Tacoma

Tacoma

Also known as: Tacoma Guitars

Unclaimed

Tacoma Guitars was an American acoustic guitar manufacturer based in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1991 as a division of Young Chang, the operation began as a sawmill processing hardwoods for piano soundboards before pivoting to full guitar production in 1997. Under J.C. Kim, who took over the brand in 1999, Tacoma grew into one of the largest domestic acoustic guitar producers, turning out in...

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Tacoma Guitars was an American acoustic guitar manufacturer based in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1991 as a division of Young Chang, the operation began as a sawmill processing hardwoods for piano soundboards before pivoting to full guitar production in 1997. Under J.C. Kim, who took over the brand in 1999, Tacoma grew into one of the largest domestic acoustic guitar producers, turning out instruments that were largely priced under $1,000.

The brand was best known for its distinctive upper-bout Paisley soundhole, a wing- or tear-shaped opening positioned near the neck rather than under the strings, which allowed the top to be less heavily braced and altered the instrument's resonance. The catalog included the diminutive P1 Papoose — a short-scale guitar designed with input from luthier George Gruhn and tuned a fourth above standard — along with the Chief dreadnought line and the CB10C and CB28C Thunderchief acoustic bass guitars, which adapted the Chief body to a 34-inch scale.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation acquired Tacoma in 2004 and operated it as a division before closing the Frederickson, Washington factory in 2008 and discontinuing the product line the following year. Used Tacoma instruments continue to trade on the secondary market, particularly the Papoose and Thunderchief models.

Tacoma has 11 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Steel-string Acoustic Guitars, Classical & Nylon-String Guitars, and Acoustic & Acoustic-Electric Basses. Their gear is featured by 13 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, and Bill Frisell.

Artists Who Use Tacoma

Eddie Van Halen uses 1 Tacoma product

Eddie Van Halen

Guitarist · Van Halen

Eric Clapton uses 1 Tacoma product

Eric Clapton

Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Bill Frisell uses 1 Tacoma product

Bill Frisell

Guitarist · Naked City

Peter Frampton uses 1 Tacoma product

Peter Frampton

Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Alberto Ferrari uses 1 Tacoma product

Alberto Ferrari

Singer, Guitarist · Verdena

J.J. Cale uses 1 Tacoma product

J.J. Cale

Singer, Guitarist

Eric Judy uses 1 Tacoma product

Eric Judy

Bassist · Modest Mouse

David Gray uses 1 Tacoma product

David Gray

Singer, Guitarist · The Venus in Furs

Travis Meeks uses 1 Tacoma product

Travis Meeks

Guitarist · Days of the New

Şebnem Ferah uses 1 Tacoma product

Şebnem Ferah

Guitarist, Singer · Volvox

Tim Foreman uses 1 Tacoma product

Tim Foreman

Bassist, Composer · Switchfoot

Fred Eaglesmith uses 1 Tacoma product

Fred Eaglesmith

Guitarist, Singer

Curtis Stigers uses 1 Tacoma product

Curtis Stigers

Guitarist

Community setups featuring Tacoma

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jonlars

jonlars

Gear IQ 66

the_idolescents

the_idolescents

Gear IQ 71

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