Takamine EF341SC
96 Guitarist Summer 2010
TAKAMINE EF440SCGN, ETN10-C, EF341SC & TF740FS £762, £1,021, £1,021 & £1,679
ELECTRO-ACOUSTICS
The Bottom Line
Takamine
EF440SCGN
We like: Price; modern looks
We dislike: A little lacking in
tonal versatility
Guitarist says: An affordable
yet well-built electro suitable
for a range of stage work
Takamine ETN10C
We like: Simple,
uncomplicated aesthetics
We dislike: Minor quality
control niggles; cost
Guitarist says: A modern,
capable dread perfect for
open-mic nights and home
recording sessions
Takamine EF341SC
We like: Sumptuous, stylish
looks; gutsy, rich tone
We dislike: Only the not too
clean inside of the guitar
Guitarist says: A super gig-
ready electro fit for any stage
Takamine TF740FS
We like: Body shape;
materials; balanced tone;
electronics; just about
everything really!
We dislike: There’s no non-
cutaway version
Guitarist says: A real
player’s guitar that will only
get better with age
The TF740FS really is something
diff erent with a clear, open, bright yet
totally soulful output
The rivals
TF740FS
Both Taylor’s 312CE (£1,259)
and 412CE (£1,479) models
make desirable rivals here.
The 312 is a spruce/sapele
guitar, while the 412 features
ovangkol for the back and
sides. Both models feature
Venetian cutaways and
Taylor’s own Expression
System. Alternatively, the
Larrivée OM-03E (£1,263) is
a beautifully appointed OM
fitted with the LR Baggs
Element pickup, albeit
without a cutaway.
will be just what many gigging
singer-songwriters require for
underpinning vocals.
Although being a similar
guitar to the ETN10-C in many
ways, the EF341SC offers a
noticeably different tone to its
dreadnought stablemate. Its
volume and sustain levels are
similar to its brother, but the
EF341SC has more heart to its
timbre. The bass is richer while
the mids have a smoother
presence that gives more tonal
Sounds
In line with its appearance,
the EF440SCGN offers a dry,
woody tone that’s very well-
suited to punchy chord and riff
work. With a medium pick in
hand, first-position and barre
chords produce a mid-heavy
timbre suitable for many
applications, though the lack of
a pronounced bass means that
fingerstyle isn’t one of them.
Single-note runs and solos are
clear and carry good presence
and sustain, however.
The ETN10-C’s tone is
instantly recognisable as a
dreadnought, with lots of
volume, presence and a strong
lower-mid-range that’s
excellent for hearty strummed
chord work. You could perhaps
accuse the ETN10-C of lacking
some warmth and character,
but we’d suggest that the
guitar’s dry clarity and punch
The EF440SGN’s slot headstock sets it apart from the rest
GIT332.rev_takamine 96 7/15/10 3:44:17 PM