I have an instrument in need of service. What should I do?		Factory direct sales?
	Strings - what kind do I use?		Factory tours?
	How do I adjust or setup my guitar?		When was my instrument manufactured?
	Guitar setup specs.		Is my guitar solid or laminate wood?
	Bass setup specs.		Which guitars can be made left-handed?
	Bass & Baritone string gauges.		What is the story with the Papoose?
	How do I install a strap button?		What kind of electronic options do you offer?
	What nut widths do your guitars have?		Humidity and Your Guitar.
	How do I clean my guitar?		Contact Tacoma.

I have an instrument in need of service. What is the best thing to do? Warranty Repairs: Tacoma warranty service is performed at FMIC's National Service Center in Nashville, Tennessee. In the event you feel that warranty service is required on your Tacoma instrument, please take the instrument to the Authorized Tacoma Dealer from whom the instrument was purchased. Your Dealer should then contact FMIC's Tech Support Department for a Service Return Authorization request to have the instrument sent to FMIC's National Service Center for evaluation. Upon receipt, the Service Center staff will evaluate the issue with the instrument for warranty consideration. If approved for coverage under the Tacoma warranty, the instrument will be repaired. If the damage to the instrument is determined not to be the result of a defect in manufacturing, a quote will be generated for a Non-Warranty Repair. (See Below). For further information and assistance, please contact FMIC's Consumer Relations Dept. at 480-596-9690. Please Note: Per the terms of the Tacoma warranty, all transportation, insurance and freight charges associated with warranty service and repairs on Tacoma instruments are the responsibility of the purchaser. Non-Warranty Repairs: FMIC is also performing non-warranty repairs on Tacoma instruments at our National Service Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Instruments must first be taken to an Authorized Tacoma Dealer who will then contact FMIC's Tech Support Department for a Service Return Authorization request. If approved, the consumer owned unit must be shipped to the National Service Center in Nashville. A repair quote will be generated upon evaluation of the condition of the instrument and an approval of the quote must be obtained from the consumer before any repair work is performed. Please Note: Per the terms of the Tacoma warranty, all transportation, insurance and freight charges associated with warranty service and repairs on Tacoma instruments are the responsibility of the purchaser. To locate a Tacoma dealer in your area please refer to our Dealer Search page or email us at info@tacomaguitars.com. [back to questions] Strings - what kind should I use? Tacoma Guitars are factory strung with D'Addario light gauge strings (.012 -.053). Switching to Medium gauge can be done however, it can put unnecessary stress on the bridge, saddle, nut, and may require a truss rod adjustment, re-cutting of the nut and/or a set-up for optimal playability. For simplicity's sake, we recommend continuing the use of light gauge strings. Click here for Bass & Baritone string gauges. [back to questions] How do I adjust or setup my guitar? We have a saying in this industry... "When in doubt, take your guitar to an experienced tech." Most luthiers and small guitar repair shops are great for routine setups and general maintenance; fast and generally inexpensive. *** Please note that any after market add-ons or modifications will affect the warranty in the event of damage. Tacoma Guitars is not liable for any damage that occurs as a result of after market add-ons or modifications. [back to questions] Guitar setup specs Factory specs for our guitars are measured at the 12th fret. 2.5mm on the bass side. 2mm on the treble side. [back to questions] Bass setup specs Factory specs for our basses are measured at the 12th fret. 3 1/2 mm on bass side. 3 mm on treble side. [back to questions] Bass & Baritone String Gauges Bass -------- .045 G .065 D .080 A .100 E .130 B - 5 string basses only Baritone -------- .016 B .022 G .028 D .048 A .060 E .070 B [back to questions] How do I install a strap button? Care must be taken to avoid contact with neck mounting bolts when mounting a strap button. Safe distance for pilot holes are at least 1/2" across the heel away from the body We recommend taking your guitar to an experienced repair tech or luthier for proper installation of a strap button. Proper strap button installation will not void your warranty. Damage incurred during or as a result of strap button installation is not covered under the Tacoma warranty. Measurements and locations of neck mounting bolts: ------------------------------------------------------------ from bottom of fingerboard to 1st bolt - 1 3/8" from 1st bolt to 2nd bolt - 1 1/2" from 2nd bolt to heel cap - 15/16" Applicable models - Dreadnought, Parlor, Jumbo, and Little Jumbo [note: bolts are 3/8" in diameter] [back to questions] What nut widths do your guitars have? Dreadnought series - 1.75", 1.687" (cutaway) Papoose series - 1.875" Mandolin series - 1.125" Jumbo series - 1.75", 1.687" (cutaway) Chief series - 1.75" Parlor series - 1.75" Thunderhawk Baritone series - 1.687" Roadking series - 1.75" All 12 strings - 1.875" Thunderchief bass series - 1.687" Archtop series - 1.687" Nylon - 2.00" [back to questions] How do I clean my guitar? Gloss finishes: Apply a small amount of pump polish to a soft dry cloth to clean the surface. If desired, use a dab of Carnauba wax on a soft cloth and apply in a circular motion to the surface. Then simply buff to a high shine. Satin finishes: DO NOT USE oils, polishes, or waxes. To do so would eventually fill in the grain of the wood causing unsightly buildup. Instead, we suggest that you use a slightly damp soft cloth with a dab of mild liquid detergent to clean the soiled areas of the body and the back of the neck. Use a clean, damp section of the cloth to remove any residual detergent. Use a dry area of the cloth to buff away moisture. For fingerboard and bridge maintenance: Tacoma Guitars recommends using high-grade lemon oil such as Stringfellows. After removing the strings and bridge pins, apply a light dab of lemon oil onto a clean dry cloth and gently rub into the bridge and fingerboard. Avoid heavy applications, especially on the fretboard, as it may accumulate underneath individual frets. Wipe dry any excess with a clean dry cloth. [back to questions] Factory direct sales? Tacoma Guitars are distributed and sold exclusively through our network of authorized dealers. To search for a dealer near you, please refer to our Dealer Search page or email us at info@tacomaguitars.com. [back to questions] Factory tours? While we appreciate your interest, due to insurance and liability concerns, the Tacoma Guitars factory is unable to be open to the public or provide guided tours. [back to questions] When was my instrument manufactured? Manufactured dates can be determined from the serial number on the inside of your instrument. 1) The letter in the first position refers to the year in which it was produced. The letter system began 1998 with "B." (B = 1998, C = 1999, etc.) If there is no letter in the first position, congratulations! Your guitar was one of the first units we produced! 2) The next three digits reflect the Julian calendar date of the manufacturing year by number of days. (105 = the one-hundred and fifth day of the year, etc.) 3) The next set of digits reflects the daily production number and internal batch routing. [back to questions] Is my guitar solid or laminate wood? Tacoma Guitar tops have always been made from solid woods, and as of January 1st 2001, all Tacoma Guitars have been manufactured using all solid woods. Backs and sides by wood variety Mahogany Rosewood Koa Backs: have always been solid woods. Sides: 1997 & 1998 all laminated. 1999 & 2000 cutaways laminated, non-cutaways solid. Backs: 1997 all laminated 1998 - Present all solid Sides: 1997 & 1998 all laminated 1999 & 2000 cutaways laminated, non-cutaways solid Backs: 1997 - 1999 all laminated 2000 all solid Sides: 1997 - 2000 all laminated [back to questions] Which guitars can be made left-handed? We can make any standard round sound hole, non-cutaway model, left-handed. For pricing and availability, consult with your local authorized Tacoma Guitars dealer. [back to questions] What is the story with the Papoose? The Papoose was the first guitar Tacoma ever made. It is a voiced instrument, 5 frets shorter than a standard guitar with an offset paisley sound hole and a smaller body. It is tuned A-D-G-C-E-A and essentially acts as a normal guitar with a capo on the 5th fret. The advantage of the papoose is its versatility. It has a full, bright sound without the compromises of string scale of a capoed guitar. It adds a wonderful treble quality in the studio for balancing out layered recordings, and works well as a travel instrument. [back to questions] What kind of electronic options do you offer? Tacoma E4 Preamp: Fishman Prefix Plus EQ with Matrix pickup offers an exceptional range of control and allows the player to find his/her sound in any live situation, while still delivering one of the best studio signals ever for an onboard EQ. The Prefix Plus EQ system features adjustable boost/cut style Bass, Treble, Contour, Brilliance, and Frequency controls. It also has sweep able rotary Notch, Volume, and Phase controls. The most unique feature is a retractable hinge mounting which allows the user to access the entire circuit board and battery while the housing itself remains fixed to the side of the guitar. Manufacturer's suggested retail price - $250.00 [back to questions] Humidity and Your Guitar Solid wood instruments are very responsive to their relative environments. If humidity levels are out of balance your guitar could warp, crack, or incur some type of trauma. Keeping humidity constant doesn't have to be difficult; however it is necessary to maintain the beauty and sound of your guitar for years to come. The relative humidity (RH) of the air surrounding your guitar should be between 40% and 60%. If you store your guitar on an open stand, your guitar is subject to the humidity of the open air. This is fine if the humidity happens to stay around 50%, but in most cases you will want more control over humidity. Relative humidity can vary indoors just as it can outdoors especially with the use of heat in the winter seasons and air conditioning in the summer seasons. An easy solution is to store your guitar in the case when not in use. The case can slow the rate of change in how the guitar responds to the humidity and can be used in conjunction with a humidifier. Just as any solid wood guitar can dry out; it can also retain excess moisture and become too "wet." An overly moist guitar will show signs of swelling on the top or back. It can compromise glue joints, loosen bridges, and cause bubbles to appear in the finish. If your guitar is showing signs of excessive moisture, a simple solution is to use a silica gel packet. These can be found at any music store and can be placed in the case with the guitar overnight to reduce moisture. Please note: Damage caused to the wood or finish of the guitar as the result of exposure to temperature or humidity changes will not be covered under the Tacoma¨ warranty. [back to questions] Contact Information: Tacoma Guitars 8860 E. Chaparral Road, Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85250 480-596-9690 info@tacomaguitars.com [back to questions]