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

chor808 · July 2020

sunshinewelly said:

chor808 said:

Pics https://imgur.com/gallery/USnkkRF

Is that a 36 or 56

Ll36

TheOtherDennis · July 2020

I'm soooo tempted by one of these, but everything I already have is made of rosewood - I have two Avalons in rosewood (a jumbo and auditorium size cutaway) and two kits that I made myself in rosewood (a dreadnought and a jumbo). It'd just be sat there.

Modellista · July 2020

artiebear said:

Modellista said:

I popped in (twice!!) to the showroom in London today. Chap called Steve was very helpful and I had a good play of the LL26 and 36. The 36 was very pretty but the strings were a bit dead. The 26 was absolutely lovely and as presented was he pick of the two. It revealed hidden shallows in my technique but also encouraged correction of such defects because the sound was so clear and the guitar rewards precision in one’s playing.

The chap told me that the luthiers are basically old and are retiring so there are no more being made of this type. They may introduce some small luthier versions of the A series or the FG series but it sounded like the flagship ranges as we know them are no more.

I may be back tomorrow to buy one.

Quite interesting regarding the luthiers. There were a lot of things about my LJ56 that were typical of classical build techniques ie very traditional old school process. It may be that the model is to go more towards CNC multi bench production while retaining a small shop, lower run feel.
Regarding strings etc, when I received my guitar it had reasonably fresh strings on it, sounded good, I stuck a new set on and it sounded amazing. I would be tempted to ask them to restring the 36 so that you can make a reasonable assessment. I have done similar in the past, I've even been taken up on my offer to put a new set of strings on a guitar in store, just so I could properly assess it ( I bought that one in the end ).

I’m not sure I’m that bothered about the inlays for another £500. Plus the 26 comes with the open-backed tuners which I think look cooler than the Gotohs.

They have two non-pickup non-cutaway 26s in stock, I played one yesterday and am going back today to try the other one. I’d be happy with the one I tried but always wise to compare if given the opportunity I reckon.

chor808 · July 2020

TheOtherDennis said:

I'm soooo tempted by one of these, but everything I already have is made of rosewood - I have two Avalons in rosewood (a jumbo and auditorium size cutaway) and two kits that I made myself in rosewood (a dreadnought and a jumbo). It'd just be sat there.

It would look great just sat there

Modellista · July 2020

A couple of pics from the London showroom:

Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50103521856_272476f25b_k.jpg

From left, LS16, LL16M, LL16-12, LJX26C (black, top), not sure what the sunburst one is.

Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50103522411_8489eca641_k.jpg

The acoustic booth. From left, LL36, LLX26C, LS56, another LLX26C.

Someone really needs to buy the sunburst 26. What a perfect do-it-all guitar - hand-made build quality consistent with all of the ultra high-end Yamahas, very rare paint job, cutaway and electrics for stage use. Awesome thing.

And what became my guitar, still on the rack:

Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50103600896_8039ec13c3_k.jpg

Whitecat · July 2020

Strange that the electros don’t seem to appear at all on YML’s website.

Peach have one sunburst LLX26C though should someone want one without having to interact with another human...

Congrats @Modellista - good choice!

artiebear · July 2020

Looks great @Modellista , enjoy !

FreddieVanHalen · July 2020

@Modellista did you manage to try the LS cutaway version? Would be interested to know your thoughts on those vs. the non cutaways. Thanks!

Modellista · July 2020

Um - I don’t think there was an LS cutaway. There’s an LJ (jumbo) cutaway in the first pic which I didn’t try, but I did try the natural cutaway LL26 in the second pic. Sound wise it was up there with any of the others I tried. Maybe you lose 5% volume from the bit of top that’s missing but that’s it. Tonally it had the same classic Yamaha sound as the rest - balanced across the frequency range - controlled bass, sweet treble, no nasty surprises in the midrange. Build quality is essentially perfect.

The biggest difference was the weight - apparently the preamp is a proper job and weighs quite a bit, which I was surprised by. Playing wise it was nice, the one I ended up buying was my personal favourite but you can’t go wrong with any of these at these prices in my opinion. Just bear in mind that it will feel heavy for an acoustic, and the weight feels like it’s in the upper bout, presumably some of that’s from the battery, whereas in my A3R the batteries and down near the end pin which makes more sense weight-wise.

The sales guy was very detailed - apparently the preamps are very expensive to make, a replacement is about £400 - as are the hard cases - all made to order in Japan and would be at least £300 separately.

So by buying the non-electro version I’ve diddled myself out of quite a lot of value in the preamp, but I really wanted a non-cutaway non-electric version.

I would add that also I tried an A5R which is similar in build (and currently price) to the cutaway LL26 and is also made in Japan. The A5 was good but the LL was quite clearly in another league. At the Peach price of £1.5k the LLs are stupendous value.

FreddieVanHalen · July 2020

Had a quick chat with them yesterday - they might be getting some more guitars into stock...damn that temptation!

sunshinewelly · July 2020

The cases are wonderful. Easily the best guitar purchase I have made. I did originally look at this thread at the same time I bought my martin and though that people were nuts spending so much money on a yamaha. After having the martin and reading some forums and realising how hand made these guitars are it's a no brainer at the price they are being sold at

sunshinewelly · July 2020

Do all the L series come with the ARE treatment as one of the photos shown above in the shop does not show the ARE label

Modellista · July 2020

sunshinewelly said:

Do all the L series come with the ARE treatment as one of the photos shown above in the shop does not show the ARE label

Well spotted, the black jumbo doesn’t say ARE. Details of the ARE treatment are all
over the Yamaha page so I think that’s just an oversight.

TheOtherDennis · July 2020

chor808 said:

TheOtherDennis said:

I'm soooo tempted by one of these, but everything I already have is made of rosewood - I have two Avalons in rosewood (a jumbo and auditorium size cutaway) and two kits that I made myself in rosewood (a dreadnought and a jumbo). It'd just be sat there.

It would look great just sat there

Having seen that pic of the showroom, you're not wrong.

Whitecat · July 2020

Wow, none left at Peach at all...

sunshinewelly · July 2020

Whitecat said:

Wow, none left at Peach at all...

no wonder at the price they were being sold at

Moleman · July 2020

sunshinewelly said:

Whitecat said:

Wow, none left at Peach at all...

no wonder at the price they were being sold at

Guess who’s been following this thread and is now really regretting becoming mired in procrastination over buying one of these? I was eyeing up the LLX26C in sunburst at Peach but fatally hesitated. I honestly didn’t think that they would shift that fast, even at those massive price reductions given the current economic climate. Thing is, I have to tell myself that I already own an LL400 (from the previous L series) plus an old Taiwan built FG-180. The 44mm nut width is a worry also as in my mind it might make my other guitars the ‘wrong’ nut width (they are 42mm). Also I’ve just bought a replacement MacBook Pro for my wife which has wiped out any lockdown savings. The thing is, it’s just so tempting to scrounge a deposit together on one of the electros at the London Yamaha Centre - assuming that they have any left by now?

artiebear · July 2020

Moleman said:

sunshinewelly said:

Whitecat said:

Wow, none left at Peach at all...

no wonder at the price they were being sold at

Guess who’s been following this thread and is now really regretting becoming mired in procrastination over buying one of these? I was eyeing up the LLX26C in sunburst at Peach but fatally hesitated. I honestly didn’t think that they would shift that fast, even at those massive price reductions given the current economic climate. Thing is, I have to tell myself that I already own an LL400 (from the previous L series) plus an old Taiwan built FG-180. The 44mm nut width is a worry also as in my mind it might make my other guitars the ‘wrong’ nut width (they are 42mm). Also I’ve just bought a replacement MacBook Pro for my wife which has wiped out any lockdown savings. The thing is, it’s just so tempting to scrounge a deposit together on one of the electros at the London Yamaha Centre - assuming that they have any left by now?

The combination of nut width and neck shape makes these a really comfortable, friendly, playing experience. The nut width is a perfect compromise as far as I'm concerned, though I usually forget about nut width after a few minutes playing on any guitar.

sunshinewelly · July 2020

the nut width is identical to my martin so feels right at home in my hands

Modellista · July 2020

Moleman said:

sunshinewelly said:

Whitecat said:

Wow, none left at Peach at all...

no wonder at the price they were being sold at

Guess who’s been following this thread and is now really regretting becoming mired in procrastination over buying one of these? I was eyeing up the LLX26C in sunburst at Peach but fatally hesitated. I honestly didn’t think that they would shift that fast, even at those massive price reductions given the current economic climate. Thing is, I have to tell myself that I already own an LL400 (from the previous L series) plus an old Taiwan built FG-180. The 44mm nut width is a worry also as in my mind it might make my other guitars the ‘wrong’ nut width (they are 42mm). Also I’ve just bought a replacement MacBook Pro for my wife which has wiped out any lockdown savings. The thing is, it’s just so tempting to scrounge a deposit together on one of the electros at the London Yamaha Centre - assuming that they have any left by now?

They may still have the one in Yamaha London. - EDIT I didn't read to the end of your post. Maybe give them a ring and ask to speak to Steve, he was very helpful with me and he will know exactly what you're on about. The rest of the staff probably know more about trumpets and such.

danny_777 · July 2020

Just went to the Yamaha store To try the LL26 and LS26, and bagged the very last LS26, brand new from their store room!

I actually went with the intention of buying the LL26, as I wanted a slightly larger body. However the LS is unbelievably good, I was blown away.

Will likely be selling my Bourgeois OMC to make room for this!

artiebear · July 2020

danny_777 said:

Just went to the Yamaha store To try the LL26 and LS26, and bagged the very last LS26, brand new from their store room!

I actually went with the intention of buying the LL26, as I wanted a slightly larger body. However the LS is unbelievably good, I was blown away.

Will likely be selling my Bourgeois OMC to make room for this!

Very nice, they LS models look really good. While I was restringing my LJ at the weekend I also gave my Bourgeois Soloist a little TLC. It's very different to the Yamaha but I couldn't part with it, it's a lovely guitar.

FreddieVanHalen · July 2020

danny_777 said:

Just went to the Yamaha store To try the LL26 and LS26, and bagged the very last LS26, brand new from their store room!

I actually went with the intention of buying the LL26, as I wanted a slightly larger body. However the LS is unbelievably good, I was blown away.

Will likely be selling my Bourgeois OMC to make room for this!

Did you see any LS36 whilst you were there?
Asking for a friend ;-)

Universal8 · July 2020

danny_777 said:

Just went to the Yamaha store To try the LL26 and LS26, and bagged the very last LS26, brand new from their store room!

I actually went with the intention of buying the LL26, as I wanted a slightly larger body. However the LS is unbelievably good, I was blown away.

Will likely be selling my Bourgeois OMC to make room for this!

I managed to get the last LJ26. Should be coming tomorrow ( Thursday).

Modellista · July 2020

Universal8 said:

danny_777 said:

Just went to the Yamaha store To try the LL26 and LS26, and bagged the very last LS26, brand new from their store room!

I actually went with the intention of buying the LL26, as I wanted a slightly larger body. However the LS is unbelievably good, I was blown away.

Will likely be selling my Bourgeois OMC to make room for this!

I managed to get the last LJ26. Should be coming tomorrow ( Thursday).

Did you compare the two? The LL that’s left wasn’t quite as on point as the one that I bought but it was straight out the box with possibly questionable strings. It seems like everyone has their favourite body size and they’re all awesome!

Gonna need some good pics when these arrive!

Universal8 · July 2020

Modellista said:

Universal8 said:

danny_777 said:

Just went to the Yamaha store To try the LL26 and LS26, and bagged the very last LS26, brand new from their store room!

I actually went with the intention of buying the LL26, as I wanted a slightly larger body. However the LS is unbelievably good, I was blown away.

Will likely be selling my Bourgeois OMC to make room for this!

I managed to get the last LJ26. Should be coming tomorrow ( Thursday).

Did you compare the two? The LL that’s left wasn’t quite as on point as the one that I bought but it was straight out the box with possibly questionable strings. It seems like everyone has their favourite body size and they’re all awesome!

Gonna need some good pics when these arrive!

No, bought it online. I’ve had a LL16 before and I knew I wanted something just a little smaller.

AlexHunter · July 2020

My LJX26C arrived this week. Hoping for a weekend break to audition it properly against my Eggle.

sunshinewelly · July 2020

Enjoy

Universal8 · July 2020

My LJ26 is going back. All along the edge of the fretboard the finish (lacquer ?) has lifted , looks like its dried out . Flaking in places and it feels roughy by the 3-4th fret. Not the quality I was expecting. No more Yamaha’s for me, that’s 2 in a row that were poorly finished.

Modellista · July 2020

Universal8 said:

My LJ26 is going back. All along the edge of the fretboard the finish (lacquer ?) has lifted , looks like its dried out . Flaking in places and it feels roughy by the 3-4th fret. Not the quality I was expecting. No more Yamaha’s for me, that’s 2 in a row that were poorly finished.

Ouch. Disappointing. Looking at mine I can't even imagine what's going on, the finish is such a thin matte that it looks like there's nothing to lift. Something's obviously gone astray with yours. Having tried a fair few in the flesh they were all essentially perfect cosmetically (apart from the LL36 in the showroom which had picked up a few unfortunate dings).

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

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