
A rare flower that's also an incredibly smooth player.
Superb setup. Ultra-playable. Impeccable construction.
Lacks some low-end thump and sustain.
$3,299
Takamine LTD 2021
esptakamine.com
Any Twin Peaks fan knows the significance of the blue rose. It's a flower that does not exist in nature (at least without dyeing or clever genetic engineering). In David Lynch's universe of the bizarre, it symbolizes the mysterious and unexplainable. Elsewhere in myth and literature, the blue rose is used to represent the unattainable. Takamine's own limited-edition LTD 2021 cutaway dreadnought, which has a lovely fretboard inlay of a blue rose, is not exactly unattainable—at least if you can spare the near-$3,300 necessary to score one. But it is destined to be a rare flower. And while it's the super-luxurious adornments that are most likely to sear this Takamine into guitar spotters' memories, there's a good chance that those who play one will remember the model as much for its superb playability as its unique and outré design elements.
Play “Mood Indigo,” Mr. Nudie!
Takamine has always deftly walked the line between old-world craft and modernity. On one hand, Takamines are renowned as workhorses—favored at various times by relentlessly touring, hard-playing musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Noel Gallagher, and Thom Yorke, who could afford to play anything, but valued Takamine's quality, smooth playability, and reliable amplified performance characteristics. But Takamine has also embraced a pretty adventurous styling sense since they rose to prominence in the late '70s. And perhaps aware of their standing as go-to instruments for high-profile stage performers, Takamine has never shied away from couture with a splash.
Takamine LTD 2021 recorded with MCA SP1 condenser microphone into Universal Audio Apollo Twin and Universal Audio Luna
The LTD 2021 embodies both facets of Takamine's persona. For starters, it's an impeccably built instrument. And while you should expect as much for a guitar north of 3K, this Takamine is as flawless as any of the many high-end acoustics with similar price tags. The aspect of the design likely to be the most polarizing—the fretboard inlay—is perfectly executed. The inlay is dyed using the same aizome method that distinguishes so many beautiful Japanese indigo fabrics. And while it evokes the flash of a Nudie suit (which would be perfect stage accompaniment for the LTD), the inlay is lovely to behold and looks more subdued up close. The beautiful finish, which Takamine calls charcoal-blue gradation, actually fades from a dark transparent indigo at the tail to a lighter shade at the neck joint. Like the fretboard inlay, it's actually considerably more subtle in person than it looks in photographs. In fact, the design element that pops the most is the abalone that makes up the purfling, rosette, and headstock inlay.
Built for Speed
While the LTD 2021's bold styling is certainly the product of labor-intensive processes, playing it couldn't feel much more effortless. The neck is a thing of beauty. There's just enough thickness in the profile to suggest a little mid-century American flattop influence, but it's far from a log and feels plenty fast for acrobatic contemporary playing techniques. That satisfaction is compounded by the notable ease of fretting. The action is low but the neck is totally free of buzz. It's hard to imagine a nicer setup, and the deep cutaway enables you to explore and leverage that playability right up to the 21st fret. (It's little wonder that so many performers that are primarily electric players have embraced this Takamine body style.)
It's hard to imagine a nicer setup, and the deep cutaway enables you to explore and leverage that playability right up to the 21st fret.
For a dreadnought, the LTD tends to be pretty mid-rangey. And even in de-tuned settings the 6th string has a robust low-mid presence that can overshadow some low overtones. Some of this mellowness may be down to the solid sapele back and laminate sapele sides, which have many of the same warm qualities of mahogany, but less of the reactive low-end sustain of rosewood. This relative lack of bottom-end oomph is not an all-bad thing, however. And the trade-off is that the 2021 sounds exceptionally well-balanced. High strings positively sparkle and the combination of high and high-mid detail and liveliness plus the easy playability make fingerstyle picking a delight. This a great guitar for conveying melodic intricacies in those settings.
In amplified applications, the LTD 2021 successfully communicates most of these virtues without too much undersaddle pickup tone-thinning or clatter. The CT4-DX preamp (which is paired with Takamine's Palathetic undersaddle transducer) may be substantial in size and heft, but it's 4-band EQ and double notch filters are capable and flexible enough to overcome most common amplified performance pitfalls and even offer options for creative EQ settings.
The Verdict
The LTD 2021's gregarious and celebratory styling are not going to tickle everyone's fancy. Its playability and sonic balance, however, are impossible to deny. And if you're the kind of performer who doesn't mind stepping out in high style, or a collector/player that treasures the unique, the LTD will scratch that itch in a big-time way. But any guitarist will appreciate the easy playability of this exceptionally well-executed instrument.
Kick off the holiday season by shopping for the guitar player in your life at Guitar Center! Now through December 24th 2022, save on exclusive instruments, accessories, apparel, and more with hundreds of items at their lowest prices of the year.
We’ve compiled this year’s best deals in the 2022 Holiday Gift Guide presented by Guitar Center.
Les Paul Desert Burst Satin
Spark MINI
GAMMA 50w
Fender Classic Series 5 Guitar Case Stand Tweed
Fender Holiday Guitar Cable Keychain
Fender Limited Edition Holiday Sweater
Harbinger MLS1000 Personal Line Array Speaker System
Sterling Audio P10 Dynamic Instrument Microphone
Sterling Audio Harmony H224 USB Audio Interface
Apogee BOOM 2x2 Audio Interface
Featuring the Adaptive Circuitry recently introduced on their Halcyon Green Overdrive, Origin Effects have brought us a pedal with a character all of its own and a new flavor of drive.
Origin Effects introduce the new M-EQ DRIVER mid booster & drive pedal. Based on a vintage Pultec studio EQ, this unique pedal offers a range of mid-focused tones, from a subtle mid boost to thick, resonant overdrive. Featuring the Adaptive Circuitry recently introduced on their Halcyon Green Overdrive, Origin Effects have brought us a pedal with a character all of its own and a new flavor of drive.
A choice of three mid-range frequencies ensures that you can boost just the right part of your guitar signal and, when pushed harder, can elicit a range of saturation from a classic “mid-hump” overdrive to fierce “cocked wah” distortion. Thanks to the Adaptive Circuitry, the high-end roll-off of the Cut control is reduced as the pedal cleans up. This allows for a smooth transition from warm overdrive to bright clean tones in response to playing dynamics or guitar volume knob changes.
Introducing... M-EQ DRIVER || Mid Booster & Drive
Built-in the UK to the highest standards, the M-EQ DRIVER continues the Origin Effects tradition of vintage, studio-inspired tones in modern guitar pedals. The Origin Effects M-EQ DRIVER is available now from Origin Effects dealers worldwide.
RRP: 259 GBP (Inc VAT) / 319 USD (Ex TAX)
For more information, please visit origineffects.com.
The new finish, according to Lava Music, is “inspired by the beauty of the golden hour,” a shining time just before sunset and after sunrise when photographers covet to capture stunning pictures.
With bright and warm golden hues, the new finish adds a brilliant metallic glow to the surface of Lava ME 3, complementing its AirSonic 2 carbon fiber unibody which features L3 Preamp with FreeBoost 2.0, delivers industry-leading sounds by breakthrough acoustic technologies, and houses a multi-touch display powered by Lava-developed HILAVA system.
Speaking of the HILAVA system, Lava Music also added four new effects: Nebula, Desert Rose, Cassette, and Edge of Breakup. As unique as their names sound, they are very much different from what we normally know about effects. Programmed into the HILAVA system, each of the four is powered by the company’s latest ArctanDrive algorithm and incorporates effects like Pitch Shift, Delay, and Reverb. And every one of those incorporated sub-effects comes with various parameters that players can adjust to design unique, overdriven sounds by just tapping on the multi-touch display. That said, those effects enable users to play with overdriven tone on an acoustic-electric guitar without even plugging in any external gear.
Lava Me 3 in Golden Hour is now available starting from $999 on LAVA MUSIC, Amazon, and local guitar dealerships near you.
For more information, please visit store.lavamusic.com.
Handcrafted by a small team, Solstice prides itself on perfect setup and playing action, stability, and longevity.
Solstice Guitars just introduced a reimagined update to its custom-T design, previously called the Transit. Now known as the Tellurion, this guitar includes a thoughtful set of new attributes. Designed to be customized, the new Tellurion features include:
- New 3D Neck Joint
This dimensional neck joint utilizes a shaped pocket that locks in place with a 3-bolt system. More surface area, more coupling, more strength, longevity, and tone. - 24-Frets Standard
The new neck joint & cutaway redesign make for an easy reach. 24 frets are now standard on all - Neck Reinforcement
Twin carbon fiber rods and a modern double-action truss rod produce incredibly stable necks. Rod access is now up at the headstock. - Hardware & Electronics
Professional components and hardware are by Gotoh. Includes hand-wired switching circuits and pickups by Lollar, Duncan, Dark Moon, or TV Jones.
The Tellurion is made with 3 tone chamber options:
- Fully chambered, semi-hollow (with or without f-hole)
- Half chambered, bass side (with or without f-hole)
- Half chambered, treble side (no hole)
A solid body option is also available using the highest graded super-light swamp ash.
Handcrafted by a small team, Solstice prides itself on perfect setup and playing action, stability, and longevity. With a base price of $2400, the new Tellurion offers high-end value with a host of intuitive options for the most demanding players.
For more information, please visit solsticeguitars.com.