Product Description

Designed by Tak Matsumoto exclusively with EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e, the Ltd. Ed. 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC ("double cutaway") Custom Outfit is the signature "Tak" that fans around the world have been waiting for. The Tak Matsumoto DC Custom brings together the artistry of Tak Matsumoto and his long association with EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e in spectacular fashion.

Tak Matsumoto is known throughout the world for his blistering solos, his groundbreaking work with the pop band B'z, and his stunning GRAMMY winning album with jazz great and close friend Larry Carlton. But Matsumoto is also revered for his beautiful EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e signature models that up until today have only been available in Japan. Now with the new Ltd. Ed. 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit, one of Japan's true masters of the fingerboard and one of the world's most powerful rockers brings the soaring sound of his "DC" design to guitar players worldwide.

Cutting-Edge Style and Classic Sound
The Ltd. Ed. 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit embodies Tak's own asymmetrical take on the popular DC Standard style and features a carved Mahogany body and a beautiful deep Ebony gloss finish. The Tak Matsumoto DC Custom's solid Mahogany body conjures a broad, rich, ringing tone with outstanding harmonic color and an extremely well-balanced frequency range.

The Mahogany SlimTaper 1960s "D" profile neck has a 24.75" scale and is attached to the body with a deep-set glued-in neck tenon, which further enhances resonance and sustain. The 22-fret ebony fingerboard has a 12" radius for fast and easy fretwork and includes a 1.68" nut and abalone block inlays. The headstock features the classic "LP Custom"-style inlay pattern with the EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e logo in pearloid and a "2014 Limited Edition" logo in gold print on the back of the headstock. The truss rod cover has the classic "bell-shaped" Kalamazoo factory design in gold with "Tak Matsumoto" in script. The DC Custom's mahogany top has 5-layer (pure white/black) binding and the neck has single layer pure white binding with 5-layer pure white/black binding on the headstock.

Gibson USA BurstBuckers, the "Holy Grail" of Pickups: It's been a long tradition of Tak Matsumoto's to put the classic firepower of Gibson USA BurstBuckers into his EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e signature guitars. Gibson USA BurstBuckers are among the most accurate recreations of the hallowed vintage hand-wound "PAF" humbuckers from the late '50s.

Today's Gibson USA BurstBuckers make that classic sound available again to everyone and are made with similar turns of the same 42 AWG wire used in the originals along with unpolished Alnico II magnets and unbalanced coils, one of the secrets to the great edge and detail heard in original "PAFs." For the 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom, Tak Matsumoto choose open-coil Gibson USA BurstBuckers with gold screws that blend perfectly with the gold hardware and ebony gloss finish. The neck position features a Gibson BurstBuckers-2 that's wound in the range of original PAFs for a warm, thick vocal tone. For the bridge position, Tak choose a Gibson USA BurstBuckers-3, which emulates the "hotter" PAFs that were "over-wound" by hand, giving you more wail and crunch from the bridge position.

Unlike original PAFs that are nearing the end of their life, these BurstBuckers are vacuum potted to combat microphonic squeal at high volume. So play your DC Custom turned up high! Tak Matsumoto DC Custom's pickups are routed through Tak's specially designed wiring scheme featuring a volume control for each pickup and one master control. Each control is a black "Top Hat" knob with a black toggle cap. The toggle has a black cap and black toggle washer with "Rhythm/Treble" in gold.

Ltd. Ed. 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit
EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e Hardware for A Lifetime: The Ltd. Ed. Tak Matsumoto DC Custom features EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e's tried-and-true gold LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and StopBar tailpiece, which combines precise adjustment for intonation and action with rock-solid resonance. The LockTone Tune-o-matic design holds tight to the posts for hassle-free string changes and unparalleled sustain. The classic Deluxe machine heads have Tombstone style buttons and a 14:1 ratio. And. like all of Tak Matsumoto's signature EE-EE-Epiphone-e-es, his new DC Custom also includes EE-EE-Epiphone-e-e Strap-locks. And. best of all, each 2014 Ltd. Ed. Tak Matsumoto DC Custom comes with a custom hard case featuring the Tak Matsumoto signature in gold print and a Certificate of Authenticity in a binder.

Body Body shape: Double cutaway Body type: Solid body Body material: Solid wood Top wood: Not applicable Body wood: Mahogany Body finish: Gloss Orientation: Right handed Neck Neck shape: '60s SlimTaper D Neck wood: Mahogany Joint: Set-in Scale length: 24.75" Truss rod: Standard Neck finish: Gloss Fretboard Material: Ebony Radius: 12" Fret size: Jumbo Number of frets: 22 Inlays: Pearloid block Nut width: 1.687" (42.8mm) Pickups Configuration: HH Neck: BurstBucker 2 Middle: Not applicable Bridge: BurstBucker 3 Brand: Gibson Active or passive: Passive Series or parallel: Series Piezo: No Active EQ: No Special electronics: None Controls Control layout: Volume 1, volume 2, master tone Pickup switch: 3-way Coil tap or split: No Kill switch: No Hardware Bridge type: Fixed Bridge design: Tune-o-matic Tailpiece: Stopbar Tuning machines: Deluxe with tulip Color: Gold Other Number of strings: 6-string Special features: Signature model Case: Hardshell case Accessories: None Country of origin: Info not available

See what this signature model can do for you. Order today.

Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage

Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.

Gold Coverage Includes:

Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks Normal wear and tear Power surges Dust, internal heat and humidity

Other plan features include:

For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks) For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax. Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold Plans are renewable on new gear

*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details

Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.

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Forgot exactly where I found out about the the epi Tak Matsumoto DC, but couldn't get it out of my mind. It is the only double cutaway epiphone I've ever seen with the elongated horn, much like the stock PRS model. Could not resist the combination of looks, jumbo frets, and gibson burstbuckers. It is a perfect match for my preferences. Watched for quite a while until a discount came along, and then pulled the trigger. It's true the action was crazy high, the pickups rattled, and the cable jack was loose, but when I plugged it in and played it, the sound from those pickups made my reservations vanish! This is the best sounding instrument I've ever heard, much less owned! That brings my guitar count up to 15, which includes a number of gibsons, fenders, and epiphones (and a 1967 kalamazoo epi crestwood). After lowering the action and tightening up all the loose stuff, this new epiphone DC plays and sounds far and away the best. It's made in china, and the quality is superb. I simply couldn't afford it otherwise. Life is good.
Epiphone Limited Edition 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit Midnight Ebony
.This guitar is really nice. It's sounds,looks and feel is excellant. The finish is beautiful. Yes I will tweek on lowering the strings a little, but that is about it. Again EE-Epiphone-e and Gibson have asked a World famous guitarist to help them put together a great guitar, and Tak Matsumoto has done that. Yes it has a D shaped neck (large). Yes it has a thick lacquer paint (beautiful).The Burstbuckers are really nice, and this one has no noise other than the beautiful string sounds. I have EE-Epiphone-e's, Joe Bonamasa LP, and this is very comparable to it, maybe better to some. I really love them both. Thanks again EE-Epiphone-e, Gibson, and Tak Matsumoto. Oh yeah, Thanks Custom Guitars Friend.
Epiphone Limited Edition 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit Midnight Ebony
.I ordered two of these. One came, I took it out of the case. I gave it a scrutiny. Bridge pup was loose, action was way high, and I can't stand fat necks,
It had a major cheesy feel to me, and a thick finish.
Hey, I thought it would have a sticker on the back that said Made in Japan, ...NOT
I did not even bother to plug it in, and I cancelled the second one. These are not special guitars in my book. An Epi LP Standard feel more substantial.
Epiphone Limited Edition 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit Midnight Ebony
.Glad EE-Epiphone-e finally released this guitar in the U.S. Since this is the first one, it may be of value later in years.
Epiphone Limited Edition 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit Midnight Ebony
.One of my favorite guitars, it is so versatile and can be used for many musical style. It can replace most of my guitars.
Epiphone Limited Edition 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit Midnight Ebony
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