What is a transacoustic guitar?

[Cecil6243]

I was looking at the description of a Yamaha LL-TA VT TransAcoustic Self-Amplfying Acoustic/Electric Guitar with the comments:

"Yamaha LL-TA TransAcoustic guitars transport you to new creative spaces with immersive reverb and lush chorus effects without needing an amp or other external gear."

???

[YamahaGuy]

There is technology in the guitar that makes it sound like it is plugged into a reverb and/or chorus effects pedal. The sound is not amplified, but the guitar does have a pickup and can be plugged in and also projects those effects when plugged in. There is a company that makes a box (Tone Wood Amp)that can connect to any guitar that does the same thing.

So when unplugged the guitar isn't any louder with the effects, but it does sound like its plugged in with those effects running.

Truly a unique experience.

The L series are especially well built and get rave reviews from lots of non-Yamaha fans. Check out YouTube reviews/demos if you can. Artists trying them for the first time are blown away.

[SpruceTop]

Below is my September 2019 review of my Yamaha LL-TA TransAcoustic:

Last night, I played my just-received 2019 Yamaha LL-TA TransAcoustic both acoustically and plugged-in. This is an impeccably-crafted, Made In China, $999 instrument with solid torrified Englemann Spruce top and solid Rosewood back and sides, and it comes with a nice, hard gig-bag. The guitar sounds full and resonant and plays easily with its out-of-the-box setup and rolled-edges fingerboard.

The guitar has an onboard SYSTEM70 TransAcoustic + SRT Piezo Pickup System the output of which can either feed an onboard speaker-like, actuator system that bounces sound off the back of the guitar and into the guitar's inside or it can feed an outboard amp or PA system. The preamp features both Reverb and Chorus effects that can be turned on or completely off and can be delivered to the onboard actuator sound system or to an external amp or PA. When the guitar is plugged-in to an amp or PA, the onboard effects are disabled to the onboard actuator system and are available only to outboard amps, PA or other devices. The effects provide good-sounding reverb and chorus effects when played acoustically that adds a pleasant tonal dimension to unamplified playing. The effects can be dialed-in from subtle to over-the-top and overall are a real plus to have available for playing enjoyment.

Regarding the moderately-high output, onboard SYSTEM70 TransAcoustic + SRT Piezo Pickup System, the SRT under-saddle pickup yields perfectly balanced string signals with no "hot" strings and very little "quack." This SRT pickup picks up mainly string vibration with some top vibration but little or no body vibration added to the mix (is this what a Barbera UST sounds like?). Although I haven't tried it yet, the system should work very well with a ToneDexter or Fishman Aura Pedal. The plastic control designation surrounding the preamp controls is for learning the controls and is easily removable.

In summary, frankly, as received, right out of the box, I can't say anything bad about this guitar, and I feel it represents a very good, professional-grade value in an acoustic-electric guitar and would be a really good main-performance or back-up guitar! Your comments are Welcome & Thanks For Reading!

[varmonter]

Pretty guitar love that burst.
I had a tone wood amp for a couple
months and quickly tired of it.
This would be better in that you
Could just turn it on and off at will.
Not having that box on the back
Of your guitar.

[Cecil6243]

Thank you for the responses!

[Per Burström]

An option to the Yamaha Transacoustic is the LAG HyVibe guitar: https://www.hyvibeguitar.com/

Far more flexible than the Transacoustic as you can build your own effect chains with the app, while you with the Transacoustic guitar is limited to chorus and delay.

I have the low-end LAG HyVibe, a great guitar... I'd like it in a smaller form-factor though as I'm not a "dreadnaught guy", but it's still comfortable to play.

I think the true "revolution" from the HyVibe is yet to come, for example support for loading IR files would be really cool.

I also have the TonewoodAmp, with the X-brace magenetic holder in two guitars. Also a nice product, but having everything in one as with the HyVibe is so smooth. Also, the TonewoodAmp doesn't come near the HyVibe when it comes to flexibility (other than being better due to attaching to a guitar you already own).

Cheers,
Per

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Per Burström

An option to the Yamaha Transacoustic is the LAG HyVibe guitar: https://www.hyvibeguitar.com/

Far more flexible than the Transacoustic as you can build your own effect chains with the app, while you with the Transacoustic guitar is limited to chorus and delay.

I have the low-end LAG HyVibe, a great guitar... I'd like it in a smaller form-factor though as I'm not a "dreadnaught guy", but it's still comfortable to play.

I think the true "revolution" from the HyVibe is yet to come, for example support for loading IR files would be really cool.

I also have the TonewoodAmp, with the X-brace magenetic holder in two guitars. Also a nice product, but having everything in one as with the HyVibe is so smooth. Also, the TonewoodAmp doesn't come near the HyVibe when it comes to flexibility (other than being better due to attaching to a guitar you already own).

Cheers,
Per

This LAG HyVibe guitar looks interesting, Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

[Per Burström]

There's also a nylon Lag HyVibe guitar now. And the latest software update support using the built-in looper together with the effects.

Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=38...VaxB54hqgt4iGm