Takamine EF-340

Gloss finish,tough as nails.Dreadnought,bound body with a solid spruce top and mahogany sides and back. Built-in pickup with 2 band EQ, the output is secreted in the aft stap peg. Nice easy to reach and play neck with a rosewood fingerboard, I have had to adjust the neck once when new. The neck relief has remauned virtually unchanged in over 20 years. The original Takamine sealed tuners remain smooth and stable.

I play blues, rockabilly, folk, country, and jazz. I have played this guitar in just about every venue and situation imaginable, and have been amazed by its sweet, even tone and responsiveness, which has improved greatly over the years. I have used it for country rock and jazz as my primary guitar. Players, with high-end Taylors and Martins, regularly praise its sound.

Shipping set-up was better than most I've seen. I put on a set of D'Addario light acoustic, Took less thsn 1/64" off bridge, 1/4 turn on the truss rod(until the harmonic and the fretted octave note were dead on) and I haven't touched it since.

The durability of this guitar, its construction, materials and finish are outstanding. I have gigged with it. It's the one I play on the front porch. It's the one my idiot drunk friends have banged on. It still looks, feels and sounds like the axe I want to play.

I've been playing 40+years, Played my first gig in 1968, made $25. I have had perhaps 15 acoustics over the years and this one gets the most use. It is particularly pleasing as a rythymn instrument for samba and folk, and as a lead instrument for blue-grass.If lost, I would certainly try to find another ef-340.

Bought this in 1989 and it is as pretty today as the day I bought it. Finish is shiny and color is very even. Always stays in tune and the neck is fast. 2-Band EQ is cool, first set of batteries lasted 6 years (didn't play daily then) and even now there is no noise from this baby.

I play a lot of solo acoustic stuff, and the Tak is great. A little too bright sometimes, but as others have said, it is mellowing with age. Very full and even across all 6 strings.

Out of the box set up was ok. Did some work on it three years ago frets leveled, action lowered. Now it is flat out perfect. Friends with VERY expensive Martins, Breedloves etc...always offer to buy this guitar as a daily player. There is no separation or other build flaws on this guitar.

I beat on this thing daily for the last 5 years. It is a tank. My kids knock it over, I fly with it in a standard case, toss it in the back of my SUV and nothing, NOTHING puts a dent in this ax. I did have a strap button installed on the base of the neck. I gig without a backup (I have a Tele and an acoustic sim if it ever breaks down).

Never had to deal with them.

PLaying for 28 years, I own a Telecaster. I am always looking at new electrics, but have absolutely no need for another (better) acoustic. If it was stolen, I would spend the rest of my days hunting the thief down and I would definitely replace it. I love the full rich sound and only wish I had another one.

My EF-340 was made in 1986. It has a 2-band EQ, chrome sealed tuners, mahogany back/sides and a laminated spruce top. I did not know the top was laminated until recently...but it sounds great! (I learned that a solid top version of my guitar would be a EF-340S...S for solid). Anyway, this has been my main gigging and recording guitar since I got it new in 1986.

I've always loved the sound. And, the electronics have never failed me...even as old as they are. It is loud and has a full tonal range.

10 for action. This guitar has always been easy to play. The action has been great ever since I've had it. I've had it set up a few times over the years and it always responds well to adjustment.

Reliable-YES. Never had a surprise with this guitar.
Durability-YES. Perhaps the laminated material makes it bullet proof. I hit this guitar (in it's case) twice with a car. Once the case was splintered...but the guitar never suffered any damage.

N/A

This has been my main rig for almost 20 years. I have looked into getting a back-up duplicate, and that's when I learned about the "S" for solid... I couldn't believe it was not a solid top!

But I love it. And I would certainly buy another Takamine...although I have played Takamines that I didn't like.

I bought this guitar new in 1988. A nice solid mahogany dreadnought body with a mahogany neck and solid spruce top. A gloss finish on the body and a satin finished neck make this a pleasure to hold and play.

The ribbon piezo sits under the bridge and with a bit of eq and a good DI box sounds very nice through a PA. The onboard active EQ/Volume (treble, bass and volume) is simple, but does the job. The battery is inside the body of the guitar and can only be changed when the strings are removed. This is not really a problem since I change the battery every 6 months and the strings every six weeks. The battery life is at least a few hundred hours of continuous operation (activated only when a lead is plugged into the 1/4" jack which doubles as a strap pin).

It came standard with a bone nut and saddle - the only plastic to be seen were the string pegs. The Takamine branded Grover tuners are smooth and make tuning a breeze. This guitar has no tuning problems whatsoever (ok, well maybe some intonation issues - see below for details).

This guitar is basically bulletproof. It's held out with consistent play for nearly 20 years and looks like it'll be fine for 20 more.

It sounds beautifully bright, both acoustically and through the pickup. We it was new I thought it may have been a tiny bit too bright, but it has since mellowed with age and now sounds very well balanced.

I use .011-.052 d'Addario strings on it and the harmonics mix evenly on all the strings. Very detailed, not even slightly muddy sounding with string guage.

I play it live and it can be depended on to provide a great sound into the desk. Acoustically it shines - it is my pick of guitars for just sitting back and chilling out. Very nice to have a guitar that can be relied on for a tight, detailed and even sound.

Factory setup was a bit high and intonation made it never quite sound in tune. There were no obvious problems, but it had clearly not been setup to the same standard as the higher end Takamines (well that was back in the eighties - things might be different now).

Anyway, I recently had it plekked and re-setup. Holy cow! The action came right down - lower than my strat. At the same time the bridge was re-filed and intonated, and any worn frets were replaced. What a difference!!! I was absolutely not expecting the dramatic improvement this made.

Nearly 20 years and no sign of cracking/wood separation/excessive wear. This thing is durable. Admittedly I do keep it in the case when I'm not using it, but I've learnt that I don't have to worry about taking it out either. The finish is very good and I can't see it deteriorating any time soon.

Never dealt with them, and don't expect to ever have to.

I also have a 1985 Fernandes Strat clone and a Martinez Classical guitar. This ones gets the most use - very good general purpose guitar. Good for rock, folk, blues, classical gas, you name it.

If it was lost or stolen I would be up the creek. It would be hard to replace it with something equivalent without spending a lot more money than I originally paid.

The only reason this doesn't get straight tens is because there are clearly better guitars out there, but for the price this one cannot be beaten - and we are at the point of diminishing returns where it costs a lot of money for a little extra improvement.

Dreadnought Japan made; mine is a 1991.
Solide spruce top, mahogany back and sides.
Great 4 sliders preamp.

Even if I had been playin' for years, it was my first acoustic (I had lived on loaning till then) :)
I don't know if it's the good aging but I can't tell how good she sounds, both plugged or by itself!
Many friends of mine agree.
I started using her much in a duo, supporting a singer playing acoustic versions from Police to Ben Harper ; I plugged her in a BSS AR133 di box(TOO GOOD) and the SOUND was already there!
Don't have to mess with mixer controls too much.

I also use a Behringer acx1000 acoustic combo with my rock band, and my Tak always deliver a lively balanced flatpick tone with good dynamic response in hard to soft passages.
The sound is little on the bright side, but it helps cutting the mix.
You have only to take care of a good gain setting, so that the piezo doesn't overload (quack!)and the mids don't get too harsh.
I even used her for little studio use: no noise.

Previously I had always slim 0.10 gauges and clearly it was very confortable to play.
But the tone suffered a little so three years ago started using 0.11: surprise the neck didn't move a bit and the action stayed good!
Sound got bigger.

Finish and tuners are still good after 15 years.
I have gigged many times with no backup in the last three years.

Never had to deal with them.

I have been playing for more than 20 years now.
Other than AR133 and acx1000 I mentioned I have a strat, les paul custom, marshalls, etc; I have owned maaany elecric guitars but for acoustic this is a KEEPER!
I decided to write this review because for the 4th time in a year yesterday I tried many acoustics of different makers costing even three times the price payed for my Tak(I would say like 400$ now);
NO MATCH.
I don't say the d18 plays that bad, but in price/quality ratio (as I view my ratings) I want to pay an homage to my Tak, as she wins hands down.

-Made July 21, 1984 (look inside thruough the sound hole as if you were trying to look at the back of the neck thru the hole)
Dreadnought Acoustic/Electric
Body Shape: Dreadnought
Rosette: Padauk
Top: Solid Spruce
Inlays: Inlaid Pearl Dots
Back: Mahogany
Sides: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Electronics: TK-3
Tuners: Chrome Plated
URL: http://takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=1053&sid=352
* Note - The Graphic EQ is 3 sliders: Volume, Bass and Treble

I play rock guitar and I love it for the stuff I do
Use a Fender pre CVS Twin
A little bright, but can EQ it down
Rich/Full sound
I wish it had two strap peg's. It only has one at the end of the body where you plug it in. Scratches head....huh!

Guitar had high action so I re-set it. Came out great! Plays very easy with no buzzing
Simple finish, but nice and rugged

good road inst.

Been playing 23 years.
Love this for my main accoustic
Just wish it had a front strap peg
Made it to fit great.
Plays like a Martin now

Plain jane Spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard.
Simple preamp with tone and volume slider,

The guitar is extremely (uncomfortably) bright when plugged in, and has always had low output, but if you cut the high end on the guitar tone control, that lends it to a natural sounding acoustic brightness that sounds like brand-new strings, and it produces great bass response with this old TK-3 preamp. Unplugged, people often tell me it does sound like a mellow Martin.

My dealer adjusted the action, and lowered it some. Way back when it was new, others used to rave about how fast the action was. I couldn't make use of it because I wasn't a great player. but the neck was always comfortable. Now, it's in need of new frets (for the first time!) and some neck adjustment

It needs some well-deserved professional attention, but it's been almost totally maintenance free all this time! Now, the top at the bout is starting to bow upward because I was stupid enough to try medium gauge strings for a year... I'm going to have that clamped and flattened. It also needs new frets

This guitar has been my main instrument for 30(?!) years of playing, just out of high school. I only recently began looking for a second guitar, and trying different pickup and guitar combinations to get the same sound. No luck so far.
I run my Tak through a Genz Benz Shenandoah 85 for smaller venues, and a Yamaha EMX2000 with a pair of PRO 12's in larger bars, outdoor gigs. I run the Tak directly into the board, with a slight boost of bass and nearly flat mid and high.
I was getting info off the web for my now-aging Tak and I came across other reviews. they support what I feel about my Tak... what a great companion this guitar has been!
I bought it new from a dealer in 1980, and the manufacture stamp is Nov 17 1979. It has been my primary guitar, and everyone thinks it's a D28 until I tell them it's a Tak. It cost me $360, with a case.
It has the original (GREAT-sounding) simple TK-3 electronics (just a volume and tone slider). I bought it because it had a very natural sound that was reminiscent of the sound JT got on the "Gorilla" album.