Yamaha LL26 and 36 opinions

[StringPicker6]

My very first steel sting I ever bought was a $400 Yamaha acoustic electric around 2001. I never thought too much of Yamahas since that time, but I've read some really good reviews of their LL26 and LL36 models made in Japan. Has anyone ever played any of these models? I know they cheat a bit with their top torrification process, but somewhere deep in my heart I have a soft spot for Yamahas.

[247hoopsfan]

My first steel string guitar was an 1972 FG200.  I still have that guitar and it still sounds great.  The LL26/36 are great guitars.  It's been quite a few years since I played one, but I do own an LL500, which was the flagship of the LL series from 1999-2003.  The top of the line LL36 as well as my LL500 are handmade and hand voiced by single luthiers in the Hamamatsu custom shop in Japan. They have impeccable craftsmanship.  My LL500 is in the same league as my Goodall and my Larrivee D10.  It is actually more responsive than the Goodall and sounds just as good.  The LL26/36 are far superior to the LL6/16 models and have a much fuller tone.

[ducktrapper]

I've owned many Yamahas and have nothing but respect for them. I still have a 1970ish red label FG180, a Pacifica electric12 string and a NTX900FM crossover which is my couch guitar and I play it every day. The high end Yamahas you mention are truly fine guitars.

[Queequeg]

I've owned many Yamahas and have nothing but respect for them. I still have a 1970ish red label FG180, a Pacifica electric12 string and a NTX900FM crossover which is my couch guitar and I play it every day. The high end Yamahas you mention are truly fine guitars.

Totally agree.
Good friend has an LL (MIJ) about 25 years old. One of my favorite guitars.
Duck and I both have the same model Yamaha NTX900FM nylon string hybrid Engleman over maple acoustic/electric with a cut. Great guitar.

[StringPicker6]

I've been on a Bert Jansch binge for a few days and he likes to play Yamahas, so that's what peaked my interest.  I really don't need another guitar, but if I won the lottery, I might be tempted to get an LL26. 

[Silence Dogood]

When I think of Yamaha, I think of motorcycles and four-wheelers, probably because I grew up riding that brand out in the country.  So it's a hard hurdle for me to overcome when I see the same name and logo on a guitar's headstock (even though the logo is a tuning fork, a musical reference).  I've never been able to get beyond that and give a Yamaha a decent shake when it comes to musical instruments.  Probably my loss! 

[StringPicker6]

It's also hard for me to think of Yamaha as a quality guitar maker. But then I try to picture a master samurai crafting the best guitar and I can appreciate the level of perfection they can offer- for a higher price, obviously. 

[mike in lytle]

When I think of Yamaha, I think of motorcycles and four-wheelers, probably because I grew up riding that brand out in the country.  So it's a hard hurdle for me to overcome when I see the same name and logo on a guitar's headstock (even though the logo is a tuning fork, a musical reference).

I got an FG180 just before my junior year in high school, 1969. At least I believe it was an FG180. The headstock did not have a tuning fork, it said "yamaha" on it. Think I paid $119 for it. My first good guitar. Gave it to one of my friends in 1976, when I left home in Illinois on a Yamaha XS500 motorcycle, and ended up in Texas.
Mike

[247hoopsfan]

It's also hard for me to think of Yamaha as a quality guitar maker. But then I try to picture a master samurai crafting the best guitar and I can appreciate the level of perfection they can offer- for a higher price, obviously. 

The LL26/36/56 are all hand made in the custom shop in Japan.  The lower cost LL6/16 don't even compare.  My LL500 is the most articulate responsive guitar I own.  The tops are individually voiced. The LL's are almost jumbo size,tone is deep and rich with sustain. Michael Chapdelaine owns an LL500,along with several $10K+ guitars,high praise from a guy who is one of the best in the world.
Check him out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KqFKhgZto5I&list=RDKqFKhgZto5I&start_radio=1

I did a quick review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AIMlNqINKk
If you're patient, you may find a 26 or 500 for reasonable $1500-20000price used.
They are well worth it.

[ducktrapper]

I got an FG180 just before my junior year in high school, 1969. At least I believe it was an FG180. The headstock did not have a tuning fork, it said "yamaha" on it. Think I paid $119 for it. My first good guitar. Gave it to one of my friends in 1976, when I left home in Illinois on a Yamaha XS500 motorcycle, and ended up in Texas.
Mike

Those red label FG's were great guitars. I've had two FG 180's and still have one. Love it. Yamaha recently reissued that guitar. It's over $800.00 now and I'd love to try one.

Yamaha is a huge company and the fact that they make both motorcycles and musical instruments shouldn't deter anyone from seeking them out. I doubt they're made in the same plant but so what if they are. 

[StringPicker6]

The LL26/36/56 are all hand made in the custom shop in Japan.  The lower cost LL6/16 don't even compare.  My LL500 is the most articulate responsive guitar I own.  The tops are individually voiced. The LL's are almost jumbo size,tone is deep and rich with sustain. Michael Chapdelaine owns an LL500,along with several $10K+ guitars,high praise from a guy who is one of the best in the world.
Check him out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KqFKhgZto5I&list=RDKqFKhgZto5I&start_radio=1

I did a quick review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AIMlNqINKk
If you're patient, you may find a 26 or 500 for reasonable $1500-20000price used.
They are well worth it.

Great video review, thanks for sharing that!

[Queequeg]

When I think of Yamaha, I think of motorcycles and four-wheelers, probably because I grew up riding that brand out in the country.  So it's a hard hurdle for me to overcome when I see the same name and logo on a guitar's headstock (even though the logo is a tuning fork, a musical reference).  I've never been able to get beyond that and give a Yamaha a decent shake when it comes to musical instruments.  Probably my loss! 

Yamaha gets high praise and has won many awards for their grand pianos.
According to one music industry website I checked, the two most recognizable brands are Steinway and Yamaha, followed by Bösendorfer, Fazioli, Kawai and Baldwin.
Yamaha has endorsement relationships with Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, James Blunt, Sir Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Josh Groban, Sara Bareilles, Jamie Cullum, Chick Corea (deceased), Sarah McLachlan, and Gavin DeGraw, just to name a few.

[ducktrapper]

Yamaha gets high praise and has won many awards for their grand pianos.
According to one music industry website I checked, the two most recognizable brands are Steinway and Yamaha, followed by Bösendorfer, Fazioli, Kawai and Baldwin.
Yamaha has endorsement relationships with Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, James Blunt, Sir Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Josh Groban, Sara Bareilles, Jamie Cullum, Chick Corea (deceased), Sarah McLachlan, and Gavin DeGraw, just to name a few.

And me and you if they'd merely ask. 

[Queequeg]

And me and you if they'd merely ask. 

I'm waiting here by the phone...
 

[StringPicker6]

Add me to the endorsement list!! My all time favorite guitar is a free guitar. 

[StringPicker6]

I'm going to swing by a guitar center today (yuck) and try a Yamaha FGX3, the Chinese made model. I just want to see what the torrefied top sounds like. It's the reintroduced red label FG series.

[William2]

When I think of Yamaha, I think of motorcycles and four-wheelers, probably because I grew up riding that brand out in the country.  So it's a hard hurdle for me to overcome when I see the same name and logo on a guitar's headstock (even though the logo is a tuning fork, a musical reference).  I've never been able to get beyond that and give a Yamaha a decent shake when it comes to musical instruments.  Probably my loss! 

I was watching a video review of the new Guild guitars. Yamaha apparently owns Guild Guitars in addition to motorcycles etc. And I just lost my urge to own a Guild Guitar. "Yes ..by acquiring Cordoba Music Group in Feb 2023 that also owns Cordoba guitars, Guilds (founded 1953, acquired by Cordoba Music in 2014), HumiCase, DeArmond (pickups maker), Savares and Aquila."

[StringPicker6]

That's a bit of depressing news. Didn't Guild begin in New York?

[William2]

Yes, they started in NY in 1952 the year I was born. My only interest in Guild as a kid was that my jazz hero Johnny
Smith for a time had a model he designed made by Guild. My interest in Guild acoustics is this so call arched back which they claim requires no bracing on the back of the instrument thereby r3educing the weight of the instrument.

[Silence Dogood]

I was watching a video review of the new Guild guitars. Yamaha apparently owns Guild Guitars in addition to motorcycles etc. And I just lost my urge to own a Guild Guitar. "Yes ..by acquiring Cordoba Music Group in Feb 2023 that also owns Cordoba guitars, Guilds (founded 1953, acquired by Cordoba Music in 2014), HumiCase, DeArmond (pickups maker), Savares and Aquila."

I've been doing a lot of research on classical guitars, and people really seem to love their Yamahas. It is still hard for me to get into an instrument with the Yamaha name on it. I think it's just something left over from my youth that I'm probably never going to get over.

As far as them buying Guild goes, that is just the way it goes these days. When I go into a guitar shop and see a Guild guitar on the wall, I look at it like I am seeing a panama jack t-shirt in Walmart. At this point it's just a name badge being slapped on a product and not much more.  At least with a Martin or a Taylor (or a Larrivee for that matter!) you really are getting that actual product and not something with its name stamped on it. 

I try not to let things like this bother me, but a guitar is such a personal item of enjoyment that emotion ends up getting in the way.