1976 Takamine F-400

If you’ve ever wanted to experiment with adding the power of a 12-string to your gig list or repertoire, here may be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. This 1976 Takamine F-400 is a great-sounding Japanese import whose design dates from the 1960’s and ‘70’s “lawsuit” era. The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars says that Takamine’s high-quality guitars, based on popular U.S. designs since 1962, were “originally set up to be Martin’s Sigma series”—note the headstock and logo design--but instead entered the U.S. market under their own name. The last MSRP listed for the new cutaway model (EF-400SC) was $2079, but this one is far from new. On the other hand, it has had the benefit of 43 years of seasoning and is at its resonant best!

There is evidence of the high quality which attracted C.F. Martin to the Takamine company in this 12-string’s fully bound solid spruce top and rosewood sides and back, inlaid multi-stripe rosette, and rosewood 14/20-fret fingerboard with pearl-dot inlay. The bridge is also rosewood with black pins, while the headstock looks like a continuation of the neck’s mahogany. There is no sign that there was ever a pick guard, or at least not for a long time. The gold logo and the open six-per-side once-gold tuners complete the picture of a solid guitar.

Since I don’t play a 12-string, I can’t speak very reliably for its playability except that it plays easier than my Sigma 6-string and utterly overwhelms the sound of it. Instead I’m going to do something I don’t usually do: I’m going to include some selections from the rave reviews from Harmony Central about this model.

Takamine F-400
Unbelievable sound. Nothing else I played could hold a candle to it. You would have to pay over 2K to get a better sound.
This guitar plays like a 6 string. Very easy on the hands. The finish is nice and deep. My guitar was made in 1978 and it looks fantastic now even tho I bought it used. I cannot believe
I lucked into this guitar. Nothing new in the 1K range even comes close to it.

The tuners are open, which kind of concerned
me when I bought it, but they are fantastic.... when I played it, I knew it was something special. The sound was great when I bought it 25 years ago, now it is better. The guitar is so loud, crisp and clear.

So this guitar is now 25 years old, and I believe it sounds and looks better with age. Anyone who plays it wants to buy it. I would be crushed if it were ever lost or stolen, as it has been with me longer than my wife. I doubt that you would find one in Australia for sale, because I know I wouldn't sell mine.

Oh my gawd! This is the sweetest sounding 12 string I have heard/played. I fell in love with it when I bought it and it has gotten better with age; my Taki is breathtaking. I know, I know, nothing is that nice, but honest, it is. The sound is amazing with no effects.

Awesome. Like I said before, it doesn't play like a "regular" twelve string. The fit and finish on the guitar was amazing. The action is incredibly low, yet does not buzz. You can play chords high on the neck from the 9th to 12th fret and there is no pitch change and fingering is easy.

I have been playing guitar for almost 30 years, about 22 of which have been in various groups. I have played Taylors, Martins, Arias, Guilds, Yamahas (most overrated guitar on the market), Alvarez, Ovations (the top of the line models), well, just about every major well known brand and the junkie knock off cheap ones. My Taki blows them all away. If it were lost or stolen, I would sell my M360 and have a yard sale to try and raise the $1500+ dollars it would cost for a new one (yes, that is what list price is). I would pay it for this guitar. It is truly a classic and I would not trade it or sell it for anything. As you can see from a couple of other raters, this is one special guitar.

Made May 9, 1979 and I have had it ever since. 12 string Japanese made copy of a Martin D28, which it is in every way except the glue is better than Martin's...that may account for its beautiful tone. Tuners are impeccable.....they feel "rough" but tune fine and hold pitch forever. Nothing fancy here but all great.

This is the gold standard of 12 strings! I have played it for 24 years, much of that professionally under ALL conditions and it ALWAYS is so rich, full, and absolutely beautiful I am always surprised to hear how good it is and I never get tired of it. I have tried many, many 12 strings over the years and owned several, but this is the one that blows them all away. RICH is the sound. Simply the best at any price.

Everything was, and still is flawless. The action is so low you'd think it would buzz or fret out.......but no.....it plays like butter. So smooth, and easy to grip for that never ending ringing sustain. The action accounts for a part of the great tone because you can actually play it instead of fighting the mechanics. Medium size neck, perfect for medium size hands. Simply the best.

24 years and still going strong. This guitar is so good and so reliable that it is truly hard to believe! Though I have always played it professionally, I never took any special pains to take care of it. This thing is indestructible! I must be very lucky because no guitar I've ever heard of has stood up like this one. Pure gold....the very best!

$450 was a lot of money in 1979. It would be three times that now I suppose, but price doesn't matter. $10,000 couldn't buy a better guitar. A 12-string that plays like a really good 6 string? Amazing. I've never played a 12 as good as this...anywhere....anytime....any price….It's the best 12-string ever made.

Wow. What can I add to that stuff? While they were all referring to their own beloved F400-S’s, not this one, I’m confident that this one once was comparable to theirs, and I would hope that your response to this one will someday be as enthusiastic as theirs.

No doubt the wonderful resonance of this guitar is partly due to its solid spruce top and partly due to its thirty-four years of making music and turning heads. The action is a bit over 4/32” at the 12th fret low E, but there’s lotsa saddle and the truss rod works if you want to tweak it. The only obvious cosmetic issues with the guitar are a few dings in the finish of the top, back, and bottom, and lotsa finish crazing all over. Structurally, it’s now in good shape: straight neck, solid neck joint, flat top, and clean (slightly worn) frets. This is not a museum piece; it has been played, and God willing will be played a lot more. However, taken for all in all, it’s a great looking and performing guitar even for my buy-it-now price, and would be an ideal way to expand your 12-string career.

The included black chip board case is well-worn and obviously in used condition. However, it fits the guitar perfectly, and the hardware is all functional. It is well-suited to fully protect the music in this veteran twelve-string guitar.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.

Thank you for your interest in this ol’ powerhouse.