Warm Cedar Tone Meets Takamine's Comfortable NEX Design

The Takamine GN20CE NEX is an acoustic-electric guitar that appeals to players who value warmth, responsiveness and playing comfort over sheer volume and brightness. Combining Takamine's highly regarded NEX body shape with a solid cedar top, it delivers a mature, expressive voice that feels equally at home accompanying vocals, fingerstyle arrangements and relaxed acoustic sessions.

The compact NEX body offers much of the fullness and projection associated with larger guitars while feeling noticeably more comfortable to hold, particularly during longer playing sessions. Paired with Takamine's reliable TP-4TD preamp system, the GN20CE is equally capable on stage, in rehearsal rooms and at home.

Why You'll Love It

• Solid Cedar Top – Warm, responsive and rich-sounding from the very first strum.
• NEX Body Shape – Excellent balance between comfort, projection and tonal depth.
• Mahogany Back & Sides – Adds warmth, sweetness and strong midrange character.
• Takamine TP-4TD Electronics – Built-in tuner, gain control and 3-band EQ for dependable live performance.
• Cutaway Design – Easy access to upper frets for lead playing and solos.
• Satin Mahogany Neck – Smooth, comfortable feel that encourages long playing sessions.
• Ovangkol Fingerboard & Bridge – Attractive appearance with excellent durability.
• Natural Satin Finish – Resonant, understated and comfortable in the hands.

Our Take

The GN20CE stands out from many guitars in this price range thanks to its solid cedar top. Where spruce-topped guitars often deliver a brighter, more immediate attack, cedar has a softer touch and a naturally warmer voice. Fingerpicked passages feel rich and detailed, while strummed chords develop a rounded, mature character that sits beautifully underneath vocals.

The NEX body shape is another reason this model has remained popular. It's slightly more compact than a dreadnought, making it comfortable for smaller players or anyone who spends hours with a guitar in their hands. Yet, it still produces enough volume and fullness for ensemble playing and live performance.

As guitarists, one thing we particularly appreciate about cedar-top Takamines is how rewarding they are to play lightly. You don't have to dig in hard to get the guitar moving. Even a gentle touch produces a full, expressive sound, which makes this model especially appealing to singer-songwriters, fingerstyle players and acoustic performers who value dynamics and nuance.

Plugged in, the TP-4TD system delivers the reliable, natural amplified sound that Takamine has built its reputation on. It's straightforward to use, sounds excellent through a PA, and provides everything most performers need without unnecessary complexity.

If you're looking for a comfortable acoustic-electric with warmth, character and an inviting feel, the GN20CE is one of the most appealing guitars in Takamine's G Series lineup.

Specifications

Body & Construction

• Body Shape: NEX Cutaway
• Top: Solid Cedar
• Back: Mahogany
• Sides: Mahogany
• Finish: Natural Satin

Neck & Fingerboard

• Neck: Satin Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Ovangkol
• Radius: 12"
• Scale Length: 643mm
• Inlays: Pearloid Dot

Electronics

• Takamine TP-4TD Preamp
• Built-In Chromatic Tuner
• 3-Band EQ
• Gain Control

Hardware

• Bridge: Ovangkol with Synthetic Bone Split Saddle
• Machine Heads: Chrome Die-Cast
• Headcap: Ovangkol
• Rosette: Concentric Circles