Takamine help needed

[dkstott]

Just picked up a old Takamine Classical guitar model E-30 in a swap.

It's a nice guitar, oval soundhole with electronics. Neck is pretty straight, no issues, saddle still has room for adjustment. Body is in awesome shape considering the guitars age. The sound is really warm while played I'm guessing 1989-1990.

As best I can tell from the internet, it is a less expensive version of the Takamine Hirade TH90. I'm not sure how many years it was in production

There's conflicting information out there as to whether it is completely laminate or if the top is solid Cedar wood.

Any Takamine experts out there that can shed some light on the E-30?

here's a link to an old Reverb posting for an 1989 model for photo's

https://reverb.com/item/881885-takam...intage-natural

[charles Tauber]

Look at the surface of the soundhole. If solid wood, you'll see the end grain run the full thickness of the top (i.e. perpendicular to the face of the top), most obvious nearer the centerline of the guitar. If laminated, you'll see layers running parallel to the top.

[dkstott]

As best I can tell from the grains at the sound hole, mine has a solid wood top

It's a very cool looking guitar with a nice warm sound.

Using only the various dates on Reverb posts; Takamine made it from at least 89-91. There doesn't seem to be a lot out there about this particular model

[Red_Label]

Very nice! I always dug the look of those Hirades. The Takamine CS132 that I used to have many years ago was my first quality nylon. It was a wonderful instrument and I used to lovingly caress the wood and admire the near perfection of the parallel rosewood grain on the sides. Ended up trading it in on an even more beautiful Yairi CY140.