My first 'professional instrument' was a Tama - it cost me £995 in 1981. It had a sitka top, solid rosewood back and sides and snoflake and daisy inlays. Around 25 years later I stupidly gave it to the local guitar shop to have a pick up put in, with strict instructions not to alter the neck or set up in any way. The stupid idiot who put the pick up in 'gave the truss rod just a tweak to bring the bass end up'. AT 6am next morning I was screaming at him down the phone as the truss rod had come out of its seating and was trying to break through the beautiful fretboard.
A local lutheir repaired it but it was never the same again. I purchased an awesome replacement from the luthier, which I still have, I gave the Tama in part ex. I would still be playing it. At the time, I remember the lovely guitarist from Fairport Convention had one exactly the same as mine (he replaced it with a Santa Cruz) and the Spinners had a couple of similar ones, (with plain inlays) a six and a twelve string. I think Dave Paskett had one of the earlier ones and Derek Brimstone has already been mentioned.