The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 02-01-2019, 02:22 PM
Nick84 Nick84 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 1,390
Default NGD Yamaha LJ16BC

A week late! Been looking at the all solid 16 L series Yamaha’s for a while particularly interested in the ARE treated tops. Anyway this limited Billy Corgan signature model came up in the sale for less than the price of a standard LJ16.

I’m not a fan of the smashing pumkins my reason for buying the signature model was the upgrades it comes with:
Gotoh open gear tuners
Tusq nut and saddle
Brass bridge pins

I’m really pleased with this guitar, it sounds big and open and the neck profile is really comfortable. Set up was reasonably good out the box. I’ve just had to do a little work on the nut as most of the slots were not cut deep enough (I’ve heard this is quite common with Yamaha). Everything else was fine.

I’ve not tried the zero impact pickup. Interested to hear peoples thoughts on it and how hot it is for a passive pickup and what Preamp they’ve used with it to boost the signal.

It has 80/20 elixirs on as stock. I’d also be keen for some string recommendations! Picture in link below

https://flic.kr/p/2esmzMN
__________________
http://www.Facebook.com/NickSpencerMusic


Gibson Songwriter Standard EC
Lowden WL-22
Maton SRS808
Taylor AD11-SB
Taylor 811 GT
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-01-2019, 02:32 PM
Nyghthawk Nyghthawk is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,239
Default

Congratulations on the NGD! This is one of the models I have been looking at. Lots of good stuff for not a lot of cash. Based on the videos I have seen from the LJ16's you are going to get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
__________________
Epiphone Masterbilt Hummingbird
Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500RENS

Teach us what ways have light, what gifts have worth.
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-01-2019, 02:56 PM
bluesfreek bluesfreek is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,251
Default

Happy NGD! That looks really nice. Congrats!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:04 PM
AndrewG AndrewG is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Exeter, UK
Posts: 7,674
Default

Good score. I'm a big fan of the L-series (as my weary post readers will tell you!), and I own an LL16. I did have an LJ6 and that too was a very nice instrument. I bought it a set of Pinz brass bridge pins; I can't say that they altered the tone in any appreciable way (maybe a little more top end?), but the abalone inlays matched the rosette nicely.
https://www.pinzuk.com/order-pinz-in...laid-paua-gbp/
__________________
Faith Mars FRMG
Faith Neptune FKN
Epiphone Masterbilt Texan
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:20 PM
bls82261 bls82261 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Virginia
Posts: 286
Default

Very nice. I've played the standard LL16 and of course the LS and loved them both. I guess this lands somewhere in the middle. I really like the look of the open gear machines. I hope you enjoy it for many, many years.
__________________
1953 Gibson LG-2
1966 Martin D-28 (really still my dads)
1979 Yamaha SG2000 (SB electric)
2014 Yamaha LS16
2020 Squier CV 50's Telecaster
2022 Yamaha FG3
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:28 PM
CycleBob CycleBob is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 742
Default

Well done Nick. My LJ16 is the best value guitar I own I think. Amazing for the money.

I bought the standard version and did replace the machine heads with Schaller M6 vintage copper ones.

I’ve been meaning to replace the plastic nut and saddle on principle, but to be honest I’m really happy with the sound of the guitar as it is now



I tried John Pearse Pure Nickel wound lights on it and took them off pretty quickly—not the right thing for this guitar. I strung elixir 80/20’s lights (which mine did not originally come with—it had quite horrible Yamaha strings on it). Personally I’ve been pretty happy with the elixirs.

Playing plugged in I use a tonedexter. I haven’t tried other options so can’t do a real comparison for you, but I suspect it will be hard to do significantly better than a tonedexter if you want to preserve the natural acoustic sound of the guitar.
__________________
Englemann/Hog OM (Carson Crickmore course custom build), Breedlove Premier Concert (R/W), 1977 S Yairi YD303, Yamaha LJ16, Fender Tele Standard, Furch Little Jane (Cedar), Baby Taylor BT1
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:34 PM
sstaylor58 sstaylor58 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 877
Default

I have an AC3R, little different animal but Ive been happy with elixir PB’s on it
__________________
---------------------------------
Martin OM -15 Custom
Taylor 314ce
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Yamaha AC1M
Yamaha FSX800C
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:43 PM
Nick84 Nick84 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 1,390
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CycleBob View Post
Well done Nick. My LJ16 is the best value guitar I own I think. Amazing for the money.

I bought the standard version and did replace the machine heads with Schaller M6 vintage copper ones.

I’ve been meaning to replace the plastic nut and saddle on principle, but to be honest I’m really happy with the sound of the guitar as it is now



I tried John Pearse Pure Nickel wound lights on it and took them off pretty quickly—not the right thing for this guitar. I strung elixir 80/20’s lights (which mine did not originally come with—it had quite horrible Yamaha strings on it). Personally I’ve been pretty happy with the elixirs.

Playing plugged in I use a tonedexter. I haven’t tried other options so can’t do a real comparison for you, but I suspect it will be hard to do significantly better than a tonedexter if you want to preserve the natural acoustic sound of the guitar.
Nice! They are a lot of guitar for the money. I’ll try it through my FlyRig pedal see how it sounds. It’s only 1 meg impedance I think it may need higher.
__________________
http://www.Facebook.com/NickSpencerMusic


Gibson Songwriter Standard EC
Lowden WL-22
Maton SRS808
Taylor AD11-SB
Taylor 811 GT
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:44 PM
Nick84 Nick84 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 1,390
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sstaylor58 View Post
I have an AC3R, little different animal but Ive been happy with elixir PB’s on it
Have you tried any uncoated PB strings on it?
__________________
http://www.Facebook.com/NickSpencerMusic


Gibson Songwriter Standard EC
Lowden WL-22
Maton SRS808
Taylor AD11-SB
Taylor 811 GT
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:46 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Eden, Australia
Posts: 17,792
Default

Only 6 allocated to Australia.
https://www.musoscorner.com.au/yamah...australia-wide
Selling new here for Aus$1999.00 which is GBP1107
Really great looking guitar.
Spruce/Rosewood.
Maybe try some D'Addario Nickel Bronze strings.

__________________
Brucebubs

1972 - Takamine D-70
2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone
2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo
2012 - Dan Dubowski#61
2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo
2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200
2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-01-2019, 03:50 PM
marty bradbury marty bradbury is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington State,
Posts: 4,192
Default

Beautiful guitar! I have been looking at this model for a while as I like the SJ body. Without opening a can of worms, how do you like the brass bridge pins? Enjoy!
__________________
Alvarez AP-70
Squire Contemporary Jaguar
Kustom Amp (acoustic)
Gamma G-25 Amp (electric)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-01-2019, 08:57 PM
YamahaGuy YamahaGuy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Ohio the heart of it all
Posts: 4,586
Default

Congrats on a sweet guitar. I never cared for the Zero Impact pickup plugged direct into a PA system. Through a DI with eq, like my LR Baggs Para DI, a good tone could be dialed in. As for strings, all my Yamahas sound stellar with D'Addario nickel bronze strings.
__________________
As my username suggests, huge fan of Yamaha products. Own many acoustic-electric models from 2009-present and a couple electric. Lots of PA too.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-01-2019, 09:02 PM
JBCROTTY JBCROTTY is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Southern California (But a Colorado Native)
Posts: 938
Default

I like the following string on my LL16R: Curt Mangan PB traditional lights, D’Addario EJ16 PB Lights, John Pearce PB Lights. The Curt Mangans are my favorite strings.

Believe it or not I like the Yamaha 80/20 brass strings. Not my favorite by any means but I like the tone of them after a couple of days to settle.
__________________
Justin
________________
Gibson J-15
Alvarez MD60BG
Yamaha LL16RD
Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Fender Player Stratocaster
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-02-2019, 12:05 AM
jkilgour2000 jkilgour2000 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 554
Default

Congrats! I’m jealous - nice guitar!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-02-2019, 01:46 AM
Nick84 Nick84 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 1,390
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by marty bradbury View Post
Beautiful guitar! I have been looking at this model for a while as I like the SJ body. Without opening a can of worms, how do you like the brass bridge pins? Enjoy!
Hey Marty I can’t really comment on the brass pins, I like the sound it currently has, big open sound lots of sustain. I’ve no plans to swap the pins out for different material so I won’t know how much of the character is down to the pins (I’m guessing they won’t make a great deal of difference).
__________________
http://www.Facebook.com/NickSpencerMusic


Gibson Songwriter Standard EC
Lowden WL-22
Maton SRS808
Taylor AD11-SB
Taylor 811 GT
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Tags
lj16, yamaha

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=