Takamine E-9

1982 model, made in Japan. I bought it in 1983 from my teacher. I wanted to play Earl Klugh type tunes, fingerstyle chord melodies. Solid Spruce top, beatiful grained Rosewood sides and back. Ebony fingerboard with no markers, mahogany neck 2" width at nut. 3 band EQ (vol, treble, & bass) with a very good piezo pickup. Cutaway model. Hardshell case. Total package. No compaints here. Would match up with anything that's sold now. This thing is 22 years old.

Superb sound. I've been playing it for 21 years. Classical players love it's unplugged sound and crossover players are crazy about it's plugged sound. For it's time, the 3 band EQ was adequate. Has a wonderful sounding piezo pickup. The woods on this instrument have aged beautifully.

Action was low and perfect for my style of playing. Did not have to adjust. The finish is excellent. The tonewoods were picked perfectly. The neck feels really smooth. Everything is still original, including the gold-plated tuners with MOP buttons.

I have owned this for 21 years. Medium gigging and lots of playing at home. Nothing has gone wrong (I do take care of my guitars though). The finish has not faded, all hardware still functions. Have not had to replace anything. I played this as my main guitar for 15 years without a backup and never worried about it. Solid reliability.

Have not had to contact Takamine since nothing has gone wrong. I emailed them for some info on the guitar last year and good quick response.

I've been playing guitar for 35 years. I've owned this 1982 E9 since 1983. Never wanted/needed to get a backup for it. Just purchased a $2K Ramirez 2CWE as an alternate. They are so close in sound, fit, and feel that it's too weird. Even with the Ramirez, I don't hesitate in picking up the E9 and playing it up til this day. It was expensive then (83) but I don't regret it. It's one of the best sounding nylon string guitars I've seen. Everyone who's played it says so. Not sure about the new Hirades.

Classical, single cutaway, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard and bridge, mahogany neck, gold plated tuners, piezo pickup under the bridge w/passive 2 band eq. Inlaid marquetry at the sound hole, and yellow and black binding around the body and on the back. A simple, but elegant looking guitar. Mine, according to Takamine, was made in 1982. I don't know how long these guitars were produced. Made in Japan. Mine came with a hard case, plush lined, perfect fit.

The electronics are ancient by today's standards, but still this guitar sounds very good plugged in. I prefer running it through a 10 band eq to get it to sound exactly like it does acoustically, but the lead guitarrist in our band runs it through God know what al pedals and gets some marvelous sounds out of it. I susally play it unplugged. And as an acoustic instrument it sounds absolutely marvelous. A rich, dark, tone (probably because of the rosewood back and sides). Even across its entire register. Not the same volume nor richness you would expect from a $10,000 hand made Spanish guitar, of course, but the best sounding classical I've ever touched by far. As a solo instrument it needs no amplification in a 150-200 seat auditorium. It has good sustain with a strong attack. Our lead guitarrist likes what he describes as its sweet, bell-like, tone.

The ebony fretboard feels like playing on alabaster. The action is low and very easy to play with no string buzzing anywhere, from any string. I presume the action is how it left the factory, but since I bought it used I cannot be sure of this. I think I hear some fall off in volume in the pickup on the treble side, but my lead guitarrist does not (so take that for what it's worth). I can see some imperfections in the grain of the top that do not seem to effect the sound. At first glance I thought this was clouding of the finish, but on closer inspection it is in the wood itself.

WEll, it's 21 years old and still plays fine. Personally I wouldn't take any guitar on a gig wothout a backup.

Never needed any.

Were something to happen to this one I don't know if I could replace it, but I would want to. It's a delight to play, feels good. Acoustically it sounds marvelous, but does not have the projection that a really fine classical would, but then you're looking at ten times the price also. I bought it based on description only from Elderly Instruments. I had played some Yamahas, and Alvarezs, but none were to my particular liking or in my price range. I think I got lucky with this one. I also have a 75 Strat, a Washburn J-6, an alvarez 12 string, and an Ibanez base. I usually play either through a Fender twin or plug directly into a PA.