Yamaha LL 16

crh2674 · #1 11-19-2018, 07:10 AM

So I was thinking of getting one of these guitars and wanted to see if anybody out there has one or has had any experience with them? Wanted to know how they sound how they’re built that kind of stuff.

Cool555 · #2 11-19-2018, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crh2674

So I was thinking of getting one of these guitars and wanted to see if anybody out there has one or has had any experience with them? Wanted to know how they sound how they’re built that kind of stuff.

I only had a LS16 but sold it off because I find the neck a bit big and uncomfortable as I have rather small hands. Somehow I don’t really have a liking for that Rosewood tone. Most of the time, its tone is alright. But sometimes I just find the tone too rich, not focused enough like Mahogany and Koa. But it is just me...I know that most expensive guitars have Rosewood backs n sides.

Cool555 · #3 11-19-2018, 08:28 AM

Hi. Looking on the positive side, a friend of mine has a LL16. He loves the tone of the Rosewood and ARE (torrified) Spruce top. So “one man’s tone is another man’s poison!” Lol. I’ve tried the LS16M and I prefer that tone to the LS16. The LS16M is slightly cheaper.

Beakybird · #4 11-19-2018, 08:39 AM

I have the LL-TA which has the same specs. I think it has a beautiful, balanced tone. The craftsmanship was impeccable. I played some much more expensive guitars, and I thought that my guitar sounded just as good.

Cool555 · #5 11-19-2018, 09:06 AM

Oh yes! In terms of its workmanship, the L-series is awesome! Really good quality value-for-$$$ guitars!

ghostnote · #6 11-19-2018, 10:41 AM

I've had an LL16 for several years. I like it a lot. It's very well built - some might say it's over-built. It's extremely solid and not a light weight guitar by any means. Impeccable craftsmanship all around. I'm pretty sure it will outlast me by decades. It's my go-to guitar when I'm playing amplified. It could easily be an every day player; I have too many guitars to rotate through for that to be the case with me, however. I can't think of a better value-for-dollar guitar.
Heartily recommended.
I should also add that mine is a pre-ARE model - not sure if they are different in any appreciable way.

Sgt. Pepper · #7 11-19-2018, 02:46 PM

I've had an LL16 for about 8 months, and I'm really impressed with it all the way around.
I'd been searching for a nice backup for my Santa Cruz dread for a while, and went through several different more affordable guitars before getting the Yammy.

Well.....after playing it pretty much exclusively over the last 8 months since I got it, I ended up getting rid of the Santa Cruz.

It's a superb instrument.

YamahaGuy · #8 11-19-2018, 03:58 PM

I had an LL16M A.R.E. which sounded incredible unplugged. I couldn't deal with it's plugged in tone, so I got rid of it. I tried everything (except a Tonedexter) to get a sound from the pickups I liked. Yamaha set of the pickups to cut through the mix in the mid range and really pulled the bass out of the plugged in tone, which is odd since the natural sound had really nice bass.

That aside, the instrument was well built, the tuning machines on mine were slightly blemished but the rest of the guitar was very nice.

YamahaGuy · #9 11-19-2018, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostnote

I've had an LL16 for several years. I like it a lot. It's very well built - some might say it's over-built. It's extremely solid and not a light weight guitar by any means. Impeccable craftsmanship all around. I'm pretty sure it will outlast me by decades. It's my go-to guitar when I'm playing amplified. It could easily be an every day player; I have too many guitars to rotate through for that to be the case with me, however. I can't think of a better value-for-dollar guitar.
Heartily recommended.
I should also add that mine is a pre-ARE model - not sure if they are different in any appreciable way.

Your model, like my LLX6A, has the A.R.T. pickup system which was TERRIFIC and I hate that Yamaha stopped using it in most of their A/E models now.

ghostnote · #10 11-20-2018, 09:56 AM

Actually, mine has no factory electronics at all. ^^ I use a Baggs M1 in the soundhole. I'm not exactly sure when I bought it, but it was new. I think that my NTX700 has that A.R.T system in it, however - at any rate, I like the stock setup in that one.

dgt178 · #11 11-20-2018, 02:37 PM

......LL-16-12 here......same quality craftsmanship as the LL-16 6-string, but in a 12 string.....dare I say the best guitar under $900 anywhere?.....

bls82261 · #12 11-20-2018, 03:07 PM

The LS16 is a great guitar. I can't imagine the LL being any less.

dgt178 · #13 11-20-2018, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bls82261

The LS16 is a great guitar. I can't imagine the LL being any less.

.....same exact build.....just different body size.....

YamahaGuy · #14 11-20-2018, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostnote

Actually, mine has no factory electronics at all. ^^ I use a Baggs M1 in the soundhole. I'm not exactly sure when I bought it, but it was new. I think that my NTX700 has that A.R.T system in it, however - at any rate, I like the stock setup in that one.

That's right. The LLX16 had the electronics. I've got the NTX700 on my short list.

pmk229 · #15 11-20-2018, 09:01 PM

I've had LL16M ARE for a year and think it has a very balanced sound. I am just getting back into playing after a few years not playing and was always more of an electric player so I'm not that experienced with acoustics. After looking at Taylor, Epiphone, and others in this price range the LL16 felt like and sounded like a real guitar. The others felt kind of cheap and sounded boxey. Yamaha also uses the ARE processes on their pianos which are highly regarded. This treatment really does something that enhances the instrument #IMOH.