NGD! Takamine Explorer

[amimbari]

it took me forever to even find out what model mine was called since the TR cover is blank. 83-86 could be correct, but they told me 85-86 ( very short run of solidbody units )

I am assuming the first 2 numbers in the serial match their info but I dunno.

[CowboyFromHell]

I ran across alot of stuff on the web for the GX-100 TB and was wondering for a while if it was typos on the sites but it seemed to be too many of them for that to be right so I kept looking and ran across very few sites that talked about the BT and have since then found a lil more. Doesn't seem to be a model that was very widespread. Is yours a BT, TB, T, or...?

[amimbari]

GB-400

I wish I could run into all kinds of stuff about mine on the web, but they just didnt make enough of them for a lot of people to have owned one.

[CowboyFromHell]

I tried doing some searching for you and haven't found much either. Probably the same stuff you've seen in forums already. Seems you do indeed have a rather rare beast. Have any pics of it?

[amimbari]

remember I'm a bassplayer:
I love kellys and this is about as extreme as you can get morphing a kelly bass

only professional person I ever saw use one was Dave Vincent from Morbid Angel from like 20 years ago. I asked and he said he still has his, but hasnt used in as many years since he went to Dean for the band.

[CowboyFromHell]

Nothing wrong with bass players. They're part of the foundation of any band IMO. Sweet bass. I did spy a pic of a 410 that resembled that but without the horns. Seems all there is on the web about them are questions with no answers.

[amimbari]

well your thread is about a TAK explorer not a bsss
the 410 was the arrow bass. the only 2 models that TAK made as solid bodys since they opened in 1968. Every other unit has been a hollowbody Acoustic or A/E 4-6stringer. So although insignificant, I still have a piece of history.

[CowboyFromHell]

Indeed you do, and like me, sounds like you're gonna enjoy it. Thank you, and the others that posted, for the beginnings of an education that will be a long time coming.

[straycat]

Really great guitars and well built.

[amimbari]

PROTOTYPE MY ASS --- hey Cowboy, I can't believe someone else just sold one of these things:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-TAKAMINE-SOLIDBODY-BASS-GUITAR-G400-GB400-GB-400-G-400-RARE-PROTOTYPE-NR-/110819489371?pt=Guitar&hash=item19cd5b365b#ht_6730wt_1115

and WOWOWOWOWOW it went for a lot, even damaged all to hell on the points and missing the TR cover!!!
At least now I know what mine is worth undamaged.

I was busy all weekend and didnt have a chance to surf ebay and a friend tried to nab it but didnt get it but showed me the ended auction.

[CowboyFromHell]

It is a prototype man! It has the "chewed lower horn" option, lol. Would be nice to have a matching bass sitting next to my Tak, but not at that price. Got a RR "copy" made by some company named Sky yesterday that some friends saw on Amazon for $75 I think it was and sent me. It's got a FR on it with a 24 fret neck and some POS tuners. Hadn't even planned on posting it on here but I might at some point just for shits and giggles.

[Sephiroth]

I've seen a ton of those Tak explorers in pawn shops in the late 80's and early 90's, and the majority of them were half-red/half black. I almost bought one a couple of times.

[amimbari]

TAK must have been their version of a higher quality MIK Bently Series 10?

[j2379]

look alot like an older Aria Pro

[CowboyFromHell]

Seph, you can get some pretty good deals on one every now and then. Personally I reccomend picking one up. I'm quite happy with mine except for the finish, which will be redone in the near future anyway so no biggie. It's great for the price. The set neck makes for excellent access and the dual hb gives alot of versatility. Seems the BT version is about the rarest of the bunch though so good luck finding the exact model. The T and TB seem to be much easier to find.