NGD: Takamine EF360S TT with TLD-2 Line Driver

[SpruceTop]

I received my new Takamine EF360S TT (Thermal Top, i.e., torrified top) Sitka Spruce/East Indian Rosewood with the new TLD-2 Line Driver preamp system on Wednesday but didn't play it until Friday evening. Having been a Takamine player since early 1980, I've had a few Taks including the 2007-released Takamine EF340S BG Spruce/Mahogany with TLD-1 Line Driver. The Takamine EF340S BG set me up to expect what I got with the Takamine EF360S TT in that the nut width is 1.772 inches with quite a full neck profile. The EF360S TT has an evenly-shaded torrified top with fairly close, evenly spaced straight grain, and is squarely quarter-sawn with nice silking. The rosewood is straight-grained too. As I expected, the overall craftsmanship of the Made In Japan Takamine EF360S TT is excellent! The guitar includes a fine hardshell case and given the price I paid, $320 off the advertised price, I consider this is another exceptional professional acoustic-electric guitar value.

So, what does the Takamine EF360S TT sound like? Well, it came set up full-on bluegrass with a perfect neck-relief but high-side action, and the guitar delivers a loud, open and full tone. I'll likely lower the action a bit but for now I'll enjoy the extra thunder of the high-action setup! Plugged in, the combination Palathetic Pickup and TLD-2 Line Driver delivers the hottest signal into my LR Baggs Synapse that I've come across to date compared to other pickup/preamp systems I've used. The flat-EQ'ed amplified tone of the guitar sounds pretty much like the acoustic tone of the guitar and this system would work well with a ToneDexter, Fishman Aura Spectrum DI, Steel Guitar Black Box or LR Baggs Acoustic Session DI, all of which I'll eventually try with the guitar. The TLD-2 Line Driver endpin preamp is a stealth-type system with no immediately-accessible onboard controls. The TLD-2 preamp is set-and-forget adjustable by removing the three screws that hold it in the end-block and pulling it out of the end of the guitar. Unscrew back the barrel cover to reveal the TLD-2 circuitboard. It has three internal, three-position switches (-5dB/0dB/+5dB) with which to alter the frequency curve of the amplified tone but the factory settings sound good to my ears. The TLD-2 also has an adjustable Gain control enabling the gain to be set from 0dB to 26dB.

Overall, I feel the Takamine EF360S TT is a worthy professional guitar for players who prefer big dreadnought tone without having to bring their prized Martin or other expensive guitar to a jam or gig.

[marty bradbury]

Beautiful guitar! Would like to test drive one some time. Enjoy!

[merlin666]

I almost got one of the BGs myself as they were the hottest dread of the time. How do you think these new TTs compare... better or worse value?

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by merlin666

I almost got one of the BGs myself as they were the hottest dread of the time. How do you think these new TTs compare... better or worse value?

I'd say the new TT and the older BG models are pretty much the same guitars other than the TT's having the torrified tops and the newer TLD-2 Line Driver. The Takamine EF340S BG that I bought in 2007 was from my local dealer who bought it or ordered it at the Winter NAMM Show that year. I paid $1100 USD for it back then. I just paid $1580 USD for my Takamine EF360S TT. Given that the price difference between the new EF340S TT mahogany model and the new EF360S TT rosewood model is about $100 USD list, and given the TT model features, I'd say the newer TT models are a better value when factoring in for inflation over the last 13 years. If, however, a player comes across a gently-used EF340S BG or EF360S BG for a nice price, they should really consider pickng one up not only for the great acoustic tone but the exceptionally good amplified tone these models enable for stage usage.

[slopeshoulder]

Congrats! I own the Mahogany 340. It can truly hang in any dread company. Excellent guitars.

[LeDave]

Absolutely beautiful. I love the looks of the two part saddle. I've never seen a guitar with that before, but again I'm still sort of new to guitaring. Thanks for sharing and plus for the pics!

[Dbone]

Feelin’ it! Congrats!

[jwhelan56]

Congrats on the gorgeous new EF 360 Tak! I recently became the new owner of a gently used EF75M TT Takamine (100 made in 2016 for the world). I posted a NGD with pics of it about 2 weeks ago.

Takamine truly makes some really fine acoustic/electric guitars, some of which are higher price points but still very affordable.

I am interested in either the EF340S BG (if I can find one) or the EF340S TT newer model. Since I have other rosewood guitars, I think the mahogany back and sides would round out my guitar arsenal.

Like others have said on this forum, the Takamine's don't get the love like Martin's, Taylor's, etc., but they are really exceptional guitars both acoustically as well as plugged in where they really shine!!

Enjoy your awesome new guitar!

[noledog]

As you know bro, I'm a long-time fan and player of MIJ Takamines... you have a top shelf and beautiful beast there! I wish you many years of fun jams! Seems like Takamine is getting some well deserved love these days, the secret is out! Lol

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by noledog

As you know bro, I'm a long-time fan and player of MIJ Takamines... you have a top shelf and beautiful beast there! I wish you many years of fun jams! Seems like Takamine is getting some well deserved love these days, the secret is out! Lol

Thanks, Eric, your enthusiasm for and long-time gig experience with MIJ Takamines is always reassuring for any of us considering getting one!

[BluesBelly]

SpruceTop,
Very nice looking Takamine! I’ll bet she’s a cannon.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy the versatility of the Tak.

I’ve owned several Taks over the years and still have my 1998 FP350SMC-SB (Spruce/Maple) that I purchased new as well as my Limited Edition 1984 Takamine made F150 which is a Reproduction Of an 1834 Bruno parlor Slot head guitar. Both MIJ.
The FP350 sounds good through a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI and into a Marshall acoustic amp.

Blues

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by BluesBelly

SpruceTop,
Very nice looking Takamine! I’ll bet she’s a cannon.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy the versatility of the Tak.

I’ve owned several Taks over the years and still have my 1998 FP350SMC-SB (Spruce/Maple) that I purchased new as well as my Limited Edition 1984 Takamine made F150 which is a Reproduction Of an 1834 Bruno parlor Slot head guitar. Both MIJ.
The FP350 sounds good through a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI and into a Marshall acoustic amp.

Blues

The Takamine EF360S-TT model is definitely a cannon and considering it comes strung up with D'Addario EJ16 Light-Guage strings, I can only imagine what its tone would sound like if it gets strung up/setup with medium- or medium-light gauge strings.

Thanks, Blues, for looking in and enjoy your Takamines for decades to come!

[SpruceTop]

The TLD-2 Line Driver endpin preamp is a stealth-type system with no immediately-accessible onboard controls. The TLD-2 preamp is set-and-forget adjustable by removing the three screws that hold it in the end-block and pulling it out of the end of the guitar. Unscrew back the barrel cover to reveal the TLD-2 circuitboard. It has three internal, three-position switches (-5dB/0dB/+5dB) with which to alter the frequency curve of the amplified tone but the factory settings sound good to my ears. The TLD-2 also has an adjustable Gain control enabling the gain to be set from 0dB to 26dB.

Takamine TLD-2 Linedriver Preamp with barrel cover unscrewed:




Cutaway showing the Takamine TLD-2 Line Driver Preamp and the Takamine Palathetic Pickup:

[Wellington]

Very nice looking Takamine!

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by d.loseth

Very nice looking Takamine!

Thank You!