tacoma guitars

[cchipman]

hello, i am thinking of buying an acoustic guitar. i am looking at a Tacoma because they seem to play very easy, the model i played (DR-38 $1200 model) sounds just as good if not better than many martin's and other brands that cost $3000 or more. basically im asking all of your opinions on tacoma guitars. they dont seem to be quit as used as alot of other acoustic guitars so i dont know how many people have had a chance to use them. thanks for your time.

 

charlie

[PapaTom]

I'm a Tacoma guitar fan. I have a DM9 and a DM18. Love 'em both. There are a few of us here and I'm sure that they will have answers for you. I've played a DM38 (spruce & rosewood) and liked it a lot. Tacoma is a relatively new company (1996), so a lot of people are not that acquainted with them yet. I'm sure that others will soon jump in with opinions. Good choice.

[EvilTwin]

I love my DM-18.

 

Tacoma makes some excellent instruments. I can't say enough good things about them.

 

And as you've noticed, you can get an amazing Tacoma for less than a scaled-down version of other expensive guitars. My DM-18 costed me about $700. A comparable Martin (solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, gloss finish, fancy rosette and inlays) would cost at least twice that much.

[ms960]

I have a new Tacoma DR14 that I absolutely love! It's got a spruce top with solid rosewood back/sides. Top is gloss, back and sides are satin. The fingerboard and bridge are ebony, and the nut is 1.75". Soundwise, it's awesome. It's got great balance, with enough bass to feel but nice trebles as well. It's an extremely well built guitar and one I plan on hanging onto for a long time.

[bsman]

I have an absolutely bare-bones, bottom-of-the-line EM9. It has a very thin finish and picks up scratches and dings remarkably easily. It has an ugly bridge and a mis-shapen headstock with the word "Tacoma" burned into it. And, with all that, I love it almost as much as my kids. It plays 'like butter' and has a tone that (for solo playing and accompanying my singing) is absolutely the sweetest thing going. I would buy another in a second, but I think I will keep this one until it looks like Willie Nelson's trigger (which at this rate shouldn't be that long!)

[SongMan]

My DM-9 is as good as most guitars under $1000 dollar street price and I only paid $430 out the door including gigbag. HOwever, i'm not sure if 1500 dollar tacoma will be better than used santa cruz or other small manufacturer. Personally, i would get used santa cruz or Collings anyday over 1500 dollar Tacoma. Yes, you would need to spend about 500 dollar more for used collings,but definetly worth it IMHO. Again, under 1000 dollar, Tacoma is probably one of the best. Personal opinion, but i think Tacoma Dm-9 sounds step better than Larrivee's under a 1000 dollars. But, so subjective.

[EvilTwin]

Originally posted by bsman I have an absolutely bare-bones, bottom-of-the-line EM9. It has a very thin finish and picks up scratches and dings remarkably easily. It has an ugly bridge and a mis-shapen headstock with the word "Tacoma" burned into it. And, with all that, I love it almost as much as my kids. It plays 'like butter' and has a tone that (for solo playing and accompanying my singing) is absolutely the sweetest thing going. I would buy another in a second, but I think I will keep this one until it looks like Willie Nelson's trigger (which at this rate shouldn't be that long!)

 

I've really wanted one of the little jumbo guitars...how do they sound with a flat pick? I do a good deal of fingerpicking, but it's about 50/50 with a pick.

 

Originally posted by SongMan Personal opinion, but i think Tacoma Dm-9 sounds step better than Larrivee's under a 1000 dollars. But, so subjective.

 

I honestly agree with you there, and I REALLY like Larrivee guitars.

 

But for the price of an -03 Larrivee, I got my DM-18 (with a nicer gloss finish to boot). And I'll be damned if I've played ANY guitar under a grand that can match the Tacoma's I've played in the price range.

 

Once you go into the $1,000 market, though, I think Larrivee and Martin are making some great models. $1,500 and up, though, and I think you can actually start looking beyond the mass manufacturers.

[Luv2Play]

I too have a DM18 that is a great guitar....looks very nice and sounds even better. I have had the opportunity to A/B it with guitars up to $5000, and I can honestly say that it held it's own with ALL of them, and was better than most. I really wanted to like and buy something else, but that darn Tacoma always sounded better to me. I finally told my wife that I must have been real lucky with this Tacoma, because I can't find anything else that sounds better(she was happy to hear that). Now, for me it is like holding a 55 gallon drum under my arm, but it sounds so sweet I deal with it.

 

I did finally find something that sounded so much better to my ears, that it warranted another purchase....an Adir/EIR H&D OM, WOW!!!!!

[bsman]

 

Originally posted by EvilTwin I've really wanted one of the little jumbo guitars...how do they sound with a flat pick? I do a good deal of fingerpicking, but it's about 50/50 with a pick.

 

 

 

The "standard natter" is that the EM9 breaks up when strummed with a pick. My guitar must not have heard that. I find that I get excellent volume, articulation, and tone with a pick. I probably use about 80/20 finger/pick, and I will say that my pick technique is rather on the understated side (I've never broken a string playing!) However, take a pick to the store with you and give it a try - I think you'll find that it will hold up quite well. After all, it's got a nice, thick spruce top and a little more depth to the body than most guitars in its size range.