Takamine

98 Guitarist Summer 2010
TAKAMINE EF440SCGN, ETN10-C, EF341SC & TF740FS £762, £1,021, £1,021 & £1,679
ELECTRO-ACOUSTICS
TF740FS
PRICE: £1,679.07
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: OM cutaway
TOP: Solid cedar
BACK/SIDES: Solid mahogany
MAX RIM DEPTH: 119mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 388mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 646mm
(25.4-inches)
TUNERS: Open-geared Gotoh
NUT/WIDTH: Bone/41mm
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING:
Rosewood/59mm
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 2.1/4.6
OPTIONS: None
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISH: Natural gloss
Test results
Build quality
Playability
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
EF341SC
RICE: £1,021.08
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: Dreadnought cutaway
TOP: Solid cedar
BACK/SIDES: Solid maple (sides
laminate)
MAX RIM DEPTH: 125mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 399mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 646mm
(25.4-inches)
TUNERS: Chrome Gotoh
NUT/WIDTH: Bone/37mm
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING:
Rosewood/54mm
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 2.3/5.00
OPTIONS: Natural gloss finish
(£1,021.08), Tobacco sunburst finish
(£1,021.08)
LEFT-HANDERS: Available by end of
year (£1091.58)
FINISH: Black Gloss (as reviewed)
Test results
Build quality
Playability
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
ETN10C
PRICE: £1,021.08
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: Dreadnought cutaway
TOP: Solid cedar
BACK/SIDES: Solid mahogany
(sides laminate)
MAX RIM DEPTH: 125mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 400mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 646mm
(25.4-inches)
TUNERS: Chrome Gotoh
NUT/WIDTH: Bone/37mm
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING:
Rosewood/53mm
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 2.3/5.00
OPTIONS: 12-string (£1,021.08),
Tobacco sunburst finish (£1,021.08),
Bear-Claw Spruce top (£1,021.08), OM
shape (£1,021.08)
LEFT-HANDERS: Yes, available now
(£1,068.08)
FINISH: Natural satin (as reviewed)
Test results
Build quality
Playability
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
EF440SCGN
PRICE: £762.58
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: NEX cutaway
TOP: Solid cedar
BACK/SIDES: Solid mahogany
(sides laminate)
MAX RIM DEPTH: 110mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 395mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 646mm
(25.4-inches)
TUNERS: Chrome Gotoh
NUT/WIDTH: Bone/37mm
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING:
Rosewood/54mm
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 2.05/4.5
OPTIONS: Dreadnought version
(£762), OM version (£891),
LEFT-HANDERS: Available by end of
year (£844)
FINISH: Antique satin (as reviewed)
Takamine Guitars
01342 331 700
www.takamineguitars.eu
Test results
Build quality
Playability
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
versatility, depending on the
different styles or techniques
that you play. In fact, we’d
suggest that the EF341SC is one
of the most likeable tones for a
£1,000 dread we’ve heard for
some time.
Finally, the TF740FS: as
mentioned, this guitar really is
something different with a
clear, open, bright yet totally
soulful output. The increased
depth of the body makes for a
very plump but tight bass
register too. The TF740FS is
not a guitar that needs to be
driven; it’s superbly responsive
and very little effort is required
to benefit from its huge
dynamic range. Sorry,
Takamine, we might just need
to hold on to this one for
ongoing evaluation!
The strong, sturdy tonal
characteristics of the CoolTube
CT-4B preamp will be well-
known to regular readers of
this magazine. Takamines are
built for the stage and the
no-nonsense CT-4B is a well-
proven preamp that’s fitted to
a large section of its range,
providing a versatile, clear and
heady output suitable for just
about every plugged-in
situation you’ll find yourself in.
Our TF740FS, however,
employs the CoolTube CT-P2
preamp. Previous pages of this
magazine will bear witness to
our being impressed with this
high-output system. The effect
on the tone when dialling in the
CoolTube is quite dramatic and
it is capable of mixing in
varying degrees of warmth.
Push it hard and you might even
enjoy a hint of overdrive! The
CT-P2 is a highly respected
unit, used by professionals and
amateurs alike – it’s a perfect
complement to what is a very
fine guitar.
Verdict
Takamine g uitars have a
distinct, clean tone that’s
uniquely their own and we
found it hard not to be rather
impressed by them. A few
minor issues with our
dreadnoughts aside,
presentation is good and the
guitars are certainly built with
life on the road in mind. The
onboard preamps are excellent
and with the differing body
shapes, finishes and price
points, Takamine has a lot to
offer the gigging/recording
musician – as the man famously
born in the USA would no doubt
testify. If you’re looking for a
serious stage guitar, Takamine
remains an excellent place to
start your search.
GIT332.rev_takamine 98 7/15/10 3:44:19 PM