Tacoma Chief

This review is of the Tacoma CF26C Chief Acoustic (an upgraded version of the Chief C1C), made in the USA in 2003. As the Elderly Instruments' online catalog (from which I purchased the guitar) puts it, "the Chief is a full size, 'E' standard tuned, copy of the Papoose." It has a "solid sitka spruce top with offset ["paisley"] soundhole, solid quilted maple back & sides, slim mahogany neck, 22 fret rosewood fretboard, 25 1/2" scale, 1 3/4" nut width, Graphtech nut & saddle, black [locking Gotoh] tuners, [and] gloss finish." What the catalog copy does not say is that the guitar is gorgeous, its solid quilted maple back and sides gleaming through the flawless gloss finish. The slim mahagony neck is VERY slim, feeling much more like an electric, and the overall instrument, with its slightly narrower lower bout (about 15") and slimmer depth, is very comfortable to hold and play. The guitar is also astonishingly light in weight, but not at all flimsy (see below), due to the offset soundhole and Tacoma's innovative bracing system that really does (as claimed by the manufacturer), maximize sound while minimizing weight. It also has a nice faux-tortoise body binding (I wouldn't want real tortoise), a rosewood capped headstock, and the bridge is rosewood (with pins), in the distinctive, and soundboard-conserving, Tacoma style. I bought my CF26C on a clearance sale (for about the price of a normally discounted C1C), and so did not have the choice of an internal transducer, but while a pickup would enhance the instrument, it performs just fine without one. The guitar came with a solid and attractive custom-fitted hardshell case.

The CF26C suits my music style to a "T." If I played in a band, I might worry about being able to cut through the mix, but I don't, and it is just right for my mixture of flat picking-finger picking folk and folk-rock repertoire. Its bright sound is partly due to the maple tonewoods (the C1C in mahagony and spruce isn't as bright), and its surprisingly loud sound (for its size) derives from the Tacoma bracing system and offset paisley soundhole. I would say that the variety of the guitar is limited: it doesn't have the "smoke" for blues playing, nor the crunch for powerful rhythm, but it does have extraordinary balance at the bass, middle, and treble ranges. I have seen the sound described as "tinny," which is a bit unfair, but I understand what the reviewer means: the brightness of the sound does seem to limit its range. But I love a bright sound, and I imagine that the guitar would stand up very well to a Taylor, especially in this price range.

I ordered the guitar from Elderly Instruments and it arrived ready to go, with a comfortably low action and no buzzing strings. It held its tuning after the first tuneup, and now, after several months, continues to hold its tuning and intonation superbly (a real must for me). The top was nicely bookmatched, and I eye-scoured the guitar at every light angle to search for the slightest flaw (I'm obsessive about this) and didn't find a thing: only gleaming gloss quilted maple and gloss spruce. The frets are all well polished and placed (no sharp edges--which is something I've seen on other not-inexpensive guitars), and the tuners are tight and responsive. If I had spent, say, $5000 on the guitar I might remark about a very slight bubble-like mark in the tortoise body binding, but I didn't, and it's just fine.

One of the really stunning things about this guitar is its light weight: it hefts like the proverbial feather. The slimness of the neck enhances its extraordinary lightness of being. But I'm not afraid that this means flimsiness. I happen to be very careful in my treatment of an instrument, so I haven't had a chance to see what a bang to it might do, but I've read other reviewers who have also noted the light weight of the guitar and have seen that it is quite solid in spite of that, and I have every reason to agree. I'm sure it would withstand live playing (now, will someone extend me an invitation?!). The finish looks to last the duration: it is quite thick without being gloppy (the quilted maple gleams through wonderfully and evenly) and the hardware is tough and well installed. A clear pickguard protects the soundboard, and the strap buttons are nice and tight. I'd use it without a backup.

I've only dealt with Elderly Instruments (a Tacoma authorized dealer), and they were great, starting with the extraordinary clearance price that prompted me to overcome my suspicions of online purchasing of guitars. The guitar arrived promptly and I was even given the UPS shipping information so I could follow it along the way. The guitar comes with a standard warranty, but while I have had no need to contact Tacoma, I am confident that I would be treaed well if I had a problem. I liked the guitar-care instructions I received with the warranty card: they were quite complete.

I've been playing for about 35 years, but unlike most old codgers, I can't brag about all of the great guitars I've owned. I've tried to stay modest in my consumption, but I do have a Godin Acousticaster 12 string, an Epiphone Limited Edition John Lennon EJ-160E, and a Fender Acoustisonic Junior amp. I'm glad to say that there wasn't anything I wish that I had asked before purchasing, but it's hard to say whether I would buy this guitar again if lost or stolen because of the really good price I paid for this one. I do like the sound, the comfort of playability (neck, action, and body feel), and its beautiful quilted maple looks (probably my favorite feature: second best, the neat paisley offset soundhole). Don't hate anything about it, though I sure wouldn't mind if I woke up to find that an Baggs transducer had been installed by elves in the night. I played a lot of acoustics before finally buying this one, including Rainsongs, Martins, Ovations, Guilds, Washburns, Gibsons, and various others, but I chose this one because there just isn't anything out there in made-in-the-USA-solid quilted maple to compete with the CF26C Chief at anywhere near the price I paid. Even my wife is crazy about it.

My Chief has been on the shelf for a while but I have no idea what year it was made. Otherwise, it's your minimilist C1C Chief, no electrics. I ordered it with a gig bag from Main Street Music in Mays Landing NJ. I bought it for the body shape and sound, I love the fret board (size, frets, finish) but the neck could fit my hands better (big hands). The Bridge is unique and can be a pain in the ass when changing strings, I use a pointed chopstick to keep the strings in place until they are tightened.

The elixor strings on mine were trashed from lots of shelf-time and handling. Main Street shipped some Adamas strings with the guitar, but I used Martin SP Phos/Bronze 12's and sent the Adamas down the road on my old guitar. I play blues and a little of everything else and love the sound, full and slightly darker than my spruce-top guitar.

The set-up was okay, the neck needs some tension and the action could be lower (1/16"-3/32 lower than it is now) and the finish has some thin spots. Nothing that affects playability. Also there appears to be a glue stain on the front (a lighter area under the finish). But I didn't buy it to win beauty contests with.

This guitar has an amazingly light body, I won't smack it around so who knows how durable it is. The hardware and neck seem pretty bomb-proof.

Good Warranty, haven't dealt with Tacoma CS yet.

I had originally planned to buy a RoadKing but found this and I'm very happy with it. I'd like a thicker neck (C-shaped) and better access to the innards (I plan to install a Baggs Double Barrel). The neck feels more like my strat than my blueshawk and that's my only gripe. I would buy another Tacoma, Chief or other. I'll probably buy my son a Papoose. I looked at low end martins, seagulls, high end epiphones and alot of other Korean made stuff.

Mine is the accoustic only version. Made in USA. It's made out of wood. Who cares what kind. I'm sure it's what ever the manufacturer syays it is. The guitar is great with a powerful sound. Previously, I owned a 1977 Guild F-50; a big beautiful guitar. This Chief is about half the size and just as loud; flat or finger picking. I've been playing for 20 years and this fits the bill for me. The bridge has holes for the string ends. No more of those pegs. It is great around kids, they play it too. You can't kill this thing. At my age all you can strive for is cool. This paisly hole flat top is cool. I ordered the OEM Tacoma hard case. It is a perfect fit as well. worth the investmetn. After market hard shell cases don't fit well.

Sound is awesome, original with great sustain. Can the OEM strings. I put on Martin lights and the sound improved 50%. Check the set up. The neck can get out of wack. Once the dealer adjusted it, it was fine (no fret buzzing). Best of both world great cross between round hole and f-hole accoustic.

Keep an eye on the neck and action. Can the factory strings. Polish every so often. A-1 fit and finsih. A class act.

The guitar is great, comfortable. Small but powerful. Play, take it anywhere. I love to play it sitting up or laying in bed. Good guitar to share teach the kids. Durable but not delicate finish. An iron horse. A little awkward (for me anyway) to play standing up. Probably my belly.

Called a couple of times to help the dealer order the HS case. Very helpful. These folks love what they do, make.

Much better than a sharp stick in the eye. Way cool guitar. Made in USA. Takes a licking and keeps on plucking. I'd buy as many as could afford.