This Year’s Masterpiece: LTD-2016 Decoy

For over 50 years, the acclaimed team of luthiers at Takamine’s shop in Sakashita, Japan have created some of the world’s most popular — and spectacular — acoustic guitars. Each year, these master luthiers also create one special model that’s made only in very limited numbers, with a combination of design and features that will never be duplicated.

In 2016, that guitar is the LTD-2016 Decoy. The Decoy’s inspiration comes from the fishing culture of the Kiso River Valley, which is also the home of Takamine in Japan. There’s a fishing technique known as "Tomozuri" which is used to catch the Wild Ayu, or "Watermelon Fish" so called because of its similarly sweet smell and taste. Tomozuri takes advantage of the territorial behavior of the Ayu fish by introducing a live, hooked decoy fish which the angry Ayu will then attack in dramatic fashion.

Catching an Ayu in this fashion is both challenging and exhilarating, and the Takamine Decoy embodies the spirit of tomozuri fishing in several ways. Its solid flamed maple top has a sumptuous translucent Green Blue Burst finish, and the combination of color and figured grain of the wood invokes the flowing waters around the Gifu Prefecture, along with the shimmering effect of its ivoroid/abalone multiple binding and purfling on the body, headstock, and abalone rosette. But the true story of the Decoy is told via the hand-crafted abalone inlay on its ebony fingerboard, depicting the epic battle between the hooked decoy fish and the Ayu.

In addition to its arched flamed maple top, Decoy also makes use of a flamed maple back and sides, a maple neck, and an ebony fingerboard with 21 frets (14 clear of the neck joint). For electronics, it offers Takamine’s finest: the legendary Palathetic pickup, and CTP 3 CoolTube preamp, making it perfect for either studio or stage use. Very limited in production, Decoy also includes a hard case and a commemorative Certificate of Authenticity.

As is the case in previous Takamine LTD models, the Decoy represents a unique treasure for any musician who wants the very best, along with collectors who will appreciate the styling and rarity of this guitar. It is available now through select Takamine dealers in the USA.

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