Construction:
Takamine’s EF261 features a grand concert size body (which Takamine refer to as FXC) with a fairly standard depth and is comfortable playing sitting down or standing up. The guitar’s thin Mahogany neck with Rosewood fretboard has a shallow profile and contributes to the instrument’s compact feel. The standard factory setup is good allowing for easy playability and free from fret-buzz up and down the neck.
The nato back/side and cedar top combination gives a quick response and beautifully warm tone when played with a soft touch.
There’s no pick guard with the EF261, so if you plan on using a hard pick. you may want to invest in one to protect the wood.

Tone:
The EF261 unplugged acoustic sound was very satisfying with great tone and volume for a smaller-bodied guitar, and it especially shines when played through a quality amp such as the AER compact 60.

Pre amp:

The Takamine EF261 is fitted with a CT4B preamp and has been designed for ease of use and produces a pure tone. It offers 3 bands of graphic EQ with +/- 5dB of adjustment available and a volume control slider. The unit also includes a built-in chromatic tuner which is activated by pressing the ‘Tuner’ button and playing the string you want to tune. Red arrows indicate if the string is sharp or flat. The ‘tuner’ button also functions as a mute switch.

Here’s what Takamine say about the EF261

Acoustic sound set free. The Takamine Natural Series was conceived to give you the biggest and widest acoustic sound possible. Solid cedar tops, solid sapele backs, a thin satin finish and no pick-guard or anything that could possibly impede the vibration of the soundboard was purposely left out.

The theory works. Naturals are so alive with sound that they nearly jump out of your hands. The clean and simple approach of the Naturals has been imitated by other makers, but nothing yet has compared to the purity of style and sound of the original.

Finish:
The antique finish is classy but can hide some of the cedar top’s potential beauty

Verdict:
If you plug in only occasionally and seek a strong acoustic sound and great play-ability, check out this Takamine. With their balanced tone, warm sound and comfortable size the EF261 is a perfect instrument for the singer-songwriter.

Specifications:

Body style: FXC (Cutaway)
Top: Solid Cedar
Top Bracing: FXC-1
Top Binding: White & Black, CAB
Rosette: 261
Soundhole Label/Stamp: Takamine Wood Burned Stamp
Pickguard: None
Bridge: Rosewood
Saddle: Bone – Two Piece Compensated
Bridge Pin: White w/ Black Dot
Bridge Inlay: White Acrylic
Bridge Bolts: N/A
Sides: Nato
Back: Nato
Centerline Inlay: White & Black, CAB
Back Binding: White & Black, CAB
Strap Pin: End Pin Jack, chrome
Peghead Face: N/A
Peghead Binding: N/A
Peghead Logo: Silver
Machine Heads: Chrome
Nut: Bone
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: Double Dot, Pearl
Fingerboard Binding: None
Fingerboard Side Markers: White Acrylic (#3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17)
Frets: Nickel
Neck: Mahogany
Truss Rod: Soundhole Access
Neck Joint: 14 Fret Dovetail
Heel Cap: White CAB
Preamp Assembly: Graph-EX Preamp
Pickup Assembly: Palathetic Pickup
Serial Number: Takamine paper sticker on heel block
Finish: Antique Stain Gloss
DIMENSIONS: (inches rounded off from metric measurements)
A. Scale Length: 644 mm 25-3/8″ inches
B. Nut Width: 40 mm 1-9/16″
C. Upper Bout Width: 28 cm 11″
D. Lower Bout Width: 37.5 cm 14-3/4″
E. Total Guitar Length: 103 cm 40-9/16″
F. Total Body Length: 48.5 cm 19-1/8″
G. Upper Bout Depth: 9.5 cm 3-3/4″
H. Lower Bout Depth: 10 cm 4″

Takamine prices for delivery to the UK & Europe