Takamine EF407

The EF407 is a “New Yorker” style/shape, electro-acoustic guitar. Unlike most others, of this style/shape, the EF407 is a 14-fretter and it’s body is all Koa, that beautifully grained, dark, Hawaiian wood.
Made in Japan, this guitar is part of Takamine’s Pro series and is now discontinued. The beautifully proportioned body is bound in brown, ivory and black “CAB”. I’ve no idea what CAB is and can find nothing about it, on the ‘net. Some witty, guitar forumer suggested “cheap ass binding”. I guess from that, it is some kind of synthetic material. The rosette consists of concentric rings (of more CAB) and acrylic pearl. It’s nice and subtle and goes with the Koa, rather splendidly. The body has a beautiful, gloss finish.

The fret board is rosewood, with quartered diamond markers, that have a stylised, floral look. The nut and saddle are bone. The bridge is also rosewood. The neck is mahogany, with a 14th fret, dovetail joint. The heel cap is, yes, more brown CAB.


The headstock is slotted, in the conventional fashion, with a nicely grained, rosewood, veneer, to the front. The 3-a-side tuners are gold with plastic pearl-like buttons. Matching the tuners, are gold strap buttons/end-pin. The neck and headstock have a satin finish.

For those interested in electronics: The guitar has a built in Takamine Palathetic Pickup and a CT4B Preamp, which has the usual EQ & vol. sliders and a tuner (handy). This is situated on the side shoulder. The pre-amp does nothing to add to the guitars beauty but actually gets a very decent sound, through an amp.


For those interested in dimensions:
Scale Length: 630 mm = 24-3/8" inches
Nut Width: 42.5 mm = 1-5/8"
Upper Bout Width: 265 mm = 10-7/16"
Lower Bout Width: 360 mm = 14-3/16"
Total Guitar Length: 1020 mm = 40-3/16"
Total Body Length: 490 mm = 19-5/16"
Upper Bout Depth: 90 mm = 3-9/16"
Lower Bout Depth: 105 mm = 4-1/8"

That’s all the details but what is it like as a guitar? My guitar?

Playing wise, it has fairly low action, with a good tension, on the strings. By that, I mean the strings are solid, with plenty of vibrancy. I pretty much always play in standard pitch and tuning. The body size and shape is very comfortable and is more 00 than parlour.

The neck feels ample but is not chunky. Barre chords, anywhere on the neck, are easy and comfortable. The dimensions show that the neck is narrower than the usual finger style guitar. It doesn’t feel narrow to me, for finger or flat picking.


If I said, an all-Koa, New Yorker style guitar, to most experienced, acoustic guitarists, they probably would have an idea of what it should sound like. Perhaps they’d think: Like an all-mahogany, but less warm and woody; brighter and a little harder. And yes, there is something in that description. But there’s more. It’s not an all-out tone machine, that sings and projects like an opera singer. It does have a subtlety though, that is smooth and ringing, with a fairly full, even tone. It doesn’t boom but the bass end is quite solid. It doesn’t chime but it does sparkle. Single notes are vibrant and strong. Chords are balanced, sweet and clear.

I guess this guitar was designed as a pick-up and play, song writing tool. And also as a performer, it being great for stage work. I guess I want it more for the former but know it has enough for strong acoustic and electric performances. And most importantly it feels good in my hands, sounds sweet to my ears and is a feast for my eyes.