T-Ta

made

info    updated 16/6/2010

Andrea Tacchi

Florence, Italy

Andrea Tacchi bio at Guitars International

Tacoma

1995 to present

Tacoma Guitars began as a division of Young Chang America that made piano soundboards for export to Korea. Production of USA made guitars commenced in 1997.  The company was purchased by Fender in October 2004.  [Source: Wikipedia ]

Dating Tacoma Guitars

http://www.tacomaguitars.com/resources/faq.php#when

http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/tacoma.html

Image eBay: B is the first year of the Tacoma dating system 1989, made on the 98 th day of the year (early April) and was the 60th produced that day.

Other info

Seattle Times bio

Interview with Leith Anderson of Tacoma Guitars

Tacoma pricelists

2005 Winter Tacoma pricelist

2005 Summer Tacoma pricelist

2007 Winter Tacoma pricelist

Tacoma forum http://www.tacomaguitarforum.com/

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/brand/Tacoma

Tactical Works

http://www.metalnecks.com/index.php/mID/d19a7559/fuseaction/guitars.manu.htm

Tagima

early 1980s to present

The first Tagima guitars were made in the early 80's by Mr. Seizi Tagima in Brazil.  Marutec Music acquired the rights to use the brand Tagima in 1996. Soon after Korean production began. The product line Memphis by Tagima was launched along with the line of bass guitars and new guitar models. The “Instituto de Guitarra e Tecnologia (IG&T)” of Sao Paulo closed a deal to use Tagima's instruments in its classes, increasing the brand recognition.  [Source: Guitar Global ]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Tagima

Tahara

In the early 1970s Tahara-san had a factory in Matsumoto Japan that was engaged primarily in the production of lower-mid range acoustic guitars… Mr Tahara's factory in Matsumoto went into bankruptcy in the mid to late 1970s after which he moved to Tateshina outside of Maruko-machi in Nagano Prefecture where he focused exclusively on Mandolin production. “
[Source: EZ Folk http://www.ezfolk.com/forums/forum16/762.html ]

Takamine

1962 to present

Takamine Co. Ltd. was founded in May 1962. It is based in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan.

Dating Takamine Guitars

Try this automated Takamine serial number decoder first http://www.guitardating.com/takamine.php

If you have a Japanese built Takamine, you can tell the year of manufacture by the first two digits of the serial number, i.e. s/n 9234075 = year of manufacture is 1992 from internet archive.

Takamine Natural series have been made since 1984 [Source: Takamine Forum]

Takamine reference books

The Art of Wood and Tone : Takamine Limited Edition Guitars 1987-2007

Takamine guitar catalogs

2002 Takamine guitar catalog

2003 Takamine guitar catalog

2004 Takamine guitar catalog

2006 Takamine guitar brochure United Kingdom

2007 Takamine guitar brochure United Kingdom

Takamine guitar pricelists

2005 Takamine pricelist

2006 Takamine pricelist

2007 Takamine pricelist

2008 Takamine pricelist

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Takamine

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Takamine+

Takamine Forum http://www.takamineforum.com/

From this photo - my Takamine EF441SC was made: Saturday, April 7th, 2001. It was the 48th guitar made that day.

Takeharu

1960s to 1980s

Catalogs

http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_takeharu.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Takeharu

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Suzuki

Taku Sakashta

see S for Sakashta

Talbo

1982 to present

This brand was made by Tokai but is listed separately here because they look so cool.

The Talbo (Tokai Aluminium Body) began production 1982 and are still made today.  More ornate models produced in conjunction with Zemaitis and have the combo logo see left.   The range was first introduced as a cast aluminium body but is now available in a variety of body materials including wood (Talbo Woody) , an open aluminium structure within built in speaker (Talbo Junior) and an acrylic model (Talbo Crystal).  Bass guitars also produced.

Dating Talbo Guitars

1980s code =  Y0P####, with the first digit indicating the year followed by a zero, followed by where it fell in the production run (1 = early, 4 = late, etc. ). In '89, Tokai switched to indicating the year with two digits: 89#####. [Source: Michael Wright in Vintage Guitar]

Talbo catalogs

http://www.tokairegistry.com/catalogs.html

Japanese wikipedia - Woody

Reviews

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Tokai/Talbo+Custom/10/1

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Tokai/Blazing+Fire+Talbo/10/1

see Tokai

Blazing Fire image courtesy of stratmoto, Aussie Guitar Gear Heads forum 2008.

Tama

1975-1979

Tama guitars were made from 1975 through 1979. They break down into two series:

First, a range of medium-quality Martin-dread inspired guitars including 12-strings, most with laminated spruce tops, some solid (unusual), most with lots of plastic pearl. Sold via the Ibanez catalog in Japan as a separate line. Most peghead logos were a vertical ‘TAMA’, in the old CF Martin style. Distributed in the US by Chesbro Music Company of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Second: a similar but higher-quality series made roughly 1977-79, all with solid mahogany or rosewood ('jacaranda' in catalog) backs/sides, solid spruce tops, ebony fingerboards/bridges, plus wider headstocks with a single abalone ‘T’ logo.

In 1980 the Tama guitars were absorbed into the Ibanez acoustic line and renamed the Artwood Series …[Source: Acoustic Guitar ]

Best Tama Guitar Resource

http://freenet-homepage.de/hufschlag/html/history.html

Tama guitar catalogs

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/11/3202.html?1073597510

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Tama

Images eBay:

Tanara

1980s? to recent

? related to Ibanez?

Tanara guitar catalogs

http://www.vintaxe.com/catalogs_japanese_tanara.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Tanara

Images eBay:

Tanglewood 

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Tanglewood

Tanner Creek

Handcrafted guitars made by Dann Ross in the foothills of Southeastern Indiana, near Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Taran guitars

2002-

Acoustic guitars made by Rory Dowling Edinburgh, Scotland

Targa

Myspace page collecting information about Targa guitars.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Targa

Taro Guitars

1970s

Taro guitars were made in Japan and models included copies of Fender and Gibson guitars imported to Canada. [Source: Guitars Canada | Vintaxe ]

Also made classical guitars [Source: Axewar, Flickr]

Image courtesy of Dwoody01:

Tarrega

1960s

Tarrega guitars were made by Hagstrom/Bjarton and distributed by Fender in the 1960s.

Image eBay:

1889-1942

Vicente Tatay was a guitar maker in Valencia from 1889. The workshop was transformed into a factory. The firm Vicente Tatay founded has grown into a major factory producing some 40,000 instruments a year. Vicente Tatay retired in 1942, and the firm was taken over by his sons José and Vicente Tatay Tomás who formed a company Hijos de Vicente Tatay [Source: Zavaletas]

Images Hope Street Music

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Tatay

Left hand image is Vincente Tatay while one on right is by sons. Source: eBay

Taylor

1974 - present

Taylor Guitars was established as a small shop in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug, El Cajon, California. [Source: wikipedia]

Dating Taylor Guitars

TRY THIS FIRST http://www.guitardating.com/taylor.php

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/reference/dating.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Taylor+Guitars

Taylor forums http://www.taylor-talk.com/blog/

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php

Taylor reference books

Taylor Guitars 30 Years of a New American Classic

Images: eBay,  Joyful Noise:

The first label Taylor serial number is 1688 whic works out as a 1982 guitar. The second label Taylor serial number is interpretable from the label itself, year 2000, November, 9th.

R Taylor

Robert Taylor's small luthier shop in grounds of the big factory (Taylor)

Tut Taylor

Brand produced by Mark Taylor of Crafters of Tennessee. Named for his father.

T Bass

T Bass guitars by Trace Elliot

Image eBay

T-Ta | Te-Th  | Ti-To | Tr-