This one-of-a-kind Tao Guitars T-Bucket “Mangetsu” is a remarkable example of modern lutherie, handcrafted in Brussels by the duo John Joveniaux and Serge Michiels of Tao Guitars. More than just a boutique build, this instrument is a thoughtful and expressive reimagining of the classic Tele-style platform, blending elegant design with functional innovation.
Finished in Tao’s striking Black and Kojima Grey, the Mangetsu features a lightweight two-piece swamp ash body with refined body contours and a fully routed tremolo cavity. This design allows the ABM 5200C tremolo bridge to operate with full freedom in both directions, offering smooth downward dives as well as dramatic upward bends. The trapezoid pickguard and rear control plate are carved from matching European flame maple, adding a subtle but beautiful contrast to the dark grain of the ash body.
The neck is built from quartersawn European flame maple and paired with a matching flame maple fingerboard, all finished in a smoky blue-grey tone that matches the headstock and ties the entire instrument together visually. The carve is a comfortable medium C, measuring .84 inches at the first fret and .94 inches at the twelfth. It has a 1 11/16 inch nut width and a 12 inch radius, giving it a familiar and easy-to-play feel whether you’re fingerpicking or playing more aggressively. Tao’s progressive fretting concept is also used on this build. As you move past the twelfth fret, the fretwire becomes gradually slimmer, allowing for easier grip and chord shapes higher up the neck.
Electronics come from a matched set of Benedetti “Double D” humbuckers, specially wound for Tao. Each pickup is splittable into a true single coil using its own push-pull control, without any noticeable drop in output. In humbucker mode, they have the clarity and richness of a vintage PAF but with more sparkle and air. In single coil mode, the tone shifts into something closer to a Tele or Strat pickup with an added openness that hints at gold foil character. Handmade aluminum covers add a touch of industrial elegance.
The fretwork is as precise as you’d expect from Tao. Frets are installed from the top, so there are no exposed tangs and nothing to shift or protrude with changes in humidity. The setup is dialed in with a low action, measuring three sixty-fourths on the high E and four sixty-fourths on the low E at the twelfth fret. The guitar rings out even unplugged, with a lively and blooming acoustic voice that adds up to something special the moment you pick it up.
This example is preowned, but in near mint condition with only the most subtle signs of playwear. Light surface marks are visible only under close inspection, and the guitar has been clearly well cared for. It ships with its original Mono Vertigo case, COA, and custom truss rod tool made from matching maple.
Between the unique finish, the flamed maple appointments, the expressive tremolo design, and the voice of the Benedetti pickups, this Mangetsu stands out as a rare and deeply personal instrument. Every detail feels deliberate and alive.
Specs:
Model: T-Bucket “Mangetsu”
Finish: Black and Kojima Grey
Body: Two-piece lightweight swamp ash
Neck: European quartersawn flame maple
Fingerboard: European flame maple
Nut Width: 1 11/16 inches
Scale Length: 24 3/4”
Radius: 12 inches
Neck Shape: Medium C (.84 at first fret, .94 at twelfth fret)
Frets: Modern height & width .050 / .095 w/ Tao progressive fretting system
Bridge: ABM 5200C tremolo with fully routed cavity
Pickups: Benedetti “Double D” humbuckers with coil splitting
Controls: Volume and tone with push-pulls, three-way selector switch
Side Dots: Black in Silver
Pickguard and Control Plate: European flame maple
Weight: 7 pounds 2 ounces
Case: Mono Vertigo gig bag
COA & Truss-Rod tool included
