A slightly dissenting opinion, if you please.

Listen VERY critically to the electronics if you're going to playing 'plugged' a lot. Having listened to many Taks in the folk clubs, I've formed the opinion that the lower-priced Takamines of recent years have just about the crappiest-sounding pickups in the industry.

I think they're expecting inexperienced players to chose a Tak just because Garth Brooks plays one. That's turned me off Takamine in general, even though it may apply only to the newer, low-priced line.