Yamaha Acoustic Guitars

I am foremost a percussionist/drummer. I have played for 39 years, hitting the 40th this year in '08!I also am an accomplished vocalist (so they say), but took that up only in the last 15 years. Starting playing acoustic in 1989 and haven't turned back. I have been doing coffee houses and lounges for many years now. I am not so much a virtuso guitar player as I am a 'song-singer'. I have learned many songs by many artists and my repertoire is somewhere near 340 songs now! The list is huge, but here are some of my favourites: The Eagles, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Tragically Hip, James Taylor, Willie Nelson, Green Day, Steve Miller, Chilliwack, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, Coldplay.... My favourites as a drummer are much more focused on playing and I grew up learning many challenging parts, courtesy of these bands and drummers:Rush,Styx,Pat Travers Band, Boston, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Led Zepplin, Steve Morse, Toto..... Passed down from my wonderful sister!Dad had paid about $350-400 in '71. My sister got a brand new FG 300 in 1971 as it was for her 13th birthday. She played it everywhere and for many years before I borrowed it. That was 18 years ago! I love it, have grown as a performer because of the comfort of this fine acoustic and the ease to play it. I know it is overdue for me to buy a brand new guitar, but it will be a sad day to pass it back. N.B. She hasn't missed it as she is a first class pianist herself and guitar was her early stepping stone. Jim Ljungh Canada Not much. The strings sometimes end of riding against the nuts on the bridge screws,instead of in the groove, but you just have to catch it on installation of the new string and it isn't an issue. The neck is the most appealing thing to me as it is so playable. I haven't found a more comfortable fit for me, though I know they are out there. I think I have made my opinion of this instrument through many sections of this review. I love it! It stays in tune ALL THE TIME as well! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this guitar used in 1983 for US$125.00 from the former owner in Newport Beach, California. it was a sunny spring day, and I was prepared to try to talk the guy down, because I only HAD $125 to my name and really needed to hang onto some of that cash for food. I even took a roommate who's job was to keep me from spending the food money, but he said that once I opened tha case, he knew by my look that we were leaving with the guitar and without the cash... A very hard finish protects the wood, which in the case of this casual player in a house full of kids and critters has been a positive thing over the years. The tone has become slightly fuller over the past twenty years, although by no means rich. All around, a good guitar for any situation, as it is playable by most people with no complaints. The truss rod has been adjusted exactly once, right after the new parts went on, and that was fifteen or more years ago... The cat claw marks only add character. My eleven-year-old daughter is almost ready to start playing, and she'll eventually wind up with this instrument, unless I step on it or something stupid... The original saddle and bridge were far too high for my beginner's hands, and did not transmit sound to the wood. I had the Folk Music Center in Claremont, California install bone pieces, and a lot lower than the original height, and immediately obtained a brighter, louder (and easier to play) sound. Sustain is still weak, but what the heck, I'm no pro... I also got rid of the original tuners, installing some inexpensive although rock-solid Grover tuners. No complaints, ever. The guitar can usually be played right out of the case with no tuning. American Fingerstylist Chris Procter played it once, and pronounced it quite playable (yes, he was humoring me, but he's the nicest guy in the world) He's the guy who told me to get the action lowered if I was having trouble... Thanks, Chris! It was amazing to hear YOU play MY guitar! I have never had any neck issues, and the construction has held up through some rather rough handling quite well. As stated, the original bridge and saddle did not suit me, and the original tuners were of poor reliability. The finish has never cracked or glazed, fogged or tarnished. I'm careful to keep sunblock off of it, though. I wear a lot of sunblock, and it has destroyed the finish on my backpacking dulcimer, so I'm more careful around the other instruments. A nice little guitar in the Dreadnought style. Low volume, not much sustain, but good enough for me. I don't have to freak out if it falls over, and I can let kids play it. Someday I'll rate a nicer guitar, but there's never enough time to practice, so I'll keep plugging away with this one. So far it's bought me a few beers, and that's good enough for me! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this guitar from my local Guitar Center for about 200 dollars, but it was half price. I asked the salesman about it and he was convinced this was the best guitar for the money. This is one of the cheapest guitars that you will ever find that has a solid spruce top. Many guitars that don't have a solid top cost more and sound worse, so it was definitly a great deal. The guitar holds its tune very well, and always sounds great. It also looks good. So far, I haven't found anything I don't like about it. It seems like a great guitar. This is a very well-made guitar. It has held together great and theres hardly a scratch on it. I strongly suggest buying this guitar. Its definitly one of the best guitars you can buy for only 200 bucks. Its worth paying full price for too if you cant find it on sale. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this guitar (my first)at a local music shop for $160. After trying out several different brands, I settled on the Yamaha because: it was cheap, I liked the fret spacing, and it was easier to play fingerstyle than others in its price range. It's a nice compact size (I'm not a real big guy), so it sits comfortably when I play. The factory sound was okay, but imporved dramatically (especially the bass end) after I replaced the strings with something that has a brand name. The tuners hold well, even under duress (I have 2 small kids who like to "help" Daddy play), and it has proven to be relatively durable, although the dark finish on the headstock seems a bit brittle. Well, it's pretty much the cheapest Yamaha acoustic on the market, so I can't really complain too much about it. My main beef with the F310 is its rather wimpy bass. The low notes don't seem able to make it out of the sound hole really well (maybe they're stuck in all the extra glue in there....) As already stated, the F310 is a low-end guitar, so it won't hold up to comparison with more expensive instruments. It has a laminate top, and I'm not sure of the wood used in the rest of it. The finish is really dark everywhere but the top, and as mentioned above, rather brittle on the upper neck and head. The high-gloss finish is fairly thinkly applied, which makes it hard to hurt, but doesn't improve the sound quality at all. A quick look inside reveals a lot of rough edges and extra glue squished out from behind the bracing, too. All that being said, the F310 is a decent beginner's guitar. It is easy to play, and therefore easy to learn on. In my opinion, it's not a guitar to hold on too much past your novitiate, though. I bought mine 5 months ago, and I'm ready to move up to a better-quality instrument. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This guitar is part of Yamaha's handcrafted L Series. These guitars are noted worldwide for their rich tone, fantastic construction and general high quality all around. The LL6 is part of the lowest priced line of L Series guitars. This one has a dreadnought style body, a spruce top with a very nice hue overall, rosewood back and sides, a 3 ply neck crafted of mahogany and rosewood. The fretboard is also rosewood as well and the bridge is crafted of ebony. This model is crafted in China in the Yamaha handcrafted factory there. This model is complimented by various other body styles and sizes as well. UTILIZATION The design of this guitar is fairly ergonomic I would say. It is of a reasonable weight and balances very well on the body. I am not normally a dreadnought kind of person but I found this guitar quite easy to hold and to play overall. The neck has a nice medium profile that is a nice balance between thick and thin and the guitar's finish allows for smooth playability. Out of the gate the guitar is set up very well and is certainly inviting to pick up. Getting a good tone out of this guitar is quite simple. It uses great tonewood and craftsmanship to get the richest and clearest sound possible. There is no onboard electronics so the tone of this guitar is just that of a great acoustic. SOUNDS The tones out of this guitar were quite surprising when I first picked it up and tried it out. It has a great controlled low end that allows for excellent chord tones that sit very well in a mix. The midrange is nice and subdued which doesn't work as well for lead breaks, but again helps chords to shine through. The high end is just the right amount to really help the instrument project clearly and distinctly. I particularly like it when tuned to an alternate tuning to get some great overtones appearing. It sounds excellent for fingerpicking styles as well as with a standard flatpick too. OVERALL OPINION All in all I feel that the Yamaha LL6 is a fantastic guitar, even without factoring price in. It combines great looks, a serious attention to detail and some great acoustic tones in an amazingly priced package. This guitar sells new for about $500 which is an absurd deal and is certainly worth it if you want a great guitar from a time tested builder of some of the finest instruments in the world.

The Yamaha FG 700 S is an inexpensive dreadnought steel string acoustic guitar. It isn't an acoustic/electric, so you won't find any pick ups or setting controls here. I'm not sure of the material this guitar is made out of, but while it is somewhat sturdy it definitely doesn't feel like the best construction of a guitar that I've felt. UTILIZATION Playing the Yamaha FG 700 S is surprisingly easy for a guitar of this price, as the neck actually has quite a playable feel. While it doesn't have the watery feel that upper end acoustic guitars will have by a long shot, it is nonetheless easy enough to play where it isn't really noteworthy either way. The inherent tone is definitely bright sounding, and although it isn't as full sounding as other dreadnought acoustic guitars, it sounds fine for what most people will probably be using this for. SOUNDS No one is going to be blown away by the sound of the Yamaha FG 700 S, as even though it sounds good, when compared to higher end guitars it can't compare. Setting aside this comparison, upon first play I definitely didn't expect this type of sound from a guitar of this price. So keeping in mind the very low price of this guitar, it's definitely well above average when compared with other guitars in this price range. The only complaint that I have about the sound of the guitar is that it is almost too bright sounding. OVERALL OPINION If you're looking for an acoustic guitar that sounds pretty decent and is actually quite playable for $200 USD or less, the Yamaha FG 700 S is about as good as you'll find. Since Yamaha is such a large establishment, they can afford to put out higher quality instruments at lower prices, so those looking for some bang for your buck, look no further than the Yamaha FG 700 S. I'd recommend this guitar for any beginner or intermediate player, but it isn't on par for more experienced players.

Je cherchais une guitare nylon pas spécialement flamenco, mais une guitare qui sonne moderne tout en gardant les dimensions des guitare classiques (notamment le manche). Après en avoir essayé quelques unes mon choix s'est porté sur ce modèle: les aigus ressortent bien et la mélodie ressort facilement. C'est dynamique et ca pète bien surtout avec des cordes carbone. Un joueur flamenco m'a dit que le golpe était pas trop fort ce qui est rare dans cette gamme de prix. L'action de cette guitare est excellente pour moi, basse et sans buzz, un vrai plaisir. La guitare est très légère, par contre le bois des éclisses est tendre et il a tendance a marquer facilement sur la surface. Les basses sont un peu en retrait et manquent un peu de corps (surtout comparé a une classique) mais rien de majeur et il faut choisir ce qu'on veut entre le dynamisme et le sustain. Une très bonne guitare pour le prix, on peut se faire plaisir pendant des années avant de passer a un instrument supérieur que l'on paiera beaucoup beaucoup plus cher pour un son un peu mieux...

I use this guitar for recording and some song writing. mostly playing with my fingers although if I want a big sound I use a plectrum. Solid build with great sound, I prefer the sound to many far more expensive models I have performed alongside. Not the easiest to play and the frets up around 10 on the higher strings start to buzz a tiny bit. The action on mine requires a little attention but I set my acoustics as if they were a Tele, so not bad really. The sound is very loud and it stays in tune. It is easy to get in tune, the tuners are as good as anything I have encountered. Cons- Its huge and after playing my fingers feel tired.;).

It's a strong guitar, very durable (I'm still playing with it even though I'm now very experienced). UTILIZATION I used it for absolutely everything, even rock (though you need softer strings for bends and a little twist to reach the +12 frets). Now I play percussive acoustic guitar and it does fine, the body isn't giant, which is another plus. SOUNDS The sound was absolutely amazing when i first bought it, really loud and durable. After a year however a buzz appeared, which lasted up to 6 months and was really annoying but then the great sound returned. The woods are fine and very strong. You may do different sounds with different parts of the guitar. OVERALL OPINION Great guitar, especially as a first one. It'll gradually become a second guitar but the sound, the price, and the durability are great. Careful though for a little hitch in the finitions.

This is a 12-string version of the FG720S. It has solid spruce top, laminate nato back and sides, nato neck, and rosewood fretboard, bridge and headstock overlay. It has a natural finish. It is advertised as a dreadnought, but the lower bout is larger than the standard dreadnaught size, so this is closer to a mini-jumbo. I've been playing guitar for over 40 years now and playing 12-string off and on for over 35 years. Although I played in various combos when I was in high school and college, I do mostly singer-songwriter stuff now. I purchased this from a Best Buy store for a beater guitar to have to take on picnics, vacations, etc. I paid less than $300 for it but the store gave me a discount since all they had in stock was the display model. The first positive feature of this guitar is the construction quality. It had no loose braces or glue joins on the inside. There were no sloppy glue joins either. Secondly, since this was purchased from a 'box store,' it was apparent they did not do any setup to the guitar, so this is a factory setup. The setup at the factory is excellent. The action was perfect and the frets were dressed so there were no burrs or fret wires extending over the edges of the fret board. I could not find any negative features given the quality of construction and materials used. The construction quality: It had no loose braces or glue joins on the inside. There were no sloppy glue joins either. The frets were dressed so there were no burrs or fret wires extending over the edges of the fretboard. The setup was done at the factory since this was purchased through a box store and it was perfect: It played smooth as silk even down to the 14th fret. Over the past 35 years I've owned a half dozen different 12-strings (including this one), I've played or demo'ed at least two dozen more from Taylors and Guilds to models from Alvarez, Washburn, Samick, Ibanez, Walden, and Epiphone. Playing this evoked memories of my first 12-string, a Conn F-28-12 that I owned 35 years ago, which also was closer to a mini-jumbo size masquerading as a dreadnought. This has enough bass presence to sound rich and full, without losing any of the chime-like quality for which 12-strings are known. The only way I can imagine having a better 12-string guitar would be if I had $2k or more to spend on one. <img src=" " /> This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I have been playing off and on for 27 years. I primarily play accoustic. However, I do own an electric. I only play recreationally. My musical preference is Classic Rock. My guitars as well as my wife's guitars were stolen in February 2006 when our house was burglarized. I hadn't played for awhile, so I was't even sure that I wanted to spend the money on a new guitar. Once I realized how badly I missed it, the search was on. I started my search by reading reviews on the internet and a lot of them. Within my budget, a few models consistently got good reviews. The Yamaha FG730S was one of those models. I went to a few shops and played a few guitars, but when I sat down with my new Yamaha FG730S the search was over. I purchased this guitar for $270 on sale at Les White Music in Abilene, TX. The service was great and the guitar is incredible. First, I opted for the natural finish. My first impression of the guitar is that it is a beautiful instrument. There are details that you wouldn't expect in a $300 guitar. The solid sitka spruce top is impressive. The rosewood sides and back and the abalone accents really add a lot to the look of the guitar. The FG730S sounds far more expensive than it is. It has a very rich warm sound that maintains its clarity from the low to the high frequencies regardless of volume played or playing technique used. Is this the greatest guitar ever built? Of course not. But in the $300 price range, you would be hard pressed to find a better instrument. The weakest parts of the guitar are the pegs, tuners, and strings. However, this is a $300 guitar, and I feel that they are in keeping with the price of the guitar. The quality of the rest of the guitar just exceeds its price range. The guitar is well constructed using quality woods. The top is well braced. The guitar feels very sturdy, and the finish is protected by what seems like endless layers of lacquer. The FG730S is billed as an entry-level quitar but is a quality instrument. If you are in the market for an accoustic guitar, even with a higher budget, I strongly suggest that you test it for yourself. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

went to a pawn shop in eau claire, wisconsin. my boyfriend bought it for $50. the only other guitar i've found like it was a lefty version on ebay. it was at,i think, 50 bucks. i dont know that much about guitars but i know the action is not high. and the neck is fine. its really scratched and banged up but other then that it's his favorite acoustic so far. he's thinking about refinishing it. ive been to the yamaha archives and they dont have a record of it. ive been all over the internet and cant find it anywhere. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com