Product: Tacoma DR14CE
Price Paid: US $900
Submitted
03/25/2006
at
03:07pm
by
kudogg
Features
:
No Opinion
It's an acoustic!
Sound
:
10
Played Martins and Takamines trying to find the perfect tone. And this is it. For half the price, you get a very balanced full sound, filled with harmonics and character. I was blown away by this guitar and had to buy it.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Just right from the factory. Can't complain, action is low enough to play anything. This thing has great tone.
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
Great value. Great guitar. Tacoma's are underrated and offer a lifetime warranty. AWESOME!!!
Product: Tacoma DR14CE
Price Paid: N/A (Horse Trade)
Submitted
06/29/2004
at
02:29am
by
Buck Ramsa
Features
:
9
New 2003 all solid Tacoma Spruce/Rosewood dread with cutaway and electronic pickup. This model has the ebony fretboard and bridge, which really got me interested in the first place. they keep the price down somewhat by using a satin finish on the body and neck, but the top is a nice clean gloss. Good sealed tuners, but not sure of manufacturer. Simple understated dot fretmarkers. I got this one with the upgraded archtop case, and well worth the extra $50 or so... Pretty much everything I wanted in a plain-jane dread cutaway.
Sound
:
10
This is the area where the DR-14 shines. I had NOT planned on getting this guitar, and was actively looking to buy a jumbo of some sort. the ebony looked kinda cool on the fretboard and bridge, and so I gave it a spin in the store. MAN was I shocked! The volume was crazy and the tone so well balanced I could hardly believe it!!! I had owned a slew of other dreads by Martin, Gibson, Yamaha, Alvarez, etc, but this one was BY FAR the best sounding spruce top I had ever played. The rosewood body and spruce top produced a crisp, full bass and light floating high end that can only be described as heavenly. And did I say it was LOUD? This thing shakes your chest when it's played, and resonates forever. I HAD to own it. Didn't want another dread sized guitar, but HAD to own this one. (It's now my favorite.)
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
7
The setup was pretty good from the factory, but replaced the original factory plastic bridge with an ivory one bought through eBay. (Cool upgrade!) Also replaced the bridge pins with brass, and seemed to help the already great sound. I have no problems with the construction or finish, but have seen other Tacomas that were not this well done.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
Looks solid as a rock, so far. Have only had guitar for 6 months, so nothing has fallen apart yet, and don't expect it to. I would not gig without a back-up guitar.
Customer Support
:
8
The guys at Tacoma are great. I haven't had any problem, but can contact the customer service guy on the Unofficial Tacoma Guitar Forum. A wealth of Tacoma information to be had there.
Overall Rating
:
10
Played for 30 years. Currently own Yamaha LL-400, Samick JZ-213, Heritage H-150CM, Mexican Squier Strat, Couple of Korean LP Clones, Fernandes Active Jazz Bass. Play through a small Ampeg 12" valve amp, and the Ramsa PA system.
I would get another Tacoma if this beauty went away. Before a Martin, and before a Larrivee. It's THAT good.
I would like a smaller acoustic for playing seated, but there's time for that hunt. The sound of this one is worth the extra size, for sure. All the fun of a D-28 for half the money.
