Click to visit Sweetwater Click to visit Gearank

Epiphone 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom

Epiphone expand their signature guitar line with the new Ltd. Ed. 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom Outfit.

Epiphone Tak Matsumoto DC Custom

Previous Tak Matsumoto signature models were only released in Japan, this year Epiphone is finally allowing for an international release albeit in limited numbers.

Tak Matsumoto is a popular Japanese guitarist and producer, he achieved worldwide acclaim after winning a Grammy award for his album with another virtuoso, Larry Carlton. Tak has been an Epiphone endorser for a long time, having a number of signature guitars that were only released in Japan. This time, Epiphone is finally making Tak Matsumoto’s “DC” design available to guitarists worldwide.

The new Ltd. Ed. 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC (Double Cutaway) Custom Outfit comes with a solid mahogany body that is carved into Tak’s distinct asymmetrical double cutaway body shape. I”t iss wrapped in a deep Ebony gloss finish. The top and the headstock have 5-layer (pure white/black) binding while the neck has a single layer pure white binding.

The body is paired with a mahogany neck with SlimTaper 1960s “D” profile, attached to the body via a deep-set glued-in neck tenon joint. The neck is topped by a 22 fret ebony fretboard that has a scale length of 24.75″ scale, radius of 12″ and a nut width of 1.68″. Abalone block inlays serve as fret markers

Embedded on the headstock is the classic “LP Custom”-style inlay pattern and a pearloid Epiphone logo. At the back of the headstock is another distinct gold graphic that says “2014 Limited Edition”. The classic “bell-shaped” truss rod cover comes in gold finish with “Tak Matsumoto” in script.

Epiphone Tak Matsumoto DC Custom

Giving this Epiphone signature guitar its sound is a pair of Gibson USA BurstBuckers. The press release says, “Is been a long tradition of Tak Matsumoto’s to put the classic firepower of Gibson USA BurstBuckers into his Epiphone 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.”

The company expounds further, “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.”

The wiring of the pickups are especially designed by Tak. He equipped the guitar with three black “Top Hat” knobs, a volume control for each pickup and one master control. The three-way pickup selector has a black toggle cap and washer, with the “Rhythm/Treble” labels in gold.

Other features of the 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom feature classic Deluxe 14:1 ratio machine heads with tombstone style buttons, gold LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and StopBar tailpiece, and Epiphone strap-locks. Finally, the guitar comes with a special hard case featuring the Tak Matsumoto’s signature in gold print.

The new Epiphone 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom is currently retailing for around $890. You can head over to Epiphone for the complete specifications.

Related Articles:

Epiphone Blueshawk Deluxe

Epiphone Gary Clark Jr. Blak and Blu Casino

Guitars for under 1000
Click here for great guitars that you can buy for under $1000

3 thoughts on “Epiphone 2014 Tak Matsumoto DC Custom”

  1. Great Guitar
    Oz

    I am so happy that I purchased one yesterday. I already own the Gibson CS DC Korina Gold version which is the best guitar that I ever owned or played. The comparison would be unfair considering the price difference, but the Epiphone DC Tak Matsumoto version holds it own. Both have Gibson USA burstbucker 2 & 3 pickups and a set of 10 strings. Playing through either a Blackstar HT5 or H&K Tubemeister 36 tube amps it is quite hard to tell the difference between the Gibson and Epiphone which is quite astounding and remarkable. The Gibson has a bit more mids, while the Epiphone sounds a bit more thick. The resonance, the chime is all there. The guitar has amazing build quality and has fantastic tone and sustain. The ebony fretboard is a dream. The body has a nice black gloss finish and the 7 ply binding around the body together with the binding and diamond inlay of the headstock gives the guitar a very handsome look. The guitar is hand made in China and has impeccable build. I never liked the Epiphone headstock on a LP, but it does look pretty good on this guitar. The gold hardware has some oxidation, but that has no impact on tone or playability. I play mostly blues, rock and metal and it covers it all. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a first rate, great looking and sounding guitar.

  2. Great Guitar
    Oz

    I am so happy that I purchased one yesterday. I already own the Gibson CS DC Korina Gold version which is the best guitar that I ever owned or played. The comparison would be unfair considering the price difference, but the Epiphone DC Tak Matsumoto version holds it own. Both have Gibson USA burstbucker 2 & 3 pickups and a set of 10 strings. Playing through either a Blackstar HT5 or H&K Tubemeister 36 tube amps it is quite hard to tell the difference between the Gibson and Epiphone which is quite astounding and remarkable. The Gibson has a bit more mids, while the Epiphone sounds a bit more thick. The resonance, the chime is all there. The guitar has amazing build quality and has fantastic tone and sustain. The ebony fretboard is a dream. The body has a nice black gloss finish and the 7 ply binding around the body together with the binding and diamond inlay of the headstock gives the guitar a very handsome look. The guitar is hand made in China and has impeccable build. I never liked the Epiphone headstock on a LP, but it does look pretty good on this guitar. The gold hardware has some oxidation, but that has no impact on tone or playability. I play mostly blues, rock and metal and it covers it all. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a first rate, great looking and sounding guitar.

  3. Any reviews on this guitar?
    Anonymous

    I’m looking to buy a new guitar and I really want this one. The only thing stopping me is that I cannot find a single review on it. I’d like to see at least 5 reviews though.
    I can get an Epiphone Les Paul with dozens of positive reviews on it and I’ll be pretty sure I’m getting a good, well-made guitar. I can’t believe this one has no reviews anywhere on any website store that sells it though. It’s not in stores anywhere near my area.

Leave a Reply