Tacoma BM6C

Standard stuff w/Fishman pickup. I'm impressed with the sound of this pickup system for a piezo - nice mix up warmth and clarity if EQ'd right.

Let me start by saying I'm not using this like most would. If fact, most would probably find my usage a crime. I have D'Addario resophonic strings on it (.016 - .056) and it's tuned down to an A. It came with .016-.080s on it and the sound was dark and rich, but not what I was looking for. The thinner strings seem bring out a little more delicate sound (and you have to play delicately to keep it from sounding floppy) that I really like. I wanted this as sort of a psuedo-bass guitar, and it's working for me in that role, even with the .056 tuned down to A. The Fishman pickup does a nice job of picking up the low end and, if EQ'd right, can offer some pretty clear, bright tones as well playing up the neck on the high end.

Using a capo doesn't offer a very good standard-tuned guitar sound (seventh fret for me), as one might imagine with these strings and this low A tuning, but the ease of playing and tonal flexibility I can get with this is inspiring. I can do full-step bends and killer vibratos, and it sounds really cool on this monster!

Just thought I'd over this review as an example of an experimental use that was a success.

I bought this one on ebay from a less than noble seller, so it came to me in sort of a mess. I had to build another bridge, and it needed some pretty extreme compensation for intonation correction. In fact, the 2nd string (the B string on a standard guitar), needed so much compensation I had to super-glue a piece of bone onto the blank I used to extend the length a full eighth of an inch, and it just barely does the trick. Afterward, I ended up with near perfect intonation and it stays pretty true all the way up the neck. I'll note that I did some experimentation with the thick baritone strings that were on it, then the thinner resophonic guitar strings, and the thinner strings keep much truer intonation, at least at the low-A tuning I'm using.

The neck is very nice! It's larger in every way, and that takes a bit of getting used to, but the contour was very well chosen, in my opinion.

This is where my issue with the less-than-noble seller really counted. This guitar came to me "without issues" but apparently has had a split down the faceboard below the bridge that was filled/bonded, and the back was coming loose at the tail when I received it. I glued the tailpiece and it looks like it'll hold, and I'm hopeful the faceboard will do the same, but I'm left with the impression that this thing is falling apart. I'm comforted with my choice in a much lighter string tension than this instrument was designed to handle.

I'll have to say, the neck seems really solid. Just about anything else can be fixed, I figure, so even though I am really afraid this thing is going to fall apart, I'm giving it a 5 for the solid bolt-on neck.

??

Really cool instrument design, nice pickup, nice, solid neck. I would encourage anyone owning one to come off your purist stance (assuming you have one) and try some different stings/tunings on one of these. I was so pleased with the possibilities, I'm looking into another baritone to set up with standard guitar stings and a slightly lower tuning. The structural problems in the body concern me, but I'm still crazy about this big ol' thing.

It's a HUGE sized guitar with Tacoma's characteristic offset paisley soundhole and their built-in mic'ing system. The neck is slim at the back, which makes the extra-long scale (28"?) playable, even for someone like me who doesn't have Plastic-man fingers. The single cut-away is appreciated and you can get anywhere on the neck.

Like other Tacoma's it doesn't have a ton of features but the ones it has are perfect for a more advanced player.

I agree about the Windham Hill "shimmer." This guitar just bowls you over with the dark, rich complexity of the sound. If a regular guitar is a Dunkin' Donuts lite coffee, this guitar is a ristretto espresso - dark, complex, monster tone that knocks you over. If the Vampire Lestat played an acoustic guitar, this would be it. :)

The best strings I've found for the Tacoma BM6C are the Baritone bronze EXP's. They last forever and just fill the air with dark overtones.

Got this one used on eBay. No flaws.

It's very light, but strong as a battleship. Totally dependable and not fussy.

Tacoma got folded into another company, Fender, I think, and is now making Guilds. Too bad. When they were under their own name, they talked to you personally and gave great support. I don't know if there is anyone out there who still represents the company's guitars, but if there are and they are the same people, expect terrific human beings on the other end of the phone.

I love this baritone. There are songs I can't do without it. 'nuff said.

What I wish I could get for it are partial capos that are strong enough to deal with the .16 gauge and up Baritone strings.

I'm at work. Goofing off, so I don't have the specs to refer to. From what I gather from the serial number, my Thunderhawk was made in August of 2005. So that means it's kind of it's birthday this month! Happy Birthday, Big'Un!

Oh, BTW, I went back to Boulevard recently and noticed the price on all the Tacoma guitars had gone up a couple of hundred dollars. I really got a good deal, it seems.

This big ol' guitar has opened up a whole new perspective for me on how I approach my music. It is nicely suited to the southern blues, folksy jangling, power chordy stuff I enjoy. I use it with an SWR California Blond and some effects box whose name escapes me at present, DigiTech, I think.

There is pronounced finger noise when you do the 2 finger style of picking that I d. This bothered me a somewhat at first. I have gottern use to it and actually like it as a kind percussive accompaniment.

Sound is very full through all ranges. Very partial to the dark basses and twinkling highs. This has a long neck, so you can really climb up on it.

I think unamplified, the guitary has a lovely chiming quality. It's even better amped. However, I don't consider it especially versitile the way my old HD28 is.

I like the quality of the make. The sound and ease of fingering. Although...Beware...unless you have the stamina, you won't be able to play for more than half an hour at a time. The big strings really take their toll. Play the Thunderhawk for a while, then pickup your regular guitar and you feel like the strongest guitar player on earth and your're playing on a little toy.

I don't have a problem with the tuners. The case leaves something to be desired and I think that's kind of chincy for a rather expensive item.

Very smooth. Fit and finish are loveley. Like I said above, until you get used to the neck length and string size, you won't be able to play for long periods of time before fatique sets in.

Seems to be very dependable. Quite a solidly built instrument. I really don't mind the tuners. However, like the other comments made I wish they were Grovers.

I am a little disappointed in the lack of information Tacoma provides regarding contact information. I bought this guitar back in January 2006. The guitar was a "floor model" and I was hoping for a brochure or warranty information. Unsuccessful at getting either one.

Been playing for 40 years. I have an old Martin HD28, old Epiphone 12-string (retired), old Gibson EB-3, Kurzwiel PC2, lovely cello and bow, SWR California Blond, Tascam 2488, and other stuff.

I was browsing around Boulevard Music in Culver City, Ca when the Thunderhawk caught my eye. I picked it up, strummed a chord and was instantly smitten. It was a sound I realized I'd been looking for for long time. There was really nothing else to compare it to.

Love the Baggs Miratone pickup.

If this thing were stolen or lost, I would seriously consider getting another. I am very taken with the sound, the construction and how this big boy has opened up new and creative sonic horizons.

Features: Tacoma BM6C Baritone guitar Body maple, Paisley soundhole Honduran mahogany for the neck (apparently) On board electronics with an equalizer (of sorts), Freekin' BIG guitar, large scale. You need meaty mitts to play this guitar,

Sound: I was at first unimpressed with the sound out of the box in the music store, and immediately thought of changing *something* on it. What I did was order some tennis racquet gut on Ebay (it's there). Yeah, real gut and strung the top three treble with the same gauge gut (its about 1.20mm) Being that the guitar is tuned B to B this seemed to work just fine. This also alleviated the harsh treble twang to the guitar that I though did disservice to the baritone range.

Later on I bought a set of D'Adderio strings for the Baritone and put these on and the new set of strings seemed to help the instrument, as the gut (while providing no finger noise) was a bit too subdued.
But by all means play around with the gut option. Additonal gauges of gut can be obtained from catlines@aol.com Olaf Hendrickson in Boston.

Solid, this guitar could withstand a thermonuclear blast at ground zeor. Cockroaches, Cher, and my Tacoma thunderChief.

I 've looked a bit doubtful at the plastic tuners...plastic or cheap pot metal apparently, no trouble yet, but I expect it...it seems they could have spent a bit more on a set of grovers.

Been playing 40 years. Semi professional lutenist. www.savannahlute.com (shameless plug)

What I love about the instrument is its voice, its deep down pitch, the way it vibrates against your sternum and breaks up any congestion in your lungs.

I understand that they're a bit hard to come by. Now that Tacoma is owned by Fender (ugh!) who knows if they'll still produce any instruments of marginal popularity anymore. If you find one....GRAB IT.

The oversize baritone guitar was made in 2004 in the USA. Long scale lentgh.

Now I know where Windham Hill got their sound! Beautiful sounding. Think of chimes in the mid and upper registers and DEEP bass that compliments the mid and high ranges.

Seems to have been put together well. The case that came with it is cheap and doesn't fit the guitar very well. I probably would have been happier with a gig bag. I had to have the action adjusted because the B string was a bit unresponsive and the C on the first fret was almost dead. The problem has been fixed but should have come from the factory without the problem.

For its size, this is a very large guitar but quite light. It's a front porch and recording guitar for my use.

No idea.

This is a fun guitar that catches the attention of listeners because the range is different. As said earlier, there is a "chime" sound to the mid and upper register and the bass response is great. Fingerpicking is easy and covers the sonic ranges well.