Ovation "Custom Legend" / Tama TG120 / Tama 3558S

This model 1719 was Ovation's highest model with a

traditional soundhole. More than 200 pieces of abalone have been

used for its decoration. Ebony fingerboard and a later

added Fishman under saddle pick-up.

         

This picture shows us the 5 piece neck construction

and the use of a brown coloured fiberglass as was

common on the higher end models of Ovation.

TAMA TG120

Those who are inspecting all my blogs must have been aware

about the tradename Tama displayed on my Orozco blog as

well. I've stated there that the Orozco, Kohno and Sakurai 

classical guitars for the world market have been produced in 

the TAMA workshops. TAMA also produced classical 

guitars under their own brandname. These guitars do 

resemble the earlier mentioned brands a lot. This is the

further developement of their Martin D28 copy. Where

possible they adjusted some features to conform it more

according to their taste and provided this model with

another head that has no resemblance anymore with 

Martin. Except from the scratchplate all parts are made

from genuine wood parts. Top of solid Alpine spruce.

This guitar came to me in this brand new case. The former
owner inherited this instrument from his brother and
was careful with the guitar as well! Most likely from 1978
as the number system is as follows: first number 8 means
197(8) second and third: the month (12) fourth and
fifth: the day (03) and last three digits:  example number.
This numbering system also can be found in the Juan
Orozco guitars of that time. They're from the same factory!

Solid rosewood back and sides, maybe a bit

dull but remember that wood figured this way

is less prone to cracks while wildly figured pieces

of wood tend to possibly give more problems.

The completely written brandname "TAMA" has disappeared

on this model but a tasteful mother of pearl inlaid "T" really

does the job. Grover look alikes as tuners. In fact a bit of

uncommon looking Gotoh's.

The volute in the same manner as the first batch of Ibanez

Artwood series 1 have been provided with. Tasteful!

The overall craftsmanship on these instruments is

really marvellous. Premium materials, good fret and 

glue work. Close grained solid top and ebony bridge

and fingerboard. The inner struts seems to be hand

carved which explains the total refinement.

I've included this detail as alongside the bindings 4 layers

of different colored wood have been placed. Believe it

or not: only 0,3 mm thick! They used the same strips

in the circles around the sound hole. By clicking

on this picture you are able to study it.

Besides the numbers that are branded in the heel block,
the label is small but clearly says TG 120. And then the sound:
Lots of volume but the refinement in tone is there as well.
Just slightly different from my Martin D28 but no less!
It is all about that silky tone most Martin guitars have as well.
Need a top sounding dreadnought at an affordable price?
You should really consider these guitars if you can
lay your hands on them…..

TAMA 3558S

This dreadnought is an earlier example of one of the

Tama products. The details are in fact all a bit less

than on the TG120 guitar. The gluing and further

set up of the woods such as modeling of the braces

have been done with the same care!

In fact that is where the master craft of the Japanese lies:

Veneering back and sides and make it look like a real

gorgeous soundbox. Abalone inlay for the sides and 

abalone markers for the fingerboard as well. One remark

really has to be made regarding the veneered sides and

back as the inner layer is made out of the same wood

species: sometimes apparently from more than two

pieces of wood (back) but the Japanese factories did

not do this only for economic reasons: While exporting

to foreign countries these laminated parts hold up 

better and to be honest: Jose Ramirez also laminated

his sides in his premium class 1 guitars.

There are several differences in building up these guitars:

3558S versus TG120. In the 3558S type announcement

the S stands for Solid which means a solid top.

To our opinion the necks have been made out of different materials:

The TG 120 has that beautiful mahogany while the neck of the 3558

looks more like a stained Nato one. Though he Hufschlag site states 

otherwise. The fretwork is of a lesser quality than on the TG120 so

I replaced the frets with ones that have more "material" and are a

bit higher. To enhance the transport of the string vibration from

the frets to the neck I used glue in the fret slots. Besides that I

securely placed the top nut for better contact with the wood of the 

neck. It gave a significant better response of the lower strings.

I really do like the Martin copied head the 3558S possesses.

The tuners have been copied from Schallers / Grovers but they work

really smooth. An extra plus is the truss rod on these guitars.

The nice volute they've added on the later produced 3558

and the TG 120 is not yet present on this model.

Nice inlay work but the fret jobs could have been done

better on these guitars. One of the only minors that even was

there after labeling these guitars with the Ibanez brand!

I like these branded stamps! Serial number and 

type number are branded in the inner heel block.

Some claim these earlier Tama guitars as being less

loud and not that sparkling as  the later models. 

I must say this is not my experience! Lots'

of overtones and volume!