Tacoma DM9

Finish: Satin. Love it. First Tacoma I ever saw was satin finish and I just really liked the understated simplicity of it. I prefer a guitar with a simple appearance over a flashy one, so the satin finish suits me well.

Made in U.S.A., all solid wood, dreadnought.

Neck: Wider than the necks on my other steel strings. Not as wide as my classicals, but a happy medium. I like a little wider neck, sot this has been a pleasant change. My fingers don't get in the way of each other. Equally comfortable fingerpicking or flatpicking.

Case: Tacoma's strengths are NOT in their cases. The handle was coming off the case on mine (I bought it used) but it was not that difficult to fix. Don't know how long the fix will last, but I'm definitely going to replace the case.

From the serial number it appears that my guitar was the twelfth one finished on June 19, 2001.

I was surprised by the sound of this guitar. LOUD, but rich and warm. A little heavy on the lower E string, but I've been playing for a while, so it's not anything I can't compensate for and live with. When I bought the guitar it had been sitting in its case unplayed for four years and the strings were DEAD. Even so, the sound was impressive and I knew when I put new strings on I wouldn't regret the purchase. I was right.

Setup was good. Interestingly, the original owner (not a player and why he put the guitar away for so long) had sanded the saddle down. When he told me this, I checked the intonation and (thankfully) it was perfect. Action is a little lower than I'd like and I get a little buzz, but that's not Tacoma's fault. I'll get around to replacing the saddle, but there's no rush.

With the exception of some pick dulling on the clear pickguard, it's hard to believe that this guitar is just over seven years old. The guy I bought it from was really careful with it or just never played it. No scratches or dings other that the aforementioned pick dulling. Tacoma's factory work appears to be flawless.

My only beef is the same that I have with just about every acoustic guitar manufacturer: What's up with the cheap, skanky plastic bridge pins and plastic end pins? I haven't bought a guitar in the last 36 years that I didn't replace the plastic bridge pins and end pins (when the guitar came with a plastic end pin) with ebony. That's the only reason I gave a 9 in this category. Definitely not a deal breaker, but they could do better.

UPDATE 9/9/2008:
This is just a follow-up clarification to my previous review in which I was voicing my distaste for plastic bridge pins and end pins. The DM9 does NOT have a plastic end pin, although I think my review made it sound that way. It has a big, honkin' metal (appears to be aluminum) end pin which is finished in gloss black and which installs and removes with an allen wrench. Tacoma's stated reason for that is so the instrument can be easily retro-fitted with a pickup jack if a pickup is installed later. Not how I'd finish out a handmade instrument, but that's just me.

Still, and this is for all the big name manufacturers (I won't mention names, but most people reading this will know the ones I'm talking about) who offer top-shelf, handmade guitars with cheap, acoustically dead, plastic bridge pins: Get a clue, y'all. Aesthetically and acoustically, plastic bridge pins don't cut it, and don't put a plastic, catalog-guitar end pin on a handmade guitar.

End of rant. Thanks for giving me the floor again.

It's light, but just because a guitar is light doesn't mean it won't last. I have a 32-year-old high end Yairi classical that's light as a feather. I forgot to latch the top on the case one time, was late for a gig and in my haste to get out of the house grabbed the handle and took off. My guitar took off, too. Out of the case, hit the hardwood floor, first on the binding of one of the front lower bouts, then bounced in the air and landed face down. I didn't want to look. Put a ding in the binding (binding is rosewood and obviously pretty forgiving) and cracked the finish in a thimble-sized area, but I played the guitar that night. The sound was never affected and it still sounds great. That said, even though it's a very light guitar, I'm pretty sure the Tacoma can withstand whatever I dish out.

Hardware is good, stays in tune, finish appears to be a good finish and should hold up. Except for when I'm flinging my guitars out of their cases, I take pretty good care of them :-), so I don't worry too much about finish durability.

I would and will definitely be gigging with it without a backup.

Since the guitar was never registered by the original owner and Tacoma is now in another state, I'm pretty sure the warranty is a moot point. There's a very good luthier I've used for the last twenty years, so he's always going to be my first choice for repairs.

I've been playing since I got my first Sears Silvertone in 1960. I own or have owned Gibson, Fender, Martin, Alvarez, Yairi, Ovation and a boat load of off brands. This is my first Tacoma.

I did my homework ahead of time. Spent a lot of time at the Tacoma website, read a lot of reviews, and sorted what I thought were the subjective opinions from the objective ones. All the questions I had were pretty well answered.

If this guitar were stolen or lost I'd definitely try to replace it with another one.

I haven't found anything to fault with the guitar itself. My favorite feature(s) of the guitar, besides its sound is the satin finish and simple, but tasteful design. Understated elegance.

I tend not to compare guitars, especially acoustics. Too many variables and it would end up being like comparing apples and oranges. I bought this one because I was looking for a dreadnought and a great deal came up. I was considering Taylor, Martin, and Tacoma. Never expected to find anything this impressive, near mint, for $250. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

As noted above, the only thing I wish it had was wooden bridge pins and a better end pin. Still gets a ten for value, though.

I'd pay full retail for this guitar and never bat an eye, but. . . yeah here's the caveat: When looking for an acoustic guitar always, always play the one you're considering buying and sample several of the same model if you can. You might be surprised how much variation there can be even within the same model from the same maker. I've found this to be true whether the guitar is a Gibson, Martin, Collings, Taylor, whatever. In this case I didn't really have that chance, but for the price it was a matter of whether or not I liked the sound. I liked the sound. At the end of the day, that's what it's all about.

Dreadnought, all solid construction (spruche top, mahogany back, sides & neck). No preamp, no cutaway, a simple, but very accurate wooden rosette, no fancy MOP-inlays, satin finish, a hard-to-see clear pickguard. Rosewood fretboard and bridge (asymmetric Tacoma-bridge). Usual cheap cream-colored bridgepins with abalone dots, don??t look very nice but do their job. Tortoise body- and neckbinding. Tacoma-branded tuners; Tacoma case included. Handmade in USA.

A perfect ten! This guitar - as said by the other reviewers - simply knocks out everything up to 1500, maybe 2000$. It can easily compete with mid-priced Martins and Taylors (D18, Taylor 300-Series etc). Very resonant, open sound, perfect dynamics, fat but tight low end, beautiful, crisp high end, very even overall sound (luthier??s quote: "Wow, sounds like a Martin! How much did you pay???"). Great for strumming and fingerpicking.

Prfect set-up. Very low action, yet almost no buzz even if you REALLY dig in hard with the plek. Strung with D??Addario EXP .012-.053, easy playability, very comfortable neck (either a very thin satin finish or even no finish at all, great feel). As said before, no fancy highgloss lacquer, but a very thin satin finish which allows perfect vibration of the top. Tuners are great. Perfect fretwork, can??t be done better, very good and solid looking fret wire. Absolutely flawless, there is NOTHING to complain about.

Can??t say much about that. It is an all-solid wood guitar, so it needs to be treated more carefullyz than an instrument made from laminated "wood". Pretty sure that the top will withstand the string tension over the years. Plastic strap button looks ok, but I can??t say if it will survive when heavily used. Overall construction seems very solid though

Nover have dealt with them, hopefully never will have to :-)

I am mainly a bass player, play both electric bass and double bass. Additionally, I am a producer and I think I know how to distinguish good instruments from bad instruments, since I have very much experience especially with recording acoustic guitars (and know the sound fo high-end guitars).

The Tacoma DM9 was a real surprise to me. I definitely competes with most guitars I ever recorded, heard or played before. I could compare it to mid-range Martins and Taylors (prized 1500-200$), and also to instruments like all-solid Blueridges, Guilds etc of the same prize range like the DM9. I safely can say, that the Tacoma is definitely underprized. I payed 550??? for an instrument which beats out everything in its prize range by far. It definitely knocks out every guitar under 1000??? (approx. 1500$, but remember that guitars in the US generally cost the same in $ as in Europe in ???, since they are much more expensive here in Europe), and as I said sounds as good as 1500$/???-Martins and Taylors, as other reviewers said.

The only minor part is the case: it was made in Indonesia, and does not look very nice. But it is quite solid and does it??s job (protecting the guitar) very well. I think that this is a good thing: better spend the money on the guitar than on the case.
The clear pickguard does look a bit strange, I think that a tortoise pickguard would look much better on this guitar. but on the other hand it is VERY thin and allows the top to vibrate more freely than the thick usual pg??s.

Finally, I am still overwhelmed by this guitar??s sound and construction quality, which both are unique in its prize range.

DM 9 described well elsewhere, very simple to the point of being a little offputting, esp the lack of binding on the back. However, the satin finish gives it a nice aged look and the feel of an older instrument, like an old Gibson with a lot of finish worn off. Mine is from 2001, very little fret wear, minor face scratches, good Tacoma case. Very lightweight. Does have fairly fat 1 3/4 in. neck at nut, not my personal favorite. Standard long scale, also not my favorite, I like the shorter scale used on '60s Gibsons. The patented Tacoma bracing is certainly working great on this one. The clear pickguard is a nice touch, wish more companies would go this way. The price on the tag was $675 which was hard to deal with considering it could be had new for about that. I walked out, came back, got them down to $499 and that was all it took.

BIG, BIG, EXPANSIVE sound, LOUD and very well balanced with strong bass, a true marvel. I would use the word "woody" to describe the sound. Having played maybe 20 various Tacomas, I was expecting this to be good at least but not this good. Fortunately it had just been strung with Elixer reg light so it was up to full potential when I first played it. I expected to switch later to medium strings for more punch, but that's just not necessary, a nice break for the fingertips.

Bought used so someone else did the work to set up very nicely, low action. The spruce on the face is very grainy, dark lines a lot like my '68 Martin D 18, very nice. Inside the guitar looks well made, no excess glue, braces hand sanded.

With a 5 yr old instrument, no issues so far, don't expect any really.

No experience

This guitar sounds better than any Tacoma I've played other than a JK55. I have not played a JR55 which I'd expect to be better. The other DM9s have been ok to good as well as the rosewood Ds. The price here ($499) is more than it can be gotten on e bay, but then you either have to take what you get or pay a bunch for return shipping. I've owned about 40 guitars and currently have the following strung up with Elixers: '68 Martin D18, '71 Guild D50, '85 Guild D 50, 2001 Larivee J 10, Blueridge BG 160, 70s Yamaha FG 160. This Tacoma holds up very well in this company, even with the $1400 J10, (which is better), and the D 18, which is not as responsive as the Tacoma and it's got medium strings. You might want to check my writeup of the Blueridge BG 160 which is another great guitar in this price range. I do want to say that the Tacomas vary greatly in my experience, but it will be worth your trouble to search one out, just make sure you can play it before buying (or have an easy return policy). Comming on guitars like this Tacoma (and the Blueridge) is what keeps me charged and loving the instruments. Great guitars can be had for under $500 (IMHO).

ABSOLUTELY THE WORST.....I finally got my guitar back from the 3rd place I had to bring it to. It was a "Fender Authorized Repair Center". They stripped the guitar of all its parts in order to "ship it out". Week after week it was "coming back coming back coming back". It never stopped. Finally I got a call from some kid saying, "hey, I found a guitar that has your name and number stuck to it. Do you want it or can I just toss it out?" Yes folks, my guitar was stripped clean of all hardware and left on a shelf in a warehouse. After getting it back and giving up ever making it playable for anything beyond slide, an amazing person fixed it as best as possible. He shaved the saddle down so it's little more than a sliver...and made it playable. I have it back and am so happy. If you're in the boston area, check out http://www.sweetandsound.com/. Chris did right by me. I've never been happier. That guy can fix anything! Thanks Chris!

New 2004 (When I bought it)
American made.
All solid woods.
Fishman matrix preamp / pickup system
(I ordered the guitar with the pickup from Tacoma as an upgrade)
Back and Sides are Mahogany
Top wood is Sitka Spruce
Neck is mahogany
Dreadnaught body no cutaway

I don't want the 6 to seem as though I am ripping the guitar for having poor features, but this is a very "Plane Jane" guitar as far as looks are concerned.

For the price there is no better sounding guitar. Very powerful bass responce and acurate clear trebles.

Extremely punchy (as I would expect from a dreadnaught) but sings out chords and single note runs.

I can't overstate that for this price range the sound of this guitar is amazing.

Guitar came set up nicely. I play a fair amount with drop tunings and so some slight adjustments needed to be made to avoid buzzing in low tunings.

Very nice Spruce top with medulary silking which adds a nice touch.

Again "Plane Jane" satin finish. The guitar is for playing not looking at.

Built very well. I have been playing with it on stage since I bought it, and it is very reliable. Always in tune and ready to use.

I had one of the side strap pieces of wood on the inside of the guitar come loose about a month ago. I took it to a shop and they fixed it up no questions asked.

Take good care of the guitar and the warranty will take good care of you.

I have been playing live regularly for the past 2+ years and this guitar is always with me. Very reliable, solid, great sounding, take it anywhere guitar.

I just got my McPherson acoustic this week!!!!! So I will be submitting my review on that later this year. I have a couple other acoustics and a vintage Fender Strat. Even though the McPherson is clearly going to be my recording guitar, I will still bring the Tacoma to the studio.

If the guitar was stolen I would certainly get another Tacoma, and quite possibly this same model. Would depend on how much "extra" cash I had lying around at the time... :-)

Mine is 2000 model, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, dreadnaught, US made, satin finish, mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, rosewood bridge, gotoh tuners. I'll give it an 8 for this category, everything you need in an acoustic.

This thing is a cannon, very loud, but with a great tone. Can do anything from fingerpicking to full out strumming. I have tried may guitars since, including Gibsons, Taylors, etc. and none have sounded better than this. My benchmark.

I got this used at a pawn shop and the action was a bit high. My father in law helped me set it up and now it plays great. Nice low action with no buzzing or loss of tone or volume.

People always worry about the satin finish on these, but mine shows no signs of wear, and I think the satin finish contributes to the sound of these. Tuners are great, stays in tune forever. Very light in weight but I think it would take some abuse.

No experience here, I've heard both good and bad...

I've been playing guitar for 25 years or so, mainly electric until a few years ago. I have 3 other Tacomas now (this was my first), a Fender Tele, and a Raven West Fireball 2000. This guitar got me into Tacomas. If it were lost it couldn't be replaced because of the setimental value attached to it. But I would need another Tacoma dred then...

Ok, I don't want to repeat what previous reviewers have said so I'll just add on what others have left out. Basically, you get more than enough features with the DM9 around this price range. Reason why I give only a 9 is because comparing other guitars around this price, you don't get most or the best features. Even so, it's pretty close to 3rd place I say.

Sounds good, but still lacking clarity in that price range. Again, I'm not comparing with cheaper or more expensive guitars here. I only rate this with other guitars around this price. Don't sound as bright as the Taylor E110, but then again, it's playability is better than the Taylor.

The action is surprisingly low for this price and the only problem is the thinness of the woods. I feel like it'll get a dent if I accidently bump into something hard. Keep in mind that the pickguard is transparent but overall finish is pretty nice.

All in all, this is a great guitar. If you have to buy it for the full price, make sure it's what you want. I got it at a great bargain so I'm not complaining. Its strength is how light it is to carry and you feel like you're carrying a airless backpack when playing. The weakness is of course the case that comes with it. If you really love guitars and want to invest your savings on a solid guitar, this can make a good first guitar but if you want an upgrade from your older $100 or $300 guitars, then get something more expensive. Unless you are picky like myself, this may be your favorite guitar. For me, I'll have to keep saving for another guitar. =)

Follow up

I miss it

Used to be good

Used to think it was good

Ah, where to begin. So, if you scroll down, you'll see I really enjoyed my guitar (BB). Great, beautifully sounding instrument, or at least that's how I remember it and how it sounds in all my recordings. I had a major problem where the neck met the body--the brace below the neck seemed to have sunk in, and the top and neck did the same thing. You could shove a pencil between the strings and the neck at the 12th fret with room to spare. I brought it back to Mr. C's in Marlborough in September of 2004. They sent it back to Tacoma for warranty work. Tacoma has been bought by Fender. Tacoma sent the guitar back saying it could only be shipped from an authorized Fender dealer. Chris at MR. C's brought it to Action music (a Fender dealer where he also works). Action music sent the guitar back to Tacoma. Fast forward to MAY OF 2005. Still don't have the guitar back. No one can give me an answer of where the guitar is or when I'll get it back, only that it's been shipped to Tacoma for repair work. Now, I could be wrong, but 8 months seems a little extreme doesn't it? I had a problem with some voodoo labs pedals--fixed in two weeks. Had a problem with Reverend, fixed in a week. Had a problem with Tacoma....8 MONTHS and still no resolution!!!!! ABSOLUTELY FRUSTRATING! It's too bad, the guitars sound great, but until this is remedied I have this desire to tell everyone not to buy them based on the customer service alone. If there's any customer service reps out there, PLEASE CONTACT ME. Thank you. --Marc Carlson

It is USA made, beautifully simple with all the FEATURES an acoustic guitar needs. It is an acoustic guitar, unless the neck or tuners are missing, I dont see how it could not get a 10. I dont get the guys that give a 7 on features for one of these, what more do they want, an automated hand to play for them?

For me, the sound is perfect. It is a bright sound that seems happy even when playing minors. It also has excellent sustain and it is very loud and responsive. I love the tone, maybe a Martin or a Gibson sounds just as good, but I dont want anything but my DM9

Well I dont know if the store I bought it from or Tacoma set this guitar up, or if it never needed setting up. A guitar of this quality shoudnt need anything but a neck adjustment. If your 'luthier' wants to start filing frets, either get a new luthier or send the guitar back for defects. The action is very low, but not so low that hammerons and string bending is a chore. Beautiful satin finish, with tortoise shell binding, ultra simpple yet what is there is beautiful, I love the clear pickgard too, a hunk of plastic would ruin its beauty.

These guitars are fragile, and you dont want to bang them around, but honestly you would have to be an idiot to ever do enough damage to a guitar to say that solid wood is not fragile. As long as you dont slam it on a piece of steal or something, it shoud last forever.

Well i have been playing seriously for the last year and off and on for the last three. I have gone through a few electrics but cant see myself ever selling or trading this guitar. I would replace in a heartbeat, I have full faith in the Tacoma brand and believe they are as good if not better than gibson, martin etc, for the price though, they cant be beat. By the way mine is a 2001, it was my first guitar, and it will be my main axe for the rest of my playing days.

My DM-9 I believe is a 2001 model. This guitar features a solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. This is no frills guitar, although it suits me just fine. The guitar does have top binding and a real rosette which I appreciate (my Martin D-15 does not feature this). I have added an aftermarket emg undersaddle pickup which sounds really good.

This guitar has a really nice sound for the money. That being said it doesn't hang with my D-15 in that department. This guitar offers moderate bass response and decent mids. It works well for leading praise and worship etc,
I had it at a local Taylor dealer and I really couldn't find one that I liked $1500 dollars better.

This is where the guitar is weak to me. When I first bought this guitar new the action was really high. I had this adjusted but it never really has gotten to where I would like The guitar also has a really tiny gap between the neck and body, also the holds in the bridge are a little rough for my liking. The rest of the guitar isn't too bad all that being said.

This guitar will withstand live playing but I wouldn't if i had a choice gig without a backup. I have had this guitar since it was new and in that time the bridge has cracked and rubs the strings and causes them to break prematurely. Also the neck has a fine crack in it as well. The guitar seems a little fragile to me. This guitar also only came with one strap button which drives me crazy, I mean if Taylor can put on two what can't everone else.

I don't appreciate there support they offer. All the repairs and work was very expense, and they weren't all that helpful when I have e-mailed.

I have been playing for about 7 years and have owned a variety of junk. This guitar was the best thing I owned until I bought the Martin D-15. When I got this guitar I actually traded an Alvarez straight across for it which I would do again. If I were currently shopping for another guitar I would go with a Martin, or something else that sounded good. Its funny though even with my complaints about it I would still be pretty upset if something happened to it. This was my first solid wood guitar and you just can't beat that. I think if the price was right say $400 or less this would be a decent guitar for someone.

Mahogany neck, solid mahogany back and sides, spruce top. Rosewood fretboard and rosewood "tone-bridge." Neck and top are bound in tortoise shell, which is really cool for this simple, understated design. Has herringbone rosette, which also pretty cool. I like the look and feel of this guitar. It's a big box, but it's really light compared to my Larrivee D10 and my Seagull S6 20th Ann. Model. Has satin finish and a clear pickguard and the neck is a little wider at the nut -- not sure the exact measurement, but it's wider than my larrivee and not quite as wide as my Seagull.

My only complaint is really the result of my own ignorance. The guitar is set up for light guage strings only. I put the heavy mediums on in and when I changed the strings again, it threw the neck out of whack and I haven't played it since. All it needs is a truss adjustment, but I just haven't gotten around to taking it in. Also, the pickgaurd edges seem to have an affinity for collecting dirt and dust, so they look dirty. I read this in someone else's review, too, but like they said, it's really not that big of a deal. My larrivee has the same clear type of pickguard, but it does not do this.

Otherwise, this is a great guitar for the money. It's a great guitar no matter how you slice it. Great tone and balance and it sounds every bit as good as a Martin or Taylor.

Sound is awesome. When I first played it, I loved the sound. I still do, although I haven't played it in a while (I've played others just like it). I play my Larrivee, which has heavy gauge strings, most of the time and it's just too good to beat. I think the Tacoma would have greater projection if it was set up to handle the heavier strings, but it's not. But, it is what it is and it sounds very, very good. I give it a 10 on sound.

I love the simplicity of this design. The tortoise binding on the top and on the neck is really cool. I also like the herringbone rosette. The spruce top is stained a little darker than your typical spruce top, which makes it look like it's cedar. I also love the wider neck.

The tuners are great, but I can't remember what they are. They keep the guitar in tune and I haven't had any problems with 'em.

The satin finish is great, although you have to be really careful with it. Barely bump this guitar and it will leave a mark. I bumped the headstock once and it looked like worm tunnelled into it! I never notice it, though, 'cause I really don't like the Tacoma headstock shape to begin with, so I never look at it. My Larrivee has a high gloss finish and it's just as touchy as the Tacoma's satin finish, probably even more so. It (the Larrivee) has a crack in the finish along the upper neck-binding seam right at the nut that's about half an inch long, and another along a seam in the rosette that's about an inch long. Those cracks just appeared and were not the result of any accident. It has it's share of the accidental type, too.

Although it's out of commission at the moment, I would say that the reliability is as good as any other manufacturer.

Here's where things "go south." I you want to have any service done to your Tacoma, it's gonna cost you. It'll cost you $60 just for the consideration of a repair, which is for the shipping alone (to and from). Of course, this cost will depend on where you live. I live in Texas, so I'm out of luck in this department. I would suggest finding a really good luthier in your town and take it to him. Don't just take it to any "good Luthier," either. Try to find a certified Martin or Taylor repair guy. I took my Tacoma to a kid who was fresh out of luthier school and he ended up performing a repair that didn't need to be done. The guitar needed a truss adjustment and this guy put a taller saddle in the thing to compensate for the whacked neck. A taller saddle will place greater torque on the top of the guitar, so I loosened the strings a but and it's just been collecting dut ever since. Cost me $60 for all that BS.

I really love this guitar. It's one of my all-time favorites. It's light, it sounds awesome, and it has a great feel to it. I also like the simple design. If it were lost or stolen, I'd replace it without question.

Mine is a Tacoma DM9 LH (Lefty!)

Made in 2003 in Tacoma Washington, USA. Solid Spruce top, Dreadnought w/ 20 frets (joined at 14th fret),Mahogany sides/back, East Indian rosewood fretboard, no electronics, finish: Light satin clear w/ Stained light mahogany color, Gotoh tuning machines (I think), 25.5" neck scale, D'addario EXP light strings, transparent pickguard

I love the look of the DM9 - simple, satin finish which I feel is very attractive, headstock is a little dull and boring, clear pickguards are fine but mine seem to look a little "dirty around the edges" (my only real complaint). Pretty mahogany sides and back (solid). Very understated tortise binding. Neck is a little fatter than some I tried but I like it.

I'm a 46 year-old beginner (pursuing a 40 year-old goal of learning to play). My style is simple - follow my instructor's lessons and practice! I compared the sound of of the Tacoma DM9 to the low end Taylors (214), Martins (DM, D15, 00016), Larrivee (DM3), Seagull (s6+), and some others. I thought the Tacoma was the best sound of the bunch (although I liked the cheaper Seagull quite a bit for sound). I thought the low priced Taylors didn't have the sound and the Martins were OK but I wanted a solid wood and not a laminate (on the lower end). No buzzing. Solid loud bass with nice highs - I thought it sounded "between" the Taylor sound and the "Martin" sound??

Decent action from the store I bought from. All wood matched and fit flawlessly (sp?). I took my mini mag-lite and looked around the inside - cant see a speck of glue. The braces look like works of art. Very fine satin finish. Clear pickguard looks a little "dirty" around the edges - the middle of the pickguard is nearly invisible but the edges are quite visible. I think it's because the pickguard adhesive doesn't stick the edges to the surface quite as well. I didn't notice this on the Larrivee's. My only complaint. The one latch on the case is a little loose - no big deal.

Can't imagine myself playing live but the guitar seems solid and durabile. It's only one month old so it's still new. Strap buttons are fine but the bottom one has a narrow "slot" where the strap fits in - found out (after buying one) that the Planet Waves quick Release strap won't work with it.

Haven't needed any yet. Seems like a stringent, cumbersome warranty precedure in the owners book: Pay to ship your guitar back to the factory and they will decide if your problem is under warranty, normal wear & tear, etc. Lifetime warranty is transferable but you have to send the guitar to the factory for inspection and pay $50. Probably not worth it for a $600 guitar??

I love it. I'm a beginner but have "expert" friends. I took their advice and then went and listened to the ones they recommended. The Tacoma won my eval on sound, fit & finish & construction, and then appearance. I believew this Tacoma matches up to more expensive guitars. So far I'm very happy with my decision.

solid spruce top, mahogany body, yeah yeah yeah you know it already...but seriously the craftsmanship on this guitar is outstanding and a thing of beauty.

this guitar is a monster. just unbelievable sound. every time i take this out i can't help but notice the warmth and authority with which it plays, not to mention how much better it sounds than some of my friends' low end martins. each string is well represented; this guitar works great for basic chords all the way to classical fingerpicking. i keep mine tuned to open D because that is the tuning my band uses, and the sound is so indescribably rich, warm, full, and crisp - i have never heard anything like it out of an acoustic for less than 1500 dollars.

the action when i got it was just right. no buzzing or dirty nonsense anywhere on the fretboard - everything rings true. the wood on this guitar is extremely smooth and just beautiful. the spruce top really sets it apart. just touching this guitar made me realize how special it is.

overall this guitar is very solid. i never really use it for performance, i primarily use it for songwriting, so i don't transport it a lot and it doesn't see much action, per se. however i believe that this guitar is a workhorse and with it being all wood, as long as it's taken care of it will only get better. people swear by these things and i can see why.

haven't had to contact them

this guitar is the best thing that has happened to me as a guitar player. i'm a student so i didn't have a lot to spend, and i was looking at some of the cheaper martins, such as the DX1. the sound of this guitar absolutely blew me away, and i couldn't believe how cheap it was. i understand that tacoma is a relatively young company but with guitars like this, pretty soon they will be priced like martins and taylors. this guitar is a steal and i highly recommend it to anyone. i have a boutique tube head that cost me more than 2 thousand dollars, but i would have a hard time getting rid of this guitar over the amp. it just rules.

Mine was made in 2000. I bought it in 2003 used. Solid Sitka Spruce and Solid Mahogony back and sides. Smooth tuners. Perfect size neck. Satin finish is the best I have seen. I own, or have owned Taylors, Martins, Seagulls, Washburns, Takamines, and Fenders and nobody offers a better value for the money to me. Plain jane looks, but I like it better that way. All that fancy stuff is kinda sissy looking to me anyway.

Best sound of all the brands I menitoned above dolllar for dollar. My Taylor is better for fingerstyle, but if you want a nice strumming and picking dred, look no further than the DM-9

Nice action. Uses Tusq saddle and nut, so the sound is much better than the cheap plastic most people use. I actually put bone in mine, and I like it better.

Always very helpful on the phone.

Best purchase.

The best feature about this guitar is that in this price range it is actually using real wood, no laminates. No cutaway and no electronics. But after you play it, your concerns are laid to rest.

This is where this guitar separates itself from all others in its price range and definitley competes with acoustics far beyond its price. The sound is big, very nice bottom and top end. It really does hold its own. Every time I pick it up I'm just amazed at its full rich sound. It is very pleasing. I played a high end Martin to see if I could hear a difference...and I could, for 3 G's you'd better. The best part is when I picked up the Tacoma it still put a smile on my face, and for under 700 clams it's real tough to beat something that sounds that good.

Coming over from a steady diet of electric guitar the .12's took a while to get used to, but I did (you will) and it plays nice. I was concerned about the satin finish as my belt buckle has left its first tattoo. It has not sustained anymore damage since, but I am pretty careful with it, and do not gig with it (yet). Action also took some getting used to as it was a little high for me , but I wanted to get a feel for the instrument before I changed and haven't yet.

I have owned the guitar for 7 months and played it nearly every day. It feels like it has broken in. It stays in tune much longer than the first 2 months. Of course it's summer now and michigan winter then so that's part of it. It came with a schematic on how to install the front strap button which I did myself. And you have to buy the strap button. Again durability is the big question here. It's in great shape after seven months, we'll see after a few years.

For the price I am very pleased with this guitar. I just don't think you can find a better sounding guitar for the money. Unless you know someone who has a heroin problem and needs to sell their gear for a fix, this is the better deal. The sound of this guitar does it for me. It blows away guitars in its price range. Comes with a decent case.

This is a followup to a previous submission based on my experience with Tacoma's customer service.

Crack for no apparrent reason. I keep the humidy in my guitar room high.

Read on!

About 10 weeks ago I noticed a 2-inch crack in the surface of my Tacoma DM-9. I own a DM-9 because I liked the way it sounded, and for the price you can?t get a better sounding (all solid) guitar.

I complained that the customer service was taking a long time, and when Tacoma caught wind of this, they were quick to call to discuss my problem. I was happy to hear that they seemed eager to please and address my issue.

I didn?t buy my DM-9 because of its wonderful aesthetic qualities, however, when you own a new guitar it?s nice to have it looking new. My guitar has a crack in the surface now. It was sealed/?stabilized?, but it still looks like crap. I was told this repair work would involve a new surface, but no such work occurred. I?m not sure if they changed their minds about what to do or just said this to appease me, but either way, I am not satisfied.

$26 in shipping later the repairs that were performed could have been done at the local shop for about $10.

It?s clear that I should have saved a little more money and paid for a quality Taylor with quality (so I have heard) customer support. For now, it looks as though I have a new campfire toy.
I will immediately start saving for a real guitar.

Here is a transcript of email sent back and forth between Tacoma and I (I have removed the name of the customer service person from Tacoma):

--------------------
1. The first email:
Hi Matt,
We did receive your guitar, it came in on the 14th of this month and we are replacing the top under warranty, which means we will also be putting a new neck on the guitar. So pretty much, this type of "overhaul" is like having a new guitar considering 85% of the sound comes from the vibrations in the top.

-Tacoma Customer Servce
(no big deal: One would expect such work, but this never happened.)
---------------------

2. The work is done???
Customer Service Guy-
I just got my guitar back today (F0570060). It looks to me like the repair work you described was not performed. Can you explain what (if anything) was done?
Matt Rupert

(I am perplexed)
---------------------
3. A cryptic reply:
Looks like they repaired and stabilized the crack from the inside. [from Tacoma to me]

(huh????)


-Matt Rupert
Former Tacoma evangelist, future Taylor owner

Satin finish- no dings and whistles, no pickup, just a basic acoustic. What it lacks here it makes up for in sound!!!

Amazing... Looked for a while before buying. This, as others have said, definately comparies to much more expensive Taylors. I love the bright sound. It came with Elixir strings but I put on GHS Phosphor/Bronze 11s and I like the sound even more now. You must go play one of these suckers!!! Tacoma is making some wonderful guitars, and for the price, I don't think you'll find a nice one than this.

Satin finish, but I like that. Action a little high at first- easy to adjust the truss rod and no problemo--- they actually give detailed instructions now doing this yourself, and it even came with a tool to do so... Not that it was a big deal, but nice.

Don't know- hopefully good. I haven't had any problems yet.

I emailed them twice and got a reply within hours both times. Their web site is fantastic: www.tacomaguitars.com

I love this thing!!! If it was lost or stolen I would promptly go buy another, and even pay more than the first time. Did I mention I love it?

This is an American made guitar it is one of the best sounding tacoma I have ever played. It does not have any electronics no cutaway and nothing really fancy but it is well worth the money. This is a standard dreadnought guitar.

Best sounding guitar I have played besides a few taylors but those things are so crazy exspensive that its not even worth it. I have played the DM18 and a Jumbo cutaway tacoma and the Dm9 (the cheaper of the three) sounds better than either of the other guitars.

the finish is sorta dull but i kinda like that look and its cheaper that way.

I have played this live at a wedding the other day and it was great I didn't have a backup because it wasn't necessary this guitar is very reliable

Never had to deal with the company, guitar is to perfect no reason to contact tacoma

I have been playing for around 4 years. If this guitar were to be stolen I would beat the crap out of who ever stole it and I would make them buy me and all my friends another one because it is the best guitar I have ever seen or owned. The only thing I wish this had was a really exspensive lookings fret board but then of course I would have paid much more for it.

Just like all the other DM-S, solid spruce top, mahogany back n' sides. Satin finish (a bit frightening) Very simple classic design. Gets sexier everytime I see it.

I have been playojg at home with (and without) friends for 27 years. (still not any good) I have owned a lot of guitars in those years but this takes the cake. I prsently have a 1983 Ovation acoustic/electric classic,an old Harmony arch top and a 1971 Yamaki 12 string strung as a 6 (another personal fave.). I was looking for a $700.00 (Canadian) solid top. I had my eye on a Washburn but then I walked into Steves Music in Ottawa and had a real player go through the the options with me. He picked up the Tacoma and was surprised by the sound. So much so that he began to compare it to the Martins and Taylors on hand. Even he couldn't believe the value for money. I knew as soon as I heard it that it outclassed anything I had been looking at in my price range, so...... $840.00 later I have the Guitar I will go to my grave with.

Set up was good. I asked about lowering it but the salesperson suggested getting to know the guitar first then see if I still wanted it. They really should have tossed in a second strap button on the heal. Everything else was comensurate with the price range of the guitar.

In comparrison with my Yamaki, this guitar is a feather weight which in turn make you wonder how well it would take a nasty fall. Needless to say, I don't plan on throwing it around so..no problem. Again, I miss the second strap button. I don't play on stage so I can't say how it would take the abuse.

I wanted to get some info from the factory and noticed that you can't e-mail them through their web site. Annoying. I want a matching strap button!

I have gone through a lot of guitars over the years. Now I hopefully won't need any more. I take my Yamaki out to the campfire and my Tacoma stays home. The Tacoma has the better sound of the two ( by not too much though) I would replace the Tacoma in an instant.

For the money this guitar has great features... All solid wood and of course that great Tacoma sound and craftmanship come standard.

For a guitar in its price range it has a magnificent sound. You would expect just by hearing it that it were a higher end Martin or Taylor. It is also probably the loudest acoustic I have played.

The guitar plays great and looks even better. It has a gorgeous spruce top and a simple but nice desogn around the soundhole. I am still getting used to playing acoustic because I am an electric guy but it is a great playing guitar.

This is a very solid guitar. I have nowhere near the skills to play live, but if i did i would definitely have faith in this guitar. Like anything else, if you take care of it then it will take care of you.

Haven't dealt with them yet.

I have been playing for approximately 31/2 years. I also have a Hamer Stellar Electric and this is the second acoustic I have owned... (I had a Tacoma Chief C1C for a short time when I was first starting but had to sell it...). The other guitar I was comparing it to when looking was a Larrivee D03. They were both all solid wood with spruce tops and mahogany back and sides and both sounded great. This one was cheaper so I bought it. if it were lost or stolen I would definitely buy another one.

2001 Tacoma DM-9, features as described previously.

Played everything in this town under $5000. Liked the D-28 and the J-200, but the DM-9's sustain and harmonics made the decision.

Shop set-up was to my liking, if a bit low. Back looks like four- piece mahogany and the joints are obvious. Headstock has some small imperfections. Otherwise nicely finished.

Playing 30 years and have owned 10 acoustics, including two Martins and two Gibsons. This guitar outshines them all. It is very even-sounding, sustains incredibly, and is lightweight. It gets a 9 for some slightly rough hewing as pointed out before.

Made in the US in 1999
Pretty standard setup non glazed finish

The sound on this thing is amazing. I had almost walked out of the guitar store with a $1500 Martin and one of the guys who workeed at the store stopped me and handed me this beautiful guitar. I fell in love instantly and hey! it cost me $850 less than the Martin. Awesome. The resonance this thing produces is absolutley amazing, serioulsy one of the best guitars ive ever heard

The guitar seems very well made no adjustments were necessary. the neck on the guitar is a little fat so some chords are kind of tedious but Im over it. The finish on these are really different they have a flat look to them with no glazed finish on them. they also have a clear pickgaurd which is kind of differnt.

tacoma made an excellent sturdy guitar. Ive had it for a year and had no problems withit. I play live every week and it held up perfectly. The finish or lack there of seems to be holding up fine too.

N/A hopefully will stay that way!!

I have two other acoustic guitars a Epiphone and ovation and the tacoma is by far my favorite. I wish the neck were a little skinnier but beside that it is awesome.

Mine is a 1999 model, made in the USA of course. It's a beautifully crafted guitar. Excellent hardware (tacoma)--never had a problem with the tuners. I have a Fishman Matrix Natural in it, sounds amazing (had that put on after I bought it). The neck is fatter than most, but even my smaller hands get around it no problem. Comes with elixer strings--finest around.

Sound is incredible. I think the sound of this is baby is better than my martin 12 string--it beats it pretty easily actually. I play just about everything--classic rock, punk rock, folk, fingerpicking, country, you name it, we play it. It has a full sound, and the body resonates. The sustain is pretty good. It's a warm guitar. My drummer can hear it over the kit when I'm not even plugged in.

Set up was good, but I had my guitar tech lower the action a little for me, and of course put in the pickup. Never had a problem with it.