PSA: Yamaha L-series MIJ model blowout at Yamaha Music London

Whitecat

I wonder if @rossyamaha ;can confirm whether or not these are indeed discontinued? Is the focus on the A-series now that they do some of them MIJ too at a much lower price, or is there something else in the pipeline?

rossyamaha

Whitecat said:

I wonder if @rossyamaha ;can confirm whether or not these are indeed discontinued? Is the focus on the A-series now that they do some of them MIJ too at a much lower price, or is there something else in the pipeline?

I haven't been told that they are discontinued so can neither confirm nor deny. 

It's quite possibly just a good deal they fancied doing. Yes we do have Japan models in other ranges. A series, Red Label, NX. The L series are more traditional I guess. Something for the Martin fans but the ones I've played have all been stellar. The only thing I can compare them to is Santa Cruz or maybe Collings. 

I'll try and fish out some photos I took from the factory. Seeing them being made was a wonderful thing. 

Whitecat

rossyamaha said:

Whitecat said:

I wonder if @rossyamaha ;can confirm whether or not these are indeed discontinued? Is the focus on the A-series now that they do some of them MIJ too at a much lower price, or is there something else in the pipeline?

I haven't been told that they are discontinued so can neither confirm nor deny. 

It's quite possibly just a good deal they fancied doing. Yes we do have Japan models in other ranges. A series, Red Label, NX. The L series are more traditional I guess. Something for the Martin fans but the ones I've played have all been stellar. The only thing I can compare them to is Santa Cruz or maybe Collings. 

I'll try and fish out some photos I took from the factory. Seeing them being made was a wonderful thing. 

Thanks! I wish they’d publish more “factory tour” type stuff of their own volition - there is a little bit there but not as much as I’d like. Peeking behind the curtain is fun!

FreddieVanHalen

@rossyamaha when you played the 36 vs 56 did you notice a massive difference? Or is it the kind of subtle difference that only a connoisseur of fine acoustics would be tuned into?

Lodious

FreddieVanHalen said:

@rossyamaha when you played the 36 vs 56 did you notice a massive difference? Or is it the kind of subtle difference that only a connoisseur of fine acoustics would be tuned into?

I'd be interested in this too, and also differences between LL26 and LL36. 

Whitecat

Lodious said:

FreddieVanHalen said:

@rossyamaha when you played the 36 vs 56 did you notice a massive difference? Or is it the kind of subtle difference that only a connoisseur of fine acoustics would be tuned into?

I'd be interested in this too, and also differences between LL26 and LL36. 

I can comment on the latter! 26 is finished in poly, 36 in nitro. 36 has closed-back tuners vs open-gear on the 26. 36 has abalone/MOP purfling, the 26 does not. Most 36s I’ve seen have nicer tops too - it’s not uncommon to see a 26 exhibit some runout on the grain, whereas 36s (and 56s) tend to not, which is amazingly rare in the world of Engelmann spruce these days, they obviously have a good stash and reserve the best stuff for the highest-end guitars. Almost all of these things are cosmetic of course and 26s can still sound spectacular.

rossyamaha

@Whitecat @Lodious ;

I'm definitely no acoustic expert. My ears are pretty damaged so any subtle differences are lost on me. They both sounded great. Much sweeter and richer than I expected. I didn't really know what to expect if I'm honest. If I had to describe it, they were all like somewhere between a Martin and a Taylor. They had the mids and body of a Martin but the clarity and depth of a Taylor. Just really well balanced. 

Lodious

y'bastards.....LS36 on the way :-) 

rossyamaha

Lodious said:

y'bastards.....LS36 on the way :-) 

Don't hate the the player, hate the game. ;-)

artiebear

No guitar yet, but I have had lovely Yamaha soundbar and sub woofer delivered this afternoon, not a bad freebie at all, beats a set of strings 

Lodious

That's a very nice gift! Are you going to use the soundbar? I'm not sure if I'm going to try it or flog it before I open it

rossyamaha

artiebear said:

No guitar yet, but I have had lovely Yamaha soundbar and sub woofer delivered this afternoon, not a bad freebie at all, beats a set of strings 

Sit tight. We will be getting the in house luthier to give it some love before it gets sent out. Standard practice. 

artiebear

Lodious said:

That's a very nice gift! Are you going to use the soundbar? I'm not sure if I'm going to try it or flog it before I open it

I will most likely use it. It is nicely spec'd and will mean that I don't have the TV connected into the hi fi set up. The package is reassuringly weighty !

rossyamaha said:

artiebear said:

No guitar yet, but I have had lovely Yamaha soundbar and sub woofer delivered this afternoon, not a bad freebie at all, beats a set of strings 

Sit tight. We will be getting the in house luthier to give it some love before it gets sent out. Standard practice. 

I assumed it would take a day or two to get on the way with everything else going on and the guys trying to get things ready for opening next week. I'm really looking forward to this one coming, but I can't complain about not having enough guitars to keep me going 

artiebear

The LJ56 has arrived. What can i say ? it's stunning. I expected it to be really good, knowing Yamaha's QC and attention to detail, but this guitar really has exceeded my expectations. 
The fit and finish are as good as I have seen from the very high end of acoustic luthiery,  as are the quality of the woods used ( the Englemann top is absolutely top grade, as is the really straight grain Indian rosewood back and sides.

All the binding is wood, including the fingerboard and the headstock.

The nitro finish is well applied and thin as it should be.

It came with possibly the best set up I have seen on an out of the showroom guitar, I had my stuff ready to set it up, but absolutely no need, it was already right on the spec I look for ( 1/16" - 3/32" at the 12th fret ) and minimal neck relief with every playing cleanly throughout. The string spacing is a really nice balance for both finger style and flatpicking. 

The 5 piece neck, is like an old friend, really comfortable shallow C profile, with the back of the neck satin finished.

It arrived with lower tensioned string than i am used to, it sounded airy and sweet. I have just restrung it with my regular D'addario EJ16 set, and from the off it is fabulous. Big, harmonically rich, and with a nice high end shimmer.

Even the case is nice 

Here are a few shots, though they don't do it justice.

<a href="https://imgur.com/TuFBlFD"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/TuFBlFD.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="https://imgur.com/rbFdUFN"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/rbFdUFN.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="https://imgur.com/lZJgMPh"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/lZJgMPh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="https://imgur.com/a4cjEq2"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/a4cjEq2.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="https://imgur.com/lxnc5cK"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/lxnc5cK.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

brojangles

Nice. I wish they made a non-bling version of these. Like the Red Label reissues but rosewood. I would be all over that. 

Whitecat

brojangles said:

Nice. I wish they made a non-bling version of these. Like the Red Label reissues but rosewood. I would be all over that. 

The 26 series is pretty non-blingy. No MOP/abalone purfling and no neck/headstock binding.

@artiebear - congrats, just outstanding. These really are upper echelon instruments. 

Lodious

Looks lovely :-)

artiebear

brojangles said:

Nice. I wish they made a non-bling version of these. Like the Red Label reissues but rosewood. I would be all over that. 

as @Whitecat said, you should take a look at the 26 series. A lot of guitar for the money just now

Lodious said:

Looks lovely :-)

Have you got an ETA on yours yet ?

Lodious

artiebear said:

brojangles said:

Nice. I wish they made a non-bling version of these. Like the Red Label reissues but rosewood. I would be all over that. 

as @Whitecat said, you should take a look at the 26 series. A lot of guitar for the money just now

Lodious said:

Looks lovely :-)

Have you got an ETA on yours yet ?

Something is coming tomorrow but I don't know if it's the guitar, the soundbar or both! 

TheOtherDennis

@artiebear  ;That's lovely, nice choice, glad you're pleased with it.