Tacoma C1C Chief

Pretty basic.....see other reviews for description. This one has a factory installed LR Baggs pickup system. Simple and excellent.

I bought this for my 18 year old daughter's graduation from high school.......she plays everything from folk & blues & fingerpicking to heavy strumming (bright eyes, cranberries, etc.) Very contemporary sound....not a heavy blues guitar like my Guild d-55. This guitar is VERY responsive to dynamic playing, so it basically gives back what you put into it. It can take a beating but also sounds beautiful fingerpicked.
Make no mistake though......this is NOT a good guitar for a campfire. The subtlety of the sound is not particularly LOUD...just very, very clean and responsive. Not a 'cannon' by any means, but certainly made to be played. Sounded fantastic unplugged, but amazing plugged in to a good amp. Will be great when she starts to record and play out.

As someone else stated in these reviews, it is made like a good piece of Shaker furniture.... basic joints, superbly matched cedar top, simple and artistic. Old-world craftsmanship. When I first got the guitar shipped, I played it to 'test it out' before giving it to my daughter. The action was a bit high for her style so i lowered it a bit. Tuners were tight and effective, possibly Grovers.

Seems pretty durable except the unlaquered cedertop.

n/a

I would reccomend this to anyone wanting a good entry-level pro guitar, for playing out or recording, or just fiddling in the living room. Not a 'beater' to take to a festival. The smaller body is great for girls or teens, but i would not reccomend it to any John-Wayne types out there... You won't see Johnny Cash playing this one in any old footage. Great American craftsmanship and a great buy for the money.

2000 model, USA made, cut-away, L.R. Baggs Pickup(rules!), cedar top, mahogany back and sides, bolt on AND glued neck which is unfinished which gives it a very natural feel. The top has a a satin finish, which makes it incredibly resonant, but incredibly easy to scracth. Oh well, looks don't affect the sound.

The biggest "little" guitar ever. Great tonal range plugged or unplugged. The L.R Baggs pickup and preamp is so much simpler and smoother sounding than the Fishman. Plus it only requires a small oval hole in the side of the guitar body, rather than the monster rectangle you have to lose when you get a Matrix. This guitar holds its own in an acoustic setting putting out great base tone. THe high range (above the 12th fret) has almost a mandolin quality to it and the natural reverb you hear when you put your ear next to the paisly shaped sound hole is nothing short of amazing. everything i was looking for-nothing i wasn't

I tried a bunch out to find one that had a natural ease. NOTE: most guitar stores (GUITAR CENTER) do not take care of their guitars. Make sure you play many of these guitars to compare and contrast. find one thats in good condition. you can't put a major scratch in this one with your fingernail.

Not a pretty site up close, but i've been giging with this guitar for almost 5 years. I've only done minor truss rod adjustments when the seasons change. i only use light gauge (12's) and never had a problem with any electronics. Light and comfortable body makes long gigs a breeze. Never bring a backup. I'd almost buy another just to look at. Watch that cedar top!

Only sent one e-mail and i got a response

Great guitar. I have a washburn D28S, and a old Ventura, and the Tacoma is a great, unique find that always gets attention when i play it out.

Standard, run of the mill Chief. Cedar top, mahogany sides, back and neck. Extremely light and, as a lot of others say, plays like a Les Paul if you are an electric player. It came with a Fishman Prefix Plus pickup and e.q. setup. Sounds great, a lot of variance can be atttained.

I've played for forty years and this is the best acoustic/ electric I have come across. It compliments my style(Combination of Clapton, SRV, Hendrix, Benson, Carlton, Duane and the old players) stays in tune (when played hard) and is so comfortable.

I bought this guitar at a pawn shop. It had been subjected to temperature extremes. The pickguard was bubbbled up, the neck had a severe warp and it generally looked like a POS. But, I saw Potential.

Don't know yet. It seems to be masterfully crafted.

40 years. List too long to name, main rig: Les Paul, Peavey Bandit ( which I've had for twenty years, sounds killer), Cry Baby, Zoom 707, Boss Flanger and an old Boss BE-5 multi-effects pedal.
This is a very good acoustic guitar for an electic player to use on stage, if you have never been comfortable (with an acoustic) before.

Another plain jane wonder! All solid woods. Mahogany body with a very mellow Western Red Cedar top. It has Tacoma's signature paisley soundhole on the upper left bout. This feature is both visually and acoustically unique. The finish is the usual thin satin and it has a clear pickguard. The neck is thin, fast and a little broad. Tuners are enclosed and hold tune very well.

This guitar really shines when it comes to sound. It is mellow with a very good range and a very mellow resonant base. The sound emanates from the soundhole very personally to the player. It is a different experience of sound, but it is great. It has to be played to experience this quality. I can play this guitar for hours on end.

Set-up was woderful. It felt like playing my old Gibson electric--no effort at all. I saw no flaws of any sort. Perhaps the soft cedar top is both the strength and weakness of the guitar. It is mellow beyond belief, but the soft cedar top is dented so easily that you have to be careful. It would not stand up to people who play hard. I suspect the top would would be splintered.

I wouldn't change the cedar top to spruce, but the lightly protected cedar is so soft that you must treat it carefully or get used to the dents and dings which are inevitable. I think of them as love bites!

This guitar is a beautiful sounding instrument with a very great weakness in the cedar top if you wanted to play it hard on stage. It requires a HSC if it is to go travelling! I think the sound is so great that I would play it to death and never look back if need be. Some instruments are beautiful,but less permanent, but still worth the price just for the experience.

My dealer takes great care of me and I have never needed warranty service.

I play an eclectic variety of gospel,country, folk and what have you. I have played for the better part of 40 years and love variety. I am a dedicated Martin player and have a stable of great guitars, but I like to experience the new, different, odd and unusual. Tacoma sometimes spooks people because it can look like a piece of furniture with the odd soundhole, sparse appointments and bolt on necks, but they have really done their research. What appears to be an ugly duckling turns out to be a real beauy.

I am in the process of buying a new Tacoma Roadking dreadnaught with the Spruce top just to see how the two compare. So, I am not sure if this will be a replacement or an enhancement, but I know that I will keep the Chief around for a good while---even if it is something of a hot house plant. Buy it, you'll like it.

The Chief has all the features that it needs: frets, sound box, neck ;) To be serious it's a simple guitar. The machines are precise and hold their positions. The transparent pickguard makes for a prettier guitar but I don't know yet how well it will protect the sound board.

I play R&R and some Jazz. This ain't no Jazz guitar, but it is first class for Rock and I would expect folk and country. The tone is bright but has an solid bass component. It's amazing the volume one gets out of such a small guitar.

The fit and finish are first class. I've looked carefully and haven't found a blemish. The action is a little higher than I'm used to (lazy electric guitar player am I). I'm not inclined to lower it, however, since it has such a smashing tone as it is very playable.

I haven't had it for that long but I think it will wear reasonable well with care. The Cedar top, which is responsible for part of it's lovely tone is very soft and I expect it to pick up dings in time. But that is just cosmetic. I'd trust this without hesitation for gigging.

I haven't had the opportunity to find out. However Tacoma is very helpful answering technical questions on-line.

I love this guitar. It has a unique and delightful tone, high playability, and is very pretty to boot. Highly recommended. I've been playing 25+ years.

im sure you know the features by now

Great sound plugged in.

action is pretty good

terrible, within two weeks of gigging not only were there lots of scratches but, wood was splintering off the top with every stroke. After about two months their was practiclly a hole right under the pick guard from playing. And I mostly play jazz.
After five months the whole top of the guitar was warped. The bridge was nearly lifted off the top. The guitar was unplayable. I had it refinished for about $300 but it's still too fragile to play on a regular basis.

not good. They blew me off

If it was made better it would be a great guitar

All solid wood, mahogany B/S and cedar top. Very nice top grade woods used throughout. Inside work appears to be meticulously crafted. Nice tuners..Gotoh? Non- glossy, rather lightly applied finish. Clear pickguard. Very sturdy 5 ply flatopped case, with not your run of the mill latches. Made in Indonesia, so it says?
All guitar parts are well finished and nicely crafted. Two strap buttons installed and looks as if the rear is drilled for a endjack like Taylors? Fingerboard and bridge are a very nice choice of rosewood, highly figured with orange and brown swirls. Looks to be highend graded.
All in all nothing much fancy here just good clean craftsmanship with very decent wood selections! I like the simple yet quality look it has. The body shape is original and quite thin with no tapering or arches. Sides are reinforced inside with strips tucked under what appears to be mahogany or cedar kerfing. Braces appear to be spruce. Bridge is plate maple. All cleanly glued.

This guitar has an infectous tone and draws your attention and holds it. It has a very midrangey tone with awesome note clarity and separation. Reminds me of a nice old f-hole jazz guitar. Low end is solid and highend sparkles. It is quite loud and projection is extremly good. I use Elixer Nano's and it has a very woody tone with these. It records enormously and has a diverse personality depending on attack. The response of this guitar is one of it's stronger points. It feels everything you give it and returns with a true clear acoustic tone. I enjoy using a swing style jazz chord bark as much as a fingerstyle scale. It is very versatile! By the way did I mention this guitar plays like a guitar strung with 09's...but without any buzzing. I have mediumss on it. Extremely nice action from the factory in ALL positions. Habit forming to play. I believe someone said above it was like a nylon guitar with steel strings and I have to agree. It has this strange persona about it. This guitar is like nothing I've played to date. Again vesatility is the bottom line with the Chief....the Chief, guess that's an Indian name..huh?

Could not find or see any area's of construction that could have been better. As I said before everything is very well built. Perfect contruction and great woods. I will mention the guitar is almost weightless, a pleasure to gig with!

Finish is light, no binding, finely well built. I have whacked the edges a couple times resulting in a dent or two. But it's to be expected as I play out with it often. And it is just a guitar of wood after all. No big deal for me, but I won't mark it perfect, cause no guitar is indestructable. No neck resets needed here! It looks allot like a Fender style neck. Easily replaced should the need ever arise. This guitar stays in tune better than some of my other higher end dovetailed guitars.

Haven't needed any support thus far.

I would replace it! I haven't found anything that plays and sounds like this guitar. I preferred the C1C's tone over the C3C's spruce and rosewood model. The Cedar & Mahogany seems to have better defined note separation and clarity, all with superior response.
I realize that everyone thinks people just say things at Harmony Central because they like to think they made the best choice. I try to play my other guitars but seem to gravitate toward this little wonder often. I have a Breedlove nylon, C Fox Sonoma, a D-28, 000-21, Washburn beater D-10, and a Guild D-40. But I have to truly say this is a great little ax and a joy to play. It's uniqueness is cool and it evokes comfort. All this and a fair price as well.

Mahogany and cedar, standard fair Chief. This onse is slightly used. With an I-beam pickup installed. It has been setup with what appears to be "old" bone nut and saddle, which is very nice! May even be fossilized bone, it is very brown looking. Anyway has the no pin style bridge. Which at first was a pain to deal with changing strings. The strings would pop up at the bridge as you wound the tuner. But then I learned to bend the ball end a bit, no problem now. Its very fast and doesn't require as much retuning on new strings. The rest is the standard all solid wood, satin finish which is almost non existent, but suffices just fine. I love the look of this guitar. It always gets a comment...it is very non conventional looking, but everyone who plays it won't give it back...I have to rip it from their hands!!!!Not much flash to comment on. I rate it a plain "9"

This guitar is addictive to play. It has a very defined string to string separation. You can coax all sorts of tone with different attack of the strings. It is bright, but has a very balance bottom. It fingerpicks nicely and is extremely loud with out being harsh. Solo work is a joy and projects well above my other guitars. It will cut through in a band setting so well. This has become one of my favorites. It has a unique tone and is not for everyone...but like I said before everyone who plays it is always impressed.

This American made guitar is pretty damn perfect. I can't find any defects of any slightness. Inside work is clean and sharp. The neck is very very playable and is in tune everywhere. I even too the neck off once just to see how it worked. tuned right back up! Kinda like my Fender electrics..very cool!The finish is lite and non glossy..no maintenance and doesn't need polish. I LIKE THAT. I think the guitars great tone, versatility and volume are endowed by its lack of binding,finish and bone setup in part. One thing I noticed as well is there are reinforcement strips on the sides tucked under the kerfing inside. I have a 000-18 Martin and I noticed it is so lightly built the sides flex if you push on them. On the Tacoma the side are stout and don't flex easily like the Martin.(interesting)
Ala in all Very very good quality throughout!

I play the crap out of it...I bang it up week after week. Holding up well. No problems just a few scars. The satin finish is getting shiny in some spots and the neck has taken on a nice gloss from sliding hands. It has lots of character! SThe guitar is very solid even though it's cedar topped and lightly finished. I bend the neck all the time. Tuners are good and solid. Stays tuned for a set mostly. I do have a backup most of the time, which I keep tuned to an open C mostly.

Has a transfered lifetime warranty. They are genuinely helpful and customer oriented! Nice company who seem to enjoy what they do!

I've been playing 20 years or so.
You bet I'd buy another, it's my signature by now.
I love it's unique sound, look and feel. Comfort plus!
Like it just the way it is...plays like a Victorias Secrets model!
Very lot of cool vibes for the dinero.

Straight forward, Mahogany and Cedar, no binding at all. Just a nice little LOUD guitar! Plugged in it is an animal, period.

Loud, complex, woody and articulate. Huge tone for a small box. Very very resposive. Intonation is dead on. Stay in tune forever. Great electric like action.

Perfect...no kidding

A bit more fragile than the average guitar ...but who needs a tank to play? It is solid, even has side strips under the kerfing.

Warranty is run of the mill lifetime for defects. And can be transfered..but I'm keepin this little wonder!

Does it all does it well...resonds to fingerstlye real good...flatpicks too. Love open tunings on the guitar, with a bit of reverb.

Built on October 5th 2001 in the USA! I traded a Martin 000-15 even for this guitar. (Could never get enough tone out of this somewhat subdued and dull sounding all mahogany Martin) All mahogany is best suited for slack tuned open slide work IMO. Back to the Chief...It's
ALL solid wood, African or Honduran Mahogany back and sides, Western Red Cedar top. Has a very reddish rosewood fretboard, possibly Brazilian? Bridge is pinless style(which I really like) nicely swirled and finished colorful grain. Came with a really really nice Tacoma stamped hardshell case!
Headstock logo appears to be hot stamped or lazered? Kinda like wood burnt rather than white plastic as on newer models. Back of headstock has the same burnt "Made In USA" No rossetes on the puppy.
Nice selection of fine woods used throughout!! I only give it a "9" because it is built very plain Jane. No frills or artsy bunk. Just a working tool to create. I like that simple elegance! I don't think I have ever owned a more comfortable guitar to play. It is light and has a good fit while sitting or standing. And will fit in the overhead if you use a gig bag. Neck is bolted and intonation is perfect from top note to the bottom. Plays in tune everywhere. Also not a dead spot within ears distance. This guitar has a 1 3/4' wide, somewhat thin Les Paul feeling neck. With seems a tad more radius than most? It is extremely fast and comfortable, especially using fingerstylish slamming, pulling,dunking and multi string popping. Very sweet action indeed with no buzz even under pretty severe hard attacks. Cutaway allows for high bars and high fret riffs to be comfortably accessed in a hurry if need be. As you can tell I'm overall amazed by this guitar...

Ok hard to describe....Cool and very modern tone is emmitted from this guitar. *Very unusual* Not your run of the mill tone in anyway. It is a bit smaller in booming volume,due of course to cavity size. But projection is unreal better than any guitar I've owned. It cuts, slices and dices most other acoustics in any areana. Especially in a band setting! Fits lots of styles...I play everything from Celtic, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Rock, Bluegrass, Percussive World. Allot of Acoustic Alchemy covers and full band instrumental type stuff. It shines on percussive muted top banging funk. This guitar has a very well rounded, thick, full, rich tone with ear popping hamonics. Again I repeat it has an unusual tone that is bright, midrangy, and woody with a surprisingly large tight bass response. It works well for swing and with open tuned slide as well. The entire package is very well balanced tone wise. Plays a full tonal pallet and is very easy to coax muted overtones from any of its strings. Amplify the baby and watch out...it simply kills big guitars! It will compress a bit if flatpicked really hard on light gauge strings. But I've learned it doesn't need to be played really hard to be loud. I use allot of the same techniques I use on my Strat from time to time. Beaware this guitar projects acoustically for great distances! It mikes, well unbelievably good! The guitar has bit less sustain than say a rosewood & spruce auditorium/grand concert bodied guitar...but in my ears this is good. This may be part of the reason I have so much praise for this wooden parcel. The cedar plays a large part in this area I'm sure. It doesn't color notes with overly extended resonating sustain. I understand after owning this guitar why allot of nylon stringed musicians prefer cedar tops. Always had a *soft* spot in my heart for cedar topped guitars.(pun intended)It is truly an all around tone mini cannon!

Factory setup is superb. No handmade flaws anywhere. This guitar has been sitting since 2001. A local dealer purchased several Tacoma's from a bankrupt music store. So this guitar spent most of it's life till I got it in a case unplayed in backup stock for a couple years. It was never displayed. When we opened the case, still plastic wrapped from factory the strings were perfectly in tune about a half step down. WOW! No scrutiny available in this Tacoma.

This guitar does stand lave playing. Has a few scar but remains as solid as any lightly built acoustic. I do use it without a backup most of the time. Well built in all manners of construction. Very nice craftsmanship! I rate it a "9" due to the lighter finish. Both strap buttons in place!

N/A

Been playing pro for years..had many many guitars 75% of which were mid to highend acoustics. Strats and Marshalls are my electric gear of choice... of course...(no tele's here dude) This guitar is an all around gem. Find one, play it and see if you agree. I have been doing mostly electric these days but my first love will always be the passionate acoustic guitar. Ever since I saw and heard Jethro Tull and other groups playing these smaller style acoustics. I knew I had to have one. And the Chief is the acoustic guitar worlds best kept secret. And it is design coolness with pure functionality! I see more and more musicians gravitating to smaller and smaller guitars. Hey why not...they amplify so much nicer, are way more comfortable and respond to the slightest touch. The upper bout soundhole makes complete sense. No brainer....So pick up a finer balanced small body and play it instead of it playing you.