Yamaha LL16 vs LS16

[Filum]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

See my edited post, above.

dalbergia latifolia: http://www.wood-database.com/east-indian-rosewood/

Hey Andrew (and Yamaha technician from the UK), thank you for verifying my statement.

[MrErikJ]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

That's at odds with what Yamaha says:https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/LL...-LL16ARE-SUPER
No mention of EIR. Strange, it never occurred to me that it would be anything else but EIR when I bought mine! I have no idea what else it might be, but it sounds good anyway. According to Yamaha's 2016 print catalogue, EIR is available on the Japanese 36 and 56 models only; all others are specified as 'solid rosewood', including the Japanese LL26 which costs several hundred more than a standard D-28!

Edit: I just finished a long telephone conversation with Yamaha's UK guitar technician who tells me that the rosewood species used in the 6 and 16 models is dalbergia latifolia, and that it is grown on Yamaha's own Indonesian plantation. This man is a mine of information and he graciously took the time to explain a lot of stuff I had no previous knowledge of. Impressive.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/32098/0

Thank you for the detective work! I’m would’ve been ok with it not being EIR (which is is) but it’s nice to eliminate and hanging ambiguity.

[dgt178]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

That's at odds with what Yamaha says:https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/LL...-LL16ARE-SUPER
No mention of EIR. Strange, it never occurred to me that it would be anything else but EIR when I bought mine! I have no idea what else it might be, but it sounds good anyway. According to Yamaha's 2016 print catalogue, EIR is available on the Japanese 36 and 56 models only; all others are specified as 'solid rosewood', including the Japanese LL26 which costs several hundred more than a standard D-28!

Edit: I just finished a long telephone conversation with Yamaha's UK guitar technician who tells me that the rosewood species used in the 6 and 16 models is dalbergia latifolia, and that it is grown on Yamaha's own Indonesian plantation. This man is a mine of information and he graciously took the time to explain a lot of stuff I had no previous knowledge of. Impressive.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/32098/0

.....after perusing the above website, it appears that dalbergia latifolia is "vulnerable" in terms of scarcity.....yikes!!....

[MrErikJ]

Originally Posted by dgt178

.....after perusing the above website, it appears that dalbergia latifolia is "vulnerable" in terms of scarcity.....yikes!!....

Dalbergia Latifolia is just East Indian Rosewood (though its grown in many places) and it is definitely over-harvested. Now, the supplies are pretty good but recent demand has caused CITES to preemptively put some restrictions on it.

I think when its popularity in furniture (which consumes more wood than guitar manufacturing) dies down, its restrictions will probably loosen as well.

[dgt178]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

That's at odds with what Yamaha says:https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/LL...-LL16ARE-SUPER
No mention of EIR. Strange, it never occurred to me that it would be anything else but EIR when I bought mine! I have no idea what else it might be, but it sounds good anyway. According to Yamaha's 2016 print catalogue, EIR is available on the Japanese 36 and 56 models only; all others are specified as 'solid rosewood', including the Japanese LL26 which costs several hundred more than a standard D-28!

Edit: I just finished a long telephone conversation with Yamaha's UK guitar technician who tells me that the rosewood species used in the 6 and 16 models is dalbergia latifolia, and that it is grown on Yamaha's own Indonesian plantation. This man is a mine of information and he graciously took the time to explain a lot of stuff I had no previous knowledge of. Impressive.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/32098/0

....upon further investigation....it appears that "dalbergia latifolia" is, in fact, Indian Rosewood....(via Wikipedia)....seems there are several names for that species.....

[polarred21]

Keep us posted what your purchase is as I'm watching this info closely. Only a hobby player with nearly 3 years experience exclusively with FG's. Trying to decide which L series is a challenge.

Looking to move up. Thanks