Takamine EF-341SC

As a preface, I'll list some specs:
-Solid black finish (the 341 is the black make of the 340)
-Large cutaway mahogony body with solid spruce top
-TP4T preamp w/ volume, 3 band EQ, and onboard chromatic tuner
-1/4" out

Many solid top acoustic electrics in this price range tone down the quality of other components to lower the price- this does not seem to be the case with this guitar. The tuning pegs are solid (I've seen some that dent and break just from pulling them out); they even have black dots on the top (a noteworthy feature). Other components like the tuners and saddle are nothing special but not poor in quality. The preamp gives it the 9. I like the onboard tuner- I can tune accurately even in extremely loud environments. The only thing I would have liked here is a phase shift button and an XLR output option like you find on Deans and Ibanezes- but those are small prices to pay for all the pros of this guitar.

I give it a ten for comparing it to others in its price range. Of course, I've played two-grand Martins that sounded better, but I've played plenty of high-end guitars that don't compare to this one. Unplugged, it sounds great. Amplified, it sounds great. You find plenty of guitars that sound good plugged in- Deans, for example, have great sounding preamps. However, it tkaes a little more searching to find a guitar that sounds great both ways- especially for $400. One of the things I was most impressed with was the way it maintains sustain and brightness even high on the neck. To get more in-depth: the lows are full and warm, thanks to the body size. Perhaps a little too warm for the bluegrass player that wants bright sparkling sound in all registers. The guitar brags the most in the middle frequencies- it might sound funny, but the D string is my favorite string on this guitar. The D-G range, for some reason, resonates with sparkling clarity and warm undertones more prominently than the rest of the guitar. The tone of the highs are very dependant on the style of playing and the type of strings. For me, they are clear but not at all thin. All of this is highly dependant on the type of strings, and also on the thickness of the pick. I use Martin SP Phosphor Bronze Lights with a medium-heavey pick, and the warm lows and sparkling mids mix perfectly to sound very full when strumming. All in all, the sound has a fair amount of versitality- you can make it very bright, but it has its natural inclination toward full, rich chords. Any way you play it, you won't get rid of the big-body sound- if you don't want that go for an Ovation, but I hardly ever need anything I can't get from this guitar.

One of the big plusses for me on this guitar was the low bridge and high saddle. Out of the box, it has medium-high action, compared to other steel strings. The top of the neck is set only about 2 mm lower than the bridge (the wooden part, not the artificial ivory part). This allows for extremely custamizable action. That's a really good thing on any guitar, especially if you do a lot of bar chords or, um shredding solos on your acoustic... you never know. The neck is straight. Body construction looks solid... enough said.

The only problem I've ever had with it is when I tried to lower the action some. The saddle fits into a metal casing with a wire going down through the body (so that's how it works...) underneath the metal casing part of the pickup, there are a bunch of little plastic strips. I'm not exactly an expert on acoustic pickups, but it looked like I could take a few of the plastic strips out to easily lower the action. I did this, put it back together, and it worked fine for a while, until I noticed that the D string wasn't picking up at all when plugged in... no, not my favorite string! I took it apart again, made sure the saddle was firm in the metal part, and it's been perfect ever since. The screws on the tuners aren't shiny anymore... nothing that can't be fixed with a buck and a trip to the hardware store... nothing that anybody on the face of the planet would notice if they weren't writing a review for the guitar. My only complaint about the build of this is that the output is on the strap button. What's the big deal? You can't set it down vertically when it's plugged in. Shoot. Make sure you have a stand. My only other warning is that it's black. Don't get me wrong, this is a beautiful guitar. But the thing about black guitars is that they're highly reflective, and fingerprints and scratches show up like... well, they show up, especially in bright light. If you play a lot of heavey rhythm outside the studio, consider the EG340SC, same guitar, natural finish. Not as pretty. Of course, after a while, the diagonal scratches on the pickguard turn out to give it a kind of cool looking texture. No big deal. The battery lasts a good while, unless you leave it plugged in.

Never had to contact Customer Support, which is good. Takamine has a better website than some other brands. However, I must warn against buying online. Everywhere I went, they said it had gold tuners, snowflake fret inlays, and abalone binding. Mine has pearloid tuners, which I love, dot inlays, which I was disapointed about, and off-white binding, which I'm indifferent about. Luckily for me, it equals out so I'm not complaining, but I've had too many messed up shipments from different places. If you have enough to pay for tax, get it from a store; it's worth knowing exactly what you're getting.

I've had this guitar for about 6 months, and I love it. It's way above its price range. I've been playing acoustic and electric for three years and upgraded to this guitar after playing a 30-year old beginner Yamaha for 2 and a half years. One word of wisdom to those new to the guitar world- when comparing guitars, you have to hear them with new strings. If you pick up an expensive guitar that sounds dull and doesn't sustain well, it's probably the strings. New strings make a world of difference. If this guitar were lost or stolen, well, it depends on how much money I had. I'm a Martin fan, but they're kind of pricey. I would be perfectly happy with getting another one of these. I highly recomend this guitar to the intermediate player looking for the best guitar for the least money, or to the professional that needs a great sounding gigging guitar.

I actually have a EF-341C (not the SC) it is marked this inside the guitar. This is the Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Glenn Frey model. All black cutaway, with "Takamine" in laid pearl on the headstock, fretboard binding, Pearl dot inlays, onbord EQ with treb, bass, mid, and exciter controls, volume, and battery check light. No tuner that would be really useful for me if it had it. It was built in 95. I purchased it at a music store going out of business I believe in 95 for about $500 or $600. Today the street price is $999.00 with a case. I did not get a case.

This one did not have a second strap button. For the longest time I used a strap with the cord around the nut area. I installed a strap button on the heal of the neck myself. That is scary drilling in to your favorite guitar but I did it the right way after reading I think a Stewart McDonald website post on how to do it.

Mine is an EF-341C but I want to post here because I think this review is useful for those looking at the SC model and there is only one other review in the C category.

First sound, when I first got the guitar I was not overly impressed. The sound did not seem full, maybe a little too bright, not enough bass acoustically. Plugged in it was very good with an EQ tweak. I think shortly after my purchase I played a Taylor 400 series cutaway that I thought sounded ten times better acoustically and it was easier to play and about the same price at that time.

Over the last 12 years this guitar has matured and the sound is now killer acoustic and of course plugged in. Maybe it could stand to be a little louder acoustically but that is my only complaint. The bass is now there, the high is musical what a pleasant sounding guitar.

I almost gave up on the guitar because it was too hard to play. What I learned and fixed was the action was too high and a good set of extra light strings made the guitar much more comfortable for me to play. I did a tweak of the truss rod and sanded down the saddle and installed .10's. Now I can play three sets with it where before I could only play two songs and my left hand was hurting.

I have played many guitars in Guitar Center from Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Breedlove, etc.. and this one wins now. I don't want to let it go. I picked up a new SC or C version recently and thought it was as good if not better than guitars twice the price but I now know how much better the guitar will be with time.

The onboard electronics are wonderful. The exciter slider really makes the sound lively and acoustic when plugged in through the PA.

Sound '95-'00 = 7, '00 - '04 = 9, '04-present day = 10.

I have never played an aged D-28 or Taylor so I am sure there is better out there but for a local musician with a budget this is tops in my opinion.

Except for a couple of top dings this thing looks as good as the day it was made. It has held up well. I need to get a case for it! I transport it to gigs in the front seat of my car and then carry it last and put it right on my guitar stand. Here is a tip don't use one of those single guitar $10.00 stands for any guitar, they always are knocked over. Get a 4 or 5 guitar Warwick type stand to avoid the knock overs.

Everyone comments on the appearance of this guitar and the sound. The neck to me is a little more rounded than the new models. The new ones seem to have a flatter neck shape which I actually like better. The flatter necks seem easier to play.

The finish could be a little glossier, and I changed the pegs to black pegs which I think makes the guitar look richer. Black pegs should be standard. The binding is little rough looking in spots but that is nose to the guitar.

Yes. Look at Jon Bon Jovi's and Springsteens guitar. Does it look beat up? NO. That should be a reference.

No dealings with the manufacturer.

You can not go wrong with this guitar if you play live and want to plug in to the PA. The sound from this guitar is great when plugged in and the acoustic sound has warmed up well over the years.

I don't see to many people with this guitar and there should be more.

Bought it 2nd hand from a guy who never learned how to play it. It was almost brand new. Paid 500 with case. This guitar is a dream. It sounds as good as my Martin Hd-28 and was a quarter of the price. My model dosen't have the built in tuner but its the best guitar Ive ever played for the money.

Tuner is a plus, Electrons sound un-natural. Dreadnout cutway. I wish it came in natural. Necks very rounded. Necks gets very very sticky when played over a long period of time. great tuners.

I recommend medium strings. The necks very strong. joy. I put a nice crack in it but still sounds good. Electrons arnt installed very well.

Its very hard to get a good action out of this guitar. But thats about it. No flaws, got it used for 600. The wood has a big black stain on it. hardy har har.

VERY Reliable. LIke I said it has a nice friggin crack in the top. allmost 6 inches long.

I do things myself. You should too. Lazy piece of crap.

Playing about 2 1/2 years i like it had it since may. I wish it was natural colored and no binding on the neck. Its alittle superficial.

Same as the reviewers before me.

The sound is totaly perfect! I've been playing now for 12 years and have been trying out lots and lots of guitars thruout the years. I'm specialized in acoustic guitars since I find that more creative than to shred a solo in 185 bpm, so I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the sound. Compared to a Martin D-28 for example i think the Takamine sounds better with a more natural balance between the Low and high frequenses. It's the best guitar I've ever played, BOTH acoustic and plugged in!

I just love the neck! It's so easy to play and it fits my hand perfectly! I would not recommend this guitar to a person with thick fingers since the neck is quite thin. But it fits me like a glove. The craftmanship is just great! every single tone feels like the perfect one.

Since this guitar is meant for Live-gigs it's just perfect on stage. It gives the smooth sound of the body but still has this great attacking sound which makes it very easy to play different styles of music. I would definetly use this without a backup for sure. It's just so reliable!

Have'nt spoken to them yet so I have no opinion

I've been playing for 12 years now and I've never expierienced anything like this guitar! It's a dream from the moment you pick it up from the case. I would cry myself to death if it was stolen but i would buy a new one at once! The perfect guitar for my game!

Price: $699 w/High end case. Purchased Dec. 2002
Okay, I'm about to clarify a few things about this guitar, so far passed over.
My first was a Cedar/Maple w/Onboard Graph Ex electronics w/tuner. Fabulous out of case. Mint, never played other than Bobby Boyles' excellent setup work. Flawless finish, Mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Elixer lights. Gloss black, chrome TAK tuners.

My second is a AAA which supposedly indicates a minor (usually cosmetic) defect. It has none, not a chip, not a ding ? nothing. The "defects" are a solid sitka Spruce top, and solid Mahogany back and sides, which makes it an actual Springsteen EF341. A low end TAK H/S case was incuded. The preamp system is Takamine's top of the line CT-4B system with onboard chromatic tuner. Gloss black Chrome tuners Elixer lights. Price: $499






These Springsteen model 6 string cut-a-way acoustic/electric guitars have a regular list price of $1159.00.

They feature solid Cedar tops, Flamed Maple back and sides with cutaway upper body access. They are marked as AAA quality seconds and supposedly some finish flaw on the guitar. We have gone over the entire stock of the 10 we received and havent been able to find any finish flaws. Our store is a authorized Takamine service center and is offering a full 2 year unlimited warranty on these guitars. The preamp system is Takamine's top of the line CT-4B system with onboard chromatic tuner.

The Cedar top was powerful and I'll match it with anything you got. Blew a
Taylor 710 outta the room.

The Spuce top is still seasoning, but is as rich as my Taylor and bright as my 1970 D-28 at this stage. Various amps. I've played 40 years and this is a good as it gets.

Both have excellent action and finish. accousticaxis.com. had to be re-setup.
Oklahoma Vintage was perfect.

These are both made for the road. An eleven on a scale of 1 to 10.

My first one was purchased on eBay from Oklahoma Vintage Guitar. A solid Cedar/Maple. OVG is in my opinion the best online store in the US ? period.
Set up was flawless. Also, threw in a top-of-the-line Tak flight-worthy case.
I gave this guitar to a poor kid in music ministry.
Second, I bought from accousticaxis.com. Set-up was okay, but don't expect any feedback. Once they've sold you they forget you. Won't buy from them again.

This spruce is aging better everyday. An astounding assemblyline guitar at any price. I'd call Bobby Boyle in a minute if I needed another.

same features as the reviews before

GREAT Sound,i play different styles from punk,jazz,metal,classical,and flaminco this guitar suits all of them.i dont use an amp for it most of the time but when i need to i just plug into my fender cyber deluxe.the only drawback to this is it cause feedback but thats cuz it has that sound/exciter booster in it which sounds great at low volumes wit an amp.I love the feel the sound and its simplness its probably in my opinion the BEST acoustic guitar ever made the dislike would be the price I still think 699 for an acoustic is a bit much and with no case but this guitar is worth it .Dont go out and buy one of those 2,000 acoustics when u can get this guitar that is so much better for bout 700 or 800 o and get a case you wouldnt want to harm this beauty.

Best action and feel i ever felt on an acoustic or any guitar, when i was shoppinf around for an acoustic itried all of them at guitar center u name i tried it but this takamine stood out i would prefer this over a martin or gibson any day .the finish is so shiny icould see my face in it.the neck is the best neck i ever played on,and the guitar was set up perfectly all of the guitar was handmade.It did not have any flaws at all maybe a fingerprint but thats it

I already used this guitar live about 6 times and it never gave up on me.i would use this guitar without a backup for gigs deffinetely

didnt deal witht them but their product is one of the best guitars i played

i have been playing for 2 years now and iown a epiphone les paul 50th anniversary guitar which is my main electric guitar i also have a fender cyber deluxe amp and a crate acoustic 30 watt amp.If THIS guitar were stolen from me i would use all my time and force to find the crook then break his head and then burn him for stealing it then i would get my guitar back and buy another if he messed it up.Ilove EVERYTHING bout this guitar NO FLAW.I compared it to martins,gibsons,fenders,taylors,ovations,ibanezs,and yamahas this guitar burned them all away i would prefer this guita rover any other model or brand in fact im saving up to buy another im just 16 but im goin to buy another this is deffinetaley worth it.

I have the 2003 Takamine EF-341SCX. It has a solid cedar top and mohogany sides. Cut-Away and gloss black. Mine has the CT4B electronics with built-in tuner.

I am a newbie at guitar playing and my first guitar last spring was an American Fender Strat. That was a beautiful guitar, but this is easier to play and of course it does not need to be plugged in which I love now. I tried using my Tech 21 Trademark 60 amp with it, but got too much feedback etc. The guitar has the nicest sound of any guitar I have picked up and played. I know my skill level is not high, but I have a good ear and this thing just sings.

I bout the "B" grade from Music 123 and I cannot find a flaw on the guitar. It is absolutely beautiful. The action is set perfectly and the pickups are great.

I've only had the guitar a week, but know the Takamine name and trust it will be a guitar that lasts years and years. I will use it for youth group worship. It is a solid guitar.

I have only emailed them and asked them how to pronounce Takamine. They responded quickly. Incidentally, it is "Tock-ahh-mee-nee". It has a lifetime warranty.

I would immediately replace it if it were lost or stolen. As I said earlier, I am new at this but appreciate good sound and quality craftsmanship. This has it all. No need to spend thousands on a guitar when you can get one as good as the Takamine EF-341SC.

21 frets, solid black laminated top, with an awesome pickup (ct 4B) and a built in tuner.

To be honest its sound is mind boggling. In a sense that it could be compared to a lot of upper range guitars i have played in the past. It has an awesome sound on its own and when its plugged in you can pretty much get whatever you want out of it. I play pretty much anything i can put my ear too and so far this guitar has done it all.

It was pretty much perfect out of the box, with just a little bit of adjustment to my own liking. But not anything to take into account if you are buying this guitar.

This guitar has been played live has went without a backup and it is still in tact. I have not bought such a reliable guitar in a while and i have put all my trust in this one especially for the value.

I have been playing guitar for 4 years now and i have went from a basic yamaha eterna, to a fender strat, to a canadian company guitar simon and patrick, to upper model yamaha's and ovation's and this tak for its value has been my pride and joy. I recommend this guitar to anyone, its a professional guitar with an awesome value for the buck and you will not be disappointed.

Your basic Springsteen model,dreadnought cutaway, solid cedar top, solid maple sides and back, high gloss black finish. CT-4B pre-amp, which includes an on-board tuner (a real asset!), controls for volume, treble, mid, and bass. Made in Japan.

Has a good unplugged sound, typical of many Takamine guitars I've played (I also have a 1990 EN-10C). Not a lot of bass, good midrange, and highs--the unplugged sound is better than some other maple bodied guitars I've played in that price range. Plugged in, it sounds great, and the bass that's lacking unplugged, can be turned up to give it all you want. At home, I play thru a Crate Acoustic 125 amp. At church, I play thru a Fender Acoustasonic SFX (an awesome amp) or thru the PA. The guitar sounds great thru all of them. The on-board tuner is so great when something goes out of tune--you push the tuner button twice,which mutes the pickup, and you can tune quietly, without having to get another tuner out, leave the service to do it elsewhere, etc.
Some reviews I've read compare this guitar's sound to expensive ($1000+) Taylors, Martins, and Larrivees--I wouldn't go quite that far with the un-plugged sound, but would say that for the price ($499) I paid, it's an incredible value.

The action came very low on this guitar, which makes it a dream to play. Since I'm not a fancy lead player and more of a strummer, I found that there was a lot of buzzing when I strummed just a little hard. I got out my allen wrench and adjusted the truss rod, and that took care of the problem. This guitar was called B-Stock, though I haven't seen a flaw on it in the finish or anywhere else. The guitar came without the CT-4B preamp, and just had a plastic "Soundchoice" plate over the hole. The guitar could still be plugged in and played with this--I contacted Music 123 to point this important detail out, and once off backorder, got the preamp and installed it in 2 minutes.
Without that preamp, I would not accept the guitar.

All the reviews I've read about this guitar talked about its durability, which was a real selling point. My 13 year old EN10C has been great, a workhorse, and it now shows many of the scratches, bumps, and dings and wear from a lot of playing. This guitar will get the same treatment. Many people have commented on the need for a strap button, that would be nice. I've found Takamine's guitars to be very dependable; the only problem I have is that I can be tough on strings, so I always have a back-up guitar to grab when a string pops.

I've been playing for almost 40 years, and should be a lot better than I am! I was very disappointed when it came without the preamp, and was afraid that I had mis-read the ad (which I had read many times looking to see if there was a "catch" at this price). After my second call, the customer service person called me back and said they'd be sending the pre-amp, which made me very happy. I would consider buying this guitar again if lost or stolen. I've seen this guitar (not B stock) advertised for $699 recently, and a few years ago for $799 in the on-line catalogues (sometimes with case, but often without). A friend bought one 5 years ago with case for $850. So the VALUE is tremendous, and today's model has the on-board tuner which is great. I have a son who's been playing for 2 years, and thought that this feature would really help him get in tune (our portable QuikTune tuners can disappear), and the tuner is always there with the guitar. I've always wanted a great Taylor or Martin guitar, but their price is high, I'd be scared to let anyone touch it or take it out of the house, and am not the type of person that wants to "baby" a guitar--I want to play! This guitar didn't cost that much that I'd be remorseful if something happened to it, it suits my playing style, and is very functional for what I do.