|
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I posted this over on the Takamine Forum, but you might find this interesting as well ...
I've been selling off some guitars recently to fund some new purchases, and here's one of them. Somewhat of a Takamine version of a Josh White or Folklore - 12 fret wideneck slothead. NO I don't dislike Ovations, I just found this one interesting and wanted to share it here.
TAKAMINE EF740FS
Cedar Top with Tortie Binding
Mahogany Back and Sides also with Tortie
12 fret gloss neck with Slotted Headstock
Rosewood Headstock Facing
Ebony Fretboard bound in polished ebony
Tortie heel cap
1-7/8 Nutwidth
Rosewood bridge
Bone saddle and nut
Vintage open gear tuners
Deep body
Not quite short scale
Cool Tube II electronics
The VERY cool thing about this guitar is that it is an OM sized body (similar to a typical Ovation) but instead of a usual OM depth it's almost Dreadnaught depth! Coupled with the 12 fret layout and cedar top this puppy puts out an amazing sound. Clear as a bell and balls to spare. Sings like an angel who's in need of a performance enhancing drug test. It's not Dreadnaught big type of sound, much more restrained.
There's some other interesting things as well. The scale length is sorta "tweener" - half way between standard 25.4 and short scale 24.9 you don't notice it when you play, but it just FEELS right for this guitar. And speaking of feeling right - the 1 7/8 neck is just amazing. Takamine (like Ovation) does SUCH a nice job with their neck profiles. It's beefy without feeling "big".
The fit, finish, overall quality and attention to detail is typical Takamine first rate. You would go NUTS trying to find a flaw. CTP2 cool tube preamp is of course wonderful as well. But it's the acoustic sound that will really grab you. It's "punchy" but with the mahogany has an overwhelmingly warm and woody tone. You can play cowboy chards if you want, but this guitar really shines when finger picked (the "FS" in the model number stands for Finger Style). I try to do it justice, but ...
Anyway, sorry to gloat. Just wanted to give a peek at what I've been spending SOME of the proceeds from recent resales on.
Oh, one more thing ... the July issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine features a full review of "this" guitar. Scroll down about half way. There's also an embedded video. Oh yeah, and the TF740FS is the COVER photo !!!
http://www.acguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=2604
It get better, the REALLY cool thing about this review is that the very guitar used in the review is MINE. Not just the same, model. THE same guitar, MY guitar. How cool it THAT ???
(thank goodness the reviewer liked the guitar)
ENJOY, Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | nice guitar |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | You would LOVE the neck. Flatter profile that the Bluegrass models, yet just a tab wider. Yummy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | What a great looking guitar.
Very nice.
.
I think Ovations will always be my #1 but I'd like to play/sample more box guitars. I'm plenty familiar with the Ovation sound but I have not spent enough time with something else to have much of an opinion.
Then again, I might not play well enough tell the difference anyway. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | 4. Nice guitar. Good luck with it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Yeah, I've had it about 3 weeks now and really enjoying it. It's really unlike anything else I own. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Very nice Dave......
AJ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I saw that review in AGM and what really grabbed my attention was first, the slot head, and second, the nice understated "T" on the headstock. I never did warm up to a cedar top, but that is one fine looking piece of guitar flesh. ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | "The fit, finish, overall quality and attention to detail is typical Takamine first rate."
That, I totally agree with. Both my Taks are worlds better in that department than 90% of the other manufacturers. They're almost too perfect. Dave, you need to put a ding in it just to make it look like it was made by a human. :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Dave,
Nice guitar. Interesting configuration of woods and body style. Sounds like a real player. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Didn't you recently pick up another that made the cover or was also featured in a published review? How do you get these leads? Man, you must definitely be hooked up. What a beauty. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | This is the one that was used for the cover photo and for the review (magazine and video). I didn't have any photos yet when I posted it earlier. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | Well you`ve found the end of the guitar rainbow. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Nice guitar, Dave.
They forgot to put the covers on the tuners. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by gulfcoast:
Well you`ve found the end of the guitar rainbow. for now... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Nice lines! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Deep OM! Lovely git, Dave. |
|
| |
New Choice in Deep Body 12 Fret Wideneck Slotheads