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-   -   Yamaha (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132901)

yammieplaya 08-13-2008 12:15 AM

Yamaha
 
Hi all. I'm brand new to the forum and I love it!
And I love my Yamaha acoustics. I've got 2 FG-340s
made in Taiwan in 1981 and they rock. They are all
laminate and have the "3 piece" back and nice binding
on the fingerboard and headstock. They even have really
nice grain on the headstock and are pretty inexpensive.
Made in Japan FGs have a big reputation (and price)
and I'm sure are awesome, but every Taiwan made FG I've
played has been great (for the price).
I've also got a new(ish) LLX6 made in Taiwan and it has great tone
and is easy to play. It's got a great solid Engleman spruce top
and beautiful laminated rosewood back and sides.
It looks and sounds great.
Yesterday on Ebay I won a 1981 L-15A, all solid wood and handmade
also made in Taiwan. So wish me luck on that!
And I think the new FG 730s is great for the price.
The new FG700s and FG 720s are also great for their
(cheaper) price, but I've found the FG 730s to be a lot better made,
more consistent, easier to play and better sounding.
Well, I won't go as far as to say, "You can't go wrong
with a Yanaha". But I will say, "I can't go wrong with a Yamaha!"

grayn 08-13-2008 12:44 AM

Hi there Yammieplaya. big welcome to the forum and I think you'll find quite a few Yamaha fans here. the L-series seems particularly popular.
I'd love an LL36 one day.
Good luck with all your lovely Yamahas. They are always top value, in my book:)

Bob1131 08-13-2008 05:20 AM

Welcome to the AGF! I agree, Yamaha guitars are a great value. The FG-335 listed in my signature was my main go-to guitar for many years. It has mellowed beautifully and it remains a valued instrument in my work.

Kitchen Guitars 08-13-2008 05:24 AM

Welcome to AGF. As you can see by my log in, you ain't alone!
I think you will find that your L15a is Japan made. Please do correct me if I am wrong about that. Yamaha has made over 700 different Acoustics over the past 40 years. So, there are huge lapses in my knowledge.
Over the past couple years I have collected some high end guitars that I rotate out so I can try others. But, I hold onto my Yamaha's.
Red Lables cost more than non red lables. But they are still far cheaper than 60's Martins. The Martin will likely be cleated and rebuilt. The Yamaha just keeps plugging. And often they eat Gibsons and Martins for breakfast :D
The kings of the Red Lables to try are the FG300. The pickguards are almost always toast due to a glue reaction. The tone is unsurpassed in anything I have ever owned. It's not "boomy". If a guitar can sound like honey, it's the FG300. Boomy is the FG180. I just won one dirt cheap on eBay. The frets are shot so there are lots of dead spots on the neck. Cosmeticaly she is challenged and I will leave that go. I will go to the expence of a complete refret job because the sound shows so much potential!
If you are looking at 12 strings.... Find a FG460 12A. Wowow what a nice guitar. My Taylor 355 is available!
I could go on forever but I will end the post with Yamaha porn :)
Here is a Compass North. Wow what inlay!
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...assNorthfr.jpg
A one of 300 CJX Handmade http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...fullfront2.jpg
The happy family, waiting to grow :) A few are missing from the picture.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...afullgroup.jpg
The FG350 is a Taiwan version of the FG300. The 350 has an adjustable bridge but not like the adj on the FG300http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ahac1sized.jpg
An odd one; Lets talk Laminated wood! All Bamboo including the Neck. Why they put Rosewood overlay on the headstock is beyond me, but very cool.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...g/bamboob1.jpg
I'll end with a FG1500 Wow what a guitar!
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...1500fgfull.jpghttp://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...sg/fg1500a.jpg

Enjoy your Yamaha's!

PerfectStranger 08-13-2008 05:34 AM

Welcome! I love Yamahas myself. First real guitar I ever owned was a brand new FG-300 bought in 1972, I think it was. I wish I'd held on to that one...
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/7...mmtoocoit5.gif

TBman 08-13-2008 06:24 AM

Welcome to the forum!

Here's a pic of my Yamaha LJ6.
It's tone is surprising for an inexpensive guitar.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...6/P7290026.jpg


With pickguard:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...6/P7190001.jpg

690MBCOMMANDO 08-13-2008 06:54 AM

Welcome to AGF! I really like my Yamaha as well, and even though guitars have come and gone over the years my Yamaha (see my signature below) remains and is in good company ;)

yammieplaya 08-13-2008 10:15 AM

Thanks for the welcome, all!
Junkie - You are prolly right about the
L-15A being Japan made. I don't know why
I thought Taiwan, but your theory makes a lot
more sense. The one I ordered doesn't have a label,
so I won't be able to tell that way.
You mentioned FG460 12A. Have you played FG230
and/or FG260? They seem to run pretty cheap.
I'm not really looking for a 12 string anyway,
as I'm much too lazy to tune or restring one :-)

Andromeda 08-13-2008 10:19 AM

One of the first jumbo guitars I ever purchased was a Yamaha "Country Jumbo" model I purchased in 1984. It was a great guitar!

Kitchen Guitars 08-13-2008 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yammieplaya (Post 1568143)
Thanks for the welcome, all!
Junkie - You are prolly right about the
L-15A being Japan made. I don't know why
I thought Taiwan, but your theory makes a lot
more sense. The one I ordered doesn't have a label,
so I won't be able to tell that way.
You mentioned FG460 12A. Have you played FG230
and/or FG260? They seem to run pretty cheap.
I'm not really looking for a 12 string anyway,
as I'm much too lazy to tune or restring one :-)

All them numbers. I goofed. Its a FG460S12A The "S" on a Yamaha is Solid top so it's an important correction. They have solid tops not designated "S" but if there is an "S" it's for sure a solid topped guitar.
I've had 2 FG230's. I didn't like them. See even Yamaha Junkie has a list. The necks were funky. The tone was quite flat. Maybe a 12 string is too much for a Nato Wood neck? I have a few Nato necked Yamaha's. That seems to be the entry level wood for necks. The better stuff is Mahogany with Rosewood fingerboard. The deluxe stuff is Mahogany with Ebony fingerboard.
Are you aware of the Yamaha Archives? There is a ton missing but it is still the best build history tracker I have found on the net. I keep asking Yamaha to hire me to search the world for the missing links and information. I haven't heard back from them :(
Get some pix up of the L15A when you get it!

yammieplaya 08-13-2008 11:33 AM

YJ - yeah, I've seen the "Guitarchive".
It's great, even if incomplete. You've got my vote
for Paid Yamaha Historian. I love your Yamaha porn,
but the family pic made me a might nervous.
I can't afford / don't have room for such a big family,
but there's no way to prevent it. We get as many
Yamahas as God sends us, each one a miracle.
If only there were some way to control or regulate it.
Oh well!
I fully expect the L-15A to be the greatest thing known
to man, so I don't see any chance of disappointment there ;-)
Pix of the whole family coming in a week or two.

melikou1 08-13-2008 01:45 PM

Welcome Yammieplaya!

Yeah, certainly nothing wrong with a Yamaha!!!!

Speaking of FG-460S-12s, I'll probably be posting a WTB soon for one...just that I want it to be made between '85 and early '87 so it has the Dove logo....then I'll have a matched set of 6 & 12 string. Just need to sell the old 411S-12 first, and then prepare my wife for another purchase this year.

Good to have you here!

Herringbone 08-13-2008 06:17 PM

Yammies are great
 
Me loves my 730. Way different than my other two guitars, but a"good" different. I find I have to drive it a little harder to get the volume, but it stands up to heavy whaling and doesn't get all buzzy. Good solid git IMO.

Tim

yammieplaya 08-15-2008 10:05 AM

Junkie - both of the user reviewers on "Harmony Central"
say that their L-15A's were made in Taiwan. Hmm ...

Kitchen Guitars 08-15-2008 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yammieplaya (Post 1570694)
Junkie - both of the user reviewers on "Harmony Central"
say that their L-15A's were made in Taiwan. Hmm ...

Heck, if thats right its not the first time I was wrong even today :)
And I learned something.
I thought all L production from a few years ago was Japan only.


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