Takamine AN-10

2002 Takamine AN10, made in Japan. Solid cedar top, solid mahogany back, sides, and neck. Beautiful dark cherry finish on the back sides and neck. Dread body style with gold Takamine tuners with amber tuning buttons, very classy. This guitar is a 9.4999999, rounded down to a 9, for a cheap end pin and no strap pin on the neck. This is the only "feature" lacking.

I play mostly acoustic rock type music (Eagles, Edwin McCain, Hootie, Indigo Girls) and this guitar fits the bill spectacularly. I was so hung up on the Martin/Taylor made in the USA crap and all of the ripping Takamines take from acoustic purists for being disposable guitars, that I overlooked these masterpieces for too long. Takamines are known for their electronics, but let me tell you, this guitar is an excellent straight acoustic. The tone is just oozzing from its tightly grained cedar top. I am going to repalce the saddle with bone and cannot imagine the tone after that. This guitar already has amazing tone and resonance. It is getting better every time I pick it up.

The action on this guitar is perfect, not too high or low. The neck is perfectly straight with equal action all the way up. The cedar top on this guitar (I ordered it through my dealer) is perfect and very tightly grained. This is the first guitar I have ever owned or seen for that matter with perfectly finished bracing. Not only are there no rough spots or unsanded areas on the inside, the braces are almost polished in their finish. No glue or splinters anywhere. This guitar has what I would call a very thick satin finish. The grain of the wood is filled and the wood is protected, but the finish is not glossy. This is an excellent guitar. Nice SKB custom Takamine case included.

It seems very sturdy. I put a pickguard on it to protect the cedar top. They are known for being delicate. The finish is very solid. The strap button(end pin) is solid, but seems cheap. It will be replaced by the endpin jack I get installed anyway. Strings break, so a backup is always necessary to be safe.

Never dealt with Takamine/Kaman. This is my fourth out of five Kaman products, though, so obviously I trust their products. I have a forty year plus dealer backing it as well.

Whwn I first ordered it and was waiting, I kept thinking I should have gotten a Martin DM instead. I love the DM tone and hadn't played the Takamine when I ordered it. I am glad I ordered it now. It has a much more balanced sound and is all solid wood, so I know it will improve over time and only get better. The finish on this guitar is flawless ans much better than I have seen, even on american guitars. If it were stolen I would get another, maybe an EAN10C, as to have the excellent electronics already in place.

Solid mahagony back and sides,solid cedar top.Beautifully hand crafted.This is a "natural series" Japanese made model,said to be made by a team of luthiers.20 frets,14 clear.The crafting without a pick guard and the satin finish are said to enhance the tone.Very clean sanding inside,scalloped braces.In it's realm and range,this is the best satin finish and all solid wood dreadnaught on the market.Does not have fret board markers,will say this guitar does have some "custom" look with gold tuners,nice dark rosette,but the tone was the hook.Got a TakaminE TKL molded case,nice enough guitar to justify.

The sounds and tone from this box are amazing;complex,lush finger picking tones,does well under a full attack,not a cannon but very desirable pro quality tones.It sounds great with a Seymour Duncan soundhole pick up through an outboard pre amp and out through the soound,my main acoustic amp is a Fender,nice combination.It is not an unbalanced sound,Takamine pinless bridge and split saddle are apparently a great combination,again great tone.It is a bit brighter than bassy in tone,as a cedar top should be,play one !Excels with acoustic rock,folk tunes.Using it as a song writing guitar and am well pleased,if not surprised it's a Takamine.I own several American solid woods,this guitar is amazingly affordable and of professional calibur tone wise.

Factory set up is good,low action,had no problems/complaints.The wood is of high quaility,exellent workmanship throughout.The sanding was the best ,no glue marks or drips.Wood looks to be of high quality,tone speaks for itself.As Takamine ventures into the solid wood all acouctic realm as they say they are,look out over priced manufactures' this some serious compettition.

The unknown will be the satin finish.This finish is of much better quality than other,eveb much higher priced American maunfactures'.The tuners are gold plated,nice colored knobs,don't know about the plating,the tuning machines are fluid and effiecient,believe this one will be with me 10 years from now.

Playing 32 years and amazed with this box.Was looking at anything but Takaimines,this one caught my eye,(cedar top is darker than spruce),and played it to see what it sounded like.Bright,clean.clear,compleex and lush are what my ears heard.Had someoen play it to listen,the guitar then follwed me home.It is not a high end rosewood dreadnaught,which is my acoustic of first choice.This is a well thought out and bulit box,wow,changed my thinking about Takamine,they make much more than laminated acoustic/electric guitars.