Lefty Left Handed Takamine LTD Whales Limited Edition 2002 Natural - Ultra Rare Save the Whales

$200 PRICE DROP

Lefty Left Handed Takamine LTD Whales Limited Edition 2002 Natural - Ultra Rare Save the Whales

FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS about this one-of-a-kind guitar. I’m the original owner and happy to share more photos, videos, or details.
Important: All transactions must stay inside Reverb messaging. I will not move to email, text, WhatsApp, or any other platform. Serious buyers only.

2002 Takamine LTD Whales "Save the Whales" Limited Edition – Ultra-Rare Left-Handed Model

This is a true collector’s piece and a piece of Takamine history. In 2002, Takamine produced only seven left-handed examples of their stunning LTD Whales Limited Edition. I bought #7 brand new that year from Southpaw Guitars in Houston, Texas. After some minor setup work (lowering the action and trying electric strings), a fret-leveling issue appeared. I took it to my local factory-authorized service center who sent it directly to Takamine. Takamine leveled the frets and sent it back to me. Tragically, UPS destroyed the guitar in transit on the return shipment. 

At that point, left-handed guitars #1 through #5 and #7 had already been sold. Guitar #6 was sitting unsold on a dealer’s shelf. The factory pulled #6—checked the setup and leveled the frets just to make sure all was good—and sent it to me as a direct replacement—brand new, untouched, and identical in every way. That was 24 years ago. Today, no one knows exactly how many of the original seven still survive, but with this one still in pristine condition, it is undeniably one of the rarest Takamines ever made. 

The Build & Special Features

This is the iconic 2002 LTD Whales model, built in Japan with premium tonewoods and beautiful whale-themed artistry: 

·Single-cutaway dreadnought body with solid Select Grade Sitka Spruce top, solid Indian Rosewood back, and Indian Rosewood sides 

·Mahogany neck for warm, responsive feel 

·Ebony fingerboard with striking Abalone breaching whale inlays along the fingerboard. 

·Whale-themed rosette composed of Jacaranda, Rosewood, Mother of Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, and Abalone 

·Onboard CT-4B electronics — crystal-clear plugged-in tone with easy controls 

·Chrome three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, and gloss Natural finish 

·Scale length: 25-3/8″ | Nut width: 1-9/16″ | Upper bout: 11-1/8″ | Lower bout: 15-3/4″ | Total length: 40-15/16″

Condition & Playability

This guitar is in excellent, well-preserved condition after 24 years of careful ownership.

I would call this guitar Pristine, Like New, In the same condition as when it left the factory, except — and this is really nit-picking — but there are some extremely fine “spider web” micro-scratches on the back of the body — typical very light hairline marks from rubbing against my shirt over many years. These are only visible when the guitar is held at certain angles in bright/direct sunlight and are so fine that I was unable to capture them in photos, even in strong lighting. They have no effect on the structural integrity or playability. I know this is really minor, but I'm trying to describe the guitar as accurately as I can.

Any perceived imperfections, variations in color, variations in finish, or marks in the photos are simply reflections from lighting and objects in the room where the pictures were taken. There are no cracks, no dings, no finish checking, and no significant wear on the frets or binding. The action is perfectly set exactly where I like it, and it plays like ringing a bell both acoustically and plugged in. It has been lovingly stored in its case and remains structurally perfect.

A Unique Chapter in Takamine Lore

Because of the factory replacement story, this is literally the only left-handed 2002 LTD Whales that exists in this exact configuration. The whale inlays and rosette make it a beautiful tribute to the “Save the Whales” theme, and the limited production run means you simply won’t find another lefty example on the market. 

Summary

If you’re a serious collector of rare left-handed acoustics or simply want an absolutely stunning, limited-edition Takamine that plays and sounds as good as it looks, this is it. One owner since new, factory-corrected, and preserved in perfect condition for 24 years. A true “holy grail” piece that will only become rarer with time. 

Includes: Original Takamine hardshell case. 

Asking $2,495 (Make Offer encouraged — serious inquiries welcome)

Plus Cost of Shipping—estimated around $110-$155 + an estimated $40 to $62 (maximum $94) for insurance.

Local pickup available in the north Dallas TX suburbs if you're nearby.

This guitar is being offered by the original owner with full transparency and pride. It is ready to ship or local pickup can be arranged. Serious inquiries only — this one deserves a good home.