Takamine LTD 2012 'Michi'
you, the black gloss finish shows up all fingerprints, and it almost seems too posh to play. You also get a top-of-the- line Takamine endpin jack socket and there is a matching gold-plated strap button offset at the heel. Perhaps a matching black heel cap would look smarter still.Sounds
Vibrant and alive, there's an exciting balance between this acoustic's depth and warmth of projection and roundness in the top end. It's a luxuriant sound, but, then, you'd expect that. It's sonorous, wide, engulfing and prominent.
"There's an exciting balance between this acoustic's depth and warmth of projection and roundness in the top end"
Plugging in, the Takamine Palathetic pickup and Cool Tube preamp create a nicely detailed tone. You can mix in more warmth from the 12AU7 dual triode valve, and the harmonic content of the sound takes on more vibrancy.
The mid-range is selectable from 250Hz to 4.5kHz. You can then cut or boost at whatever frequency suits, while the bass and treble sliders quickly tailor the sound - your personalised 'voice'.
It's a very flexible and intuitive system, though it does add physical weight to the guitar and, acoustically, the timbre is so dynamic, you would surely want to mic this guitar whenever you could.
Once upon a time, Takamine was top of the heap in terms of electro-acoustic performance. Today, things are very different, with all sorts of pickup systems and electros right across the price range. Limited editions also proliferate today - annual, seasonal, etc - which certainly wasn't the case back in 1987.
What hasn't changed, though, is Takamine's dedication to quality in terms of build and electronics - a major reason why we still see so many on stages large and small.
The 'Michi' reminds us, if needed, of the sumptuous quality of Takamine's high-end instruments. It's a guitar that holds its own, 50 years on, in the vastly expanded world of the modern-production electro-acoustic.
Read more about Takamine LTD 2012 'Michi' at MusicRadar.com
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