NGD: Yamaha FG9 M

[Knollhaven]

Reviews and online demos were critical. The store I worked with offered a discount that put the price into Martin Standard series territory. That made it an easy decision.

It's still the most I have ever spent on a guitar, but I will get it back by selling several others that don't call out to be played like this one does. Maybe I will practice more...? Haha

[Pickcity]

I love Yamaha and really want to get my hands on one of these. Enjoy!

[Knollhaven]

Originally Posted by Pickcity

I love Yamaha and really want to get my hands on one of these. Enjoy!

Hope you get to play one. It has changed things for me! Good luck 👍

[RiffRalf]

Congratulations! What an awesome instrument.
Would love try one out.
But Local shops don't stock these. Or yairi Dym60 which is also on my dream list ..

[Wags]

Envy! Hope to get my hands on one to try one of days. Then again, maybe not. Probably have to buy one.

[Knollhaven]

RiffRaff and Waggs,
You're right, I had to make the leap-of-faith order. But now I can really pare down the rest of the collection. I, too, really liked the DYM60. Bet they are quite close competitors!

[RiffRalf]

Originally Posted by Knollhaven

RiffRaff and Waggs,
...I had to make the leap-of-faith order. .... I, too, really liked the DYM60. Bet they are quite close competitors!

That's just reality I guess with low output high end guitars you can't expect to find them in a store near you. With clothes you can order a few and send back what you don't like or what doesn't fit, with a $3-4k guitar that doesn't work...
I too see the FG9M and DYM60 as similar in scope. That is why I would love to be able to compare them

[darylcrisp]

Sweetwater shows four right now available online. An interesting note, one weighs in at 4lb 10oz, the other three all weigh 4lb 9oz.

Typical of Japanese quality and detail.

OP, would you mind measuring the string spacing at the saddle on your(outer to outer E strings) and posting that spec here.

Also, what is the neck profile shape?
My LS36 is a smooth sleek C shape and i love that.

thank you in advance, and enjoy your new amazing Yamaha
d

[fingerstyle_me]

How is the tone of the FG9-M for fingerstyle and light strumming ? To which others brands / guitars would you compare the FG9-M ?

Youtube vids that I can find are oriented to bluegrass players and I feel (maybe I’m wrong) that it is the audience targeted by Yamaha.

I want a mahogany guitar and I was seeking at Martin 000-18 but may have an eye to this FG9-M.

[Knollhaven]

Originally Posted by darylcrisp

Sweetwater shows four right now available online. An interesting note, one weighs in at 4lb 10oz, the other three all weigh 4lb 9oz.

Typical of Japanese quality and detail.

OP, would you mind measuring the string spacing at the saddle on your(outer to outer E strings) and posting that spec here.

Also, what is the neck profile shape?
My LS36 is a smooth sleek C shape and i love that.

thank you in advance, and enjoy your new amazing Yamaha
d

Yes, I'll be happy to measure tonight after work. Thanks for asking!

As to the neck shape, it's most similar to my Larrivee OM-40. Not nearly as thick/chunky as a Taylor 517 (which I'm now selling). More like an enhanced version of the ubiquitous Martin performance profile. There's enough width and depth to support the fretting hand. Which means, medium profile with no hint of a V, but more like a smooth, flat C. My hands are quite small, but I cannot abide the tiny pencil neck of the FS-830, for example.

[Knollhaven]

Originally Posted by fingerstyle_me

How is the tone of the FG9-M for fingerstyle and light strumming ? To which others brands / guitars would you compare the FG9-M ?

Youtube vids that I can find are oriented to bluegrass players and I feel (maybe I’m wrong) that it is the audience targeted by Yamaha.

I want a mahogany guitar and I was seeking at Martin 000-18 but may have an eye to this FG9-M.

Appreciate your perspective. The video I posted in my sign addresses this better than most. I am more of a soft strummer/fingerstyle player and this guitar is super responsive and *audible* at softer volume. The tone has a lot of complexity, and this guitar will challenge my playing skills in ALL styles for decades. This guitar can - in my opinion - do all styles, and I think that's why the clean, minimalist styling appeals to me. It could be at home anywhere.

[Knollhaven]

As to other brands, this guitar is closer to my luthier-built custom Gernandt D. It's also got a lot in common, tonewise, with the Taylor 517... so much so that I'm selling the Taylor because this one has MORE of what I love about the Taylor. That's the closest comparison, though it's got some vibes in common with the Larrivees I've played. But it smokes them, too. (Mind, I'm keeping my 2 Larrivee OMs.)

[brandall10]

Just played this and the rosewood model at the Yamaha Tokyo store. Really nice guitars that certainly put up against the likes of Collings/Bourgeois.

[Ian111]

10 years ago I never would have thought my dream guitar would be an acoustic and that acoustic would be a Yamaha FG9 like yours but here I am. Congratulations.

[Knollhaven]

Apologies to the one who asked for the string width at the saddle! I meant to do this yesterday...

I don't have high tech calipers, but my trusty metal ruler says 2 5/32" or 55 mm. Now, I could be off by a hair. Hope that measurement is helpful!