Takamine EF-350MHC

The Takamine EF-350MC was made in Japan. Far superior to the G-series. The flamed maple sides, back and headstock make for an outstanding look. Cutaway makes for very comfortable access to the upper register. Active pre-amp makes the guitar extremely versitile. Tuners are first class. The truss rod is extremely responsive but very stable. I have a fairly low action and use Elixer 0.11 to 0.52. (As others have stated, replace the nut and bridge to SIGNIFICANTLY improve the tone of the guitar).

Unplugged the guitar sounds terrific. Quite well balanced and very good for a variety of styles. Plugged in the guitar shines! Very rich sound. I never cared much for Takamine's until I tried this one out and couldn't put it down.

This is where the guitar shines. I bought the guitar second hand! I have had no issues at all with the guitar. It is by far the easiest guitar I own to set up and THE ACTION NEVER CHANGES!!!!! Fit and finish are superb. As I said previously, replace the nut & bridge and you have a guitar that will give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

Tuning pegs are top notch. I have played the guitar extensively on stage and in the studio. This is a guitar you will want to play on stage.....without the worry of getting a mark on a very expensive Breedlove or Lakewood. I NEVER GIG WITHOUT A BACKUP.........until someone invents an unbreakable string.

Never neeed it.

I love this guitar as it has proven to be a workhorse!!!!! I would buy another if this were lost or stolen. I compared it with quite a few guitars before purchasing the Takamine. The guitar is extremely comfortable to play and is the best bang for the buck I could find for less than $1000.

I rescued this beauty from a pawn shop for $400, case and all 7 years ago. They wrote the ticket up as a ef-330. Maybe that's why I got such a deal! At any price, this guitar has never let me down. It delivers full sound plugged into a P.A and I rarely turn the volume past 2-3, even on the biggest stages. She delivers and looks good doing it! All I have ever done is replace the frets for good measure. Always looking for another one. e-mail me at guitblu@hotmail.com

I play a clean acoustic sound as a rule through an acoustisonic 650. But there WAS that one time we ran this guitar through my vintage Fender tube, put some distortion on my lead and it made my blues song sound real ol' timey!

Have used it on a gigs without a backup for 8 years! Solid as they come!

Been playing since I was 8 years old. Would buy again

Just picked up one of these Dogs of War used. It seemmed to play ok being that the original owner took terrible care of it. It came in the store all filthy and unkept, then I came to the rescue with a serious setup performance on it.
The truss rod didn't seem to need too much adjusting. (That kinda suprised me). It cleaned up very well exposing only nominal imperfections.
The maple sides look fantastic. The box plays tight. The neck feels great. Just change that ghastly saddle. It's an embarassment for such a good guitar.
What were they thinkin'? Cheap saddle? That's like putting an 8-track player in an Escalade.

Personally, I despise the "plugged in" acoustic sound. Piezos give me the hives and it sounds fake. If you like that "plugged in" sound, I'm just not like you and we have nothing in common. Just stick a mic in front of the acoustic. The pickups are for the shows that tone doesn't matter, you know, when it's all about volume. It's an option that I consider a perk.
It is a traditional tone. I've heard better, but this bay sure holds it's own.

The action is dynamite! I plan on losing the cheapo saddle and replacing it with a serious bone one. I own a "cheaper" acoustic that was made with a better saddle. That's my knock-around guitar!
The finish is gorgeous and it's a great piece of maple.

As far as reliability, its earned its wings. The previous owner treated it poorly. To be able to keep a guitar in the attic, a guitar's equivilance to our Hell, and come out playing like dream and have a heavy hitting tone, that guitar is tougher than Rocky Balboa.

Dealing with any guitar company is a f'n headache. Find a good consultant.
I think I'm going to buy this guitar for myself.

Plays great.
Sounds gorgeous
Looks tight.
Heavy Hittin'.

Hi I have a 350MC blond clear maple finish with a bass treble and volume control unit. the guitar is a piece of art for looks and the action is unbelievably low with no buzz. The truss rod has never in 13 years needed adjustment. I have been playing for over 20 years and own 22 guitars, 2 full stack marshalls and all the goodies a fanatic might want. The takamine is my best acoustic. it has bad points though. The top is a sheet and not 1/4 inch thick. Loses sustain and volume because of that. 2) the saddle and bridge are of cheap bone type material (plastic?) They wear out. Forget getting in touch with Takamine. simply buy a replacement from ANY GUITAR shop for 2 bucks and sand as needed (measure original thickness though). Hope this helps!

I give the guitar 9/10 only because of the wood used is thin. Also, being 'thin', it tends to feedback when plugged in rather easily. go easy on the bass.

Paid - $960 new in 1992.
Laminated spruce top, laminated maple back and sides.
cut-away, rosewood fingerboard, bone nut and saddle
chrome tuners, white binding on body, no binding on neck.
Takamine electronics that work very well.
I give a 7 here for features because I can't believe
that a high end Tak, at almost $1000 doesn't come with
a solid top. Unbelievable. This really cuts resonance.
C'mon guys! and this from a huge Takamine fan!!!

My style has changed over the years, I now mostly fingerpick
acoustic instrumentals, alternate tunings and open tunings.
this guitar does not do it for me anymore.
Very compressed sound when played unplugged.
Bright with no depth if you understand me.
Plugged in however, this thing comes to life.
The electronics are fantastic, they make it sound like a high
end guitar again. I play it through a Fender Princeton Chorus
It sounds real nice. I do alot of recording and most people
who hear it are amazed at the recorded sound.
I think it is a good guitar for plugging in and strumming.
A very good rhythm axe. Not so good for fingerpicking,
especially unplugged, it's very quiet.

Okay, here we go, for this category I have to go all out.
10's all around.
This is one well made guitar. I've owned it for 12 years and I still
can't find a flaw, ANYWHERE!!!! The finish is perfection,
the neck is totally straight, fretboard is flat.
In fact it still looks new, hardly even a scratch.
Are you ready for this claim? - Well here goes...
this axe has the best action of any guitar I've ever played.
PERIOD! I'd give an 11 in this category if possible.

Same here. Absolute perfection. Like I said,
12 years and it is still as good as the day I bought it.
And I play alot.
Hardware still looks great, tuners work perfectly,
stretch the stringhs well and the guitar stays in tune for weeks.
I wouldn't play a gig with it because I have other guitars
that suit my style better, but if I did, I would feel
totally comfortable playing without a back-up.
Bring plenty of 9v batteries though, this thing eats 'em!

I wouldn't know. I can't get 'em to even answer an Email!!!!

I've been playing for 20 years, and let me tell you
I LOVE TAK'S.
This was my first, I now own 5.
Don't get me wrong here, it's a very nice guitar,
it just doesn't suit my style anymore, I don't know if it's
the Maple body or the fact that it's all laminated or what.
All i know for sure is, it doesn't resonate like my
'92 LTD, or my '97LTD.
I guess I've just fallen in love with Koa.
This EF350MC does however play like butter,
soooper smooooth, like glass.
I do like it, but I never seem to play it anymore.
different strokes I guess.....
I did just buy a '96 SF40, it's all solid wood,
even the sides, hope it's all I expect, I haven't
received it yet.
This EF350MC just seemd to really make you work
to get your sound out. Almost too smooth if that makes sense.
I can't seem to get sounds to jump out of it, it makes me work for 'em
Not that I'm a pussy, but I want an axe that works with me,
not against me.

This is a 2000 model and I beleive it was made in Japan. It has a solid spruce top and a natural quilited back top and sides, just beautiful!! It has white bindings and the heal is also white. The electronics are by Takamine and sounds very similar to my son's Taylor with the exception of the phaser. The neck is very stable but the action from the factory was toooooo high for me. I replaced the bridge with a bone and set the action low and it really made a big difference. I am happy now!!

I play a lot of old acoustic tunes like Simon n Garfunkel, James Taylor ect... and I think I sound better than they did!! It has a real sweet sound with no dead spots whatsoever.... And I love to finger pick this thing... No dislikes at all

The guitar had no flaws and is the most beautiful guitar I have ever owned. Other than the lousey set-up from the factory that I corrected, I give them a 10....

Haven't owned it long enough but I beleive I will have no troubles

Bought it used so I haven't had to call them...

very good tone. It sounds good through a boadr or amp.

no problems

I have never had any type of problems with this guitar.

I have been playing for 20 years. For the money, I would buy it again. I am a taylor fan(800 series). I love the sound quality.