Takamine EAN40C12

The Takamine EAN40C-12, is a twelve string 20 fret, (14th fret body join) acoustic-electic guitar, with a solid cedar top, and mahogany back and side. It has a single cutaway. The finish is a light satin laquer. I personally would prefer a gloss finish, as I think they are somehow more resistent to minor dents. Also, the top has no scratch guard, and when I tried to attach a clear mylar pickguard, it looked awful, due the tiny trapped air bubbles inherent in the stain surface. I have been told that a good guitar pro could do this without having that problem!

The mahogany has rich deep red hue to it; not sure if a tint was used, but the appearance is stunning. The bridge saddle is split so the top 2 courses of strings are intonated separately from the bottom 4 courses of strings. This allows the guitar to be tuned very accurately, resulting in a very sweet tone and nature. The guitar has a built-in active preamp, with good EQ control; this is the CT4B unit. Quoting the Takamine site" "A warm-sounding 3-band graphic with an extremely stable and accurate chromatic tuner. Great for non-standard and open tunings." This is indeed true! Volume and EQ controls are all slider.
(I'd personally prefer a rotary volume, as it's easier to return to a given setting.)
The EQ control allows excellent control over the tone, especially the potentially troublesome mid-range. The built-in chromatic tuner is a must on a 12 string! The tuners are a Takamine brand,(maybe Gotoh?) mini-style, allowing the the headstock to be kept to a minimal size (great for balance) and suitably gold-plated to harmonise with the warm tones of the cedar and mahogany. The tuning ratio feels good, but I don't know the exact value.
I tuned it down to a full tone (full step) and it played just as well as standard EADGBE, with no string/fret rattle.

The neck is quite easy to play, and the string spacing feels right; this is something I think is very important in a 12 string. The spacing should be such that the fingers feel the courses as distinct sets, but the neck not so wide that it's hard to play. The EAN40C12 succeeds in this aspect extremely well. My style of playing uses the left hand thumb for some "over the top" 6th string fretting, and I was quite comfortable in doing this.

The truss rod access is inside the body.

The case my guitar came in is a high quality molded plastic unit.

Unpluged, this guitar is a gentle creature, but can still make it's presence known, if you want to dig in.

I played it at high volume through a Fender Acoustasonic Jnr, (patched into a PA) with no feedback, as long as I kept the guitar turned away from the amp. I'd like to get a soundhole cover for this guitar if available.

The EAN40C12 was excellent as received in regard to the action. I would not make any changes to the saddle height at all. It played very well in standard or dropped (one full step) tuning.

There was no strap button on the neck or back of the heel; this means you have the choice of location - which should suit most players. My guitar was new but pre-owned; I don't know if the original equipment included a separate strap button, or truss rod hex key. It should.

I wonder how long the satin finish will hold up, especially the neck at the lower frets. One tends to play a 12 string more on the low frets of course, so wear is inevitable. The is no pickguard, so one needs to be VERY careful of the very beautiful but very soft cedar top! i will be having a clear or possible thin ebony, pickguard attached below the soundhole.

i have exchanged e-mail; Takamine are quick to reply and very informative.

I have been playing for about 45 years.
I have a recent Yamaha Compass CPX8, a handmade 1977 William laskin acoustic, Fender Telecaster, Yamaha Pacifica. Fender, Peavey, and Seymours Duncan amps.
I got a lot of info about this guitar through a dealer, and the web before buying. I considered several different models, but this was the top of the list, in price and features. I did not get a chance to try one out before I got mine, but a friend had an earlier Takamine 12, which impressed me so much, I opted for the EAN40C-12. A guitar store contact whom I trust totally, praised this guitar as fantastic, and had already sold one to a regular client.

If it were stolen, I'd simply but another one of the same model. I think it is quite replacable, as Takamine standards are superb.

I'd prefer a gloss finish,but it might be too thick and affect the tone. Perhaps it could be an option.

I use this guitar for a celtic folk band, and a Christian Rock Praise band. It adds a lush sound to the Christian music especially.

not sure when the guitar was made, but I purchased it in 2004. Feature wise it is well adorned: - NEX 12-String cutaway body shape, Tinted wood ring rosette, Solid cedar top, CT-4B electronics, Back and sides are solid mahogany, Rosewood Fingerboard, Gold tuners and hard case.

sound wise it has a good tonal spread, bright highs and rich lows which means it is ideal for most of my playing styles.

The set up was great from the factory and the finish flawless. love the matt finish on these guitars

I have gigged this guitar and found it was just as good when amplified as it was au natural. the hardware feels tight and well made so i rekon it'll last well. As there is no finish to it the guitar will show wear easily, but that will only add to its charm. over all a well made guitar that can be relied on. the only reason i am marking this section down is that the finish means it will not wear as well as other finished guitars, but as i said thats part of this guitars charm.

never had to use them as thier guitars are so well made.

After playing it for over a year as a replece ment for an old 70s EKO 12 string I have been realy impressed. When trying other more expensive guitars (i.e. Taylor 355ce, Gibson J-185 , Martin J12) I found very little difference other than in the price and feel of the guitar in many casses it was also tonally more adept. personally I liked the way the takemine felt when playing it. If it were lost or stolen I would buy it again, but I would still check everything else that was available just to verify that it was still the best for me.