Takamine Announces On-Board Tube Preamp Design

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At the Winter NAMM show, Takamine Guitars announced a new on-board preamp design with the CTP-1 CoolTube preamp. The CTP-1 CoolTube preamp is a true "tube" preamp design that mounts directly inside an acoustic guitar.

"Nothing sweetens a nice clean acoustic guitar signal like a tube preamp," says Takamine product manager Mike Markure. "It took a couple years, but we found a way to make it sweet, make it cool, and make it fit." The CTP-1 CoolTube preamp features a 12AX7 tube input circuit, a semi-parametric EQ section and a chromatic tuner. One other new feature is an auxiliary input with a blend control that can accept a second add-on pickup source such as a magnetic soundhole pickup, soundboard transducer, or internal mic.

The CTP-1 CoolTube preamp is interchangeable with every preamp in Takamine's SoundChoice preamp system. This new system will come as standard equipment on Takamine Nashville Series, Supernatural, and Hirade guitars.

For more information, visit their web site at www.takamine.com.