1997 Takamine TD23BR

The Takamine TD-23BR is a Japan-made dreadnought built in the spirit of Takamine’s classic Martin-style tradition. These MIJ Takamine dreadnoughts are known for their solid craftsmanship, stable necks and balanced, musical tone, offering excellent value for players looking for a well-built vintage Japanese acoustic with classic looks and feel.

This 1997 Takamine TD-23BR features a spruce top paired with beautifully grained mahogany back and sides, delivering a warm, open midrange, clear highs and a rounded vintage low end. After nearly three decades of natural ageing, the guitar has developed a mature, woody character and resonance that gives it plenty of vintage personality.

The guitar has been fully cleaned, polished and professionally set up, with action measuring approximately 2.5mm (Low E) and 2.0mm (High E) at the 12th fret, providing comfortable playability across the fingerboard.

Cosmetically, the guitar is very well preserved for its age, with remarkably few scratches or playing marks across the body. Please note that there is noticeable cloudy/white hazing in the finish across various areas of the top, back and sides, as clearly shown in the photos. Interestingly, the hazing has developed a soft, cloud-like appearance rather than an unattractive or patchy look, almost resembling natural clouds drifting across the wood grain. It gives this particular guitar a distinctive visual character of its own. The hazing is cosmetic and does not affect the guitar’s structure, playability or sound.

Apart from the finish hazing, the guitar is exceptionally clean for a nearly 30-year-old instrument, with the glossy surfaces showing very little actual wear.

The guitar has also been upgraded with a set of bone bridge pins (approx. £35 value).

🪵 Features

• Year: 1997 – Made in Japan

• Model: Takamine TD-23BR

• Style: Martin-inspired Japanese dreadnought

• Factory: Takamine Japan

• Top: Spruce

• Back & Sides: Beautifully grained Mahogany

• Back: One-piece style

• Neck: Mahogany

• Fingerboard: Rosewood

• Bridge: Rosewood

• Upgraded Bone Bridge Pins (approx. £35 value)

• Action: 2.5mm (Low E) / 2.0mm (High E) @ 12th fret

✅ Condition Notes

• Very good overall condition for its age

• Remarkably clean surfaces with very few scratches or playing marks

• Noticeable cloudy/white finish hazing across the top, back and sides – please see photos

• Finish hazing is cosmetic and does not affect sound, structure or playability

• No cracks, repairs or structural concerns noted

• Stable neck with fully functional truss rod

• Frets and fingerboard cleaned and polished

• Fresh professional setup with comfortable action

• Upgraded bone bridge pins (approx. £35 value)

• Fully functional and ready to play

🎼 Why buy this guitar?

A very well-preserved Made in Japan Takamine dreadnought with the classic look, feel and character associated with vintage Japanese acoustics.

While there is visible cloudy hazing in the finish, the guitar itself has seen remarkably little physical wear, with very few scratches or playing marks for its age. Most importantly, the cosmetic finish issue has no effect on its sound, structure or playability.

With its mature vintage tone, dependable MIJ build quality, comfortable setup and upgraded bone bridge pins, this TD-23BR offers plenty of character and represents an excellent opportunity for a player who values tone and playability over purely cosmetic perfection.

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