Yamaha transacoustic has blown my mind

ThorpyFX · February 2018

So I played one of these today, having had a lovely chat to @rossyamaha he decides to show me this acoustic.... an FG-TA acoustic, part of Yamaha’s transacoustic range.

https://youtu.be/tlr5u3bt-sw

it genuinely blew my mind, love the tech, but it sounds so good, all the while whilst not being plugged into an amp. Such a clever and useful evolution of the acoustic guitar.

ICBM · February 2018

It sounds horribly artificial in that video - like an APX going through a cheap acoustic amp, especially with the chorus on.

That said I've never liked the L series, every one I've played has sounded thin and characterless, and both of those are no different - even when they're playing together acoustically at about 8'-9' both of them sound cheap and tinny. Just no 'wood' tone in the sound at all.

It does sound better DI'd than the unbelievably shit sound from the other one, but that's about all...

Sorry, I hate it!

Zodiac51 · February 2018

Have a wow, innovation, interesting, I'd buy one. As a bonus, I'm sure Danish Pete played a tiny bit of Isaac Guillory's Surrendel

ThorpyFX · February 2018

ICBM said:

It sounds horribly artificial in that video - like an APX going through a cheap acoustic amp, especially with the chorus on.

That said I've never liked the L series, every one I've played has sounded thin and characterless, and both of those are no different - even when they're playing together acoustically at about 8'-9' both of them sound cheap and tinny. Just no 'wood' tone in the sound at all.

It does sound better DI'd than the unbelievably shit sound from the other one, but that's about all...

Sorry, I hate it!

That’s ok,

i played it unplugged and that revert and chorus are available to be heard that way. It sounds amazing in the flesh... well I think so anyway.

BigLicks67 · February 2018

I've seen a few vids and it sounds pretty good, but I'd be concerned that the gadgetry inside the guitar is adding substantial weight to the guitar. I've never played one in the flesh so wouldn't know how it affects the overall feel of the guitar.

ThorpyFX · February 2018

BigLicks67 said:

I've seen a few vids and it sounds pretty good, but I'd be concerned that the gadgetry inside the guitar is adding substantial weight to the guitar. I've never played one in the flesh so wouldn't know how it affects the overall feel of the guitar.

I’m not the best acoustic player, however to me it played well, responded like an acoustic should and wasn’t particularly heavy either..certainly worth a try anyway

brojangles · February 2018

I'm not crazy about the L series either - great on paper and nicely made, if a bit blingy, but weirdly unexciting in the sound: probably the 'balanced' thing (people always say they record and mix well) doesn't do it for my ears.

But the Transacoustics are indeed mind-blowingly fun to play for the sheer witchcraft of having chorus or reverb with no amp. It's true that they're heavier than regular acoustics, but then Yamahas aren't about being lightly built and super-responsive anyway, and getting a well made all-solid guitar that also does crazy tricks like that is pretty amazing at the price they go for.

rossyamaha · February 2018

Cheers @ThorpyFX. I know exactly what people mean by the artificial sound. When the FX are maxed it can sound weird. Dial them back a bit and it's just lovely. Really inspiring to play. L series are amazing guitars. The 6's are somewhat flatter sounding but still work well live/ recorded. The all solid 16 is just an awesome all rounder.

Weight wise, there really is hardly any added by the TA "stuff". Only as much as adding a preamp system to an acoustic guitar. Unless your muscles are super sensitive you wouldn't notice any difference.

Gagaryn · February 2018

I had an LL16, it was pretty good if I remember rightly. Don't have it any more though so make of that what you will.

Strangefan · February 2018

My friend has one, I am throughly impressed with it, if they did one with delay that's would be the icing on the cake, plus it's a nice guitar in its own right

Bridgehouse · February 2018

ICBM said:

It sounds horribly artificial in that video - like an APX going through a cheap acoustic amp, especially with the chorus on.

That said I've never liked the L series, every one I've played has sounded thin and characterless, and both of those are no different - even when they're playing together acoustically at about 8'-9' both of them sound cheap and tinny. Just no 'wood' tone in the sound at all.

It does sound better DI'd than the unbelievably shit sound from the other one, but that's about all...

Sorry, I hate it!

Are you in danger of committing the cardinal sin of criticising before actually trying for yourself?

Lewy · February 2018

Bridgehouse said:

ICBM said:

It sounds horribly artificial in that video - like an APX going through a cheap acoustic amp, especially with the chorus on.

That said I've never liked the L series, every one I've played has sounded thin and characterless, and both of those are no different - even when they're playing together acoustically at about 8'-9' both of them sound cheap and tinny. Just no 'wood' tone in the sound at all.

It does sound better DI'd than the unbelievably shit sound from the other one, but that's about all...

Sorry, I hate it!

Are you in danger of committing the cardinal sin of criticising before actually trying for yourself?

Well he’s tried listening to it...I’m not sure one is required to do more in order to criticise the sound of something....

ICBM · February 2018

Bridgehouse said:

Are you in danger of committing the cardinal sin of criticising before actually trying for yourself?

Yes, although it sounds so shockingly bad in that demo that I don't think there is much hope of it sounding good in reality. It does sound like the other L series Yamahas I've actually played too, so I do have a reference. Never before in the field of acoustic guitars has so much nice wood been used in the pursuit of so little character, or something like that

Image: /plugins/EmojiExtender/emoji/fb/1.gif

.

Anyway... putting chorus on an acoustic guitar is an offence worthy of death before we've even started.

Bridgehouse · February 2018

ICBM said:

Bridgehouse said:

Are you in danger of committing the cardinal sin of criticising before actually trying for yourself?

Yes, although it sounds so shockingly bad in that demo that I don't think there is much hope of it sounding good in reality. It does sound like the other L series Yamahas I've actually played too, so I do have a reference. Never before in the field of acoustic guitars has so much nice wood been used in the pursuit of so little character, or something like that .

Anyway... putting chorus on an acoustic guitar is an offence worthy of death before we've even started.

You know I was pulling your chain, right?

ICBM · February 2018

Bridgehouse said:

You know I was pulling your chain, right?

Yes, but I had forgotten to put the chorus comment in earlier and that seemed as good an opportunity as any

.

Bridgehouse · February 2018

ICBM said:

Bridgehouse said:

You know I was pulling your chain, right?

Yes, but I had forgotten to put the chorus comment in earlier and that seemed as good an opportunity as any .

Didn’t want you to get away with a perceived forum sin

BigLicks67 · February 2018

ICBM said:

Bridgehouse said:

Are you in danger of committing the cardinal sin of criticising before actually trying for yourself?

Yes, although it sounds so shockingly bad in that demo that I don't think there is much hope of it sounding good in reality. It does sound like the other L series Yamahas I've actually played too, so I do have a reference. Never before in the field of acoustic guitars has so much nice wood been used in the pursuit of so little character, or something like that .

This one doesn't sound too bad ; )
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bert+jansch+blues+run+the+game&&view=detail&mid=8F5C778A2075C37F55478F5C778A2075C37F5547&&FORM=VRDGAR

Bridgehouse · February 2018

BigLicks67 said:

ICBM said:

Bridgehouse said:

Are you in danger of committing the cardinal sin of criticising before actually trying for yourself?

Yes, although it sounds so shockingly bad in that demo that I don't think there is much hope of it sounding good in reality. It does sound like the other L series Yamahas I've actually played too, so I do have a reference. Never before in the field of acoustic guitars has so much nice wood been used in the pursuit of so little character, or something like that .

This one doesn't sound too bad ; )
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bert+jansch+blues+run+the+game&&view=detail&mid=8F5C778A2075C37F55478F5C778A2075C37F5547&&FORM=VRDGAR

Bert would have made a £50 Argos acoustic sound epic...

ICBM · February 2018

Bridgehouse said:

Bert would have made a £50 Argos acoustic sound epic...

Indeed.

He used to play an FG-180 originally I think. I've always been completely baffled by why those are considered 'vintage' or desirable - to me they just sound like old cheap plywood guitars of no real quality. (And usually with badly pulled-up tops, now.)

Bridgehouse · February 2018

ICBM said:

Bridgehouse said:

Bert would have made a £50 Argos acoustic sound epic...

Indeed.

He used to play an FG-180 originally I think. I've always been completely baffled by why those are considered 'vintage' or desirable - to me they just sound like old cheap plywood guitars of no real quality. (And usually with badly pulled-up tops, now.)

His first album (with the seminal Needle of Death) was allegedly a borrowed Martin 00028, and prior to the Yamaha’s he also played an Epiphone and a Guild I believe.

Alnico · February 2018

I want an acoustic again.
Wow.

Bridgehouse · February 2018

Alnico said:

I want an acoustic again.
Wow.

No you don’t. You think you do. But you don’t. You know you don’t really.

Stop watching youtube

Bridgehouse · February 2018

I always wanted to be as good as Bert Jansch.

I tried for a few years to learn his technique.

I gave up when I sounded like Bert and Ernie

ThorpyFX · February 2018

Well despite the naysayers, looking at you @ICBM

this genuinely sounded great in the flesh. Played easy enough for an acoustic biff.

BigLicks67 · February 2018

ThorpyFX said:

Well despite the naysayers, looking at you @ICBM this genuinely sounded great in the flesh. Played easy enough for an acoustic biff.

I've got an old L series guitar and I too think they are good guitars particularly for fingerpicking. Credit should be given as well for Yamaha coming up with an original design back in the day.

Gagaryn · February 2018

BigLicks67 said:

ICBM said:

Bridgehouse said:

Are you in danger of committing the cardinal sin of criticising before actually trying for yourself?

Yes, although it sounds so shockingly bad in that demo that I don't think there is much hope of it sounding good in reality. It does sound like the other L series Yamahas I've actually played too, so I do have a reference. Never before in the field of acoustic guitars has so much nice wood been used in the pursuit of so little character, or something like that .

This one doesn't sound too bad ; )
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bert+jansch+blues+run+the+game&&view=detail&mid=8F5C778A2075C37F55478F5C778A2075C37F5547&&FORM=VRDGAR

Unbelievable!

You use bing???

BigLicks67 · February 2018

Sorry, it won't happen again.☺

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Yamaha transacoustic has blown my mind

Comments