❌SOLD❌ Takamine LTD 98 Limited Edition Steel String Guitar, 1998

The Takamine LTD 98 was the Limited Edition model for 1998 – a tradition for Takamine since at least 1987, and built at their plant in Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. At the time of construction, this plant was in Sakashita, but in 2005 Sakashita was merged into Nakatsugawa along with several other towns and villages.

Takamine opened in spring 1962, and by the mid 1970s had scored great successes with their pioneering electric-acoustic guitars with factory built-in pre-amplified pickups. For a while, it seemed that every Country stage had at least one Takamine steel string guitar on it!

The Takamine LTD 98 features a NEX C cutaway mini-Jumbo body with a rounded Venetian cutaway. The top is solid Spruce, while the back and sides use a laminate Rosewood; the exterior layer is called ‘Rio Grande Palisandro’, likely Dalbergia Nigra. The internal layer is another rosewood, with the grains quite clearly different. Mahogany is used for the body blocks and neck, and the bound Rosewood fingerboard sports Mother of Pearl ‘Lunar Eclipse’ inlays, with that concept finished in the Sun and Moon Rosette. The headplate and bridge are also Rosewood, and the bridge features a split saddle – the high E and B strings have a separate, short saddle section to help improve intonation. Tuners are Takamine-branded, likely by Gotoh and feature gold colouring and Pearloid buttons.

As a Takamine, the LTD 98 carries the Takamine piezo pickup system and “Accuracoustic” preamp set by the heel. Battery access is very simple, with the compartment door on the preamp panel.

This guitar is in overall very good condition, and plays well. The smaller – yet ‘Jumbo’ – body design is quite comfortable to play, and produces a rich, full tone with good representation throughout the spectrum. It is a very attractive guitar.

A black hard shell case is included.