Yamaha LJ26

Choosing a LJ26 was not a coincidence or compulsive buying. Before deciding I checked several folk guitars covering the full spectrum of brands available in France (I travel often because of my job). The price of the guitars that I tried was between 900 and 3000 Euros.  My quest lasted six months given the fact that I wanted a high-end guitar.

The characteristics I was looking for were the following: good sustain, good projection, good balance and a gloss finish. Requirement: I also decided to impose myself B three constraints:

- Open my ears and try not to be charmed by the brand
- Try only guitars that had a new set of strings
- Do not buy right away but let my feelings ripen before buying.


After 6 months of testing I retained three Japanese models: the FY84 Yairi, Yairi and FYM96 Yamaha LJ26. The choice has not been easy but I finally chose the LJ26. Without taking anything away from the very nice Yairis I preferred the originality of the Yamaha (shape and concept).

Regarding The characteristics of the LJ26 I think that its lutherie is its strongest point: Completely massive table with Engelman spruce top, back and sides in rosewood, neck made up by 5-ply ( Mahogany, Padauk). The LJ26 is simply impeccable. See the manufacturer's website for more details

UTILIZATION

The action and  neck profile are fine fd the body, despite the adjective"Jumbo" is not too bulky. reaching beyond the 14th fret  is not easy since the LJ26 in not a cutaway .

SOUNDS

Sustain and depth are two adjectives that caractrisent the sound of this guitar. The Sustain has a good sound responsiveness to the extreme of the spectrum (low and high) and the mids are present  without invading the rest (see my review on the Martin D-15) and so I can go from flat to fingerpicking without having to change guitar: a real pleasure. The LJ26 is a guitar for which the word 'versatile' is appropriate.

The Yairi also (especially the FYM96, sacred skyscrapers!) Had a good sound but a "little something" made me prfrer the LJ26. "Something" that I can hardly put into words you and therefore I prefer to keep quiet.

NOTE: I had a LS16 and a LJ16 that I sold because I were not really satisfied. Therefore I said that the series 26 is clearly dmarque of 16 for the series finishes (even cared) and the sound of a dam that benefitted individual own the series 26 and 36.

EDIT (10 month after purchase). I confirm my opinion: I am very comfortable with this guitar and its sound and versatility are always by appointment. Furthermore, the object itself, comes together "sobriety", "beauty and" quality of violin "a very lovely fawn. The high-end Yamaha probably deserves just over notorit but success that the glorious series "FG" meeting combines decades since the visibility of the eclipse series 26.

OVERALL OPINION

LJ26 I use for two months and it satisfied me. Of all the acoustic guitars that I had purchased it by delegates from the most lucid and is without doubt the one that makes me feel more levels in the game

As you can see from my other reviews, I always try to keep a maximum of objectivity and that objectivity take me up in the hat to the Japanese stringed instruments, despite the skepticism and fed the dominant 'amricaine, is not the "little over" from the West.

If you want a high end guitar and if you nt no, any price, the search for a legendary brand I recommend the dessayer LJ26 (the series 26 GENERAL AND also Yairi). Unfortunately jai discovery that the majority of dealers didn t the 26 series in stock and rserver They prefer this price range with iconic brands. Absolutely nothing against most prestigious brands but it is a kind of shame to limit our own array of choices...