The all-Koa Takamine EF508KC mini-jumbo is crafted at the Takamine factory in the mountainous region west of Tokyo. Featuring stunning woods, and exceptional craftsmanship, the Koa EF508KC is an excellent example of Takamine's "NEX" mini-jumbo shape. 

Besides its stunning looks, Koa has a sound all its own. Koa has a very articulate and detailed upper end, and it's hardness makes it very responsive to touch. It responds well to finger picking and lighter styles of playing where it will reveal a lot of nuance in the midrange and upper frequencies. More of a singer-songwriter guitar than bold strummer, the EF508KC rewards those looking to create a soundscape and not just volume. And like any guitar, Koa will continue to develop and open up over time.

And the Takamine "NEX" shape is a great complement to the characteristics of Koa. The NEX shape features the proportions of a Jumbo sized down to the dimensions of a Dreadnaught yielding ample low end response, while he slimmer waist and smaller upper bout provides nice upper end detail and less midrange boom. Where Koa might sound a little "thin" in a Concert/Folk guitar, the mini-jumbo shape provides a warm rich low end, while the upper proportions lets the Koa goodness come through (see below for Takamine's own words on the NEX shape).. 

For stage-ready performance this guitar is equipped with their CT-4BII electronics. In the late 70's Takamine pioneered effective acoustic electronic systems and has continued to use their electronics exclusively. The CT-4BII features 3-band EQ, and a built-in tuner with adjustable pitch. Also exclusive to Takamine is their "Palathetic" pickup system using 6 individual piezo sensors which have significantly more sensing capability than the typical piezo strip. In addition the pickup housing is securely connected to the bridge plate and soundboard so that not only is there solid contact with the saddle, but also the soundboard (see photo). Think of it as having the benefits of a dual system but with only one sensing assembly. The net result is strong output, excellent string-to-string detail and none of the crackle and quack associated with Piezo systems. 

The NEX-shaped Takamine EF508KC takes the detailed and articulate nature of Koa and gives is a deeper voice via the mini-jumbo shape. If your tastes runs towards nuance and detail but you don't want to sacrifice volume and presence, this is an excellent choice.

The Takamine EF508KC NEX shaped guitar features:

• NEX (mini-jumbo) cutaway body shape
• Solid figured Koa top
• Koa sides and back
• Mahogany neck
• 12" radius bound Rosewood fretboard
• 1.67" nut width, bone nut
• 25.35" scale
• Snowflake inlays
• Multi-layer body binding
• Gold plated hardware
• Split bone saddle for precise intonation
• Rosewood bridge
• Takamine CT-4BII
• Takemine Palathetic pickup system
• Includes Takamine hybrid hard case
• Made in Japan