Acoustic / Takamine
Takamine Elite TW-40G – Natural, Early Vintage, approx. 1975
Listed on Reverb
1 644.00 EUR
Original Reverb prices in EUR. Check the listing for shipping and the final total.
Complete your purchase on your chosen platform. Check the individual listing for shipping costs, dispatch time and return terms — Reverb and Allegro have separate conditions. View this listing’s terms on Reverb ↗
- Model
- TW-40G Elite
- Year
- 1975
- Finish
- Natural
- SKU
- A25248
- Condition
- Used — see description
SELECTED VINTAGE GUITARS · INSTAGRAM
See this instrument on video
A video presentation of the instrument offered here.
Service and condition at a glance
Work and modifications
A proprietary passive pickup was installed. Refretting, crafting a bone nut and saddle, fingerboard leveling, and a setup of the string action were performed.
Technical condition
The instrument is mechanically and electronically functional after a luthier verification. The truss rod works properly, and the frets are brand new.
About this instrument
Instrument description in English.
Takamine Elite TW-40G is a Japanese Dreadnought acoustic guitar, manufactured around 1975 at the Takamine Gakki factory. The Elite series was a line of instruments modeled on traditional Western acoustic designs. This unit features a spruce top and rosewood back and sides. After our service work, which included refretting, crafting a bone nut and saddle, and installing a proprietary passive pickup system, the guitar is ready to play.
Technical specification
Manufacturer: Takamine
Model: Elite TW-40G
Year of production: Approx. 1975
Body: Spruce / Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: Medium (Condition: 100% – new)
Pickups: Proprietary passive acoustic pickup
Electronics: Passive
Visual condition: Visible signs of use (details in description)
Finish: Natural
Weight: 2.22 kg / 4.89 lbs
Body and construction The Dreadnought-shaped soundbox features a top plate made of spruce, with the back and sides made of rosewood. The instrument is finished with a clear lacquer (Natural). Inside, a traditional X-bracing system is used. In our workshop, the lacquer coating went through a cleaning and waxing process.
Neck and ergonomics The mahogany neck features a profile similar to a "C" shape. The neck is paired with a rosewood fingerboard. As part of the service work, the old frets were removed, the fingerboard was leveled, and brand new Medium size frets were installed. A new nut made of natural bone with a width of 43 mm was also fitted. The fingerboard surface was cleaned and conditioned.
Sound The instrument is enriched with a proprietary passive amplification system (acoustic pickup) mounted inside the body.
Characteristics: The use of a spruce top and a rosewood body generates a frequency response with a distinct, deep bass and clear high frequencies.
Dynamics: The acoustic resonance of the instrument is transferred by the pickup directly to the sound system. The absence of active electronics prevents signal compression, retaining a natural response to articulation strength.
Additional information
The Elite series was produced by the Takamine Gakki factory in the 1970s, offering the Japanese market instruments based on the specifications of American classics – in this unit, the headstock shape suggests it was modeled after Gallagher brand models.
The use of rosewood on the back and sides of the body is a construction detail found in higher-tier models from that period, affecting the broader spectrum of transferred frequencies.
The installed pickup is our proprietary, passive solution that relies on the direct transfer of top plate vibrations to the jack and does not require battery power.
The service work we performed included: fingerboard leveling, complete refretting, crafting a bone nut, installing the pickup, and setting the string action.
Hardware
Bridge: Rosewood – the bridge features a custom-made saddle crafted from natural bone in our workshop, improving vibration transfer.
Tuners: Closed-gear mechanisms. The chrome hardware went through a cleaning process and retains its mechanical efficiency.
Instrument condition
Technical condition: The instrument is mechanically and electronically functional after a luthier verification. The truss rod works properly, and the frets are brand new.
Visual condition: The guitar shows signs of use appropriate for its age (around 50 years). Scratches, dull spots, and minor dings can be noticed on the lacquer coating. The instrument has no structural cracks on the top or back.
Setup and Modifications: A proprietary passive pickup was installed. Refretting, crafting a bone nut and saddle, fingerboard leveling, and a setup of the string action were performed.
Why choose this instrument
New frets and bone components: The complete replacement of frets and crafting of bone elements eliminate the wear resulting from decades of use, ensuring proper intonation.
Aged wood: The combination of spruce and rosewood, after five decades of seasoning, offers a stable and distinct acoustic resonance.
Proprietary pickup system: The installed passive pickup allows for the direct connection of the guitar to an amplifier or studio equipment without the need for a microphone.
Ready to play: After our general luthier overhaul, the guitar is fully prepared for regular playing without the need for additional service visits.
Technical specification
Manufacturer: Takamine
Model: Elite TW-40G
Year of production: Approx. 1975
Body: Spruce / Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: Medium (Condition: 100% – new)
Pickups: Proprietary passive acoustic pickup
Electronics: Passive
Visual condition: Visible signs of use (details in description)
Finish: Natural
Weight: 2.22 kg / 4.89 lbs
Body and construction The Dreadnought-shaped soundbox features a top plate made of spruce, with the back and sides made of rosewood. The instrument is finished with a clear lacquer (Natural). Inside, a traditional X-bracing system is used. In our workshop, the lacquer coating went through a cleaning and waxing process.
Neck and ergonomics The mahogany neck features a profile similar to a "C" shape. The neck is paired with a rosewood fingerboard. As part of the service work, the old frets were removed, the fingerboard was leveled, and brand new Medium size frets were installed. A new nut made of natural bone with a width of 43 mm was also fitted. The fingerboard surface was cleaned and conditioned.
Sound The instrument is enriched with a proprietary passive amplification system (acoustic pickup) mounted inside the body.
Characteristics: The use of a spruce top and a rosewood body generates a frequency response with a distinct, deep bass and clear high frequencies.
Dynamics: The acoustic resonance of the instrument is transferred by the pickup directly to the sound system. The absence of active electronics prevents signal compression, retaining a natural response to articulation strength.
Additional information
The Elite series was produced by the Takamine Gakki factory in the 1970s, offering the Japanese market instruments based on the specifications of American classics – in this unit, the headstock shape suggests it was modeled after Gallagher brand models.
The use of rosewood on the back and sides of the body is a construction detail found in higher-tier models from that period, affecting the broader spectrum of transferred frequencies.
The installed pickup is our proprietary, passive solution that relies on the direct transfer of top plate vibrations to the jack and does not require battery power.
The service work we performed included: fingerboard leveling, complete refretting, crafting a bone nut, installing the pickup, and setting the string action.
Hardware
Bridge: Rosewood – the bridge features a custom-made saddle crafted from natural bone in our workshop, improving vibration transfer.
Tuners: Closed-gear mechanisms. The chrome hardware went through a cleaning process and retains its mechanical efficiency.
Instrument condition
Technical condition: The instrument is mechanically and electronically functional after a luthier verification. The truss rod works properly, and the frets are brand new.
Visual condition: The guitar shows signs of use appropriate for its age (around 50 years). Scratches, dull spots, and minor dings can be noticed on the lacquer coating. The instrument has no structural cracks on the top or back.
Setup and Modifications: A proprietary passive pickup was installed. Refretting, crafting a bone nut and saddle, fingerboard leveling, and a setup of the string action were performed.
Why choose this instrument
New frets and bone components: The complete replacement of frets and crafting of bone elements eliminate the wear resulting from decades of use, ensuring proper intonation.
Aged wood: The combination of spruce and rosewood, after five decades of seasoning, offers a stable and distinct acoustic resonance.
Proprietary pickup system: The installed passive pickup allows for the direct connection of the guitar to an amplifier or studio equipment without the need for a microphone.
Ready to play: After our general luthier overhaul, the guitar is fully prepared for regular playing without the need for additional service visits.