Takamine controversies

Headstock design dispute and so-called lawsuit-era guitars

In the early 1970s, some Takamine steel-string guitars used headstock and logo treatments that resembled designs associated with American manufacturers, including Martin and Guild. Martin sent Takamine a cease-and-desist letter concerning its headstock trademark. Despite the later collector term “lawsuit guitars,” the available account states that the matter did not proceed to formal litigation. Takamine subsequently altered details of its headstock design to establish greater visual distinction.