Takamine G Series Acoustics for Recording

For a home studio, the Takamine G Series gives you a flexible set of acoustic tones to record with. Body shape does much of the work in a mix. A GD dreadnought brings fullness for rhythm tracks, while a GY New Yorker parlor or GF FXC small-body sits well for fingerstyle parts and layered arrangements. A GJ jumbo adds low-end weight, and the 12-string GD74CE is a classic way to widen a chorus.

The CE models have a TK-40D or TP-4TD preamp, which gives you a direct line out for quick tracking when you do not want to set up a mic. You can also mic the acoustic voice of the same guitar, or blend the two signals for more options at mixdown. Solid-top models in the 20 through 90 tiers let you pick a level that matches your recording goals.

The series extends past steel-strings. GC classical nylon-string guitars suit nylon-string parts, GB acoustic-electric basses add an acoustic low end, and GX 3/4-size guitars are easy to carry to a session or write with anywhere. Left-handed versions are widely available, and prices run from about $349 to $1,399.