THIS IS A PAYPAL ONLY AUCTION… but NO PAYPAL ECHECKS please.  Echecks must wait for your bank account to verify, and it ties up money for days.  If you cannot pay instantly with PAYPAL, either through PAYPAL BALANCE TRANSFER or CREDIT CARD THROUGH PAYPAL, please DO NOT BID! THAT IS NOT A DIFFICULT REQUEST. NO E-CHECKS PLEASE. USPS has recently adjusted their shipping rates. I am having to do the same to offer the quick shipping I prefer. So, Flat rate shipping and handling for this will be $35 (zips beginning 7,8 or 9 add $10 (=$45)) to the contiguous 48 states to be paid by winning bidder. That is USPS Priority, 2-3 days, insured.  Hawaii and Alaska add $15 more (=$50). Canada add $20 (=$55), shipped Priority Express International, USPS, 3-5 days, insured. UK add $50 (=$85), shipped Priority Express International, USPS, 3-5 days, insured. Delivery times are guesstimates provided by USPS, and not guaranteed by them or me. Does not include any taxes, duties or import fees. They are the responsibility of buyer. Other locations will adjust. Insurance is included.  No returns please. Winning bidder to PAYPAL me (PAY IN FULL) within 48 hours of auction close, or I might think and do bad things. Less than 10 positive feedbacks email me before bidding or I will cancel your bid. Terrible how such a few make it bad for so many others who are otherwise honest and decent.
I DO NOT SEND SECOND CHANCE OFFERS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT BIDDERS ON MY ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECEIVING BOGUS SECOND CHANCE OFFERS. PLEASE INFORM EBAY SECURITY IMMEDIATELY IF YOU RECIEVE A SECOND CHANCE OFFER ON ANY OF MY ITEMS. DO NOT RESPOND TO THE SECOND CHANCE OFFER.
 
    This item is a Takamine G340 Acoustic Guitar. It was purchased on eBay ‘as is’ with what was described as a bad neck set.  Not an inviting repair, but I considered the value of the model and brand, took a chance and brought it in. It was indeed overset. That means the line of the frets going towards the bridge is above the top edge of the bridge, which is ideal.  It poses three possible solutions. One, to place an over height saddle in the slot… not a good option because the neck is still overset, and the string angle over the saddle is far too high, causing the saddle to tilt toward the neck.   Second option is to reset the neck… major, can tear up some nice guitars, especially at the hands of a greenhorn like me… and then there is no guarantee a once perfectly straight fret board will end up that way again.  Option three… remove the bridge, elevate to proper height, reattach, place proper height saddle into slot, play like new again. That is the option I went with. Someone before me had tried the same tact, obviously giving up when the stubborn bridge didn't budge.  Gotta heat it. It left some unsightly blips and jips around the bridge perimeter, but I did my best in smoothing and blending back in. Obviously, it can still be discerned, as the pics reveal. And I didn't even cause it. Anyway, I removed the old bridge, cut a piece of maple to the correcting height width, shaped it, glued it, painted it, reattached the new bridge system with a boost doctoring trick I use on many guitars now. It is a securing method that enhances top vibration and response, tightens contact between face, bridge and internal bracing, and prevents future bellying.  It works well. The angle and set turned out perfect height relationship. And this readjustment turned out stellar. This is a nice instrument.  

     I installed a set of Epiphone stamped gold tuners, decent ones.  I used the existing head nut and string pins, and used the original ivorex saddle.  I stripped the fretboard and treated with lemon oil.  I strung with a new set of PB light 12’s, and it tuned easily and held well.  A delight to hear the first time.

     Those Takamine lovers out there know their solid sound qualities.  Super depth with bright highs.  Excellent volume without overstrumming.  Projection that penetrates.  All six strings speak clearly across the board. Chorded the strings chorus nicely.  Neck action is superb… low, light and buttery.  No buzz up the scale. This one turned out better than new.  Frets are very well dressed and like new.  Sustain is good to fade and well balanced.  Just a very high quality guitar. 

     Spruce top, mahogany sides and back, mahogany neck.  Gorgeous piece of construction. I shot the front with two coats of satin lacquer, and it turned out well, with the original damage around the bridge blending back acceptably compared to what it looked like before. There are some swishes and swirls on the back here and there, some rash too.  Dinks and clinks scarse but hiding well. Some more noticeable scraps on the headstock edges, but not bad. This was deemed unfit for human hands early in its life.  It has seen little abuse.  This will make someone happy. Nice instrument. It is ready again to do what it was created to do. Make excellent, enduring music in the hands of a caring musician.  I offer this one for your consideration.

             I have been repairing and reclaiming guitars for ten years now. Not a business and not for profit (ask my wife), but just a much enjoyed hobby. I have my own shop in my basement, and do all work, including refinishing, myself. I have no formal luthier training. I have read and studied much, but the bulk of my knowledge and skill came from the school of hard knocks. My decisions regarding methods of repair may not be those of the masters, but my repairs are done after careful analysis of the problem, and considering the easiest and most secure and stable way to return the instrument to playability. I like to reclaim higher end guitars, either acoustic or electric, but am drawn to reclaim any instrument that otherwise might be discarded. My goal is to offer quality products to those who could never afford a new instrument, especially younger folks who have such desire to learn. If your quality standards expect equal what would come out of a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson shop, then I suggest you look elsewhere. If your quality standards allow instruments set up at or above original specs, repaired to provide stable enduring playability, sound that equals or surpasses the original instruments specs, and at the same time understand reclaimed instruments can be less than cosmetically perfect, then you understand as I do what a reclaimed instrument should be. Please remember I reclaim, I do not restore. They are two different endeavors entirely. My depictions and descriptions of this instrument are as accurate as I can make them. The pictures show as best they can any cosmetic discrepancies. Otherwise, this instrument is once again ready to be played and make music.