Terada TR-1012

Beautiful 12 string modeled after the Gibson B45/12, but with a Brazilian rosewood sides, back, fretboard, and bridge. It has a bit of a V shape to the neck ala Martin 127074 is the serial number, early 70's. Solid sitka spruce top with bearclaws. Very nice. Has an adjustable bridge like a 70's Gibson. Scalloped bracing inside, well built, strong. This guitar lived in a gig bag and is still together in one piece.

A rich full sound. Not as full as a Taylor or Martin, but real close. Sounds nicer than any B-45 Gibson I ever played. The action is low, and easy to play. It sounds beautiful.

I got this about 35 years used. It's all original and is all joined as from the factory, so I would have to say it is built extremely well. No cracks, no laquer checking, just a few squiggles on the back. No fret wear. Obviously rarely played with any gusto.

If the 35 years is any indication, excellent!

Unknown, I think it is the same company that makes Orville Gibson's, and maybe a few other higher end Japanese guitars.

It6 has the Gibson thump tone, bright and dynamic with excellent lows, mids, and highs. This one could do road work and be fine, where a Taylor would demand very careful handling. Not a homebody fragile beast, it is an anywhere guitar that will take it and keep on going. The early 70's saw japan buy all the expensive tonewoods, burn Martins wood pile, and corner the market almost in high end tonewoods like Brazilian rosewood. This one is solid Brazilian. If it said martin it would cost 5000, but only cost 450. Not a bad deal by any means. The japanese were excellent guitar builders in the late 60's and 70's. Good stuff! A real steal at 450. A very undervalued guitar. You couldn't even buy these woods for 450.

Serial Number 730329, built 1973, Nagoya Japan, 20 frets, solid spruce top, solid brazilain rosewood sides and back, neck is mohagany, with indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge with large square ablone marks on fingerboard. White celluliod binding. Finish is gloss with satin finish on the neck when new, but has bpolished with age and playing. Body size is dimensionally the same as a Gibson B45-12, and appears to mimick a Martin for design. I had to buy a Gibson hardshell case for it and it fit like a glove. Tuners are open gear and has adjustable brige similar to a Gibson.

The sound is rich with deep lows and brilliant highs. I run medium gage strings tuned down to Eb. It has enormous power. It suits my style of playing as acoustic folk.. a lot of Lightfoot songs.

The set-up from the factory stunk. I had to have the neck straightened and adjusted and the action lowered and the nut and the bridge. The bookmatch is supurb. There are no flaws in the wood or the finish.

I have been playing this guitar regularly for 26 years. Nothing has fallen of it yet. Everyone who has played it is amazed at it's quality and sound. Not to mention names, but some say its as good as their Gibsons.

Terada who? what's a warranty? Aside from the inital setup, It has never given me one problem.

I've been playing 45 years. I also have a 32 year old Nippon Gakki FG180 Yamaha. I have played everything and nothing comes even remotely close to these guitars. Not even Martins. I love the action on the Terada. It's smooth and easy. No buzzing, rich in harmonics.