Just got this guitar today. She's a Takamine EF508KC NEX All Koa Acoustic Electric Guitar. From the serial no. I'm guessing she was made in 2006.



Here are the features:

Body Shape: NEX/CA.
Model: EF508KC
Make: Japan
Finish: Gloss Natural
Body Material: Figured koa top/ figured koa back and sides
Saddle/ nut material: bone
Tuners: Gold Takamine gotoh tuners
Frets: 20
Scale Length: 25.4"
Nut Width: 1 11/16”
Binding: Multiple binding on body/ bounded neck
Rosette: Abalone inlay/ concentric circles
Pickups: CT4B2 linked to the palathetic bridge pickup system
Neck/ Fret board Material: Figured koa neck/ bound rosewood fingerboard/ abalone snowflake inlays on fingerboard


This guitar is one of Takamine's higher end "specialty guitars." I originally went to the store to buy the Taylor I've been looking at and sampling for the past few weeks. They just got this in the store today. For some odd reason, I just had a total change of mind when I played this guitar. I guess, what I loved about this guitar is the combination of sound and looks. The flame is awesome. And being a fingerstyle player, the NEX/CA body makes it easier to access the upper frets than most traditional guitars. In fact, it's like playing two guitars in one- it has that full sound of a dreadnaught but the ease of access of an FXC cutaway. When it comes to sound, I'd give it a 10 out of 10. I currently have 25 guitars in my posession. 10 of them acoustics ranging from Guild to Martins. I've tried every combination of wood you can think of from spruce, cedar, tanglewood, ovangkol, mahogany, rosewood etc. but I've never tried what koa wood sounded until I tried this baby. Prior to this, I've only heard myths that if korina is the holy grail tonewood for electric guitars, koa is the holy grail tonewood for acoustic guitars. I thought it was all BS until I tried this guitar and I have to say the myth is true. The figured Koa wood makes this guitar sound warm and "midrangey"- a bit more than mahogany. For some reason, every chord just rings when you play it- very harmonic and great sustain. It suits finger picking which is my style. This is probably one of the best sounding acoustics I've ever played. Not to mention that Koa is a rare wood that only grows in Hawaii. It is highly regulated and the dwindling supplies of Koa makes it increasingly difficult to obtain. My only wish is the I hope that the fretboard was made of ebony. But I'm pretty content- especially for the price. I originally had $ 5,000 Canadian in my pocket just in case I fall short because I originally wanted to get another Taylor. I got this guitar for about $1,700.00 Canadian including tax- saving me a lot of money in the end.