The P1 Papoose-designed by Terry Atkins and George Gruhn-was Tacoma's first guitar model. Models Hawaiian slack key guitarist playing a Tacoma EKK19c guitar made out of Koa wood. Most Tacoma guitars have bolt-on necks, without visible screw plates. Tacoma said this improves transmission of vibrations from the bridge to the top. The bridge is curved, rather than flat, and has no sharp edges. Tacoma used asymmetrically shaped braces, which they said improves the response of each string. Tacoma contoured braces so they were thinner but wider near the edges of the top, and thicker but narrower near the center of the top. They placed two cross-braces on the outside of the X, which they said improves sound hole stability and rigidity, while leaving the edges more flexible and resonant. Tacoma used a modification of the traditional X-frame bracing on their models with conventional sound holes. They applied the full extent of this philosophy to the Wing Series guitars, which used A-frame bracing instead of the more traditional X-frame bracing of conventional acoustics. Their theory behind the system was to minimize bracing to what it needs to remain stable, such that the tone of the guitar is sacrificed as little as possible. Tacoma guitars used their Voiced Bracing Support system to various extents. Tacoma called guitars that use the paisley soundhole the Wing Series. George's idea was that moving the sound hole to a relatively low-stress part of the top would increase top strength, reduce bracing, and make the top more resonant. Several of Tacoma's models featured an unusual sound hole shape, a paisley soundhole, on the left side of the upper bout designed by world famous Luthier George Gruhn. Paisley soundhole Tacoma M1 mandolin with paisley sound hole on the upper bout. Tacoma incorporated unusual features in many of its guitars-notably, paisley-shaped soundholes and bolt-on necks. Fender never resumed production of Tacoma guitars. When the move was announced, former Tacoma Guitars CEO Ferdinand Boyce suggested that Fender's decision to close the plant was motivated in part by a desire to automate the Tacoma manufacturing process to cut costs. In 2008, Fender announced it would close the 44,000 square foot Frederickson plant and lay off 70 employees, intending to move Tacoma production to existing Fender factories in Connecticut to take advantage of economies of scale. A recession in the Asian economy caused by the Avian Flu epidemic prompted Young Chang to sell the division to Kim in 1999.įender Musical Instruments Corporation purchased the company in October 2004 for a price estimated between $2 million and $4 million and made it a division of Fender. Tacoma subsequently developed ranges of guitars-some with conventional round sound holes, others with the paisley sound hole introduced on the Papoose (as the Wing Series). That year, mass production of the unconventional Papoose model, the first sold under the Tacoma brand, also began. In 1997, the Papoose and Chief models debuted at the 1997 winter Convention of the National Association of Musical Manufacturers (NAMM). For the first few years, the plant produced about 100 guitars a month for another guitar brand. Kim persuaded Young Chang to build a guitar manufacturing plant nearby. Tacoma Guitars began as a division of Young Chang America in Tacoma, Washington that, starting in 1991, processed Northwest hardwood for export for piano soundboards. Tacoma manufactured mainly acoustic guitars, although its product range extended to basses and mandolins. The Tacoma plant closed, and production ceased, in 2008. The company and brand name were later acquired by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Instruments were manufactured in Tacoma, Washington. It was founded in 1991 as a division of South Korean company Young Chang. Tacoma Guitars was an American manufacturing company of musical instruments.
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