Vintage 1978 Takamine F360S-LH Left-Handed “Lawsuit Era” Dreadnought, MIJ, S/N 78091857, w/Hardshell Case

This vintage 1978 Takamine F360S-LH comes from the celebrated period of Japanese guitar building commonly known today as the “lawsuit era,” when Takamine produced remarkably well-built dreadnoughts closely inspired by classic American designs. The F360S was one of the standouts of the series, pairing a solid spruce top with rosewood back and sides for the powerful low end, projection and clarity associated with a traditional rosewood dreadnought. This is the considerably less common factory left-handed F360S-LH version, making it a particularly interesting find for the left-handed player looking for a genuine late-'70s Japanese Takamine rather than a modern reissue or conversion. Serial number 78091857 dates production to September 1978.

This guitar has clearly been played and enjoyed during its nearly five decades of life and wears its history openly. There are numerous dings, scratches and other signs of use, along with several thumbnail-sized divots and impressions on the back of the neck. The spruce top has several dark circular marks that appear consistent with old cigarette burns*, as well as lighter areas and visible outlines left behind by stickers that once decorated the guitar—including medieval-themed images of knights on horseback, a castle and an armored warrior. The resulting differences in aging and coloration remain visible in the finish. One tuning machine has been replaced; the replacement is readily identifiable from the back of the headstock, where the mounting pattern and unused holes from the original tuner can be seen. A slight crack underneath the bridge has been expertly repaired and sealed. Please examine the photos carefully, as they are an important part of the condition description.

Despite the cosmetic wear, this is exactly the sort of vintage instrument where decades of use are part of the story: a genuine 1970s, Japanese-made, solid-top Takamine dreadnought in the much harder-to-find factory left-handed configuration.

*No Smokey Odor

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Takamine
• Model: F360S-LH
• Serial Number: 78091857
• Production Date: September 1978
• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Orientation: Left-handed
• Body Style: Dreadnought
• Strings: 6-string steel-string acoustic
• Top: Solid spruce
• Back: Rosewood
• Sides: Rosewood
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Finish: Gloss Natural
• Electronics: None
• Tuning Machines: Five matching tuners; one replacement tuner
• Condition: Vintage/used with substantial cosmetic play wear as described and pictured
• Includes Hardshell Case