YAMAHA LLX16 HAND CRAFTED ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC GUITAR
– Solid Englemann Spruce Top
– Solid Rosewood Back and Sides
– Ebony Fretboard and Bridge
– Three-ply Mahogany neck
– Bound Body, Neck and Headstock
– Genuine Abalone Shell Rosette and Fret Markers
– Gold Hardware
– Yamaha Light-Weight Case
– Five Year Warranty
Yamaha has been Handcrafting fine Acoustic Guitars since 1966. Yamaha is an amazing company defined by excellence in everything they do and the list of Players that have owned, Toured and Recorded with Yamaha Acoustic Guitars include Bert Jansch, John Denver, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Brian May, Jimmy Page, Bob Seger, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor and countless more.
Yamaha’s L Series of acoustic guitars are a handmade line of instruments built from the highest-quality materials and deliver outstanding sound quality at affordable prices. Since their launch in 2004, Yamaha’s L Series has always been a popular (finger-stylist Bert Jansch, a major influence on Jimmy Page and Neil Young, has remained a devoted L Series player since the Seventies) yet quite understated series and there are players (and many Music Stores) that have no idea that instruments of this calibre exist for the relatively little that they cost. Today Yamaha’s L Series represent better value than ever, providing sound quality and playability comparable to instruments costing significantly more.
The LLX16 is the “electrified” version of Yamaha’s most popular “new generation” LL16 L Series model. The LL16 has proven so popular that it’s the only L Series model that is also available in a left-handed version. A common complaint from players was that Yamaha did not offer an acoustic-electric version of this outstanding non-cutaway Acoustic Guitar. With the introduction of the new LLX16 acoustic-electric model, Yamaha has finally delivered the acoustic-electric that L Series fans have been waiting for since the LL16 first made its debut.
Some of the simple reasons behind the success of the Yamaha guitar are based in the incredibly high standards that Yamaha’s Luthiers have set in relation to their design, construction and sound. Every guitar must have a balanced tone and response and the bass and treble must complement each other.
A very important move for Yamaha was the introduction of the dovetail neck joint to their design in the 1970’s, which provides the best neck to body contact. The neck joint is made with timber, which helps to resonate vibrations easily from the neck to the body producing the balanced tone and response.
Yamaha also strongly believe that the blending of different kinds of quality tone wood is pivotal to producing great tone. The result of blending these quality woods speaks for itself with highs that last longer and the guitar player is able to control the note texture at all times.
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Another important part of construction of the Yamaha guitars is the types of lacquer that they use. They work closely with the lacquer producers to make sure that they get the best type of lacquer that is right for their guitars. Yamaha want to make sure that their guitars both look great and have every chance to breathe.
Because of all these great design features, many artists have used and still prefer to strap on a Yamaha guitar on tour and in the recording studio.
The Yamaha LLX16 is a Dreadnought style guitar with a solid Engelmann Spruce top, solid Indian Rosewood back and sides, Ebony fingerboard and bridge and a three-piece neck featuring a Rosewood strip sandwiched between two Mahogany outer layers. Yamaha’s unique X-bracing pattern, non-scalloped braces and enlarged C-shaped neck block help deliver superb resonance, provide a focused midrange and ensure greater transfer of string vibration energy to the guitar’s top.
The LLX16 features Yamaha’s new System 60 Acoustic Resonance Transducer (ART) preamp system. The System 60 ART system uses three independent, strategically placed contact pickups to capture bass, treble and full-range tones directly from the Guitar’s solid spruce top. The System 60 preamp has individual volume controls for each of the pickups as well as a master volume control. For the LLX16 Yamaha have done away with the typical bulky control panel and instead have utilised custom-designed and calibrated push pots that recede into the guitar’s body. They not only look amazing and preserve the LLX16’s natural elegance, they also require minimal wood removal. The easy-access battery compartment is located on the lower bout, just adjacent to the endpin.
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YAMAHA LLX16 THE PERFORMER
Unplugged, the LLX16 sounds identical to the LL16 and delivers tight, well-defined bass that avoids a typical dreadnought’s excessive boom and offers warm, slightly emphasised midrange and crisp, sparkling treble. Fingerstyle players will appreciate the LLX16’s wide 1 3/4″ nut and well balanced tone across its entire frequency range, while rhythm players will love how well this guitar responds to the dynamics of their playing style.
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The LLX16’s acoustic qualities translate beautifully through the System 60 ART preamp/pickup system. The System 60 actually provides more useful tonal shaping capabilities that always produce exceptionally natural tones. For example, cutting the bass with a standard acoustic guitar EQ can make the lower strings sound dull and flat, but by turning down the System 60’s bass pickup the lower strings retain clarity and punch, even as the bass frequencies are tamed.
Unlike most guitar preamp systems, Yamaha’s System 60 does not feature any feedback-fighting phase or notch filter switches. After playing the LLX16 through a loud acoustic guitar amplifier or PA system, you’ll discover why: the pickups do a great job of suppressing feedback on their own, and usually one of the pickups’ volume controls (most likely the bass pickup’s) just needs to be turned down a notch to kill the problem. If feedback problems are unavoidable (such as when you’re playing with a loud electric band), Yamaha has provided a sound-hole cover that works exceptionally well.
There is no doubt that a guitar of this calibre will travel and to this end Yamaha have included a Light-Weight and Water-resistant Hardshell Case.
YAMAHA LLX16 WHY YOU SHOULD BUY IT
Yamaha’s LLX16 is a very welcome addition to their outstanding L Series guitars. By equipping its most popular acoustic model with a high-quality preamp/pickup system, we believe that Yamaha has produced a true winner that should prove to be as popular onstage or in the Studio as the LL16 already is in the homes of acoustic guitar enthusiasts. This model’s street price competes with many acoustic-only guitars that don’t even match the LLX16’s unplugged tones or quality materials, and the addition of a preamp system sweetens the deal considerably.
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