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Takamine’s Legacy Series is a collection of guitars that have truly stood the test of time – icons from some of the Japanese brand’s previous ranges that have been too good to let go. And the EF341SC is one of them. A no-nonsense electro-acoustic dreadnought with a little rock attitude, that’s built in Takamine’s pro series facility in Japan. It features highly on our article rounding-up the best acoustic guitars under $1500 – so what makes it so special?
The EF341SC features a dreadnought body shape with a deep cutaway that points towards this being a real performance guitar. The top is made from solid cedar, while the back and sides are constructed of laminated maple. Most notably this is all covered in a highly-polished piano black finish, with white top binding and sound hole decoration that boasts elegance.
Moving up, we find a C-shaped mahogany neck that joins the guitar at the 14th fret, with a strong dovetail joint. The neck features a nut width of 1.675” and a rosewood fretboard, housing 20 frets and small diamond inlays. Overall you can’t find much wrong with the design of this guitar – simple but classy, and built to perform.
This is an electro-acoustic model, so there are certainly some electronics to discuss – namely Takamine’s CT-4B II preamp system, with their unique Palathetic under-saddle pickup. This is a quality system, featuring 3-band EQ (bass, mid and treble), a volume slider, and a handy built-in chromatic tuner.
The rest of the hardware enhances the EF341SC – we see a set of very accurate chrome tuners on the glossy black classic Takamine headstock; a rosewood bridge (which sits nicely against the black top), with a bone saddle and nut; and D'Addario EXP16 light-gauge strings as standard. Finally it’s worth mentioning that it comes shipped with a hardshell case, which is no less than you’d expect for a guitar in this price range.
With a look this refined, you’ll want to take it to the stage – and the EF341SC offers both a sound and amplification system that allows you to do just that. With its dreadnought body shape, there’s ample natural projection and plenty of low end, while the solid cedar top provides a rich, warm tone. The CT-4B II preamp retains the guitar’s natural acoustic tone, no matter how loud you go.
It may (or – after reading this review – may not) surprise you to find out that the EF341SC is the model favored by Bruce Springsteen, who uses it as his concert acoustic guitar. That’s right – an ‘off-the-shelf’ mid-range model used by one of the world’s most iconic performers.
That’s certainly a testament to both the quality and performance capabilities of this Takamine. It looks awesome with its dark, glossy finish, and is both comfortable and fun to play. The natural acoustic tone and pro-grade electronics allow this versatile black beauty to really sing!
For more info about the Takamine EF341SC, click here.
For more acoustic guitar under $1500 you might like, click here.
Dustin says
Frankly a laminate EF341SC Takamine with a 1.675″ nut-width and a plastic-backed Ovation being on the list of guitars under 1500$ when you can get a Gibson J-15 for roughly the same price seems pretty sketchy.
Yamaha, Fender, Epiphone, and Blueridge all make solid-back guitars for less than 1000$ and most of those seem absent in lieu of a lot of guitars from the same makers, including Taylor. Last I checked they don’t even make a nitrocellulose guitar with a dovetail neckjoint; both cost cutting methods they do not pass onto their customers.
CC says
I’ve played a model from practically every acoustic guitar brand in the past 30 years, large and small, and nothing sounds as good or plays as well to me as this Takamine EF341SC. If it cost $10k i’d still buy it, it’s that good