I have a jam buddy with a killer Tama, plain jane. On the merits of his guitar I started searching ebay. After picking up a nice journeyman BC Rich (a great mahogany / spruce econo D18) and watching a apparently nice, but plain, Tama out of Canada not reach it's reserve several times, I slapped down a $480 max on this other one from a pawn shop with zero feedback and hit the trout stream. Came home that night and I'd bought it for 400, 418 delivered insured!.

It came 2 days ago and it is an incredible guitar. Totally pimped, which I didn't anticipate. Solid rosewood matched sides and back. Spruce top. Mahogany neck. Now for the bling: Rosewood laminate headstock veneer with an "S" either side of the "T" in the vertical "TAMA" on the headstock - all lettering in MOP or Abalone. Tortoise shell truss rod cover. Black plastic pickguard. MOP / Aba binding EVERYWHERE: Around the soundhole, neck butt, both sides of every 90 degree seam on the body, top, back and sides. Rosewood board with MOP / Aba parallelogram markers, appears to be ivory bound.

Virtually unplayed. Incredibly bright, loud, sustained and balanced, with low, fast and buzz free action. It has either 8559 or 3559 stamped inside on the neck butt, and a serial number on the brace north of the sound hole.

I have an old Martin I bought new, a CAGuitars x body, a handbuilt Applegate, #15, (James Olson protege) - some nice guitars, and I've played some other very expensive units and this guitar compares no excuses. It's a $2000 - 3000 plus guitar. Name your price type deal.

I sure would like to chat with other Tama owners and learn more about these great axes and would appreciate any info on this one. Thanks