Takamine EG523SC

Mostly just play it without the pickup. Pickup and goodies there seem to be just fine though.

All the maple in this guitar gives it a really nice tone. Well done Tak!

Nice full sound. Round tones. Very balanced tone. Not deep and bassy like a Martin, and not tinny or high like some others. My "Goldilocks guitar" is "just right".

I get a lot of compliments on how nice it sounds.

I've taken care of it and 'played it in' quite nicely.

I find this a strange question.

I had the action professionally set up from the get go. Don't know why anyone would trust the action off the rack anyway...?

Otherwise craftsmanship is fine, solid, and reliable. It's not super-fine and obsessive in it's craftsmanship - but what do you want for that price anyway? I hate a guitar you need white gloves for! PLAY THE DAMN THING!

Very dependable.

Solid.

Good workhorse!

Never had to bother.

Wish I had the 12 string to match this one.

Made in south correa, year make 2008, black version.
Solid top, jumbo size.
Pickup controls come with built-in tuner, satndard equilasier. came with gig bag.
The neck comes with pearl in lay.
Nice finish no problems with any of the features

I play all styles, finger picking and pick(acousticly). Havent had a chance to use the pickup. but acousticly it is a fine sounding guitar, holds a nice long clear ring, almost perfect action, good on both high and low notes.
Lovley rich and clear sound.

The guitar was fine with all factory setting, i changed the strings to a better make. but other than that no flaws

Seems to have a good solid finish, and i have used it in gigs without backup which sounded perfect.

Limeted lifetime warranty.
So far so good, i haven??t needed to contact costomer support

I have had and played viarious mid range epiphones, yamaha apx and also a seagull s6 and this is the best so far. it??s all good, i would buy another if it was stolen. its a perfectly good guitar as it is.

Awesome!! I have been playing the acoustic since the mid-60's and I have owned several beautiful guitars. Martin, Guild, Gibson, but never a Takamine even though I always thought they were great for the money. This guitar is great regardless of the money and that is the truth. The action needs to be set and I prefer medium guage strings, although many players like the light guage. I am a fingerpicker mostly and I love this guitar. The tuner is just an amazing bonus for those dead ear days. I recommend this guitar to anyone. It is simply a beautiful playing and sounding instrument and that is without amplification. Don't cheat yourself if you buy this guitar and then go buy a cheap amp. This guitar with a nice powerful acoustic amp (Especially Bose) is amazing. I would compare this guitar to any more expensive model of any guitar and that is a bold statement but I have been around and this is worth looking into if you don't know about it. Martin is and always will be my favorite but I am impressed with Takamine.

In 1978 I bought one of the first Tak's to come to the country - A dreadnought F340M (maple sides and back). I bought it for the looks and kept it for the sound as it compared to a friend's D-35 in sound and quality of finish. Sold it 20 years later and immediately regretted it. I bought this EG523SC hoping that it too would be a sleeper of a sound dynamo. It came with the factory setup with strings very high and clumsy (I finger pick without picks with alot of work at the 12th fret). Performing my own setup, I found the nut at a perfect height, the neck with the correct bow (no rod djustment needed) but the split saddles required ALOT of filing on the underside to bring the strings down to acceptable playability for my style. She is now plays smooth as silk. Fret ends are filed perfectly so as not to catch you fingers (and thumb over the top) as you slide you hands up and down.
The pre-amp/equalizer is effectively OK. The higher notes are very thin and "tinny" until you slide that particular control about 2/3 of the way down. An excellent feature is the equalizer bypass which allows you to control the sound entirely through your amp. Bypassing the equalizer seems to give it a fuller tone (when plugged in, of course). Fit and finish is high quality. It's well constructed and has a young Dooly Parton look to her.

Unplugged she really sound great. I use light strings (10's) which don't have the full tonal depth as 12's or 13's, but sounds great. The low strings and notes have an awsome tone, typical of jumbo body guitars.

I do get low-string feedback when plugged in and at volume. Look at the decorative soundhole covers on Musician's Friends. I bought the least transparent one and found it took care of the feedback without affect sound volume or quality. I have a Crate GT212 (Solid State) and an older Peavy 125W tube amp. The Peavy provides a much better sound quality and range of tones with the Tak. The pickups are very effective.

Factory setup seems to be as high a you can get. This is OK for strumming open cords near the nut. Its also better to have them too high rather than too low, as its easier to take them down than raise them. Again, fretwire ends were finished perfectly as they don't grab your hand as you work your way up and down the fingerboard.

The MOP and abalone fret markers are very attractive ! Everything on this guitar is well constructed - no gaps, no ridges. The only thing I would change would to make the pickguard a half a hair width thicker. The thin-ness of it makes it look like they cut a corner. It's strictly a matter of aesthetics though and isn't a quality issue.

I would play at a gig without a backup. I have 2 Strats, a 1964 335, a 175, and an LP that I alternate taking to gigs, but this Tak goes every time. Its a light guitar but everything seems well constructed. BTW- I've had my amp go out due to power failure so the purely acoustic sound was a butt-saver while playing rhythm.

N?A

I sold my D-35 and this is my replacement. I have not regretted the move to the EG523SC as it is more versatile. If all of my guitars were stolen, my first replacement would be this one. The equalizer is probably the weakest feature, though it isn't bad. I may look at retrofitting it one of these days but am not in a hurry to do so. Value-wise, Takamines have always been great. My first one was made in Japan and truly rivalled Martin. This Korean made one is such an excellent value because of the sound and quality; durability is a matter of more time with her.

Dreadnought 12-String Cutaway
Top is Solid Spruce
Back ans side is Nato
Fingerboard is Rosewood
Electronics is TK4NT Pre-amplifier
Tuners are Chrome from Takamine
20 frets
Scale Length is 25 inches

Sound is rish and bright. Can play any kind of music from ballad to rock, like Beatles, Boston, The byrds, Lightfoot, Dylan etc. I like everything from this guitar.

I've trade it used so I don't know how was the set-up at the factory. I've bring it to a luthier and have put the action lower and now it's just great. I've put on Dean Markley Vintage Bronze Light strings. The finish is excellent for a mid-range guitar.

Everything on this guiatr is quality and will last for a long time. The finish is really good for a 3 or 4 years guitar it's look like a new one. There is 2 straps button and they are solid. I would use this guiatr on agig without any backup.

Never get the guitar repaired. The warranty is a limited lifetime.
I've dealt with Takamine Canada twice for informations on guitars and each time they answered to my email fast, once 30 minutes after and the second time the next day.

I'm playing guitar since 35 years. I've definitively buy another one is this one as stolen. I've tried Martin, Alvarez, Seagull, Norman and many more and I've choose Takamine. Great quality for the mony you spend.

This is a follow up review of my previous review below. Features as before but as previous reviewers have noted, the MOP inlays are very striking, as is the "flamed maple" back and sides.

On further playing it amplified I noticed the amplified sound of the g string was noticably quieter than the other strings. After having it set up I returned it to the shop and their tech has fixed the problem. It seems to have been that the pick up under the saddle was not seated properly against the saddle so the signal from the g string was reduced. I've yet to properly road test it but it sounds alot better. Seems to be a quality control issue on mine.

Have now had it professionally set up and the intonation problem near the nut is much improved. The e string plays slightly sharp on the 2nd fret (F#) which is a bit annoying when playing e.g. open d chord. The setup has done wonders for the playability and turned my previous 7 into a 9. However this is due to the setup skill (not mine) rather than the factory settings.

As below. No issues yet and my refixed tuner is holding up well.

As noted above, pickup was reset and works much better. Retailer did the work under the manufacturer's warranty with no hassle.

I'm still concerned a little by the intonation but it's much better than from the factory. The pick up problem indicates the QC from Korea is not to hot. Otherwise this is a very good sounding guitar which plays well. The jumbo size gives this guitar a big presence which along with its looks means it really stands out in a crowd. I'm pleased I picked this guitar and it's very good value for money. No Tak case supplied with this which is a shame as it deserves to be advertised.

High gloss finish, solid spruce top, flamed maple laminiate sides and back. Solid maple neck (looks like 3 pieces) and rosewood fretboard. Jumbo size cutaway. Made in Korea probably 2005. Under saddle pickup TK4NT preamp with 3 band eq, notch filter, contoured midrange and tuner.

Play rock, country, pick and fingerpicking. I have only had it for a week and have played it once through my Marshall AS50. The sound was wonderful amplified and can be varied a great deal with the preamp settings. Unplugged it's good. Not a solid in the lower end as I would expect but still sounds fine all round. Not as good as some far more expensive instruments I've heard but better than alot. Very good for the money.

Set up was not bad although the intonation is not so good near the nut. The overall action is good. Frets are rough but I think it had been hanging in the shop for over a year. I will have it professionally set up to my liking soon.

Haven't played live yet but will do so. It's bound to stand up to this as it is very solidly built. Compared this to an Ibanez AEL40 which in comparison was like holding a piece of bolsor wood. Finish seems well applied. One of the tuners was very loose so I've packed the hole and refitted. Seems to have done the job. Controls on the preamp are rather cheap and don't fill me with too much confidence at this stage. Seems a very solid and dependable instrument.

Haven't needed to deal with Takamine. Web site looks useful though.

Been playing nearly 30 years with a very long break until about 5 years ago. I have a Yamaha FG423, Adam Black O-5 12 string, a damaged Fender DG4, a 30+year old Yamaha SG30 and a Highway 1 Strat. My guitars are fairly low end and I chose the Takamine as a step up as I have began to play live. Very pleased with it after a short while although I will probably keep the Yamaha. I have a Marshall AS50 and I've just bought a Digitech multi effects pedal to possibly use live with the Strat. May submit a further review when I've really got to grips with it.

The features are as stated in the previous submission. Let me just add that the fretboard inlays are very, very nice. Abalone and mother of pearl inlays in an eye-pleasing shimmer. The flamed maple back and side are nicely book-matched as well. With the gloss finish, it traps light well for aesthetic qualities (girls look at it more). I'd give it a 10 if it had a clear pick-guard.

The sound is not as rounded as my RainSong, but I like the natural wood qualities in the tones that will grow warmer over time. The action was already perfect when I bought it. Dan at Double D Music in McMinnville, Oregon sets up guitars as soon as they arrive. He can make any guitar sound and play better. It has a very pleasant, promising, and emotive, affectionate warmth that will only grow better the more it's played. I'm an exceptional singer (by God's grace) and few guitars can match a passionate human voice. Plugged into my Fender SFX, this is one of the few acoustic guitars that has been able to hang in there with my singing range. I'd give it a 10 if the Bass went a little lower.

The action, fit, and finish are a 10. Plain & simple. The on-board tuner works just fine.

I've done about 3 live gigs with this guitar so far. If God lets me live, I'll do many more. I'm the rhythm guitarist/lead singer in my band, but I like to do open mics and coffee shops solo sometimes. I'll take this and my Taylor T5 & Line6 Vax to most gigs, but only this one for my solo stuff. By the way, my Taka came with the strap button already on the neck... well-balanced.

My dealings with Takamine over the years have only been positive. When I wrote them with some ideas a few years ago, they sent me a "Thank you" with some freebies. The last I e-mailed them with questions, they answered me thoroughly, simply, and with professional courtesy.

I've been playing guitar for 26 years (singing in bands since I was a preteen). I cannot even list the guitars I've owned over the years because I'd forget some. I've learned that some low-end guitars can measure up to names like Gibson, Martin, Breedlove, and even Taylor sometimes. This Taka is not quite the guitar as my Taylors, but it's better than the Guilds (Rhode Islands), Gibsons and Martins I've owned. You just have to play the right one you're looking for. Every manufacturer makes lemons now and again. Go to a music store, NOT eBay, and play it first.

The finish is gloss natural top, flamed maple sides and bottom. Body style is Jumbo, comparitive in size to a gibson super jumbo. It has a cutaway as well, allowing easier access to the uper frets. Tuners are non locking, but seem to do the job well enough (i dont know of many acoustics with locking tuners anyway). Neck is a little chunky, but i have fairly long fingers so its easy enough to play. Fretboard is made of rosewood, with block mop inlays that are quite eye catching. Has pickup under the bridge and a built in TK4NT preamp. Preamp has notch filter, midrange contour, eq, and onboard tuner which is quite convenient.

I would have liked it to have is a satin finish instead of the high gloss finish. However not a major inconvenience for me.

The other thing that I didnt bother checking before I bought it (im not sure why i didnt, stupid me) was to see if it had a strap button under the neck. I had to get a hole drilled and a strap button attached. The guitar is neck heavy though and I suppose it makes sense that it was designed to attach your strap at the headstock instead of under the neck joint. Its personal preference. I dont play standing up that often anyways.

This guitar may seem like a suprising choice for me as I mainly fingerpick. However i found the guitar quite a great deal more comfortable to play than alot of the smaller folk guitars, so I think it was worth it. Unplugged it can be quite loud depending on how hard or soft you strum, due to the fact it is a jumbo. I use D'Addario EXP strings (it comes stock with them, and they are great!). With a new set of strings, the guitar sounds amazing. A very full sound, not too bass heavy, quite a nice balance between highs and lows.

Action is alright, not amazing but better than alot of guitars i have played in the past. The neck is slightly warped around the 15th fret on the high e string though and gives a very annoying buzzing whenever i play it. Odd because that is the only fret that buzzes and only on that string!

I have used it for many gigs, and it has failed on me yet. Ive dropped it a few times and I dont see and signs of dents or scratches. Stays in tune as well.

I registered it for a warranty on the Takamine site and got an email back within a couple of days. I got a generic customer service email back, no biggie. I have yet to need customer service though.

I have been playing guitar for about two years now, and have played 30-40 gigs with this guitar. Its a comfortable size, not too big or small. I would have liked it to have a satin finish and a strap button under the neck joint, but those are pretty minor inconveniences to me. All in all a decent intermediate guitar. Im pretty sure it goes for 500-600 dollars retail nowadays.