Newly acquired guitar.. PICS

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:21 pm

My father brought this home. He's always buying and selling, so I doubt I'll get to hang on to this one, but it's fun to play. Really smooth. Looks like... Spruce top, ovangkol or rosewood? sides and back, I've got no idea what the middle piece is made of... koa?

It's a Tama. Apparently they stopped making guitars in 1980. Other than that, I think they make drums..?? If anyone has any info on this company, I'd appreciate some education.

Kahn · Post by **Kahn** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:22 pm

Looks cool, never heard of Tama

Buck · Post by **Buck** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:37 pm

how does it sound?

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:10 pm

I just put new strings on it and WOW is this guitar awesome. It puts my $600 Alvarez to shame.

It's got a lot of punch to it, really bassy. Nice clear mids. Highs aren't as profound. Could mistake this for a martin.. looks, feel, and sound wise. So close, it could be a martin rip-off. Pretty sure it's all solid wood. I want to keep this guitar badly.

Beauford33 · Post by **Beauford33** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:17 pm

...my first drum set was from Tama. Had no idea they made guitars.

Weird. Good drum sets though. The fusion kits anyway. That three piece back is sexy.

czech · Post by **czech** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:20 pm

yeah, i dont think they would make a three piece back on a laminate. try and keep it!

mattinbeloit · Post by **mattinbeloit** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:24 am

It looks to me like a ripoff of an older Martin D-35. I bet it sounds good, I played a Tama that was a copy of a D-28 and it sounded preatty good.

Reckless · Post by **Reckless** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:23 am

jrbleiguy wrote:I just put new strings on it and WOW is this guitar awesome. It puts my $600 Alvarez to shame.

It's got a lot of punch to it, really bassy. Nice clear mids. Highs aren't as profound. Could mistake this for a martin.. looks, feel, and sound wise. So close, it could be a martin rip-off. Pretty sure it's all solid wood. I want to keep this guitar badly.

which model Alvarez do you have?

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:39 am

Reckless Mind wrote:
jrbleiguy wrote:I just put new strings on it and WOW is this guitar awesome. It puts my $600 Alvarez to shame.

It's got a lot of punch to it, really bassy. Nice clear mids. Highs aren't as profound. Could mistake this for a martin.. looks, feel, and sound wise. So close, it could be a martin rip-off. Pretty sure it's all solid wood. I want to keep this guitar badly.
which model Alvarez do you have?

http://www.alvarezgtr.com/productpage.h ... ItemID=120

6_strings_for_life · Post by **6_strings_for_life** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:14 pm

Whats the deal with the G bridge Pin?

Appfro · Post by **Appfro** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:20 pm

Beauford33 wrote:...my first drum set was from Tama. Had no idea they made guitars.

Weird. Good drum sets though. The fusion kits anyway. That three piece back is sexy.

EnFuego · Post by **EnFuego** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:35 pm

definately EIR back (the two outside pieces), dont know about the middle...could be Oak, but that isnt the most common wood for guitars. Looks great.

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:27 am

6_strings_for_life wrote:Whats the deal with the G bridge Pin?

I snapped the original on accident. All of them are pretty brittle. I went and bought new ones, but they were to thin, so I just took one off of an unused guitar for the time being.

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:15 am

Disturbing news...

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/D ... 565-1.html

If this guy knows what he's talking about, then the back and sides aren't solid. The guitar sounds good, regardless, but why make a laminate 3 piece back.

Is there any way to tell if it's solid or not?

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:12 pm

An email from my father's friend if anyone is interested...

"It is a 3565, like I thought based upon your description of the 3-piece back. The sides and two side pieces of the back are laminated rosewood, most likely Indian, while the center piece is laminated jacaranda, a type of Brazilian rosewood species that was banned at one point. My Tama that brought the high bid was the model 3558, similar in construction except it was a copy of a higher Martin model so it had large abalone position markers inlaid on the neck, more mother of pearl around the soundhole, etc., and the back and sides were all made of laminated jacaranda. That is considered the ultimate tonewood and it is hard to find a guitar with that for the back and sides. Looks good, too, with that bearclaw pattern."