Tacoma Guitars DM10

I purchased the Tacoma a few years ago because it was a very good deal for an all solid wood American made instruments. I paid $150.00. My first impression was that it was not a strumming instrument. But... I find this to hold true for the dreadnought body style in general. I do not understand why people strum large bodied guitars, their large cavity will not let go of resonances with the speed of smaller OM or 00 guitars. On the other hand, this dreadnought is very well designed for bluegrass Crosspicking, sweep picking, Django jazz, and chord melody arrangements.

It excels at adding deep resonance to slow moving broken chord arrangements using the above mentioned techniques. This guitar wants you to hold on to notes in arpeggios and nuance those strings during the decays with a little flexion. It will sound hauntingly beautiful played this way or like a harp or African kora.

This is a guitar that wants you to use a Dunlop 2.5 mm pick, not a flimsy piece of latex. One person mentioned a bright tone, I would say this would be string gauge dependent. I’m using medium/heavy gauge copper/bronze and it’s very much a dense mid and bass heavy tone.

This guitar loves drop d tuning. Just a simple low e dropped to add a huge drone note to play over during broken chord and arpeggiated passages can sound fantastic.

All in all this instrument changed the way I approach the guitar. It forced me to learn it’s strengths and weaknesses and therefor it taught me to crosspick and seek out chord melody style arrangements.

The Tacoma dm10 is a guitar that guides you into a playing style that fits its tonal palate and with that came many lessons on styles of playing I had previously not approached. Love when that happens.

Tacoma DM10:

Bad For: beginners, strummers, finger styles, small weak hands.

Good for: bluegrass, crosspicking, chord melody, harp style, slow pieces, slow decays, Dunlop 2.5 mm pick.

I purchased my Tacoma DM-10 in 1996 in Tacoma , Washington at Ted Brown Music and paid $650 . The two most important factors were tone and solid wood construction. Please take the time to research guitars on the market to make positive your getting all solid-wood contruction.Makers have become very crafty at pressing soundhole laminates to look like the grain goes all the way thru the top ; they allso use wording like SELECT or PREMIUM , ect. to discribe plywood construction A 50's Martin D-18 that sold for under $100 is now worth thousands and a Sears & Roebuck plywood guitar from the same era is worth next to nothing.The same is true today , plywood guitars even if they have solid wood tops will not increase in value nor will they improve in sound like solid wood models .The Tacoma DM-10 now sells for about $800 new or used on E-bay $500 to $650. American made /solid-wood construction/under $1000/A GUITAR THAT WILL SOUND BETTER WITH AGE AND BE A GREAT INVESTMENT. The tone will make this guitar an easy choice.

WARM BOOMING MAHOGANY LOW END / CLEAR AS A BELL SOLID SPRUCE TOP HIGHS / EASY FRETTING NECK / LIGHT SATIN FINISH & CLEAR PICKGAURD

THE PEG HEAD DECAL LOGO WAS CHANGED AFTER THE FIRST FEW YEARS BECAUSE IT LOOKED CHEAP. NEW MODELS HAVE A NICE INLAY.The

The Tacoma and Olympia models all have an inovative bridge design and top bracing system.

ALL SOLID WOOD + HANDMADE IN AMERICA = BETTER TONE

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

The Tacoma Guitars DM10 is a dreadnought acoustic guitar.  They also make an acoustic/electric model of this guitar, but I've only got experience with the DM10.  This guitar is very well built and is one of the better guitars that Tacoma has to offer.  The neck is made out of rosewood, while the top is solid spruce and the back is mahogany.  Upon first play of the guitar you can feel that it has been made well as it feels good all the way around.  Since this isn't the acoustic/electric model, the DM10 doesn't have any pick ups or setting controls.

UTILIZATION

I've only got good things to say about the feel of the Tacoma Guitars DM10.  It is very easy to play, and I find it easy to get a nice, big and bright sound from it.  It is a very light guitar and seems to have a slightly thinner body than that of most dreadnought acoustic guitars.  Like most acoustic guitars, it isn't the best for playing lead parts high up on the neck, but I'd say that overall I've never had too much trouble playing the guitar or getting a good sound from it.  


SOUNDS

I've only played a few different models made by Tacoma Guitars, the DM10 is probably the best sounding one that I've played.  I've used the guitar for a recording session featuring another player, so I've been playing and recording with it at the same time, but from what I gathered from the recording I was able to get out of it and from playing it a bit, I was pretty impressed with the sound.  It has more of a bright and silky tone than most dreadnought acoustic guitars, but it is one that I welcome as I found it worked perfectly for certain types of songs.    


OVERALL OPINION

As far as price goes concerning the Tacoma Guitars DM10, it is pretty reasonably for a upper end acoustic guitar, and I believe that it is one of the more expensive models that Tacoma has to offer.  While probably not as good as the more traditional acoustic guitars in the price range made by the likes of Martin and Taylor, this guitar definitely has something different to bring to the table.  If you're looking for an off brand acoustic guitar that is very well made and is a great deal, I'd recommend checking out the DM10.

Made in America. The amricain Fender has offered the socity Tacoma and production unit for acoustic guitars.

This guitar is hard to find in France a shame because this is gnial luthier. I had about 10 guitars and that the jusquici I suggest because it's just in the extremely powerful in the bass.

When I try to lay dpart, its sound quality my poustoufle, she stood out from the excellent folk guitars. The sound is powerful and trs trs powerful. The neck is thin which makes it easy.

MODEL "Dreadnaught" DM10
Mahogany Sides
Western Guitar with table picea "STIKA" massive
Pearl rosette
Solid Mahogany back
Mahogany
Rosewood fingerboard with pearl taken
Logo inlaid ivoroid
Mcaniques Gotho chrome
Bridge Rosewood with Graphtec nut compensbr /> Nets quail Turtle
Satin finish Selector for the best wood species for each component based on its rle in the dam.
Physical test of form and of surrounding each dam Daprai A model computer voiced support bracing.
Search damplification the bend and tension cracking Resistors
Increased performance of the table giving a profile at the bridge

UTILIZATION

Ok

SOUNDS

Ok

OVERALL OPINION

Ok