So the Yamaha served me well for a couple of years but when I transfered to Louisville I really started getting into playing. I was ready to upgrade. High end guitars were totally out of my price range but I heard about a Japanese company, Takamine, that was producing mid-range knock offs of the classic Martin styles. A close friend was looking to buy as well so sometime in the Spring of 1997 we went to a music store in a strip center on Preston Hughway, I think, and each bought new Takamines. I think I paid $225 for an F360s. It sounded great in the store and 33 years later it sounds even better. It has aged beautifully with the soundboard taking on a really nice amber cast. Unfortunately is has seen it share of knocks but I guess that adds to its character. Although I didn't notice it at the time the serial # is 77010101, which I understand means it was the first guitar built the first day of the first month in 1977. Pretty cool. Two years later Martin won a patent infringement lawsuit against Takamine. Although they are still in business they were forced to change the type face of their logo so it wasn't so Martin like. So in addition to its cool serial # it is also pre-lawsuit which adds to its collectibility.
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