Opinions of upper end Yamaha Acoustics?

[JBCROTTY]

People have their brand and tone preferences. Yamaha gets a ton of well deserved love here, and their higher end stuff is exceptional quality. Those that like the tone and the brand will argue its as good as any other quality manufacturer - this is also my opinion.

Yamaha's price points at every level are very competitive, or better, than the US manufacturers. This value for money, in my opinion, causes many to have a lower quality perception of the higher end Yamahas. Others will argue they would rather have a Taylor, Martin or Gibson when spending the larger dollar amounts at the high end. It really depends on what you are after.

I have an LL16 - I have not played anything higher than that. Build quality and tone, even at what I consider a moderate level with the LL, is every bit as worthy as any other large manufacturer in the same range. If you like the tone of these guitars, the build quality is as good or better than anyone else in the world.

Like every other comparative discussion on here, it comes down to tone and brand preferences. These high end Yamaha models are hard to get your hands on in the US so many people do not have firsthand experience with them, so the responses you get should be digested with this in mind.

[s2y]

Have never seen the upper end Yamaha acoustics. They used to make some super high end basses that were extremely nice.

About the only Yamahas I see in the wild are low end.

[Dbone]

Take this for example at a place in the UK...At a "sale price" right now...

https://www.rimmersmusic.co.uk/yamah...-guitar-p31826

This on sale 56 is at $11,219 CND dollars, or $8543 USD.

If they are paying those prices they know and accept a certain truth about these upper echelon Yamahas that the average person over here is not understanding. They are doing the comparison with those Martins, and Lowdens, and Taylors, etc...and seeing a value proposition even at those high prices...

Having said all this, I would have been priced out of the LL56 market a long time ago if that is what I would have had to pay to get one...It just would not have happened...In relative terms I'm feeling pretty fortunate right now...Especially considering the considerable discount I ended up getting from Yamaha Canada for their royal screw up on my original LL36 order...

The one advantage that a Brit and other market folks have that we don't? They don't need to wait 8 months to get one. That has to be worth something. Is it worth 6k+ CND? Not to me

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by JBCROTTY

People have their brand and tone preferences. Yamaha gets a ton of well deserved love here, and their higher end stuff is exceptional quality. Those that like the tone and the brand will argue its as good as any other quality manufacturer - this is also my opinion.

Yamaha's price points at every level are very competitive, or better, than the US manufacturers. This value for money, in my opinion, causes many to have a lower quality perception of the higher end Yamahas. Others will argue they would rather have a Taylor, Martin or Gibson when spending the larger dollar amounts at the high end. It really depends on what you are after.

I have an LL16 - I have not played anything higher than that. Build quality and tone, even at what I consider a moderate level with the LL, is every bit as worthy as any other large manufacturer in the same range. If you like the tone of these guitars, the build quality is as good or better than anyone else in the world.

Like every other comparative discussion on here, it comes down to tone and brand preferences. These high end Yamaha models are hard to get your hands on in the US so many people do not have firsthand experience with them, so the responses you get should be digested with this in mind.

Well said man...so true...

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by 247hoopsfan

I have an LL500 top of the line handmade manufactured between 1999-2003. It is outstanding in every way, sounds VERY close to my much more expensive Goodall Standard. Impeccable workmanship, huge sound, very articulate and responsive. They retailed around $1100 when new, an absurd value at that price.

LL500 by KEITH GREENAWAY, on Flickr

LL500 BACK by KEITH GREENAWAY, on Flickr

Every time you post this picture I'm like, "Yum"...;-0 That is a beauty man...I love color of the wood...Not sure if it's just the light in the picture or what...It just looks unique...the color that is...

Is that thing as mint as it looks?

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by 247hoopsfan

I have an LL500 top of the line handmade manufactured between 1999-2003. It is outstanding in every way, sounds VERY close to my much more expensive Goodall Standard. Impeccable workmanship, huge sound, very articulate and responsive. They retailed around $1100 when new, an absurd value at that price.

LL500 by KEITH GREENAWAY, on Flickr

LL500 BACK by KEITH GREENAWAY, on Flickr

1100 dollars...my god...don't ever part with that thing man...It wouldn't even make sense given what you bought it for...

Would that thing had been the LL56 of the day? Or 36?

[mcduffnw]

Originally Posted by Paoli

My L25-A that was top of the line in the 80´s after owning it for twenty five years is still,overall the best guitar I ever played.

The L-25A was the top of the line of Yamaha's quote/un-quote regular production guitars at that point in time.

THEN...there are ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the ultra high end full on custom models that they had/have been making...for the Asian market...since the late 60's/early 70's. There are Japanese Collector vintage guitar books that catalog many of these Yamaha instruments...but again...those books rarely make it over here to the US for anyone to see...you can't read them...I have one...unless you are fluent in Japanese, and I am not, so much like Playboy, I just look at the pictures...er...I mean read the articles...{;-)

There is another entire universe of Yamaha guitars that almost no one has seen here in the USA...just glimpses here and there.

If you are a John Denver fan, you have seen it with John's L-53 Custom 6 string and several other custom 6 and 12 strings after that. But also, back in the late 70's/early to mid 80's Paul Simon, Jimmy Paige, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen...I believe...and John Lennon were also playing custom Yamaha acoustic guitars. Google "John Lennon's 'The Dragon' Custom Yamaha Acoustic Guitar" for fun {;-)

Suffice to say, Yamaha has been "holding out" on all of us guitar geeks here in the US and Canada...and Europe...with an amazing array of custom acoustic guitars that would rival anything that we have seen or heard from the high end custom acoustic guitar world.

Alas...sigh...


duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

[Arthur Slowhand]

Irrational, I know, but I think I'd feel a bit of 'brand anxiety' if I were to spend big money on a Yamaha. At, say, LS26+ money I'd be looking at Martin, Collings or something from a smaller, 'bespoke', maker like Brook.

[247hoopsfan]

Originally Posted by Dbone

1100 dollars...my god...don't ever part with that thing man...It wouldn't even make sense given what you bought it for...

Would that thing had been the LL56 of the day? Or 36?

Yes, it was the equivalent of the LL36. The binding has intricate layers of wood, maple strip down the back. I bought mine off Craigslist 10+ years ago, with the original custom Yamaha case for quite a bit less than $1100. Crazy deal....
You will love your LL56. I've never seen one.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Dbone

Take this for example at a place in the UK...At a "sale price" right now...

https://www.rimmersmusic.co.uk/yamah...-guitar-p31826

This on sale 56 is at $11,219 CND dollars, or $8543 USD.

If they are paying those prices they know and accept a certain truth about these upper echelon Yamahas that the average person over here is not understanding. They are doing the comparison with those Martins, and Lowdens, and Taylors, etc...and seeing a value proposition even at those high prices...

However, and I hope some of our UK folks will chime in here, we generally hear from UK members about the high price and relative scarcity of American made acoustics...

[Dbone]

When I originally started on my quest for a higher end Yammie this is the precise guitar I originally had asked Yamaha Canada about sourcing -->

https://www.peachguitars.com/guitars...-hard-case.htm

An even more rare special version of an LL36. They just laughed at me basically...Yamaha will do the odd weird one off here and there and push them for sale into the markets where they know people will buy them for sure without an order ahead...

I contacted peach guitars about this guitar...they said it sold in a heart beat almost as soon as it came in...

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by Arthur Slowhand

Irrational, I know, but I think I'd feel a bit of 'brand anxiety' if I were to spend big money on a Yamaha. At, say, LS26+ money I'd be looking at Martin, Collings or something from a smaller, 'bespoke', maker like Brook.

Fair enough. Even though they are a little more mainstream over your way relative to us over here, I suspect that they still aren't highly readily available. Still a niche product...

I understand where you are coming from. You are normal. Most people care a lot about brand. I am what I would call abnormal. I look at the merits of a guitar only, and consider very little the head stock label.

As 2 extremes: I have seen the level of quality for an LL56 first hand. I have also seen the level of build quality first hand for a certain high end American brand and there was no comparison. The build on a LL56 was at a level that this US made unit could not even begin to come close too.

In this case some would reward their business to the Gibson (as just a theoretical example) because of their heritage, despite a potentially obvious quality difference. I just cannot ignore such problems. I am a very practical person. A brand name has little to do with what directs me.

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by Arthur Slowhand

Irrational, I know, but I think I'd feel a bit of 'brand anxiety' if I were to spend big money on a Yamaha. At, say, LS26+ money I'd be looking at Martin, Collings or something from a smaller, 'bespoke', maker like Brook.

I will say I had never heard of Brook guitars before now...Took a look at their site...Yeah, yer not wrong...Yum...They look like an option too ;-0

[darylcrisp]

Will let you know my thoughts in a day or two. LS36 due for arrival monday. The price was very reasonable. I have owned multiple guitars in different models from Martin, Taylor, Collings,Goodall, Maton, Gibson and a few luthier builds. I do setups on guitar, mandolin, banjo, weissenborn, and mt dulcimers, so I know what I like in regards to tone and playability.

Looking for a long term keeper. I have an all mahogany Xbrace Taylor 522ce which is an excellent instrument. Been wanting a rosewood to pair with it.
Will keep you updated on my thoughts.
d

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by darylcrisp

Will let you know my thoughts in a day or two. LS36 due for arrival monday. The price was very reasonable. I have owned multiple guitars in different models from Martin, Taylor, Collings,Goodall, Maton, and a few luthier builds. I do setups on guitar, mandolin, banjo, weissenborn, and mt dulcimers, so I know what I like in regards to tone and playability.

Looking for a long term keeper. I have an all mahogany Xbrace Taylor 522ce which is an excellent instrument. Been wanting a rosewood to pair with it.
Will keep you updated on my thoughts.
d

Please do.

I gather you purchased this used, and you are in the states?