Takamine C-128

I don't know what year it was made, I've had it for two and it was giveen to me used. It was made in Japan. It has a laminated spruce top and laminated rosewood back and sides. This model came with electronics, I suppose that's why the model number reads EC-128 instead of C-128. It has bone nut and saddle, and as a guy who's played Spanish made classicals as well as Mexican made classicals, I got to tell you, there's no substitute for bone, it gives the guitar a nicer warmer tone (combined with the right combination of woods) and longer sustain. It also has gold plated tuners that perform top notch and once is tuned and the strings have streched enough, it never goes out of tune; I should know, i played very, very hard. I also like the high gloss finish, and since it was given to me by lady who took very good care of it it hardly has any scratches.

I simply love the sound of this guitar, I own a couple more of classicals and this one is right up there with my Spanish Alahambra and my Mexican Hand made commissioned by me (I ordered birdseye maple on the Mexican, and is bright), like I said, the ec-128 is right up there with my other classicals, plus I can use an amp. I have a simple Ibanez acoustic with built in chorus and mic channel, but I use it more like a monitor and go to the mixer.

THe action was a little high when I got it, but I have been playing and fixing guitars for the last 25 years so it wasn't a problem to lower it a little bit. It came with a flawless finish from the factory, and the bracing inside looks excellent. I have not had any problems with the electronics, I think is the same ones on the EC-132, they are excellent.

I think this guitar will outlast me, I am sure of this, maybe I can pass it on to my son. Every component on this guitar is solid, and I do play a lot about 25 hours a week, and it never seems to give me any trouble (I probably just jinxed myself). I would use it on a gig without a back up. No problem.

Never had to deal with them, I believe the warranty is limited lifetime.

Like I said , been playing for 25 years and I own a couple of other classicals, 5 in fact, an Alahambra (Spanish) a Mexican, (hand made) a Rodriguez (Spanish also) a Yamaha (as a loaner for friends) and the Takamine EC-128. I also have Gibson J-45 (reissue) a Taylor and an Ovation (12 string). But I do find it that I favor the Takamine above all my other guitars.

My C-128 is marked JUL 17 1977 and made in Japan. I bought it in 1990 because I was working 30/30 in Saudi Arabia and my G-124s' case was getting a working over with baggage handlers every time I traveled with it. It was an SKB case but it was busting up and coming apart a little more after every trip. I knew I was going to have to do something.
So, one rotation home I left the G-124s in Saudi and went looking for an identical guitar so I wouldn't have to travel with an instrument. Not knowing much about classical guitars at the time, I just gave the C-128 there a casual looking over before I bought it. I didn't have any idea it had a much wider fingerboard than the G-124s. I thought a classical guitar was a classical guitar. I found it strange I took about a week adjusting to a different instrument every time I came home or went to work. I never thought about there being a difference in neck width because the guitars were thousands of miles apart and to me, looked almost identical.
Then somewhere along the line I learned my C-128 didn't have a solid top. I lost a lot of respect for it then as this indicated to me it was a cheap instrument. This was a terrible mistake because I allowed my C-128 to be abused and nicked a little, and it's twice the guitar as the G-124s. It was only after I got laid off in 1999 that I had both instruments in the same room and discovered the C-128's neck was 1/8" wider. Astonishment. It was then I found I much favored the C-128.
I've learned something about Takamine classicals I'll pass on to you though. If the center of the very top of the guitar (the part which contains the machine heads, tuners) comes to a point, chances are you've got a high quality instrument regardless of the model. If the center of the top has a Vee shaped recession, you're looking at a much lesser guitar.
I've played 14 years now and practice on average an hour a day, and I'm certainly no expert. But as far as something I can afford, the older Takamine classicals are the very best thing available. I'm not sure about the entire current Takamine classical line, but the G124s is a POS. I'd set it afire If my C-128 would be restored to it's original condition. I'd certainly sell the SOB. There's really nothing wrong with it but noticable fingerboard wear from when I was bored to death in Saudi. And the fact it's far inferior to the C-128. Or any other Takamine classical which comes to a point at the top.

I've since bought a C-132s in great condition, and for the life of me, I can't tell any difference in the sound of the C-128 and C-132s despite the C-132s's solid top. Both sound like top of the line classical guitars. It's according to who's playing the instruments.

Takamine quality in construction is peerless with breathtaking engineering in exacting dimensions.
As far as staying in tune is concerned, if you've got an instrument so sorry you're constantly having to tune it, it needs to be discarded.

As far as 'durability' is concerned, I'm expert enough to realize all possible respect and care should be given to any instrument you don't have plans to discard later on that day. That's just common sense.

None. No customer support from Takamine. They made and sold brilliant instruments and then turned their back on them. Reminds me of my ex-wife in a way.

I'm sold on the pointy top Takamine classicals.

The guitar was purchased new for me by my parents back around 1977. Label inside the sound hold indicates the model and that it was made in Japan. This was my first full sized guitar (after a child-sized guitar that I started out on). Nice light, fur-lined, semi-hard case that is also original. Looking at the review guidelines, I'm now tempted to retrofit it with a floyd rose trem. (kidding!).

Guitar has a nice tone to it, especially considering that it's a relatively cheap guitar. I've never used it with any pickups - just straight acoustic classical.

Guitar still looks great! You'd never guess that it's over 25 years old. Nice wide, easy to play fingerboard. Action is pretty low for a nylon string guitar - easy to play with no buzzing.

I've played in public with this guitar a few times, but mostly it stays in the house. It survived 4 years in a college dorm, and going to and from countless lessons when I was younger. I did have to replace the tuners around 1988 - they were plastic and cracked. Easy and cheap to fix though, and I had no problem finding the replacement parts.

Never tried to contact them...

Like I said, this is the first full sized guitar I ever owned, and I have no intention of ever selling it. It's got a great tone for an inexpensive guitar, and plays very well. No complaints really, and I'd say it compares well even to more expensive guitars.

No idea when it was made. Matter of fact, this guitar is very very old, my mother bought it when I was I think 7 or 8, maybe younger. Which would make it 25 years old. 18 and two half-frets, the uppermost fret is broken byt he soundhole. Ni idea if it's solid top or not, the other listings seem to think it's solid top laminate body. No idea what the body woods are, rosewood fretboard, standard classical, no cutaways. Original plastic-knobbed tuners, medium frets. Neck is wide classical style, flat fingerboard. Giving it a 7 because I've played enough other guitars that I'm certain it could be improved upon with better tuning machines, better nut and bridge.

I play a lot of fingerpicking and bossa-nova style stuff, and it's very good for that, but considering that this was the only guitar I owned for years, it's possible that my style accomdated the guitar rather than the other way around. I sometimes use it with a Schaller Oyster piezo pickup for recording and, it sounds prety good there. Other axes are a Washburn j-6, L'Arrivee J-05, reissue Fender Jag, then some toys, like an 'ud and a cuatro. High end is unremarkable, but it's got bottom for days and days. It's a very loud guitar (I got written up once playing it too late in the dorms), with a very round, very warm tone.

Finish is high gloss, harder than you would believe. A quarter century later, this guitar has only acouple dings on it, and I even kept it at work for a while, where who knows what yahoos molested it. Misalignment on the bookmatching back wood/veneer, and there is an odd white discoloration on the neck, I think under the varnish. I recently paid to have the neck shaved and refretted, because after this long, it had started to show some wear, but it was still very playable after all this time.

Never played it live, but this is one iron lady. I cannot begin to describe the neglect it suffered, was never actually used to beat anyone to death, but left in the sun, left in the case, left in the garage, untouched for years, dropped, knocked over. Unbelieveable. Tuners are starting to suffer a bit, and like I say, I recently had it adjusted, the neck resculpted, and refretted, but given the age, that seems more than fair

Never tried it.

This guitar has been around almost my whole life, and is the ax I learned to play on, so subjectivity is way beyond reach. This is seriously the last guitar I'd give up, but my judgment is obviously clouded. My overall impression that either it's A) a fantastic value that has survived all these years because it was made before they started lowering standards for mass produced guitars, or B) It's a moderately cheap cookie-cutter ax that has done OK for itself. Good guitar to learn on, was very forgiving with pokey weak fingers, and maintained a certain level of functionality despite a great deal of neglect. Sorry not to be more subjective, but love is blind.

Year unknown. Solid spruce top with laminated rosewood back and sides. Mohogany neck with rosewood fretboard and bridge. Plastic binding and horn cap. Very solid construction with very nice rosewood binding along the fretboard. Gold plated tuners of average quality that do the job just fine. Laquer finish that is fairly thick and very glossy.

Better than your average mass produced guitar thanks to a bone nut and bridge piece. But if you are looking for a guitar with a pleasing sound you better spend some more money because you won't find it in this one. Its not a bad sound but there is just not much of it. I've never put a pickup on it so maybe you will like it more than I did with it amplified.

Action is a little high but that is easily adjusted. I left it where it was. Finish is very good. The people at Takamine have good quality control. All seams are smooth and the finish is close to perfect.

Very good. This is a solid instrument that will last a lifetime if cared for well. The laminated back and sides actually make it more solid and durable but hurt the sound.

Don't know. Bought used on eBay.

This is a great first guitar or for a musician looking for a everyday around the house guitar. If you want a serious instrument with a rich sound keep looking, in it's price range it is hard to beat though.

My takemine C-128 was bought used on ebay, believe it is a 98 model made in japan. Standard classical 19 frets, laminated spruce top with laminated back and sides of rosewood. It has a nice rossette and a ebony bridge piece. Nice gold plated tuners.

The sound on this guitar is nice, a bit muted (lacks in bass)even with new nylon strings. I have tried many different string tensions and found that normal to light tensions work best on this guitar. I also discovered that the sound breaks up at modest effort levels when you dig-in with your right hand (fingerstyle of course)so, it does best when played softly.

This guitar arrived with very low action i easly replaced the bridge saddle piece with a new higher one (no more buzzing). The neck on this guitar is very nice believe its mahagony. The neck thickness is quite comfortable plays easy. THe finish is quite nice believe it is lacquer all the way around.

This guitar is solidly built all the way around and maybe to solidly built its kinda heavy but anyhow been using it quite a bit at home and on stage. stays in tune quite well. This guitar will probobly out last me its a solid guitar.

no dealt with takemine never had any problems.

I have been playing for over 20 yrs and i have lots of other guitars. The reason i purchased this one is because my contreras and ramirez classicals are to delicate to use for playing live with a band. The takemine does its job well for what im doing with it and besides when i make a ding on it my heart wont stop its only a laminated takemine! I would recommend this guitar to other players who are searching for a ultimate work horse guitar!!

This is a beautiful, solid spruce top classical guitar. Side are laminated rosewood, fretboard and bridge is also rosewood. Nice gold plated tuners that tune well and stay in tune.

Best sound that I've heard in a classical guitar in this price range. Deep mellow tone. Sounds like a mucn more expensive guitar.

Bought used several years ago. Had a couple of small sctatches and minor dings. Very well built, with great woods and veneers.

Has been great over the years. I'm not a professional, but it gets about 10 hours per week playing time and never any problem

Never dealt with the factory.

Been playing as an amateur for many years - just as a hobby. Love the guitar and would gladly buy another. I highly recommend for the price!

Spruce Top, rosewood sides and back,rosewood bridge, rosewood fingerboard,mahogany neck. If this guitar is laminated the wood used is a high quality ply which is not cheap. The grains are matched to look very attractive. The bridge has a very nice dressed look that you'll only find on a quality instrument.

I've been playing 35 years and own 50 other guitars, both electric and acoustic. The sound of this instument is great, I also own a guild Mark II classical (1965) which is solid wood all the way, the tone is a little different but the Takamine is very good in it own way (a little brighter sounding)The Takamine is not a cheap soundng guitar.

The finish on this instrument is very attractive from the top to the back. The top matches very nice from side to side and the back is rosewood (my favorite) Rosewood is a very pretty wood when a high gloss finish is applied (both side of the back matched up real nice also. The guitar plays great as do all of my guitars, all instruments need to be set up for that personal feel. I was able to get the action totally comfortable. The overall finish work on this guitar is great, from the frets to the finish.

This guitar will be around longer than I will, I've owned and still own many older instrument, Keep them clean and polished, treat them like a family member and they last a long long time. The C-128 I own is a 1979 and it still looks brand new.

I emailed Takamine one time, they answered me back in one day, that's service :)

I just bought another C-128 with Electonics, you can't get more guitar for your money, I paid $225 for this one. I know there's better Classical Guitars on the Market but this guitar will work both for the Pro and the home player and still have great resale to up grade later, you won't lose much money on this one (believe me) The kool thing is until you get that $1500 Classical you be sounding great while you wait. :)

takemine c-128 classical guitar. this guitar has a laminated spruce top not solid like the c-132. it has laminated rosewood back and sides with rosewood fretboaed.

this guitar produces a nice mellow sound. it is not a loud classical acoustic and it does not have very good tonal spectrum which is due to the laminated top. although i have played and seen worse laminated topped guitars this one not as bad

the action is very good comfortable. it is easy to play. the finish is lacquer it has a good shiney finish

this is a solid built factory guitar in my opinion which should last for many years. this would make a great student beginners guitar or for someone who prefers to take it out to parks etc and not worry about it.

never had a problem with this guitar

I bought this guitar in 1995 as NEW. Original Takamine quality and manufatured in Japan. Back and side of Rosewood. Solid Top of Spruce,and the rossette is beautiful. Not because is my guitar, but I like her as much as I like my wife. Her Neck is mahogany and the fretboard is Rosewood too. Classical body with a sense of color, I say a yellow tone. Bridge is made of ebony, different from other Takamine that have a Rosewood bridge. I had been playing my guitar for the last 6 years and she still looks as the first day. I am very proud of my guitar and if you are looking for some advise...do not pay thausand of dollars in spaniard or famous handcraft made guitars, not if you are only another student. Takamine is a very good option for the money you should pay.

Well. This guitar sound loud, but is made with new wood , what in my opinion is not recommended for the deep incredible full sound of the classic guitar. But just like me, you can invest your money on this guitar and as time goes by you will find that your guitar is having an incredible new sound. Belive me, the spruce of this guitar will be getting better and better accross the next 10 years. Always keep her save from humidity.

Very Good finish. Not french finish, but still good because sound is very loud considering her as a serial made guitar by the japaneses.
Wood is the very best thing in this guitar, forget about everything else. This guitar is an investment right now.
I DID NOT FIND ANY DEFECT IN THIS GUITAR. I explore the interior with a small mirror and has a great finish on everything.

HARD TO BREAK it. Be carefull always, this guitar is solid, very solid. The finish seems to last forever. The fingerboard is very hard and the nickel frets looks beautiful. The straps buttons are in perfect conditions.