Takamine GD20 Acoustic Guitar - Natural Satin Reviews

I bought this guitar to leave on my stand in the living room so I can just pick it up and play whenever . Great sounding guitar and nice looking too . Very comfortable and light . I do have expensive Gibsons , Taylor's and Takamines but this guitar is a great addition to the family . Sweetwater is an awesome place to order from as they helped you strait through the process from order to delivery . Thanks Sweetwater !!

I have the predecessor to this guitar (The GS330S.) It's basically the same guitar, but without the split saddle. These guitars are quite simply the best value that you can get for the money. I've compared them to other guitars, side by side. Nothing in this price compares to the sound that you can get from this G series guitar. The natural finish allows for a natural, woody sound. The guitar doesn't have scalloped bracing, but it doesn't need it, as there is plenty of bass being produced by this guitar, already. There is a nice balance of highs and lows on these guitar. The cedar top (soft wood) with the natural finish, probably takes a few high harmonics away (maybe not as bright as a spruce top), but the highs are fine on this guitar (listen to the video that is provided by the rep to hear them.) This guitar has a balanced sound. This is one of my favorite guitars. I would not hesitate to recommend this guitar to anyone, especially if they are on a budget. You can spend more money on a guitar, and maybe get a bit better sound than this guitar, but you'll be hard pressed to find a guitar that sounds as good as this one, in this price bracket. One thing that I don't care for on this new design is the split saddle. If you want to put in a piezo pickup, that is a standard design, I don't see how it will work with a split pickup. You probably have to buy a special design one for the split saddle. That makes this guitar slightly less flexible in terms of options. However there are always sound hold pickups. I wouldn't recommend an I-beam style pickup for this guitar as the feedback, and controlling it is an issue (believe me, I've tried it. It sounds good at low amplification, but anything that is a bit louder results in feedback, unless frequencies are notched out.) A piezo pickup would be a good solution, but with the split saddle, well you get the point. I think that a temporary sound hole pickup is a good option. Put it in when you play, take it our when you finish (no need to drill holes in the guitar, that way, either.)

I got this from Sweetwater with that 55 point check and received it tuned up and ready to go. From the moment I struck the first chord I was hooked! It’s an amazing instrument and it’s build quality is bar none! Thanks Sweetwater for the awesome customer service and attention to detail. I won’t buy anything else except from you guys. You should get ten stars for the amazing customer service and detail you give each instrument and your customers from start to finish, kudos!

After i placed the order, sweetwater has keep me posted all the way from package to shipment and delivery. The guitar come in very good package and I am very satisfied about the purchase.

Wow! Played several guitars before purchasing this one. The sound is amazing warm and loud, which surprised me with the soft cedar top. the neck is very comfortable also. I would put this guitar up against many high dollar guitars. Don't let the price fool you. Its a great guitar

In the month that I have owned this guitar I have noticed AN IMPROVEMENT already!!! This baby resonates like nobody's business...The sound is so deep and complex I have to go on record to say that it thus far shows itself to be the best acoustic guitar I have ever owned. I believe the secret is the TIGHT AND STRAIGHT CLOSE GRAINED CEDAR. WOW!!

I have owned many guitars in my time thus far. I have owned a 1970's Martin D-18 (very uncomfortable neck); I owned a 1973 Gibson (Norlin) Dove; A couple of early on Ovations; A couple of Guild D-40's and a few F-30's and an F-40 from 1987. You get the idea. I also have tried and went through a few recent Blueridge guitars and a couple of Recording Kings (I like both of these brands). BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU IF THIS GD-20 IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS COMING FROM TAKAMINE...I CAN ONLY IMAGINE (IF NOT AFFORD) WHAT ONE OF THEIR P SERIES GUITARS FEELS AND SOUNDS LIKE. In truth I cannot imagine a guitar sounding better than this GD-20. The CEDAR TOP rings for days...I am floored by its commanding and resilient tone. This sounds great in standard tuning, Open D and for bottleneck stuff. The action is IDEAL for fingered chords and scales at the same time being fantastic for slide work...no readjusting needed. My kudos to Takamine. THIS CURRENT CROP OF G SERIES GUITARS ARE FORMIDABLE. THIS IS A KEEPER AS LONG AS IT HOLDS UP...as for it's sound...wow...and if it ages...holy moly......what a guitar....

I am very happy with this guitar. I am no expert about guitars, but I am a school band director and a professional musician. On the advice of a pro guitar player friend, I put D'Addario Nickel Bronze 12-53 strings on this guitar, as he said Nickel Bronze strings compliment cedar top guitars well. He was right. I experimented with picks and found my favorite was Dunlop Nylon 1.0mm picks.

I hope this is helpful for someone out there. Thanks, Sweetwater, for a great experience buying this guitar. I will recommend Sweetwater to friends without hesitation.

I've been a flat-picking folk guy for 15 years. I've always and only played Martin guitars, most recently a Martin 000-15M (amazing guitar by the way). My local music store got in a couple of these Takamine GD20's and I thought I'd give 'em a try. I was blown away. For $299, this thing FEELS, SOUNDS, and PLAYS like a $2000 Martin. It's not even funny. I never touch entry-level Yamaha, Fender, or even Martin guitars because of how fake, plastic, and thin they sound. This guitar has warmth, personality, and tone WELL beyond it's price tag.

If I could give advice to ANY parent wanting to get their kid their first acoustic, I'd say this- buy this acoustic, and at the same time buy a LR Baggs either "Lyric" or "Anthem" pickup from Sweetwater in the same purchase, and have them install it before they ship you the guitar. That will literally give you an incredible acoustic WITH the best pickup system money can buy... ALL FOR UNDER $500.

Ask for Ben Porter at Sweetwater to help ya if you don't already have a rep.

Boom. You're welcome.

As soon as I played this beauty, I instantly fell in love with it! The combination of the different tonewoods gives it a very good sound. I enjoy playing this guitar everyday, from nice full chords, to single string runs-this guitar delivers your fretting very well. Stays in tune and always ready to play. Thank you sweetwater!

I recently purchased two Takamine Pro Series guitars and was amazed at their quality and sound.
I decided that I wanted a guitar that I could grab and play, take outside, a general budget guitar, so I decided to try this Takamine and didn't have high expectations since it is a low-price model.
Taking it out of the box and seeing the quality put in a budget instrument really confirmed to me the dedication Takamine has for their product. Once I tuned the guitar, i started strumming and was really amazed at the sound and the ease in playing my favorites.
i am very happy with my purchase and love this guitar as much as my Pro Series guitars!

Very nice guitar for the money.

I only bought this because my Epiphone AJ-220S fell over in it's Gator gigbag and had its headstock come flying off. I liked the Epi. It was a good deal. So, I needed a new steel string acoustic guitar for an acoustic duo I am in in addition to a band gig. I did not want to buy another Epi due to the neck incident. So, for $ I chose this solely on the basis of preferring a cedar top over spruce.
Well, let me say that I have come to respect Takamine guitars. I always heard good things about them but not being able to afford a Pro Series model I had some doubts about the G Series. Not any more. The workmanship on this G series D20 dreadnought is impeccable. The fit and finish is outstanding. The play-ability and sound of this Cedar and Mahogany guitar is first rate. The neck is fantastic to play as it is super fast and slim. The attention to detail on this guitar belies its' price point. The intonation was spot on. The split bridge really works. The satin finish complements the warm Cedar and Mahogany woods. This will improve with age...but it is very suitable right now.

The down, Action is a little hi. The rest is up, Great sound articulation the best I have heard in my life and I have played off and on for Fifty years. It' is almost a shame it doesn't cost more! (I build them too) Don't forget to buy a case with it. I think the ceder is the key to the sound (Sparkle) on this one. J.D.S.

I first had to say,it is the worst guitar I ever owned. I am use to a 20 plus year old cedar top with true solid mahogany guitar,an Epiphone pr-350-sm, limited run on the sm with cedar, very rare,good luck finding one. I have had Martin and Gibson owners say it's unreal the sound. The neck is heavy,n for a acoustic it is heavy. So it's old needs work,so I bought the Takamine because of the cedar top. If I play a little hard it sounds thin,but if I play lighter and pick,it sounds great. It is just different,but a good different. I hope this helps,n yes,get it set up,pay it,the saddle needs sanding and the frets need to be set up.

The Takamine GD20 was my second guitar of the series. I own a Martin, Taylor & Gibson. This Takamine feels like a trusty pair of well broken in shoes. Great bang for the buck! I have been married and playing guitar for 43 years. My wife , a non musical person, cannot understand how I would be so excited with a budget price guitar, when I have expensive guitars sitting in the cases most of the time I tell her these Takamine guitars talk to me when I am playing one. Sweetwater offers great service consistently , bringing a smile to my face!

Worst guitar ever owned. Sounds thin,does not project at all,plays bad,frets are off,had a nut and washer literally fall off under the bridge into the guitar. Only good thing I can say,it looks good. Others likes theirs,happy for them. I will sale or trade this off ASAP.