Takamine LTD2017 Magome – 1 of 239 – Midnight Blue – CTP-3 CoolTube

Takamine LTD2017 Magome – 1 of 239 – Midnight Blue – CTP-3 CoolTube

The Takamine LTD2017 Magome was created as the company’s annual Limited Edition guitar for 2017. Only 239 examples were produced worldwide, with each guitar made in Takamine’s Japanese facility in Nakatsugawa, Gifu.

Takamine develops a new theme for its LTD model each year, redesigning the color, appointments and inlay work specifically for that edition. Once the year’s production is complete, the design is retired.

The 2017 edition takes its name from Magome-juku, a historic post town located in Nakatsugawa. During Japan’s Edo period, Magome served as an important rest stop on the Nakasendō route connecting Edo—present-day Tokyo—with Kyoto. Travelers passed through the town to rest, stay at local inns and visit the watermills that once lined the road.

This history is illustrated across the ebony fingerboard through Takamine’s intricate “Legend of the Road” abalone inlay. The design runs from the lower register toward the highest frets, incorporating imagery inspired by the Nakasendō journey, Magome and its watermills. Each piece of abalone was individually shaped and fitted, making the fingerboard the visual centerpiece of the guitar.

The body is finished in Gloss Midnight Blue. It appears almost black under softer indoor lighting, while direct light reveals a deep blue color underneath. Cream binding, abalone top purfling, an abalone rosette and gold hardware complete the design.

The guitar uses a solid spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back and Indian rosewood sides. Its spruce soundboard provides a clear attack and a wide dynamic range, while the rosewood body adds low-frequency depth, extended treble and a rich harmonic character.

Takamine’s 700 Series Auditorium body offers an even volume balance across the strings. Its 644 mm scale and approximately 42.5 mm bone nut retain the familiar playing feel of a Japanese-built Takamine, while the Venetian cutaway provides access to the upper register.

One of the most important features is the combination of Takamine’s Palathetic pickup and CTP-3 CoolTube preamp.

The Palathetic system uses six individually shielded piezo elements, with a separate element for each string. This construction gives the amplified sound clear string-to-string definition and allows the system to perform reliably at higher stage volumes.

The CTP-3 contains a low-voltage 12AU7 dual-triode vacuum tube. The amount of tube character can be adjusted directly from the preamp, moving from a clear and open response toward a warmer, thicker sound with additional harmonic content.

The preamp also provides three-band EQ, adjustable midrange frequency, a notch filter, onboard chromatic tuner and an auxiliary pickup input. A second pickup can therefore be added and blended with the original Palathetic system.

— General Specifications —

Brand: Takamine
Model: LTD2017 Magome
Series: Annual Limited Edition
Year: 2017
Country of manufacture: Japan
Factory location: Nakatsugawa, Gifu
Worldwide production: 239 guitars
Body style: Takamine 700 Series Auditorium
International body description: OM / Orchestra size
Cutaway: Venetian cutaway
Scale length: 644 mm
Nut width: Approximately 42.5 mm
Production status: Discontinued

— Body and Tonewoods —

Top: Solid spruce
Back: Solid Indian rosewood
Sides: Indian rosewood
Bracing: X-bracing
Body length: Approximately 458 mm
Lower-bout width: Approximately 390 mm
Finish: Full gloss
Color: Gloss Midnight Blue
Japanese color code: DDB

— Neck and Fingerboard —

Neck: Mahogany
Neck profile: Takamine asymmetrical profile
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard inlay: Legend of the Road / Magome motif
Inlay material: Abalone
Fingerboard binding: Cream
Nut: Bone
Nut width: Approximately 42.5 mm
Scale length: 644 mm

— Bridge and Saddle —

Bridge: Rosewood
Nut material: Bone
Saddle: Two-piece compensated bone saddle

Takamine’s two-piece saddle separates the bass and treble sections, allowing more precise compensation of the individual string lengths and improving amplified and acoustic intonation.

— Headstock and Hardware —

Headstock logo: Abalone Takamine logo
Tuning machines: Gold Takamine / Gotoh tuners
Hardware finish: Gold
Headstock binding: Cream

— Decorative Appointments —

Top purfling: Abalone
Rosette: Abalone
Body binding: Cream
Fingerboard inlay: Abalone Legend of the Road motif
Pickguard: Black themed pickguard
Finish: Gloss Midnight Blue

— Electronics —

Pickup: Takamine Palathetic
Pickup construction: Six individually shielded piezo elements
Preamp: Takamine CTP-3 CoolTube
Tube: 12AU7 dual triode
Onboard tuner: Yes
Silent tuning function: Yes
Auxiliary pickup input: Yes

— CTP-3 Controls —

Master volume
Low, mid and high EQ
Adjustable midrange frequency
CoolTube level
Notch filter
Auxiliary pickup mix volume
Auxiliary pickup gain
CoolTube standby
Chromatic tuner with mute
Selectable -6 dB / -12 dB notch depth

— Tonal Character —

The 700 Series Auditorium body produces an even response across the strings, with a more controlled low end than a large dreadnought body. The solid spruce top delivers a clear attack and responds well to changes in picking strength.

The Indian rosewood back and sides add bass depth, treble extension and harmonic detail