Takamine C-132S

TOP: SOLID CEDAR
BACK: SOLID ROSEWOOD
SIDES: ROSEWOOD (Laminate)
NECK: MAHOGANY
ROSETTE: MARQUETRY
TUNERS: GOLD CLASSIC (Gotoh Economy, Gold)
BRIDGE: UNFINISHED ROSEWOOD
NUT AND SADDLE: BONE
FRET MARKERS / INLAYS: NONE
ADJUSTABLE TRUSS-ROD

I'm not too sure as to exactly what the finish is (Lacquer/Polyurethane?) but it is evenly applied to near perfection. I have owned two of these and one was a 2003 manufacture, and the other a 2005 manufacture, both guitars were outstanding examples of Takamine's obsessive quality-control.

Both guitars were outstandng in their own right...the only reason I give the a "9" on the features is the economy tuners...that having been said, I'd rather that they focused on the build, finish and "more pertinent" features like solid cedar top and solid rosewood back , which is exactly what they did, the tuners, while "economy" models function smoothly, and accurately with no backlash...the guitars stay in-tune forever...it is Harmony Central's criteria that compelled me to not give a "10" Harmony Central suggests: "BE CRITICAL! Nothing is perfect. Superficial, glowing reviews may not get published." hence my "less than perfect" review IN THIS CATEGORY.

The fact that Takamine sends these things out with a bone nut and saddle, solid cedar top, solid and a well bookmatched solid Rosewood back, and a pretty-much flawlewss finish application, with nothing short of perfect fretwork shows that these guitars are more than suitable for the beginning student, and all the way up to the upper-end of the advanced student; it encourages more playing, and I will get to that later.

I did not get a case with my models, one was purchased used on Ebay, and the other was new from a local music dealer.

Again, Harmony Central criteria keep me from calling it "perfect", but it's very close..I give it a 9.5+ actual rating.

I play Classical and this guitar suits that medium just fine, the sound is full, well-defined and rich, and sounds especially good with Savarez composite trebles, I prefer high-tension.

The guitar is quite capable of true "Classical" tone, though I have to agree that it is not "Concert Loud".....don't get me wrong, it really sounds great, I just wish it were louder, my guitar instructor has a 1982 model that has settled into a VERY loud and resonant guitar, and it (according to my instructor) is at least as loud as his Ramirez 4CWE, with the 4CWE edging the Takamine out on "sweetness"....It better for the price commanded by a Ramirez.

In summary: if you want an extremely good guitar to get started, do yourself a favor and make this your bottom-line: I say this because I was told by my guitar instructor that ideally one should not attempt Classical with a guitar of any lesser standard...that doesn't mean that this is your "only bet" , but it is nevertheless a great baseline.

The action was set just fine from the factory, the guitar has attention to details inside and out, no glue lines inside, and no fill-ins on the exterior, the fretwork is consistently perfect, as is the finish, the adjustable truss rod is a nice feature, but is really seldom needed in the "Classical World", but it's there if you ever need to adjust it.

My only (Minimal) criticisms are that the bone head-nut has some edges that are a little too "severe", but this only seems to present as a problem with the "rectified/slightly rough" Savarez trebles and strings of that ilk; it seems that if you tune them up and then subsequently tune them down, the head-nut seenms to gouge/cut-into the strings directly behind the nut, causing string-breakage...it is my opinion that "rectified" strings were not a consideration in the design of this guitar that is relatively unchanged for almost two decades...a little bit of 1000 grit behind the head-nut helps to smooth things out, and should solve the problem, just be sure to smooth things out, and not to deepen the slots.

My second criticism centers around the fact that the 1E and 6E strings ever so slightly contact the face of the headstock on their way to the tuners, but this doesn't affect the sound at all as far as I can determine, according to their customer support representative who did an exhaustive investigation on my behalf, about 1/3 of these guitars have this characteristic.

I think these are solidly built guitars, and I've seen very old examples of them, so I'd say that durability is not a question here.

Customer support seems excellent as far as my dealings with Takamine are concerne; I have never had a mechanical issue, or anything that required them to honor their warranty which is a limited lifetime warranty, my dealings with their customer support have been confined to asking questions along the way, which were generally promptly answered.

The locals that consist of my repair/custom pro. and dealers have anecdotally reported a very low incidence of Takamine's guitars ever needing repair: it almost never happens, that's probably a good reason that Takamine is so very prominent in the industry, in addition to the fact that they make a guitar for anybody and everybody.

The Takamine Japanese-made guitars represent their finest QC standards, and the others aren't att all bad either...' just seems that they really go "all-out" with their Japanese manufactured instruments.

I have been playing for about 25 years, though I yok a long vacation from guitar; I started with nylon, and went to steel stringed instruments for a brief period, and retirned to the nylon tu pursue Classical formally.

I have no regrets about these guitars, I sold one, and kept the other, only because I couldnt justify 2 of the same instrument.

I noticed somebody questioning the $800.00+ price of one of these new, and to that I will say thatt one needs to keep in-mind that Takamine has an excellent reputation for a consistent product over decades, as far as I am concerned if you're going to buy NEW, it's worthy of consideration because Takamine really takes care of business with warranty, and it's a lifetime warranty...Rodriguez doesn't have it (I once owned a Model "A", and couldn't get warranty service because the Ebay seller "disappeared" when it "came down to it", and it turned out that he was in-fact not an authorized seller, in addition to some other Ebay "no-no's" that he commited...that's another story for another time).

Yamaha makes excellent guitars too, and I wouldn't count them out, but the C132S is a "staple" in guitar stores nationwide, again I'm not about to even attempt to contest Yamaha here, but as of late the older Yamahas (GC's) are fetching very high prices as opposed to the $200.00-$300.00 counterpoint to Takamine's overall "value".

Yes you can get "other" used guitars for less, but the used market compared to the new is an "apples and oranges" sort of thing...you don't get a warranty with most used gear, Takamine offers a Limited Lifetime warranty when to the original purchaser (when bought new).

These guitars are available in the $400.00-$500.00 range all-over Ebay and private channels, and Dealers are bound to a "minimum advertised price", but that doesn't mean that you can't negotiate a deal for less on a new model.

As mentioned prevously, the guitars can be had in the $400.00-$500.00 price range, and in my opinion this represents an unbeatable deal, just make sure that if you're buying it online that your seller has good feedback, and ample pictures of the instrument, and when purchasing in-person, you'll know if the guitar good, if you're unsure bring somebody along that knows a thing or two about guitars.

These guitars represent a great and consistent value day-in and day-out, and sound much better than many of their "G.C." wannabe competitors.

As described by the other guys.

Very Good.

Not a low enough action.

Seems to be strong enough. Definitely it is not a toy.

The problem is here: Does this guitar really deserve to be bought for $800? It is Japanese, correct but so what? Lots of Old Yamaha's are Japan made and they could be owned for $100~150. Does this guy is 7times better than those????? I deeply doubt it.
It is not a Concert Guitar (it claims but obviously it is not). So its story is different from some special brands like Alvarez, etc.

In my opinion this guitar is not better than Yamaha's most expensive babies CG171S and CG171SF (for almost half of 800 bucks) but it is popular because it is SO EXPENSIVE. Besides there is not another choice in this price range (700~1000). So some owners think by buying this they are gonna own a special instrument and even gonna price the used ones for $500 or more.

If you are going to buy this guitar as new, seriously re-think about its overall VALUE. Its price must be 300~400 (for new ones of course). So paying 800 or 900, you are wasting 400 just because you dont have other choice to buy!

"If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?"
Well, I sold it to buy a Yamaha (for lower price). I was happy with it because I owned it for $400 not $900.

Japan 1979(?) 19 fret classical solid top, Cedar, laminated sides, solid back, Mahogany, neck is Mahogany with Rosewood fingerboard I believe. Basically the same C132S they still make as far as I know. Tuners were never great, just replaced one..price included average/meiocre hard shell case, still have it from 1980..(!) paid $250 for it new 25 years ago, now it's going for $800 plus and still a good deal

Good basic solid top classical guitar, good for Brouwer, Bach, Ponce, jazz, even a little blues if you use good high tension strings, especially Savarez Alliance or other composites. Sound is nice and even with a lot of tonal variation possible, very even. Not a lot of volume, but adequate for small halls or rooms. Have never amplified it, but suppose it could be done well with some of the new transducers out now, since Takamine is doing it..

Action is very low, almost too low as the bass strings buzz a little if you hit them too hard, but the playability is very good. No problems with the finish, pretty tough too..

Very durable for a classical guitar; put some dings in it over the years but still sounds great!

N/A

Have a Peavey Strat copy, played over 25 years, amateur, had several amps, many electrics, but mostly play classical guitar. Mostly this Takamine, that I'm just now upgrading with a Kenny Hill Madrid.

This is a traditional classical set up, no electronics, non-cut away, no fret makers, etc. According to the Tak website the body dimensions are based on Antonio Torres original designs. It came with a SKB plastic case which is light weight - nice for hauling to practice. This guitar is made in Japan, which in this price range is extremely rare. The cedar top is solid and very beautiful; nice color and grain, the sides are laminate and the back is solid rosewood which has some very interesting and unique gain patterns. The fingerboard is rosewood and the frets are nicely executed. The bridge is also rosewood. Not sure about the material regarding the nut or saddle, the Tak website doesn?t say what the neck is made out of, I read somewhere that is mahogany, it has an adjustable truss rod. The tuners are adequate but nothing special. The bindings and rosette are better than most in this price range and the construction of this guitar is very nice.

The sound of this guitar is descent overall. This is basically a student/ intermediate level guitar, so those expecting a concert level sound will be disappointed. If you consider that of the classicals made in Japan; this is one of Taks cheapest. To me the guitar sounds nice enough to practice until my hands are tried and my finger tips have grooves pressed into them from the strings, I guess that?s all that is important to me. If I had to criticize the thing I?d say that it is lacking in projection ?at least compared with upper end guitars, for this price range it?s on par with the rest of the name brand pack (Cordoba, Yamaha, etc $600-700 range). I don?t give concerts so the lack of projection is not a big deal to me, it?s plenty loud for practicing ?as my Wife can attest. I think having a solid back will help its sound as time goes on. Right now my playing is the biggest limiting factor on the quality of sounds that come out of this instrument.

I had my teacher give me his opinion of the set up, he said it was fine. He?s been playing for 50 years though. To me it?s just a little high. I?m probably going to have it set up professionally and fitted with a bone nut and saddle. The fit and finish of this guitar is good, no flaws to be found on the front, sides, neck and head stock. On the back I found about a couple of tiny ?pin holes? in the finish, maybe a spec of dust during the finishing process or something ? not a big deal but have to take a point off for that. On the inside the glue job is very clean, not even one bit of glue to be found anywhere.

I have no doubt this guitar will last a very long time, the build quality is high and I take good care of my equipment. Try a search on eBay for one and you?ll see a bunch of on old C132?s still alive and well from the 70?s. To me that says a lot about the guitar and its maker. Hopefully the quality is the same as when they made them years ago. The warranty on the axe is a limited lifetime. The case is another story; I was always led to believe that SKB cases were solid, after 3 months of use the case has developed a small crack on the bottom next to where the hinge mounts. My guitar leaves the house once a week for practice so it doesn?t see a lot of wear and tear; I didn?t drop the case or anything so I?m not very impressed.

Overall this guitar is a solid buy, I don?t think any beginner or someone upgrading from a cheapo would be disappointed with it. The way I think about it is; that in this price range the manufacturer is going to give up something. I mean were talking about a $600-$650 guitar (less case). In the classical world that?s pocket-change. For example you might find a guitar made in Spain for the same price but it will have laminated back. You might find one made with all solid wood but that is made in China or has quality issues. Do your homework and decide what?s most important to you. That?s the reality of buying a guitar in this price range. The C132S has a lot to offer and is a well rounded package.

The Takamine C132S is made in Japan, is a classical guitar with 12 frets to the body. It is a solid top guitar, with no electronics. I purchased this guitar used with a Kaman case. It is a fairly basic beginner/intermediate classical guitar.

I am in the beginner category and have a steel string guitar. I wanted a classical to see if I could get some of the sounds of players like Willie Nelson, Scotty Emerick and some. I enjoy most all types of music (heavy metal is an exception in my personal taste), but have found certain types easier for me to play. The classical sound is different and preferred on some styles of music. I use the LaBella 830 strings and the guitar sounds wonderful. I am learning and I like the rich sound of this guitar. Better guitar players can get a variety of sounds, but I do know enough to know and experience that this guitar is capable of of a wider variety than my current skill level. I enjoy the challenge of growing to the instrument.

The action is a bit high and some of the tuning pegs are a bit loose. The bridge seems OK and the wood is excellent. No misalignment that I can tell and the neck, nut, and saddle all are properly cut and fitted. A local Luthier can correct these areas.

I bought this guitar for home playing and my own pleasure from an E-bay seller. It is doing exactly what I purchased for and the seller's description was accurate, so I have no complaints. I won't be using this guitar for gigging, but would think it could withstand live play with the corrections to the tuning pegs and action.

I have emailed Takamine with a basic question: Here is the serial number. Can you tell me when this guitar was manufactured and its description (woods, etc.) and retail price. I thought that was simple enough. I have not heard from them, so I rate Takamine customer support "The Pits". I have a Taylor steel string that I also purchased used. I also emailed Taylor. The response came promptly and with more and better information than I requested. I was simply asking the Martin people a few questions. Again, the response was prompt with lots of information. So, if I am going to sink money into a new guitar, classical or steel string, it will be either a Martin or Taylor. Takamine has a good product, but they don't seem to appreciate their own product enough to respond to a simple request.

I am beginning to play again. I was learning as a teen, but dropped it for many years. I have pursued it vigorously for the past 8 - 9 months. If this were lost or stolen, I would likely do the same thing I did with this one: go to the guitar shops, find what sounds and plays good to me, then try to find the best deal on that brand of guitar. At this point, the classical is my secondary guitar. We'll see how it goes and that will dictate future upgrades.

This one is a somewhat old, used, scratched, and someone threw a very light coat of varnish on parts of the soundboard that were probably a bit bare. It's a standard built classical guitar w/ a solid cedar top. Has pretty decent gold tuners.

The word that sums up the sound is, Wow! Its really resonant. I have to play it lighter to take advantage of all of its subtle nuances in tone. Its really rich and full and rather loud. Sometimes I think my C128 ( a one step lower grade Takamine ) is a little more controllable because its not as loud, but I think I may just be getting used to it.

Awesome action. If anything, a bit too low, but its probably just a matter of getting used to it. My C128 action is just a smidgen too high. This C132S plays alot easier, but I find myself playing it a bit too hard.

This guitar seems a bit delicate. Its very light. I think thats the way it was intended to be, but I'm treating it more carefully than my other instruments. I think it was built lighter to have more tonality, but it might be damaged easier as a tradeoff. For example, laminated soundboards are probably sturdier, but they don't sound as good as a solid top, which this one has.

Not direct experience with the company, so no opinion.

Its completely perfect for the price.

MY TAKEMINE C132S WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 92 I LOVED THE SOUND IT PRODUCED FOR ITS PRICE RANGE, AND STILL DO TODAY! IT IS A SOLID CEDAR TOP WITH LAMINATED ROSEWOOD BACK AND SIDES REALLY NICE CONSTRUCTION TOO FOR A FACTORY GUITAR!

THE SOUND ON THIS GUITAR IS VERY GOOD FOR THE MONEY! IT PROJECTS WELL AND HAS A NICE ARRAY OF SOUNDS . FOR THE MONEY IT CANT BE BEAT !!

THE GUITAR ITSELF IS IN THE TRADITIONAL RAMIREZ STYLING, DARK CEDAR
THE ACTION PLAYABILTY IS SUPERB TOO NECK IS JUST RIGHT . ON MY MODEL THERE IS AN ADJUSTABLE TRUSS ROD IN THE NECK WHICH IS A NICE FEATURE BECAUSE IT COMES IN HANDY FOR ELIMINATING FRET BUZZ. THE ONLY THING NEGATIVE ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT ADDS WEIGHT TO THE GUITAR . SO ITS A TRADE OFF BETWEEN SOUND AND MECHANICS.

THE TOP OF MY GUITAR IS AGING VERY WELL NO WARPAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ALTHOUGH YOU CAN SEE THE SHAPE OF THE BRACING ON THE TOP WHEN VIEWED AT AN ANGLE .IT SOUNDS BETTER TO ME NOW MORE THAN EVER! EVEN WITH OLD STRINGS THE GUITAR HAS METTALIC SOUNDING BASSES WHICH ARE NOT DULL AND THE TREBLES ARE CLEAR! ACTUALLY I PREFER THE SOUND OF OLD NYLONS THAN NEW.

NEVER HAD A PROBLEM

I RATE THIS GUITAR HIGHLY IT IS A VERY QUALITY FACTORY INSTRUMENT !!