This listing is for a very special guitar, hand built by Luthier team John and Serge of Tao Guitars based in Brussels-Belgium. This was a piece I had bought to re-sell a few moths ago; but then instead ended up falling for it's beauty, tone and easy play-ability. After spending a good portion of the past year carefully playing it at home and having it professionally set-up, I've found another Tao T-Bucket that suits my playing style better. With that being said, this is a rare one of a kind instrument of the highest-quality with immense attention to the details.
The T-Bucket is Tao's nod to Leo Fender's Telecaster model, but with a shorter 24 3/4" Gibson-like scale length. The body is built out of light weight Spanish Cedar with a beautifully shaped inlaid pick-guard made out of Indian Rosewood on the treble side of the body. The neck is Quartersawn Flame Maple, for extreme sustain and resonance. Speaking of resonance this guitar does not stop ringing. It blooms like only some of the finest acoustic guitars we've ever played do. Like a living breathing organism really. The entire guitar only weight 5lbs 14.5oz
This is one of the very first Tao guitars to come to the United States fitted with an ABM 2-pin Vibrato, that has a fully routed out cavity. This allows the player to not only be able to push downward but also pull notes up a full minor third.Â
The electronics in this guitar are also extremely unique. The pickups are hand wound "Ribbon Pickups" by Benedetti Pickups with handmade covers by Tao. They are asymmetrically wound Humbuckers that can be split into true Single Coils, without any noticeable/perceived volume drop. When in Humbuckucking mode they deliver a beautiful mid-output PAF style sound with added sparkle and clarity. When they are split they sound much like a Tele or Strat style pickup, while still being completely their own thing. Since each pickup is splittable via separate pots (one on the volume pot one on the tone pot) you can mix and match the two pickups anyway you'd like to.Â
The neck on this guitar feels like a dream. It is a slightly asymmetrical Medium U-shape, with more heft on the Bass side than the Treble side; this way the neck fits perfectly into the curve of your hand; like a glove really. You would never know it was an asymmetrical profile just by feeling it, but once you know, you’ll realize that this is a primary factor into why this guitars neck feels so comfortable. My other Tao, as well as others that I’ve owned, played and sold have had similar neck profiles, so this is not uncommon on a Tao guitar. The fretwork is incredible and frets still have their full life left in them. With the way Tao frets their necks you can not see or feel the frets from the side of the neck as they were cut to size and then put in from the top. This way they will never begin to protrude and become sharp on the sides with the constant change in humidity. Tao also uses their "Tao Progressive Fretting" system. This is where the frets get increasingly thinner as you travel up the fingerboard to avoid cramping while doing complex chords past the 12th fret.
All in all between the finish work where you can feel and see the wood grain, the versatile and incredible/unique pickups, lightweight balanced feel (seated and/or standing) and the awe inspiring fully routed out vibrato cavity, this guitar is one of the best instruments to have graced our presence and is in great condition w/ only a few scratches to the super light finish and the hardware.Â
Specs: Tao T-Bucket "Emerald City Queen"Â
Body: Spanish Cedar
Neck: Quartersawn Flame MapleÂ
Neck profile: Custom Med U .84"-.94"
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Radius: 12"
Pickups: Benedetti "Ribbon Pickups" Split-able Humbuckers
Tuners: Gotoh lockingÂ
Trem: ABM Tremolo Bridge
Weight: 5lbs 14.5ozÂ
Case: OHSC (pictured) with Case Candy, COA and handmade tool for truss-rod adjustment
