Tacoma guitars

Subject: Tacoma guitars
From: Matticus
Date: 31 May 00 - 02:48 PM

I'm close to buying a Tacoma guitar (traditional dreadnaught, rosewood, fishman pickup system) from my local shop, but as they are a relatively new company, I don't have a vast history of their instruments to guage the company on, as I would for the old standbys, only the apparent quality of the things as they look new. Any satisfied, or unsatisfied, customers out there in Mudland?

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Jed at Work
Date: 31 May 00 - 03:58 PM

I have seen a lot of Tacoma's around, and played a few. I am sure you can find one that will prove to ba a good value. The ones I've heard sounded good, the ones' I played, played well. If you buy one, I suspect you'll be happy with the decision.

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 31 May 00 - 10:57 PM

our guitar player has one. he likes it and uses the DAD tunning onit alot. Sounds great DULLDAN

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 May 00 - 11:30 PM

I like the ones I've played. Prefere the Mahogony to the Rosewood but thats taste in sound. They are all good sounding tho' I think lightly braced.

Don

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: RichM
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 12:18 AM

Tacoma guitars are well thought of on the newsgroup for acoustic guitar players: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic. Lots of knowledgeable people there--if they like it, it's a good value.

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 12:35 AM

Nice guitar......Fit is good, finish is a bit sub-par, but again, that's just taste. I don't think the bracing is all that light.....Take a mirror and check for yourself.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: DonMeixner
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 07:29 AM

C'Mon Pat, everything is reversed in a mirror.

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 09:32 AM

Geez Don, that's a good point.

Okay Matticus.....Check it with the mirror and if it looks strong it is weak and if it looks weak it is strong. I wish I had realized this before I wasted all that time on my nosehair.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Matticus
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 11:11 AM

I've heard the same thing re: rosewood vs. mahogany. Robin Bullock, great guitarist and bozouki player, great fiddler for that matter, is working at house of musical traditions (MD), and prefers the mahogany. I just like the looks of the rosewood, while I did play a rosewood a while back and liked the sound very much. Thanks for the comments, all. No detractors out there?

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 11:19 AM

Regarding woods, check out a thread we ran awhile back. Type Brazilian Rosewood into the search box at the upper left of the main thread page.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 12:31 PM

If I'm not mistaken, the Tacomas have laminated backs and sides. If that is the case, the difference between rosewood and mahogany will be less pronounced than on a solid wood guitar.

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 01:29 PM

Whisstop.....Depends on the model. Some are solid abck and sides, some with solid back and laminated sides, some with laminated back and sides....Pricing corresponds. You are righ about the sound, but just for the record, not all laminates are bad things. Some have an excellent taptone.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 02:32 PM

I stand corrected about the various Tacoma models, Spaw. And I agree that some laminated guitars are quite nice; just wanted to make the point that, more often than not, you'll hear less of a difference between rosewood and mahogany in a laminate than you will in solid wood (there will still be a difference, it's just not likely to be as dramatic).

I don't know if anyone has yet mentioned the Tacoma Papoose, which is a small guitar-like creature that is tuned a fourth above the pitch of a standard guitar (A to A rather than E to E). Their ads are full of respected folks who endorse it -- even Norman Blake, which surprised the hell out of me (I didn't think he'd play any instrument that was younger than him). And I have a CD at home called "Uncommon Ritual" by Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and Edgar Meyer, on which Bela plays a tune on a Papoose. So these folks would seem to have some credibility.

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From:
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 04:36 PM

I went into a shop in Glasgow to buy a Trace amp for my Ovations. The salesperson asked me what I wanted to try it with, and on a whim I chose the Tacoma Chief with Fishman pick-up. I left the shop with both amp and guitar. I have been playing it now to the exclusion of my other guitars, Ovations, Yamaha, Epiphone, Framus etc, for both ceilidh and song work. Now the Missus wants ethier a Tachie or a Godin. She can sell all the rest or her body but not my Tacoma. Go out now and buy it before someone else does. You Know you'll regret it if you don't, Love John (See K. Olsen).

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Mudjack
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 12:45 AM

I have a Chief C1C mohogany sides and back with a solid cedar top. It is the model with the tear drop sound hole at the front top. Has a nice balanced sound. I used it at NW Folklife and it sounded terrible. I have a Fishman box and like a big dummy, trusted the sound man to direct box it. I have this gear and still put trust into a yougster who has no idea what passive and active sound systems are. The guitar does have a great sound acoustically. And will stand on it's own anywhere. I acquired this guitar recently as a used instrument(stamped on the peghead). I guess I can keep it for a few years.
Mudjack

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From:
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 01:51 PM

You might want to check out the Tacoma guitars website. It's at http://www.tacomaguitars.com

Cheers,

Lorna.

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 10:15 PM

I went looking for a humidifier and am seriously considering buying one of these!! I played one and it was like playing on air!! WOW WOW WOW!!! The only thing I didn't care for was the smallish neck - but Shaun has an RM20 coming in - he says it has a neck like my old Mose (Thank you for naming my old beater Spaw). So far I haven't seen any negatives on these guys - and I really liked the feel/sound/playability - any other folks since the last posting?

This is solid rosewood back and sides - Sitka Spruce top - The RM10 I played has me all jacked up about the 20.

Steve

Hope I got the model numbers correct

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: 53
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 10:46 PM

a papoose should be an interesting guitar since its set up in the key of a like you have a capo already built in, i haven't tried one yet or even seen one. BOB

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 04 Dec 01 - 10:56 PM

Bob

A lot of fairly hot shot players are using the Papoose - I haven't played one - don't really care for the tuning (although it would give me an edge with the fiddlers!!).

This guitar was literally like playing on air. I've gone back and read every thread I can find on woods and the discussions all confirm what I observed about the instrument. The last time I got this excited about an instrument was when Old Mose showed up.

Talk to me Spaw - you are the expert!

Steve

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 12:08 AM

I'm FAR from an expert and the guys around here who can play circles around me like Rick, JP, Mooh, Mark Clark....an endless kind of list.......but I do have a good ear for sound and I know construction and woods and all of those things and I love looking inside soundboxes and the like.

Tacoma has probably improved some since this thread started and they're making some good stuff. Again, guitars that you like are the guitars that will be with you. Sounds nuts, but when you find something you like, brand kinda' goes out the window.....if you let it. I have a "Lawsuit Takemine" that's the better of any D-18 and I still look at that "Takemine" on the peghead and kinda' wish it said Martin. Truth is though, I wouldn't part with her if it said Scnickelfritz.

That said, if you're really shopping a bit, probably the biggest thing outside of sound that you're looking for is that neck width and shape huh? How are you on Martin necks as a means of comparison? Just curious I guess. tell us what YOU think of the Tacoma when you play it...and Shaun plays it for you....and plays a couple of others for you....Do your own little blind test. Have a good look at the finish overall and then look at details, like the neck joint and take a mirror to the innards. Any glue you can see? Does it have a finished (not lacquered of course) look inside as though it's been sanded and planed smoothly? Look at the kerfing for instance and see if the glue is evident and is it straight..or just "almost" straight? Look at the top and bottom both........Play it and see if it feels right to you....Does it fit?

Now come back here and let us know!!! BTW, does Shaun carry Blue Ridge? They're made by the Kentucky Mandolin folks and are really boomers with beautiful craftsmanship and CHEAP!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 03:56 AM

I like the sound of the Scnickelfritz, 'Spaw, sounds like it might suit me, is that the papier mache or the concrete model with cardboard strings?
RtS (need some street cred for Stoney Stratford)

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 08:50 AM

I'll go over tonight after work and check out the inside - the outside was gorgeous. No binding on the backside edge and it was flawless - anyway near as I could tell. I'll pack a mirror along to see what the inside looks like.

The Martin necks are too skinny. I am play ing my friends 42 D-18. It is nice - but I wouldn't trade Old Mose for it. And this Tacoma played circles around it and every other Martin I've played.

I know what you mean about the Takamines - I had a cutaway model in 75 that I used with a little band - kinda wish I would have kept it - but money being tight - it was Mose or the T -

I'll let you know what tonight brings and I'll ask about the Blueridge. I kind of followed that thread for a while.

Thanks - Steve

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 09:13 AM

I wasn't suggesting you buy the Blue Ridge by the way....Just curious if your friend had any experience with them. I'm stopping by John's store today to see if he got any more of the 7's in.......I can't buy anything now but lookin' sure is fun!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: mousethief
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 10:41 AM

I am very happy with my Tacoma Chief. I've had it abuot 3 months now. Sounds good, plays verrrrry easily.

Alex

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 10:47 AM

Alex - That was my feeling - it nearly plays itself. Really surprised me.

I'll ask Shaun about the Blueridge's - he's mostly been carrying the Seagulls.

And looking is VERY fun!! Kind of nice to be excited about a new guitar and playing music again. Mudcat has had a profound impact on me and music - Glad I found the space. What a gift this place has been for me.

Thank you all -

Steve

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: GUEST,scabby doug at work
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 10:51 AM

Hey John McC...

I'm sure you value yer missis more than that Tacoma - nice as it is....

(giving John the chance to redeem himself in public)

Before I embarass him in public....

Cheers

Steven C

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Fortunato
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 11:18 AM

Matticus I just bought a Blueridge BR-7S. If what you want is a Dreadnaught with solid rosewood back and sides and a spruce top I would suggest that you look at the 7s before you buy anything else. It's a beautifully made guitar. The tone is equal to any new rosewood dreadnaught I've heard. The craftsman ship is better than or equal to high dollar, boutique guitars made here and in Canada. It has a loud, beautiful voice and you can buy it for under $600 American. If you want to buy it from HMT ask Skivee to order it. If you want more info PM me. There is a recent thread on the guitar with info as well. regards, fortunato

Subject: RE: Tacoma guitars
From: Raptor
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:04 PM

Has anyone heard of a guitar called Benatoe?
A friend has one and loves it.
Raptor