Takamine CTP-3

Best preamp for Takamine guitars

Bought it for my Takamine EF407. Easy installation, highly improves the sound !

Takemine CTP-3

really great sounding preamp. Records well. Powerful controls

Volume selector does not work can’t control volume cost of returning the pre-amp is as much as the initial cost of the ct3 cool tube pre-amp so I’m stuck with a bad pre-amp won’t ever buy outside the USA cost of return to high

The CTP-3 sounds good and has a fair bit of flexibility, with a mix knob to dial in as much tube tone as you want - normally more for fingerpicking, less for strumming - 3 band EQ with a parametric mid, notch filter and the plug hole, switches and volume for an extra pickip to be controlled by the CTP-3. All in all, sound and features are among the best you can get these days.

One problem I am still working on is that often the unit will not switch on. The 4 AA batteries fit too snugly which means the little springs are not strong enough to push the batteries against the contacts in the lid which has to be removed to replace the batteries. I noticed a small self-adhesive felt pad in the battery compartment, presumably to stop batteries rattling and making a sound that gets picked up. Having removed this all but two brands of batteries now fit loose enough that the preamp has power. I am still cautious, not wanting to have this problem 2 minutes before going on stage.

I'm busted - a much thicker sound out of my Takamine

My "old" Takamine had a standard preamp (CT4B) and I was using it for about 4 years on stage. I (or better foh) always had to equalize the guitar signal to get a "meaty" and at the same time crispy signal.

Now the new CTP-3 came up and I read just overwhelming reviews - watched some videos on YT and came to the conclusion: I need to try this.

Ordered - next day it has been deliverd (thanks to the T-Team - always great and fast work). I just had to "unplug" the original preamp, plug the existing cables to the CTP-3 and slide it in - done.

After a short (30sec) warmup of the tube: there comes the sun - a sound what I never expected from my guitar. No equalizer - straight through - perfect sound.

My personal opinion: highly recommended - but don't forget the spare batteries.....