Takamine EG544SC-4C 6-String Acoustic Electric Guitar Kit - Includes: Guitar strap, DAddario EJ16 Strings, Planet Waves 16-Pack Pick Sampler and TKL 4615 Gig Bag!

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Price: $489.00 $399.00   

Product Feature

• Solid cedar top
• Koa back and sides
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Abalone rosette
• Includes: ChromaCast Guitar Strap, D'addario EJ16 strings, ChromaCast/GoDpsMusic pick sampler & ChromaCast Gig Gag

Product Description

The large solid cedar top atop koa back and sides sings out full-throated when played hard and renders the most delicate finger-picked passages with vibrant clarity. TK40 electronics bring all of the EG544SC Acoustic-Electric Guitar's robust sound to the fore onstage. Precision-crafted rosewood fingerboard, abalone rosette, and a beautiful finish result in a sharp-looking, easy-playing axe for real players.

Takamine EG544SC-4C 6-String Acoustic Electric Guitar Kit - Includes: Guitar strap, DAddario EJ16 Strings, Planet Waves 16-Pack Pick Sampler and TKL 4615 Gig Bag! Review

I first played this guitar EG544SC in a local Guitar Center and fell in love with its warm cedar tone, "play-ability" and fretboard artistry. Looking for a better price than GC's $679, I searched Amazon. I noticed it was offered at 2 different price points: around $450 from some vendors and between $599 and $649 from others. Of course, I ordered the cheaper version. The moment I played it after it arrived, I suspected something was wrong but couldn't put my finger on it; the tone and feel weren't what I remembered from the one I played in GC. I began making comparisons to photos and specifications online.

After closer scrutiny, the model I received was of much poorer quality! And sounded horrible! 1. It was made in China, not Korea. 2. The Chinese version had the cheaper TP-4T pre-amp, not the higher quality TK-40 electronics. 3. The tuners had more play/wobble indicating poorer machining tolerances. 4. The Chinese version had no fretboard binding. 5. The fretboard inlays had less intricate shapes, were located at different frets, and sloppily inlayed. 6. The tuners were gold, not silver, and didn't have the Takamine "T" logo. 7. String action was uneven, disproportionate to string size, and didn't follow fretboard curvature; indicating poor nut and bridge "set-up" 8. Worst of all, the scale intonations were inaccurate; probably poor quality control of fret placement.

I contacted Takamine Customer Service; here's the email reply from the US distributor (KMC Music) for Takamine:
"After researching with our Takamine product manager, we have found that the EG544SC is a model that is proprietary to Guitar Center and Amazon.com (and a few other select dealers) which is why it is not listed on Takamine's website. The first generation of this model has the binding, TK40, chrome tuners, etc.. The current model has the abalone inlays, no fingerboard binding, gold hardware, TP4T, etc.. Last year the specs were changed per request by Guitar Center to the current specs and was moved to a different factory. Unfortunately this seems to be an oversight by the dealer, so you may want to contact Amazon about returning your guitar since it is not what they advertised, though the picture they show is no longer produced. Sorry for any inconvenience and we will notify the dealers to update their listings."

In a follow-up email the KMC rep was apologetic, but unable to guarantee I could get a Korean model:
"I assume you've received the follow-up email I sent this morning detailing the 2 different generations of this model. There really is no way to guarantee that you will get the 1st generation Korean model without contacting each dealer and seeing if they can physically check their stock. Any dealer that directly orders the guitar from the distributor will receive the newer model with the gold hw, no fingerboard binding, TP4T, etc... Sorry for any inconvenience and hope this helps you. Thanks."

I own 3 other Korean made Takamines. Their quality and value prompted me to buy a 4th. Knowing what I know now, I WILL NEVER OWN A CHINESE MADE TAKAMINE! Guitar Center now stocks only Chinese made Takamines. The higher quality Korean models are more difficult to come by, and apparently no longer available from US vendors, including GC. If the Amazon prices are listed at $600 or higher for the EG544SC, make sure you're getting what you pay for: the Korean model.

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