Members keyshore Posted October 31, 2006 Members Posted October 31, 2006 Hi,I have always wanted to acquire a 12 string guitar, I am a pro musician with a Ovation Custom Legend as my main instrument. I am looking for the above guitar. Any views or comments from anyone having this particular model? Regards,Keyshore:)
Members Stackabones Posted October 31, 2006 Members Posted October 31, 2006 Welcome to the forums, Keyshore! I've had no experience with that guitar. Perhaps you can find something inside HC's reviews? Good luck!
Members kwakatak Posted October 31, 2006 Members Posted October 31, 2006 - Solid spruce top (denoted with the "S" in the model) - Laminated rosewood back & sides (common to all Takamine F series) - Rosewood fretboard - 1.68" wide nut - Martin-style rosewood bridge (as opposed to the newer split-saddle, pin-through Takamine bridges) - Nickel-plated, closed-back (unsealed) tuning machines - Headstock/neck: older ones (early-70's to mid-80's) have Martin style paddle headstock, newer ones (which are also discontinued) appear to have the same neck/headstock as the rest of the Takamine line . Basically, it's a laminated replica of the Martin D-28-12. I have the 6 string version with a laminated top and think it's a pretty durable guitar (mine's 33 years old and hasn't been cared for under ideal circumstances) but nowhere near the tonal properties of a real D-28.
Members keyshore Posted November 1, 2006 Author Members Posted November 1, 2006 Thanks Neil,The Takamine Brochure says solid spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides, gold tuners , Do you think they have upgraded the specs?Regards,Keyshore
Members pipedwho Posted November 1, 2006 Members Posted November 1, 2006 It's hard to tell with Takamine. Depending on the year of manufacture, an identical model may have different specs. (I have an EF340 that has a solid top, whereas other EF340 guitars from different years have laminate tops and an EF340S designates the solid top. It is not from or before a certain point either, as my guitar is from 1990 and I've seen EF340 guitars from both before and after that with tops that are clearly laminated.)
Members kwakatak Posted November 1, 2006 Members Posted November 1, 2006 Originally posted by keyshore Thanks Neil,The Takamine Brochure says solid spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides, gold tuners , Do you think they have upgraded the specs?Regards,Keyshore It's possible but I'd be skeptical. The website doesn't list that particular model, but the specs for the EF400S list the back and sides as just "Indian Rosewood" which does not include the word solid. Rule of thumb is if it's omitted it's not solid wood. http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=1061&sid=352 Body Shape: DreadnoughtRosette: Top: Solid SpruceInlays: Inlaid Pearl DotsBack: Indian RosewoodSides: RosewoodFingerboard: RosewoodElectronics: PalatheticTuners: Gold Plated*Features: (* probably the same construction as the (former) chrome plated tuners which I replaced with Gotoh chrome sealed tuners that work much better. ) To be sure, the only way to tell if the sides are laminated is to pull the endpin so that you can see the cross-section. The only way to see if the back is solid or laminated is to pull the body binding away which I wouldn't advise doing. My F-360 was in need of binding repair so I know that the sides and back are definitely laminated, as is the top which shows clear layer definition in the soundhole cross-section. I don't see why an F-400S (which admittedly has a solid top) would be any different with regards to the back & sides.
Members pipedwho Posted November 1, 2006 Members Posted November 1, 2006 Originally posted by kwakatak It's possible but I'd be skeptical. The website doesn't list that particular model, but the specs for the EF400S list the back and sides as just "Indian Rosewood" which does not include the word solid. Rule of thumb is if it's omitted it's not solid wood. http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=1061&sid=352 If you have the serial number of the guitar that you are looking at, you can always email the address on the Takamine website and ask. I did this recently for an LTD90 and received a very quick and helpful response. If it's a current model, I agree with kwak. The website is more likely to be correct, considering everything else from the current era of EFxxx series Taks seems to be laminated back/sides.
Members keyshore Posted November 3, 2006 Author Members Posted November 3, 2006 Thanks all of you for your replies, Neil you are actually looking at the discontinued EF400S and this has laminated back and sides, however I am looking at the EF400SC which is in the current Keystone series, according to the specs it has a solid spruce top and a solid rosewood back, while the sides seem to be laminated.Regards,Keyshore
Members kwakatak Posted November 3, 2006 Members Posted November 3, 2006 Originally posted by keyshore Thanks all of you for your replies, Neil you are actually looking at the discontinued EF400S and this has laminated back and sides, however I am looking at the EF400SC which is in the current Keystone series, according to the specs it has a solid spruce top and a solid rosewood back, while the sides seem to be laminated. Regards, Keyshore Oh! OK... sorry! OT: strange that they should name a new guitar with such a similar model number! I've never seen one personally but IMO the F series were much better than the current G series. http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=132&sid=66
Members pipedwho Posted November 3, 2006 Members Posted November 3, 2006 Originally posted by kwakatak Oh! OK... sorry! OT: strange that they should name a new guitar with such a similar model number! I've never seen one personally but IMO the F series were much better than the current G series. http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=132&sid=66 The G-series is the MIK version of the MIJ Taks. Sort of like an MIK Epiphone vs an MIA Gibson. That being said, there are some very good G-series and Epiphones out there. But, I still love my MIJ Taks!
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.