The Sweetest Guitar A Working Man Can Hope For!

[Ken Lawton]

Way back in the 1970's, the venerable Ibanez Company briefly imported a guitar with a Tama Brand on it. The name Tama is more well known on the Hoshino Company drum sets. But that's another story. Today you cannot find any guitar from any manufacturer anywhere in the world with the name "Tama" at retail.
Tama produuced at least two series of acoustic guitars in a couple of years, perhaps 1975 to 1979. They were built on the general "D-45" style, and were of excellent quality. It is generally felt that the first models were not quite the same quality as the second models, however *that* is a matter for opinion and conjecture because both series are excellent guitars. The guitars have series numbers and serial numbers ink-stamped into the inside neck support, and the Tama name and city woodburned into a back-support visible through the sound hole. It is felt that the solid tops return better sound than the laminated tops, but again that is a matter of opinion... and player skill.
Some believe all the first series had a laminated top, and indeed some did have, but some apparently used solid tops. In general, the second series did have solid tops. Both series were blessed with the very best quality components, woods, inlays and workmanship.
Those who own Tama guitars are generally extremely concerned about what is to happen if they wear it out, or it gets damaged. Shopping for another guitar of the same quality, materials and workmanship today can easily choke a man when he sees the retail price of todays offerings.