Takamine Earns its Way to Lainey Wilson Stage
For 6 months and 38 shows, 24 year-old singer-songwriter phenom, Jackson Dean opened for Grammy winning, CMA and ACM Entertainer of year, Lainey Wilson, and every night Jackson would rock his Takamine P3D from one end of his set to the other. Night after night show after show, the big and balanced output from the full-bodied, cedar-topped dreadnought proved a perfect partner for Jackson’s old soul, lyric-driven songs, and giant, gravel-toned vocals. It was hard not to notice.
Enter the award winning, multi-talented Sav Madigan (formerly Buist) of the Accidentals who accepted Lainey Wilson’s invitation to join her band this past spring, bringing two of her own Takamines to the tour (P3NY and P5DC-WB). Once again Takamine’s ability to fill an entire arena with pure acoustic tone was on display and noted.
This past October, Lainey Wilson brought her own Takamine to the stage, a handsome vintage, ETN10C that had been patiently waiting in her gear locker for its time to shine. Now, with the help of fellow Taks the 30-year-old cedar top and satin finish dread cutaway, has stepped into the spotlight on one of the biggest ongoing tours in country music, in hands of Lainey Wilson, one of its biggest and brightest stars. Her Takamine has rocked every show since.
The emergence of the Takamine on Lainey’s stage had nothing to do with any sort of endorsement. Lainey has a cool collection of acoustics - an assortment of makes and models, any of which she may choose to play during any given show. But they must perform. She plugs them in, plays them hard, and they are well represented in the mix - and that is where Takamine’s shine.
And so it has been throughout Takamine’s storied history as a guitar of the stars. It’s certainly not because the artists are paid to play them. Takamine has never paid an artist to use the brand. No contracts or even verbal agreements are involved. Even Takamine signature artists receive no royalties. The subject never came up. It was never the point.
The late great Toby Keith, an unapologetically American patriot, was once asked in an interview why he chose to play Takamine. The mighty Oklahoman famously replied, “Show me who does it better and I’ll switch”.
It has always been about performance, dependability and relationships built on mutual respect – values entrenched in the very essence of the brand’s culture. Any of the big names associated with the brand could switch to another at any time, but seldom, if ever, do.
Toby nailed it. Performing artists who choose to play Takamine, whether in a bedroom, church, or on Lainey Wilson’s stage, do so because the guitars have earned the privilege.
