Founded in 1959 as a small instrument workshop at the foot of Mount Takamine in Sakashita, Japan, Takamine Gakki Ltd. grew from a regional builder of classical guitars and mandolins into one of the world's foremost acoustic and acoustic-electric guitar manufacturers. Master luthier Mass Hirade joined the company in 1968, introducing design and manufacturing improvements that elevated the brand's craftsmanship and eventually becoming its president. In 1978, Takamine developed the Palathetic pickup — a proprietary under-saddle piezo transducer system that became an industry standard for amplifying acoustic instruments in live settings — and launched its first acoustic-electric model, the PT-007S, the following year.

Takamine's lineup spans steel-string and nylon-string acoustics, acoustic-electric models, acoustic basses, and ukuleles, ranging from the affordable G-Series to handcrafted Pro Series and Limited Edition instruments. The company is known for innovations including its asymmetrical neck profiles, pinless bridges, split-saddle intonation systems, laser-guided fret finishing, and the CTP-1 Cool Tube onboard tube preamp. Signature models for artists such as Garth Brooks, Glenn Frey, Kenny Chesney, Steve Wariner, John Jorgenson, and Toby Keith reflect the brand's deep roots in country music, though its artist roster spans genres and includes Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Hozier, Nancy Wilson, John Scofield, and Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage.

Headquartered in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan, Takamine operates its main factory in the same region where it was founded. North American distribution is handled by ESP Guitars. Glenn Frey's use of a Takamine EF400S 12-string to record the intro to "Hotel California" in 1977 remains one of the most iconic moments in the brand's history and helped establish its reputation on the international stage.

Takamine has 255 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Acoustic-Electric Guitars, Steel-string Acoustic Guitars, and Classical & Nylon-String Guitars. Their gear is featured by 213 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include Bruce Springsteen, Noel Gallagher, and Nils Lofgren. Takamine's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.