Does Takamine Make Left Handed Guitars?
Yes! There are several left handed Takamine guitars available at present, however, many of the models listed on the official websites are very difficult to find.
So I’ve had a good look around, and included some links to the current range of lefty models on this page, and omitted the guitars I can’t find.
Go straight to the lefty Takamine Classical guitars here.
Go straight to the lefty Takamine Acoustic guitars here.
Go straight to the lefty Takamine 12-String guitars here.
Go straight to the lefty Takamine basses here.
Who Are Takamine Guitars?
Takamine was founded in 1959 as a modest, family-run workshop known as Ozhone Musical Instrument Manufacturing. It was named after its founder, Ozhone, and was located in the central Japanese town of Sakashita, near the foothills of Mt. Takamine in Gifu, Japan.
Finding inspiration from the mountain, the company adopted the name Takamine Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in 1962.
Throughout the 1960s, the company carved a solid reputation for its craftsmanship in classical guitars and mandolins, growing its workforce to around 60 employees by the decade’s end.
By 1968, master luthier Mass Hirade joined the firm, driving major advances in design and production methods, and under his leadership, Takamine began to expand internationally in the early 1970s, entering markets beyond Japan.
In 1978 Takamine’s introduction of the Palathetic pickup was a game‑changer. This pioneering under-saddle, multi‑piezo system revolutionised acoustic-electric guitar design and became a signature feature on their instruments
Now known for consistently high-quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and its pioneering work with acoustic-electric technology, they’ve become a staple for professional musicians worldwide. From intimate folk venues to stadium tours, Takamine guitars have earned a reputation for reliability and a rich, balanced tone.
Well-known artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Garth Brooks have all favored Takamine at some point.
What Do I Think of Takamine Guitars?
I think Takamine guitars sit in the sweet spot between traditional acoustic and modern stage-ready tone.
Their acoustic-electric models are some of the best plug-and-play guitars on the market; very little fuss, just great sound.
They’re particularly strong in live settings, with simple yet effective preamps with a clear and warm amplified tone. If you’re mainly a living room player, there may be other brands that might edge Takamine on pure acoustic resonance, but for gigging musicians, they’re rock solid.
Pros and Cons of Buying a Takamine Guitar
Pros:
- Excellent electronics for live performance.
- Consistent build quality from mid-range upwards.
- Comfortable neck profiles, great for long sessions.
- Strong brand heritage and proven reliability.
Cons:
- Fewer options for high-end, boutique-style acoustics.
- Resale value can be lower compared to Martin or Taylor.
- Entry-level models don’t always capture the magic of the higher series.
Different Types of Takamine Guitars
Takamine splits its guitars into several series, designed to cater to different players:
- G-Series – Affordable, mass-produced guitars for beginners and intermediate players.
- Pro Series – Built in Japan, these are Takamine’s flagship instruments, with premium tonewoods and advanced electronics.
- Limited Editions – Special runs with unique designs and features, usually aimed at collectors.
- Signature Models – Designed with input from Takamine’s artist roster, like the Glenn Frey or Garth Brooks models.
Each series has acoustic-only and electro-acoustic options, with a focus on practical features for gigging musicians.
Related Reading:
Left Handed Alvarez Guitars
Left Handed Breedlove Guitars
Left Handed Faith Guitars
Left Handed Ovation Guitars
Left Handed Sheeran Guitars
Left Handed Takamine Guitars
Takamine does produce left-handed models, and the range is pretty decent. If you check out either of the official websites, you’ll find that there are quite a lot of lefty Takamine guitars, but some are nowhere to be seen in the online stores.
Likewise, there are a few left handed Takamine guitars available online, though some of them aren’t featured on the official Takamine websites.
Availability largely depends on where you are. In the UK and US, certain retailers will stock a handful of left-handed Takamines, but some models are very difficult to find, or have been discontinued.
If you’re after a left-handed Pro Series Takamine, your best bet may be to special order from a dealer, or keep an eye on the second-hand market, where they pop up occasionally.
For lefty players who want a solid workhorse acoustic-electric for gigging, a Takamine is definitely worth considering.
Left Handed Takamine Classical Body Guitars
Takamine GC1LH NAT
$349.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6 Nylon
- SCALE: 25.6″ (650 mm)
- TOP: Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Sapele
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- BRACING: Fan
- CUTAWAY: No
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 50.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel
- FRETS: 19
- NECK JOINS BODY: 12th Fret
- NECK JOINT: Dovetail
- TUNERS: Chrome with White Pearl buttons
- ELECTRONICS: None
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GC1CE NAT LH
$499.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6 Nylon
- SCALE: 25.6″ (650 mm)
- TOP: Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Sapele
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- BRACING: Fan
- CUTAWAY: Venetian-style
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 50.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel
- FRETS: 19
- NECK JOINS BODY: 12th Fret
- NECK JOINT: Dovetail
- TUNERS: Chrome with White Pearl buttons
- PREAMP: TP-4T with built-in tuner
- CONTROLS: Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GC5CE LH NAT
$649.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6 Nylon
- SCALE: 25.6″ (650 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Black Walnut
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- BRACING: Fan
- CUTAWAY: Venetian-style
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 50.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel
- FRETS: 19
- NECK JOINS BODY: 12th Fret
- NECK JOINT: Dovetail
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone
- TUNERS: Gold
- PREAMP: TP-4T with built-in tuner and three-band EQ and gain controls
Check price/availability at:
Takamine EC132C-LH
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6 Nylon
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648mm)
- TOP: Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Rosewood
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- BRACING: Fan
- CUTAWAY: Yes
- NECK: Mahogany with dual action truss rod
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
- FRETS: 19
- NECK JOINS BODY: 12th Fret
- TUNERS: Gold Classic
- PREAMP: CT4B II with three-band EQ, volume control and built-in tuner
- PICKUP: Takamine Palathetic
Check price/availability at:
Left Handed Takamine Dreadnought Body Guitars
Takamine GD21CE SM LH
$699.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Sapele
- BODY FINISH: Satin Molasses
- CUTAWAY: Yes
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- BRIDGE: Rosewood
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: Chrome Die-Cast
- PREAMP: TP-3G with built-in tuner and three-band EQ
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GD30 LH
$499.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.3″ (643mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Okoume
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- CUTAWAY: No
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Ovangkol with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 20
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- BRIDGE: Ovangkol
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: Chrome Die-Cast
- ELECTRONICS: None
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GD51LH-NAT
$549.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Black Walnut
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- CUTAWAY: No
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- BRIDGE: Laurel
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: Gold Die-Cast
- ELECTRONICS: None
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GD51CE LH NAT
$699.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Black Walnut
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- CUTAWAY: Venetian-style
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel with Mother-of-Pearl Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: Gold Die-Cast
- PREAMP: TP-4TD with built-in tuner, three-band EQ and gain controls
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GD30CE LH
$699.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.3″ (643mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Okoume
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- CUTAWAY: Venetian-style
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Ovangkol with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 20
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- BRIDGE: Ovangkol
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: Chrome Die-Cast
- PREAMP: TP-4TD with built-in tuner and three-band EQ and gain controls
Check price/availability at:
Takamine P3DC-LH
$1,799.00 MSRP, Made in Japan
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Cedar
- BRACING: X
- BACK & SIDES: Sapele
- BODY FINISH: Natural Satin
- CUTAWAY: Venetian
- NECK: Mahogany
- NECK JOINT: Dovetail
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with wood “dot-in-dot” inlays
- FRETS: 20
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- BRIDGE: Split-Saddle Bone
- TUNERS: Gold with Amber buttons
- PREAMP: CT4B II with three-band EQ, volume control, and built-in tuner
Check price/availability at:
Takamine EF341SC LH
$1,899.00 MSRP, Made in Japan
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Cedar
- BACK & SIDES: Maple
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Black
- CUTAWAY: Yes
- NECK: Mahogany
- NECK JOINT: Dovetail
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
- FRETS: 20
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- TUNERS: Gold Classic
- PREAMP: CT4B II with three-band EQ, volume control, and built-in tuner
- PICKUP: Takamine Palathetic
Check price/availability at:
Takamine NEX Body Guitars
Takamine GN37CELH PW
$799.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BRACING: X
- BACK & SIDES: Maple
- BODY FINISH: Pearl White
- CUTAWAY: Venetian-style
- NECK: Maple
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- BRIDGE: Ovangkol
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: Closed-gear
- PREAMP: TP-3G with three-band EQ
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GN73CELH SB
$849.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Maple
- BODY FINISH: Satin Black
- CUTAWAY: Venetian-style
- NECK: Maple
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: Closed-gear
- PREAMP: TP-3G with three-band EQ
Check price/availability at:
Takamine GN51CE-LH
$699.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Black Walnut
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- CUTAWAY: Yes
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.8 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel with mother-of-pearl Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone, Split Bridge
- TUNERS: gold die-cast
- PREAMP: TP-4TD with built-in tuner, three-band EQ and gain controls
Check price/availability at:
Takamine P3NC LH
$1,849.00 MSRP, Made in Japan
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Cedar
- BACK: Solid Sapele
- SIDES: Sapele
- BODY FINISH: Natural Satin
- CUTAWAY: Venetian
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with with wood “dot-in-dot” inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12″
- FRETS: 20
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- SADDLE: Bone, Split Saddle
- TUNERS: gold with Amber buttons
- PREAMP: CT4B II with three-band EQ, volume control, and built-in tuner
Check price/availability at:
Takamine FX Body Guitars
Takamine GF49CELH CB
$699.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Sapele
- BODY FINISH: Cosmic Black Sparkle
- CUTAWAY: Venetian-style
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel with Dot inlays
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- SADDLE: Split
- PREAMP: TP-3G with three-band EQ
Check price/availability at:
Takamine New Yorker-shape Guitars
Takamine GY21ELH SM
$699.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Sapele
- BODY FINISH: Satin Molasses
- CUTAWAY: None
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT WIDTH: 42.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with Dot inlays
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- BRIDGE: Ovangkol
- SADDLE: Split
- PREAMP: TP-3G with three-band EQ
Check price/availability at:
Takamine 12-String Guitars
Takamine GD74CE-12ULH
$1,399.00 MSRP, Made in Japan
Specs:
- STRINGS: 12
- SCALE: 25.35″ (644 mm)
- TOP: Spruce
- BRACING: Double X
- BACK & SIDES: Flame Maple
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Natural
- CUTAWAY: Yes
- NECK: Maple
- NUT WIDTH: 47.5 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Laurel with Dot inlays and “reverse mountain” inlay at the 12th fret
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 14th Fret
- PREAMP: TP-3G with three-band EQ
Check price/availability at:
Takamine Bass Guitars
Takamine GB30CELH-BLK / NAT
$699.00 MSRP, Made in China
Specs:
- STRINGS: 4
- SCALE: 34.02″ (864 mm)
- TOP: Solid Spruce
- BACK & SIDES: Mahogany
- BODY FINISH: Gloss – Natural, Black
- CUTAWAY: None
- NECK: Mahogany
- NUT: Synthetic Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 45 mm
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with Dot inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 16″
- FRETS: 21
- NECK JOINS BODY: 15th Fret
- BRIDGE: Ovangkol
- SADDLE: Synthetic Bone
- TUNERS: Chrome Die-Cast
- PREAMP: TK-40B with built-in tuner, three-band EQ and gain controls, mid-shift control, bass-boost switch and EQ bypass switch
Check price/availability at:
Takamine Guitars – Should You Buy One?
If you’re a gigging musician or regularly play amplified, Takamine guitars are hard to beat for reliability and ease of use.
Their electronics are tried-and-tested, and their Japanese-built Pro Series rivals some of the biggest names in the acoustic world.
For left-handed players, the main issue is availability rather than quality. If you can find a model that suits your needs, you’ll get a dependable, great-sounding guitar that holds up well on stage. However, if variety and choice are more important to you, brands like Taylor or Martin may offer more left-handed options.
Image credits: takamine.com and esptakamine.com
