HAND MADE IN 2022 - TAKAMINE No200FH - SWEET & POWERFUL CLASSICAL CONCERT GUITAR

Description: Takamine No200FHThe guitar was made in 2022 being part of the Takamine FH line of classical guitars. For unknown to me reasons Takamine’s Japanese website never included these FH models. No200FH was priced the same as second-best of regular lineup model No37E, with both made with solid Indian Rosewood b/s. The highest Takamine model No39E was made with solid Madagascar Rosewood b/s. However, in Summer of 2024 Takamine decided to discontinue all their previous classical models destined for Japanese domestic market. They will either stop making classical guitars all together or decisively raise their prices while announcing a new lineup. Within just the last couple of years the prices of Takamine guitars made for export have jumped by nearly 100%. In 2022 model No200FH and its sister Model No37 from regular line, were both priced nearly 3 times higher than model C132S, which is currently sold in USA for $1,950USD. It is rather obvious that if distributed on US market in 2023 model No200F would be priced minimum $3500USD, but very likely higher. Although model FH 200FH is lacking ornamental purfling of model No37, and amber tinted finish, it is made from higher grade woods, has the same Kohno style bridge decoration and its own unique rosette. This terrific instrument is of higher grade than Takamine models distributed in the West. Takamine Hirade models made exclusively for export are no match to guitars made for Japanese domestic market. Model H8SS stands no chance against this 200FH guitar. This guitar is quite loud and produces sweet and lyrical yet relatively bright tone, with round colorful & brilliant trebles and deeply resonating full of overtones basses, all notes magnified by very impressive sustain. Model No37 sounds somewhat warmer, with deeper basses yet less lyrical with less brilliant trebles.Being practically brand new, this guitar needs to be played systematically for at least a year to reveal its full potential.This guitar remains in mint condition. I am not sure if its high grade hard polyfoam case is sold by Takamine.Specifications:Top: Solid Spruce/original 7 braces fan/ urethaneBack & sides: Solid Indian Rosewood/urethaneFingerboard: EbonyNeck: Mahogany without the truss rodScale 650 mmWidth at Nut: 51.50 mmFactory action is set to 4.00 mm under E6 and 3.00 with lots of extra room on the saddle. This guitar will be shipped in a hard polyfoam case in very good condition. THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THIS CASE IS TO PROTECT THE GUITAR DURING SHIPMENT. I WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OR MAKE ADDITIONAL PICTURES, NOR I WILL ACCEPT ANY COMPLAINTS. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS CASE YOU WILL NEED TO BUY A DIFFERENT ONE. WHEN YOU BUY ANY GUITAR, YOU MUST ANTICIPATE TAKING IT TO YOUR LOCAL GUITAR SHOP FOR FINAL ADJUSTMENTS CALLED “SETUP”. DEPENIDNG ON YOUR PLAYING TECHNIQUE, THIS SETUP ON USED GUITARS MAY INCLUDE NEW CUSTOM-MADE NUT AND SADDLE. IF YOU HEAR STRING BUZZ IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GUITAR IS DEFECTIVE. IF YOU PLAY HARD ENOUGH ALL BASS STRINGS WILL BUZZ OVER THE FRETS, UNLESS THEY ARE SUSPENDED VERY FAR FROM THE FINGERBOARD. UNLESS YOU PLAY QUITE GENTLY, YOU CAN’T HAVE LOW ACTION AND NO BUZZES. KEEP IN MIND THAT CELLO-LIKE BASSES ON HIGH GRADE CLASSICAL GUITARS HAVE THEIR NATURAL “BUZZ”. Takamine Guitars HistoryTakamine Gakki was founded in 1962 and during its first few years of operations, it wasn’t considered as leading Japanese guitar manufacture. It all changed in 1968 when Masaru Kohno took this company “under his umbrella” (most likely he became its owner or co-owner) and his pupil Mass Hirade became its director and leading Master Luthier. Until late 1970s Masaru Kohno personally supervised guitar production at Takamine Co. Right after this transition in 1968 Takamine Gakki adopted ne guitar designs launching 3 series of guitars: Elite, TG and the most precious Yamato guitars (by early 1970s renamed to Aranjuez).Elite series had Ramirez style headstock and Ramirez style bracing. TG series guitars kept old style Takamine headstock but also had Ramirez style bracing. Aranjuez guitars had Takamine’s unique design headstock (used on Takamine guitars until today) and Kohno style bracing (which is nothing but simple lattice bracing). American luthier & guitar importer (also manufacturer of Luthier & Aranjuez strings) Juan Orozco invested and was deeply engaged in creation of Aranjuez guitar brand, even though these guitars were made only for Japanese domestic market. The truth behind Aranjuez guitars is that right from the start they were designed to satisfy less wealthy Japanese guitar enthusiasts, who couldn’t afford guitars made by Masaru Kohno or other Japanese elite luthiers. Aranjuez guitar have always offered exceptional value for the money. The bodies of all models were made by Takamine workshop. Top Aranjuez models were being finished at Kohno workshop and equipped with soundboards made by Masaru Kohno or his associates. Traditionally the very top Aranjuez model was assembled personally by Masaru Kohno. These very top Aranjuez models were nothing, but Kohno guitars priced 50% down. Aranjuez 7 made in 1973 was decisively better than Kohno #10 from the same year and could easily compete with Kohno #15. Aranjuez 720 (priced 200 000 yen) made in 2000 could easily compete with Kohno model Professional R (priced 450 000 yen). Until 1976 all Aranjuez guitars had Kohno stamp on their labels. Starting in 1977 Kohno stamp was no longer used on Aranjuez guitars, even though their production was still closely supervised by Masaru Kohno’s workshop.In the same late 1970s Takamine Gakki launched new series of guitars named simply “Guitarras Takamine”. These “new” Takamine guitars had the same construction and looks as “old” Aranjuez guitars. The lower Takamine models 20,30 and 40 had their own unique rosettes, while higher models 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 had Kohno style rosettes. The very top Takamine models 15 & 20 had Kohno style purflings and Kohno style decorated bridge. This classical guitar lineup remained unchanged until late 1980s. Since early 1980s bodies of Aranjuez guitar were made by Ryoji Matsuoka, while the very top model still assembled at Kohno’s and later (after Masaru Kohno’s death in 1998) at Masaki Sakurai/Kohno workshop. After Matsuoka’s workshop was closed in September of 2014, bodies of Aranjuez guitars are again made by Takamine co. while the very top Aranjuez 725 is assembled personally by Masaki Sakurai who also makes its soundboard all by himself. Just like in the early days of Aranjuez guitars this model 725 (priced 275 000 yen) is of the same grade as Masaki Sakurai model Concert R (priced 420 000 yen).

Price: 2500 USD

Location: Alpharetta, Georgia

End Time: 2025-01-07T16:18:02.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD