Terada FW-504

1974 according to its serial number.
This Terada guitar is a dreadnought model but otherwise with more Gibsonlike features such as the metal bridge in wood embedded.
This bridge gives the possibility to tune each string exactly.
High gloss finish. A nice profiled neck with a bound rosewood fingerboard. Fretwork has been done with care.
The soundbox has some interesting features. The top isn't laminated
but absolutely a solid spruce one. The sides are solid maple while the back is laminated maple. This feature can be seen at 19th century guitars when luthiers did this on purpose.
The back looks gorgeous with this tight fine tigerstripe mirrored
look. The tuners are of the classic open type.
They work fine but a little bit poor regarding its further qualities. Rosewood bridge.
MOP inlay in the headstock. Pearloid positionmarkers.
As the sound of this guitar really lies in the top category I will
be as critical to the rest though in fact it is not fair....

This guitar allready suprised me with the old strings on it when I bought it. There were some loose bracings apparently because it wasn't taken care for. A lot of fretwear but I can fix that in a proper way. No serious damage to the rest of this instrument.

After having fixed the loose bracing. I've put on a set of new strings and was really surprised. I realised I had to compare this
beauty with one of my Martin guitars, a D28 from 1978.
After one day having the strings in tune you are really capable
of valuing it's tone but that counts for all acoustics.
Hardly any differences in tone though the Terada tone lies somewhere
between a Martin and a Gibson, probably due to the Gibson like bridge construction. Really astonishing as this guitar sounds.
I have quite a huge collection and was planning to sell it but for
this moment I really don't know yet.
It has the qualities of a Martin soundwise:
This guitar has a loud, open tone. Plenty of midrange, FULL & tight low-end, and clear but not overly-bright treble. A powerful sounding guitar. The Martin may have a bit of more refinement regarding the trebles but hardly detactable.

I bought this guitar being 30 years old and the neck is still straight as is the soundboard after having repaired the X bracing.
The inlay on the headstock is a bit crudely done and the internal bracing of a Martin has been done with more care if you want to compare these two guitars. However, the choosen woods are of a high quality. But if you consider the price back then you have to conclude
that it is really satisfying.

This guitar is really reliable when properly taken care for.
it has aged gracefully. Typical nicks and scratches but what's wrong with that. But what emabarasses me: please people cut your left hand nails before playing your guitar as the marks of fingernails on this fingerboard were quite deep. I can fix it as well but only once!
I really would do a gig without a backup.

Terada is still in business but I do not expect any customer support after this period of time. They're making the fine Gretch guitars now! They did a lot of productions for the Americain guitar industry
such as Epiphone among others. These guys really know what they are doing. There really are some great instruments to discover coming
from Japan out of the seventies and eighties. The Tama and early Ibanez Artwoods, built in the Tama factory have been done with greater care for the interior bracing but I can only say this when I compare it to my instrument.

?? have been playing for a long time now, electric guitar, classical guitar and of course steelstring. At this moment I'm more into the
19th century guitars where there's a lot to discover.
I've owned all well known brands and still own a variety of them.
This Terada guitar (my second one)really astonished me. That's great
as I have Gibson's, Martins a.s.o.
The other Terada was a Gibson ES 335 model but with more deluxe features. I sold it to a pupil of mine. At that time i had a Gibson ES 325 as well but the Terada was much better soundwise!
That particular instrument was built with great care in every detail!
And indeed, the top appeared to be mahogany, but laminated of course.
When my pupil want's to sell that one I'm the first one to be there...