Ever since Takamine came into existence in 1962, they've been pushing the envelope when it comes to acoustic guitars. They were actually one of the first guitar makers to manufacture an acoustic/electric instrument. Even today, Takamine continues to experiment with their designs by scaling down size, adding different components in their preamps, and even adorning instruments with radical inlay work. 

The GD51 is a handsomely built instrument featuring solid-top construction which definitely adds a full-bodied "oomph" to the tone. Also utilizing Takamine's split-saddle construction provides greater articulation in chords and enhanced single-note presence while stabilizing intonation. Overall, this is a workhorse of a guitar that plays and sounds as good as it looks.