"I want to make an anime guitar," the president would always blurt out suddenly. Whether it was a spur-of-the-moment idea or something he'd been mulling over, anime fans were summoned regardless to discuss which anime to embody and how. From Sazae-san to Evangelion, tastes varied across generations.From the start, the concept was to avoid making guitars that were merely printed with anime designs, so the meeting proved difficult. Suddenly, one (relatively) young employee suggested, "What about the Tachikoma?" When everyone reviewed the footage, the rounded design and adorable character seemed to point the way forward.

We immediately had the staff create rough designs and proceeded through the complicated procedures by trial and error. Meanwhile, the president who had asked, "What's a Tachikoma?" had apparently secretly watched the entire anime TV series from the first episode to the last. Before we knew it, the office was lined with figures.

And so the "TACHIKOMA GT" project began.

If we're going to make it, let's make something truly exceptional as an instrument. If it's a guitar made by a luthier, it should be worthy of that name. The specs included a through-neck, a headless design, and a luminous fingerboard. Dream after dream was packed in, and simultaneously, the cost kept rising. We wrestled with it many times, but we decided that if we had to compromise on cost, it wouldn't be the dream model. We wanted to create a model we could be utterly obsessed with, one we could truly believe was the guitar we really wanted. That's how the specs were finalized.

And if we're going to make it, then here in Japan. If we're collaborating with an anime work that represents Japan, then it must be a handmade guitar crafted with Japanese technology and spirit. We insist on "Made in Japan." As a guitar that conveys Japanese culture to the world.TCGAKKIIt has finally risen.

Based on the design, we rounded this part a bit more~ and made it more Tachikoma-like~. With everyone's love poured in, the miniature sample is complete!

We're relieved that everyone at Production I.G is pleased. After going through various procedures, we're finally ready to begin production.

Head to one of Tokyo's premier guitar workshops! We'll refine the design through multiple consultation sessions.
Choosing the wood, deciding on the weight—my dream is finally entering the real stage.

Careful discussions about the body shape continued day and night, taking into account factors like the playability of the neck heel section and the ease of tuning from the body end unique to a headless design.

After rewriting it many times, it finally matches the actual size.BassThe drafting is complete.

Even after finalizing the design, the actual playability may not meet expectations when transferred to the wooden mold. We prepare various templates to account for such possibilities.

Making wooden molds.
We will determine the final form by combining various patterns.

After trying countless combinations, we finally settled on this wooden mold!

Carefully selected wood. The through-neck construction allows us to use flamed maple without hesitation. After much trial and error, basswood was chosen for the body sides due to its weight balance and straightforward acoustic characteristics.

The shape of the guitar is starting to take form—I'm so excited!
Compact, lightweight, and straightforward. Yet it holds its core firmly. We've selected materials that truly capture the essence of the Tachikoma.

We will determine the position of the parts based on the trial assembly.At this stage, the volume knob is still a sample.This is a crucial part that determines Tachikoma's expression, so we had it remade over and over without compromise.

Which design actually looks like a Tachikoma when installed? The size and spacing of the dots significantly alter the overall feel. We iterated prototypes until we were satisfied. Thank you to everyone at the factory who made them over and over again.

Finally, I'm starting to work on the luminous fretboard lines.
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Carve the same line repeatedly, gradually widening the groove.

Once the groove is cut, it's time to embed the neon. We'll finish it carefully.

Install the neon-embedded fingerboard and finish.

Finally, it's time to start painting. I'm mixing the signature Tachikoma blue. To achieve the Tachikoma's texture, I'm paying close attention to the blend ratio of blue and silver.

The guitar in its pristine state before painting. The spray application is both delicate and bold.

Tachikoma is being dyed blue. The most thrilling moment!

The drying process begins. Removing the masking reveals the beautiful through-neck.

After drying, apply the clear coat.

Part of the "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG" logo has been added.
Blue anodized parts made by B,W&R, prepared specifically for this purpose.

I painstakingly crafted this knob, but simply mounting it on the body didn't quite capture the essence of Tachikoma's eyes. So I made a custom aluminum plate. This really brings out the Tachikoma look.

Once the painting is complete, it's finally time for assembly.The escutcheon features a two-tone design with white accents against blue, enhancing its Tachikoma vibe. I'll do it even if people tease me, "You wouldn't even notice that detail!"

Here it comes! The red light.This is what I wanted to do.

The engraved backplate is super gorgeous!

Assembled each custom-selected part and wired them up.

We've paid attention to the output jack too, placing it at the mouth position of the Tachikoma.

Telling the story like this makes it seem like it happened in the blink of an eye, but it was a long journey—two years from conception to design, and one year from design to completion. The emotions I felt when the first unit was finally assembled were beyond ordinary. It was like meeting a real Tachikoma—I felt like I wanted to say something to it.
Now, the TACHIKOMA GT has been born. We truly hope you'll take it in your hands and see its true value for yourselves. The TACHIKOMA GT awaits you.