Takamine EG-124C

Spruce top (not plywood as someone else implied, the top is simply two peaces of spruce laminated, it's not solid, but it's also very much not plywood). The back and sides are laminated Nato. The tuners are generic, gold colored. The fretboard is rosewood.

Body shape is full scale classical with cutaway, finish is high gloss on top, back, sides and back of neck.

Includes on board electronics with tuner and EQ.

Made in 2008 in China, no hardshell case or gig bag included.

This is a sub $300 classical guitar with electronics made of laminated wood. It's a budget end guitar and as these guitars go it's incredible bargain.

I compared similar models by Fender and Yamaha. To be honest they were also better than I expected in the $300-$500 range, but this Takamine and it's sold top brother (EG128-SC) were the best quality for the buck.

The sound we get here is a bit unique in character, the Spruce top colors the sound a bit different than Cedar which is the most common top material used on classical guitars in this price range, it's not as dark/deep but more ringey (in a positive way I think).

The build quality is overall very good for this price range I would even say exceptional. Are the details of a $3000 independant lutheir crafted classical guitar there? Well, no. But the Takamine's in general were my favorite classicals of the lot I tried in the sub $500 price range.

It looses points in two ares: 1.) the pickup system could be better. It's not horrible, it gets the job done, but if you're acoustic to high-grade electronics in you acoustics you'll notice a difference.

2.) The tuners could hold tune better. Tuning classical guitars in general is a bit of a strain on my ears so the built in tuner helps here, but expect to have to check after ever couple of song if you're performing. As with the electronics, tuners aren't horrible they could just be better.

Out of the box, perfect: action, fit and finish. Overall better quality in all there categories than the Fender and Yamaha models I was looking at, Yamaha's were very close.

Nut is made of bone which is unusual for an instrument in this price range.

Haven't had it long enough to report.

Never tried to contact

You need/want a classical guitar, but you aren't sure you want to drop several grand, well then look no further for n oustanding value/budget priced classical loaded with features and one of the most reputible builders of acoustic guitars in the world

If the laminated top bothers you consider spending more and getting the EG-128SC. It's the same shape, same electronics as this model but adds a solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides.

I must have been drinking with the grammatical errors of my last review..my apologies...I try to do better. Here's an update: I'm in a much better mood about this guitar after I received it's replacement. Musicians' Friend didn't admit it, but they must have given me a 'blem' by mistake. However, they DID admit that they got the features list wrong, and have since corrected it. So this section gets an upgrade.

UPDATE 7/29/2008:
A follow-up for those who wonder how the piece plays in over time. essentially the sound gets fuller, and the playabilty improves. It must be said moreover, that both takamine and musicians friend describe this guitar as having a plywood spruce top. another description would be two pieces of laminate spruce woods pressed together. its plywood, my friends, but dont let that bother you..it just sounds bad..i mean 'plywood' the guitar still sounds good.

I've been playing it a while, and its still bright, and biting. I'm comparing it to the yamaha cg171sf I own, and it has more of an 'in-your-face' sound that I believe is a result of its having a bone nut and bridge, compared to the yamahas plastic. The volume, as i said, would be good even if it wasn't a cut-away.

The action is a little stiffer than the cg171sf, but it's still very playable. The replacement has no flaws beyond a few nit-picks, inside or out.

Again, the build is very strong. The electronics..we will see, but no problems thus far. I have to say, this is the perfect instrument for hard gigging.

If you shop at Musicians Friend, you know they will back it up. Takamine didn't answer two e-mails I sent. But I don't think I'll need to get them to back the warranty on the build quality. And, as I've said, there are no gaurantees with the electronics.

Price/value ratio gets a definite thumbs up. You can gig hard with this guitar, and I failed to mention that it's very versatile, as the other reviewer wrote. This guitar is a very good bargain.

UPDATE 7/29/2008:
i still love it

The eg124c they are selling now, or has always had a plywood spruce top, nato sides and back, rosewood fingerboard, and a preamp/tuner they call tp-4t. It's made in China

The point can't be stressed enough that the top is plywood, because they're deceptive descriptions at Musicians Friend and Music123, that conflate this guitar with the eg124sc, which DOES have a solid spruce top w/a different preamp

The one I had for 24 hours started to sound good after I got the tuning somewhat stable (the string where new, d'addarios). I was impressed with the volume, and becoming impressed with the tone. The sound was biting, and bright, rather than rich and full to my ears. It gets a little thin up the fret board, but like I said I only had it a short while. It sounded like it would come into its own after time...I'll tell you about the amped sound below

The action was a little tight at first, but again, I was just breaking in the strings. I have to say the guitar is built like a tank, and everything looked good on the surface, but inside there was some sloppy spots of glue. For that reason, I give it a slightly lower mark than similarly priced yamahas I own. The rosewood fret board looks ugly compared to ebony, but it wasn't structurally flawed. The guitar build itself, sans the electronics, gets good marks. I like the tuning pegs a little better than my yamaha..at least visually

Another note: there are no fret markers, for people who like them.

Here's where the fly hits the ointment. Like the other reveiwer said, the preamp was faulty. I'm no electrcian, but to my ears it sounded like a loose connection that may have need minor adjustment. Because I'm not an electrician, I returned it..

Maybe I should have waited for the replacement to give a more complete reveiw, but I think people should know what they may be in for. Plugged in, my amp just hummed, and the guitar was barely audible. My other acoustic electric had no problems by comparison, so it wasn't the amp.

I'm thinking the tank part of the guitar will last forever, but the electronics? It should tell you something that Takamine doesn't back this part up with their 'limited' warranty.

I believe the guitar sans the electronics is lifetime gauranteed.

I'm not encourage that Takamine never returned my e-mailed concerns over these confusing and false descriptions used to sell the eg124c. You get info on various preamps, and how to change them EXCEPT on the this guitars 'tp-4t' at their website. Over there, moreover, is where you discover the eg124c is plywood topped, if you can't see the descrepancy on the prod description at this online retailers. In fact, you can't. The Musicians Friend description actually says it AND the eg124sc are solid topped

So far I give Takamine.....

I'm gonna be as neutral as possible on my overall rating, because I haven't experienced the guitar as much as I'd like. I thought I was getting a solid top...especially w/the reviews here...I thought I would have a functioning preamp. Everything else is pretty much in line with the reviews here, except I suspect Yamaha gets it better if I pay a little more.

Taiwanese-made acoustic-electric w/ single cutaway. Solid top, laminated back and sides. Electronics include built-in pre-amp, 3 band EQ and master Gain, as well as a EXTERNALLY ACCESSABLE BATTERY! this last is not negligible for a live guitarist. Pickup is a decent grade piezo. Back and sides are mahogany, the top looks like spruce to me. Solid feeling stock tuners. Nothing exciting cosmetically, but looks dignified and slick enough. No finish flaws at all - clean interior work.

I play experimental blues and this is my number two axe (after my Godin ST-1), Whilst it sounds nice acoutically (if a bit dark) it hasawesome crunch distorted. Crispy and smooth. The finish is a bit heavy so I need to use pretty good strings (Albert Augustine's) to keep it live and loose. Love the feel and the action, and it holds up well acoustically, even with the cutaway.

Set up perfectly, ne hassles w/ action/electronics/intonation/etc.

Heavy duty guitar, can take a beating. this is a massively dependable guitar, and I would certainly feel comfortable with it as my only guitar at a gig, even if I need to crank it up - almost no feedback problems.

Awesome guitar - very, very versatile. I just wish that Takamine had used a bit lighter finish, but I suppose that the heavy finish helps to kill feedback, so. . .

NICE SETUP

SOUNDS GREAT UNPLUGGED, MIKED OR AMPED

VERY PRETTY, WELL MADE AX. LOVE THE FLAWLESS FINISH!!!

THIS GUITAR HAD A LOSE CONNECTION IN THE PREAMP AND NEEDED A LITTLE
ADJUSTMENT.

N/A

I COMPARED THIS SINGLE-CUTAWAY NYLON STRING ACOUSTIC WITH SIMILAR
PRICED YAMAHA, IBENEZ AND OTHERS AND THIS AX WON HANDS DOWN IN EVERY
CATAGORY; SOUND, (UNPLUGGED AND AMPED), LOOKS, PLAYABILITY AND
WORKMANSHIP. I WOULD GET ANOTHER ONE IF I EVER LOST THIS ONE BECAUSE
IT IS A BARGIN FOR THE BEST NYLON STRING GUITAR IN THIS PRICE RANGE!!!