TAMA is the brand name of Seisakusho Company, which was founded in Aichi, Japan, in 1962 as part of Hoshino Gakki. Seisakusho began by making guitars, amplifiers, and drums for Ibanez. The first TAMA-branded guitar, a dreadnought acoustic guitar, was shown in an Ibanez brochure in 1974. More classical and steel-string guitars were introduced to the TAMA lineup during the next three years. Steel strings are Martin acoustic guitar reproductions.

TAMA redesigned their guitar line in 1977 and put the T-style emblem on the new head design.TAMA’s final guitar, the TG-190, was introduced as a limited top model in 1978. TAMA guitars were phased out in 1979. Existing inventory was sold to Ibanez, which continued to produce guitars at the plant with the same employees and designers under the new brand “Artwood Guitars.”