posted 07-18-2004 11:33 PM            

Is it more or less a D-41 copy ?

I got one of those in the first half of the 70's.

Great guitar !

posted 07-19-2004 04:42 AM            

First, a roughly 12-strong range of medium-quality Martin-dread inspired guitars, including D-41, D-45 and D-35 style models including 12-strings, most with laminated spruce tops, some solid (unusual), most with lots of plastic pearl. Sold via the Ibanez catalog in Japan, but as a separate line. Towards the end of this first series, original styling cues such as squared-off bridges and non-Martin pickguards were introduced. Most peghead logos were a vertical ‘TAMA’, in the old CF Martin style. Distributed in the US by Chesbro Music Company of Idaho Falls, Idaho. ‘Tama’ is a Japanese river, by the way.

Second: a similar, plainer but actually higher-quality series made roughly 1977-79, all with solid mahogany or rosewood ('jacaranda' in catalog) backs/sides, solid spruce tops, ebony fingerboards/bridges, plus wider headstocks with a single abalone ‘T’ logo. These tend to be heavy but can be really very reasonable flatpickers and rhythm sluggers, with signs of fine build quality including a dart volute and real wood binding and purfling... obviously small-shop made.

In 1980 the Tama guitars were absorbed into the Ibanez acoustic line, renamed the Artwood Series and expanded in terms of models but gradually downgraded in terms of quality. Early ones are still pretty good, though.

I have a Tama TG-120 model, similar to this: http://www.vintage-guitars.se/1977_Tama_TG-120_80103114.jpg

Harmony Central story etc here: http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Tama/TG-120-01.html

Some original Tama catalog pics:
http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/11/3202.html?1073597510

Someone once wrote a great Tama guitar history in a newsgroup, but I’m darned if I can find it. If I do, I’ll post again.

Hope this helps.

Rick

[This message has been edited by peghead (edited 07-19-2004).]

posted 07-19-2004 11:48 AM               

Mine is all solid wood, bought in 1978. I have maintained it in good condition and it sounds great; better than some new guitars I try out.

Please tell us your model number. There was a guy I contacted here last year from Germany who had a collection of several of them. I will post his page, but I have lost contact with him and can't get a response to my Emails. More later.

posted 07-20-2004 02:35 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by peghead:
Bassguy, do post that German Tama site if you can find it - I can't. Thanks!

Rick

---

As I said, I lost touch with him. Here is the last Email he sent me. YOu might be interested in the info. I'll try and find the web site.
.....................
Hallo Guy,
Thank you for the mail. The report that you sent to me was very
interesting and they say that Tama guitars are really fine. The picture
shows a TG-120 that is the same as the TG-80 but with back and sides in
rosewood instead of mahagony. I have mostly Tama guitars:
1 piece TG-80
1 piece TG-120
1 piece TG 120/12 string
2 pieces TW-07, similar to the TG-80 but with a little lower quality of
the top and with plastic bindings also for the fingerboard
1 piece TK-50 with laminated rosewood back and sides, rest like the
TG-120
1 piece 3558, from the older model range, description and picture on my
web site
1 piece 3560, also from the older model range
1 piece TC-10, classical guitar ceder/rosewood and also very fine

That's my Tama collection !

I have also a Albert&Muller guitar, model S-2 custom. This is one of
the leading guitarmakers here in Germany. The web-site is http://www.albert-mueller.de. I ordered this guitar as there was a very
positive test in a German magazine. I sold my Martin D-35 for that
guitar. I will send you also pictures of it as it is really
beautyfull.

I do a little of finger-style, picking. I am not a very good player. I
participated in several workshops but did not have the time and energy
to go on with the work after the end. So I stayed on the same level for
several years (I still like to play "Greensleeves" or "Freight Train").
I have a personal relationship to Jacques Stotzem (www.stotzem.com)
that is one of the leading fingerstyle guitarists in Europe. He is also
known in America and Great Britain as he is endorcer for Fishman
transducers and now for Avalon guitars (part of Lowden guitars). There
is now also a signature guitar from Avalon. I like his music, but the
actual pieces are a little bit too difficult for me.

Greetings from sunny Germany

Juergen

posted 07-20-2004 02:40 PM               

It has a deep, rich sound that is better than most new guitars I play in the stores. I bought it new in 1979, so I guess these things do improve with age.

posted 07-21-2004 12:08 AM            

http://home.t-online.de/home/pjs.hufschlag/tama.html

this once was mine: