-3/8" FXC and I keep the bigger one Eb and drop C# while keeping the FXC in E standard and drop D. For a 30 year old guitar it's in great shape. I did have to spend some time rehydrating the wood with it clamped up to a neck and bridge level jig. It all went seamlessly and the guitar barely needed setup with new bone nut and saddle.

The things they say about Cedar top guitars are all true. It breaks up early and is very touch sensitive. It records beautifully and has some indescribable tonal quality that you only get on stunning guitars.

A current Takamine equivalent is $2000 and this little guitar speaks of why.

For a 1992 Jasmine by Takamine it has no right to be this good. I'd gladly challenge a Taylor or Martin to a time war.

If you find one keep it. These are lifetime guitars when setup right.

(Originally written by manolitos/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Guitar made in Korea.

Piezo pickup

Wood bridge

Preamp with volume, bass and treble controls.

21-fret slim neck with small pearly inlays.

UTILIZATION

Pleasant slim neck.

Rather easy access to the upper frets.

Very comfortable when sitting down, but you'll have to add a strap pin to the heel (it's not provided).

Good acoustic sound (lack of lows but the preamp allows lots of sound variations with an amp or PA system).

SOUNDS

I use this guitar for comping.

It sounds great with a light chorus effect.

I play it with a 60 watt Roland stereo AC. The sound is clean, clear and precise.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using this guitar since 1995.

The sound becomes always better (warmer) with aging. The frets are still ok and the guitar needs no adjustment!

The top is varnished so take care of it!

I don't regret having bought it.