Product: Takamine Academy AC1
Price Paid: USD 149
Submitted
02/17/2009
at
12:16pm
by
Steve
Email: S<dot>yetter at gmail<dot>com
Features
:
7
Made in Romania.
Solid spruce top w inlayed rosette and 5 fan braces.
Laminate sides and back of white/maple-looking wood, as well as one-piece "maple" neck w separate (stack) heel.
Appears to be mortised neck joint
25&5/8" scale length: 2" nut.
Rosewood fingerboard w 18 frets.
Wood binding with b/w/b strip inlayed around top as well.
Satin finish.
Pearloid buttons on decent tuning machines.
This is an "eco-friendly" (sustainable European woods) "student" level (Jasmine line) full-sized Classical (18.75" X 15" X 3.75" body).
Sound
:
8
Sweet nylon string sound w standard tension strings.
Not tremendously loud or projective but fairly well balanced and has enough resonance for emotive vibrato when desired.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
Crisp lines and well constructed.
I prefer its satin finish over the thick glossy goop on many econo-boxes.
Has a nice quality feel and all the standard Classical features without a lot of shortcuts usually found at this price point.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
Simple basic Classical design. Well executed.
Sturdy enough feeling for me.
It's not flimsy or "cheap" feeling.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No experience.
Takamine Jasmine warranty is ltd lifetime ("Studio" is 5years).
Overall Rating
:
8
I have been playing since 1961.
Picked this up as a cheap ($150 brand new) acoustic for around the house duties.
I generally gig with an electric G&L, or Gibson Les Paul.
Haven't studied Classical guitar in years but for a "student" level instrument this one has all the big boy features like solid top w traditional fan bracing; binding; full sized; etc.
It's basic, but has a good build quality and a nice sound.
Crisp lines and fit. It's obviously CNC milled instead of cobbled together by elves of varying skill.
Smells like Elmer's glue inside.
Good playability.
A keeper. I'd replace it in kind if necessary.
