• Finest Workingman's Dreadnought Available

  

  As reviewed by D-28Lover on 4/26/2010

  I've played and owned many fine guitars, from vintage Martins to some of the best small shop builders working today. While all those are excellent instruments, they aren't always the best choice for gigging, since they have to be altered to install a pickup, and even so, are quite expensive. Traditional acoustic/electrics seem aimed at electric players, not acoustic players. Most sacrifice acoustic tone for their "plugged in" sound, and often have necks more suited to Strats than Martins. The Takamine Flatpicker series seem traditional, but they are actually quite unique. They're designed from the ground up to have that great, Pre-war Dreadnought sound. They are some of the finest acoustic instruments for flatpicking bluegrass, country, or old-timey music, and actually are responsive enough to make fine fingerstyle instruments as well. On top of that, they have the finest preamps available for acoustic guitar, (the CTP-2,) and a pickup that is still the world-standard, (the Palenthetic.) Plus you can easily add an internal mic, soundboard pickup, or my favorite, the Takamine TriAx pickup, (a modified Baggs M1,) to the guitar without any alterations. And Takamine is the only company so far to design their preamps to be easily upgradable, so if in 10 years something better comes along, (it's have to be really, really special,) you can easily swap it out. The result is a guitar that sounds as good plugged in as it does unplugged. It combines old-school craftsmanship, tone and playability with state-of-the-art electronics. For you truly old-school pickers out there, you might be more happy with the EF360SBG, which is the same guitar, but with an internally hidden preamp with no controls. You can get the same great pickup, but the only clue to its existence is the hidden endpin jack. But for any pre-war dreadnough lover who wants onboard controls and flexibility, the TF-360SBG is as good as it gets. A+, and a big thanks to Takamine.

  16 of 16 people found this review helpful.

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• Goodbye Miss Martin, I've got a new girl!

  

  As reviewed by Mr. Dreadnought on 7/26/2010

  I can not tell you how extraordinary this instrument sounds. For years I wanted a Martin HD28 or Taylor 810. When I finally had the funds available to get one I went to a store that dealt in Taylor, Martin and Takamine. While the associate was getting the HD28 and Taylor 810 for me to try I picked up the TF360SBG and couldn't believe my ears. Forget the fact that this has one of the greatest preamps ever designed, this guitar sounds gorgeous. It has tons of volume that is well balanced and cuts through when playing with other musicians. I was prepared to pay $1000 more for a guitar that didn't play or sound as good. When I got it home I let a friend play it who plays nothing but Taylor (810) and he couldn't believe the quality of this instrument. I do recommend the TriAx pickup addition to add to the tonal possibilities that this instrument can deliver when playing live. Save the extra grand or better yet put it into a quality amp to compliment this beautiful instrument. Thank you Takamine!

  11 of 12 people found this review helpful.

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