Takamine Announces On-Board Tube Preamp Design

(Click for a close-up)

(Click for a close-up)

At the Winter NAMM show, Takamine Guitars announced a new on-board preamp design with the CTP-1 CoolTube preamp. The CTP-1 CoolTube preamp is a true "tube" preamp design that mounts directly inside an acoustic guitar.

"Nothing sweetens a nice clean acoustic guitar signal like a tube preamp," says Takamine product manager Mike Markure. "It took a couple years, but we found a way to make it sweet, make it cool, and make it fit."

The CTP-1 CoolTube preamp features a 12AX7 tube input circuit, a semi-parametric EQ section and a chromatic tuner. One other new feature is an auxiliary input with a blend control that can accept a second add-on pickup source such as a magnetic soundhole pickup, soundboard transducer, or internal mic.

The CTP-1 CoolTube preamp is interchangeable with every preamp in Takamine's SoundChoice preamp system. This new system will come as standard equipment on Takamine Nashville Series, Supernatural, and Hirade guitars.