Takamine EG360SC Review

MSRP: $859

Actual retail price: $599

EG360SC: Ideal for flatpickers and singer-songwriters

The Takamine EG360SC provides an excellent classic look with plenty of modern features. The cutaway dreadnaught style makes it easy to access the higher octaves, and the pick guard comes standard. Dot inlays make it easy to navigate the frets, and an abalone rosette accents the sound hole. The large sound provided by the Takamine EG360SC is ideal for flatpickers and singer-songwriters, but the EG360SC is likely to surprise most players. Built with a solid spruce top with Indian rosewood fingerboard, back, and sides, the Takamine EG360SC is extremely sturdy. The gloss finish over natural woods gives it that classic dreadnaught appearance. Gold and pearl tuners keep it looking extremely classy and attractive. The acoustic sound is large and powerful as is, but the electronics offer plenty of amplification without any loss of quality.

TP4T Preamp and pickup

The electronics on the Takamine EG360SC includes Takamine’s specifically designed preamp and pickup system. The pickup rests underneath the saddle, giving attention directly to the sounds produced by the strings rather than the entire body of the guitar. The pickup is a TP4T, which was specifically designed by Takamine for a number of their G-series guitars. The TP4T provides three-band equalization with highs, mids, and lows adjustments just being a slider away at all times. The TP-4T also includes a tuner that is battery powered, which makes tuning on the go a breeze. Unlike some of the other preamps for the G-series and other Takamine guitars, this one does not have a notch filter or the bypass switch that stops the EQ from sending through the equalization settings. For many live performers, this means that it may be best to purchase an additional preamp if you have problems with feedback.

Great for travel and easy on the wallet

The Takamine EG360SC has a lightweight design that makes it excellent for travel and easy on the shoulders during long sets. It has been compared to a $3000 Gibson Hummingbird on more than one occasion, and while the build isn’t quite up to that standard, it is easy to see why players are just as pleased with this as they are with much more expensive guitars. The factory setup is almost always right on point, making the action low and the intonation ring perfectly. Without a doubt, the Takamine EG360SC offers a lot for its price.