Tacoma
Tacoma
Also known as: Tacoma Guitars
UnclaimedTacoma 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...
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.
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