Choice of 2. Any advice?

shsam75 · March 2015

So I'm 40 soon and the Mrs has agreed I can choose a new guitar. I want a dreadnought or jumbo type acoustic and have narrowed it down to 2 possibles. First off I'm a lefty so getting to try any new guitar is a major headache, so seeing them in the flesh is almost certainly a no no. I've done some reading and watched videos and I know it's not perfect but for me it has to do. My choice is between an epiphone inspired by Texan 64 at £330 or a Yamaha ll16are at £599 Common sense says expensive is better right? I'm not bothered about playing plugged in so for this purchase its all about sound, looks, quality and longevity. Any advice or other choices appreciated Shaun

xSkarloey · March 2015

I'm a lefty.

I'd b inclined to say Yamaha but...

I've had a brief play on the Epi and it's okay. Not bad but it didn't really knock me out as I hoped it would. Shame because I love the Texan/ J45 slope shouldered look.

That said I've never had the pleasure of playing that Yammy, though it was on my to try list when I was doing the rounds trying out guitars when I made a 'big' acoustic purchase a few years back.

Have you any chance of getting to try a few acoustics in a shop?

shsam75 · March 2015

It's a hassle getting anywhere that might stock them. Guitar guitar have each in stock but its a full day there and back and unfortunately with kids it's a day without dad about on a rare wkend off. I have a tanglewood tw45 at the minute which has served me well but it's a cutaway and tbh I don't need access to those frets and I do prefer the look of a nice big dreadnought.

xSkarloey · March 2015

I'm in a similar boat mate.

Y'know what? You only live once. Fuck it and get that Yammy

(AND DO IT QUICK BEFORE SOMeONE POSTS ADVISING YOU TO GET A TAYLOR

)

ICBM · March 2015

Skarloey said:

I'm in a similar boat mate.

Y'know what? You only live once. Fuck it and get that Yammy

(AND DO IT QUICK BEFORE SOMeONE POSTS ADVISING YOU TO GET A TAYLOR )

Get a Taylor

.

I admit I'm not a huge fan of Yamaha acoustics, but given the choice of the LL or the Epiphone I would get the Yamaha no question. Modern Epiphone acoustics are adequate, no more than that. Yamahas are good, but the sound is a bit 'personal taste' - for my personal taste, rather bland. But I know a lot of people think very highly of the LLs.

There are also left-handed Faith acoustics in your price range, which have a very good reputation.

xSkarloey · March 2015

@icbm

I agree re the sound with the cheaper ones.

The Yamaha the op refers to on paper at least has an impressive spec.

I must admit I have a soft spot for japanese made Yamahas because the one or two (old) ones I've played have been beauts. And as a massive Bert Jansch fan he got a lovely sound out of the Yammy he played for years. As I say though, never had the pleasure to date of trying that model, for the reasons the op says.

ICBM · March 2015

I've not been that impressed by the LLs or other Japanese ones either to be honest - they're not at all bad, but very clean-sounding and (to me) rather characterless - I much prefer something a bit rougher and thicker-sounding, vintage Martin/Gibson/Guild type sound. To be honest I feel the same about a lot of the currently fashionable brands including Faith though, so it's probably just me

.

Bert Jansch would have sounded great on anything

.

Sassafras · March 2015

The Yamaha I had, can't remember which model, was very nice, played well, was very resonant and well made. Epiphones can be a bit lacklustre, although it is almost half the price.

svejk · March 2015

I would recommend trying a Simon & Patrick, or other guitars in that family (eg Seagull). My daughter recently got a S&P Songsmith, and it's really great. Gibson scale length, so a different sound and feel - not as bright as Taylors at al. I prefer a more mellow sound, but horses for courses and all that. The electrics (B Band A3T) are great too - natural sounding, plenty of volume & tweakability. And made in Canada, if you like your guitars to be made by people who get paid enough to actually buy and enjoy the instruments they make

xSkarloey · March 2015

@icbm

I was lucky enough to see Bert Jansch four times. On each occasion he played that old Yamaha.

You're right that he sounded great on anything, but the quality that Yamaha had was that it had the most wonderful and convincingly natural amplified acoustic sound I have ever heard. He only (afaik) used the undersaddle pup but had no 'zing' or harshness.

Perhaps a combination of a very good guitar, a decent eq setting and a stellar player.

xwoozor · March 2015

I owned a yamaha LL16 years ago and I didnt like it at all. It was heavy over built and bright with no depth. I would go check out the faiths different league to the two you have mentioned.

BigLicks67 · March 2015

I have a Yamaha LL6 and it is superb value for the money. Bert played an LL11 which I believe is effectively the same guitar - solid spruce top and laminated rosewood back and sides. They are heavy compared to say a Martin dreadnought and the top could move more but I think that is expecting a lot at that price point. I have a Martin OM18V which is 5 times the price and granted if you look at it the top vibrates but sometimes after all that warm midrange it's nice to play a bright Yamaha as a contrast.

By the way I once owned a Taylor 414ce and I think the Yamaha is better irrespective of price/value considerations.

Samgb · March 2015

BigLicks67 said:

I have a Yamaha LL6 and it is superb value for the money. Bert played an LL11 which I believe is effectively the same guitar - solid spruce top and laminated rosewood back and sides. They are heavy compared to say a Martin dreadnought and the top could move more but I think that is expecting a lot at that price point. I have a Martin OM18V which is 5 times the price and granted if you look at it the top vibrates but sometimes after all that warm midrange it's nice to play a bright Yamaha as a contrast.

Here's Bert in action

Another big shout for the LL6 from here as well. Had mine 10 years, love it. Bought it after seeing Bert Jansch with Yammies. I know why he used them it gives the loveliest woody thump and a really sparkly top end for fingerstyle. I almost sold it last year and then realised i was stupid.

Its going to be a class above the Epiphone i would have thought.

Not enough love on here for Yamaha guitars in general. Not trendy enough?

One thing : Mine isnt heavy - i havent weighed it but it certainly feels in the same ballpark as any dreadnought ive ever played

rpr · March 2015

Another option-Sigma do a left handed DR28 left handed-No cutaway or electronics, just ( I'm surmising) a straight ahead copy of a Martin D28;

GAK has it for £279-

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/sigma-dr-28l/57629?gclid=CJqulpyhoMQCFYSWtAodpTgAlQ

Teetonetal · March 2015

Yamaha make really good acoustics, whilst I don't know this model, if I was buying blind, it's the one I'd go for, based on all the other ones I have played.

Phil_aka_Pip · March 2015

pity your stated budget doesn't quite stretch to a faith. I'd have faith before epi or yam

shsam75 · March 2015

ive had a quick look at the Faith Saturn. its the only dreadnought lefty i could see on their site. it looks nice, any owners with one or any reviews. At the minute i am leaning towards the yamaha. i really wish i could get to a shop and see loads of left handed guitars all in one place rather than that shop has 1, they have another. Ho hum..

xwoozor · March 2015

shsam75 said:

ive had a quick look at the Faith Saturn. its the only dreadnought lefty i could see on their site. it looks nice, any owners with one or any reviews. At the minute i am leaning towards the yamaha. i really wish i could get to a shop and see loads of left handed guitars all in one place rather than that shop has 1, they have another. Ho hum..

I have the high end signature series near 2k rrp faith which is amazing. But Ive also played the cheaper ones ranging from £500-£800 and they have all been great. Very good setups on all of them. If your budget is at that higher end of £600 i would definately pop to a shop with some and take a look. There is way to much over hype on those yamaha ll16s online. Also worth looking at the guild guitars.

xSkarloey · March 2015

shsam75;554241" said:
ive had a quick look at the Faith Saturn. its the only dreadnought lefty i could see on their site. it looks nice, any owners with one or any reviews. At the minute i am leaning towards the yamaha. i really wish i could get to a shop and see loads of left handed guitars all in one place rather than that shop has 1, they have another. Ho hum..

Where are you? If you're erring towards heading to a shop to try one or two maybe some of us could recommend somewhere in your locality.

shsam75 · March 2015

Just been looking at Taylors, I believe they offer every guitar as a lefty but boy way too much choice!! I know it's completely irrelevant but I don't like the faith logo on the headstock. Very picky I know. I've ruled out the epiphone completely

ICBM · March 2015

If you do get a Taylor, whatever you do don't be tempted by one with electrics. (I know you said you weren't looking for one.) They are notoriously unreliable, and the system is unique to Taylor and not compatible with any other pickup or preamp system, either way round. As far as I know even both versions of the Taylor system are totally incompatible with each other too.

xSkarloey · March 2015

Had a look at Takamine? (Something Japanese made).

crunchman · March 2015

Just had a look round. These might be worth a look as alternative options at the kind of price you are looking at. Seagull are normally pretty good value for money and might get you more guitar for your money than the Epi and the Yamaha in the price range you are looking at. There is also a Martin from the lower end of their range:

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/left_guitars_detail.asp?stock=14021717381232

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/left_guitars_detail.asp?stock=14100213521258

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/left_guitars_detail.asp?stock=14032016195432

shsam75 · March 2015

Not keen on those seagull head stocks. The martins is interesting but it says the sides are high pressure laminate where as the yamaha has solid rosewood. Much difference? Incidentally, was in Lincoln on Saturday and wandered down to music room assuming they'd have a RIGHTY yamaha just for me to look at and hold. Low and behold they had the lefty epi in stock. Had a play around but and quite liked it. Didn't sound as nice as the tanglewood I currently have but it certainly looked good. Impressed by the price of it but I now think the yamaha at £250 more SHOULD be miles better sounding. They didn't have many yamahas in. Did mess with a thr10 though. Me likey!

ICBM · March 2015

shsam75 said:

Not keen on those seagull head stocks.

Nor am I, not just because they're ugly but because they have a tendency to part company from the neck.

I'm not sure exactly why because the design seems fairly normal, but in my experience Seagull/Simon & Patrick/Art & Lutherie (all the same company really - Godin) headstocks are the second most commonly broken after Gibson, and noticeably more than you would expect from the number out there compared to other brands.

shsam75 said:

The martins is interesting but it says the sides are high pressure laminate where as the yamaha has solid rosewood. Much difference?

You can't easily compare a Martin with HPL to a Yamaha with rosewood because the rest of the guitar is quite different as well. Rosewood should sound better than HPL, so *probably* the Yamaha will sound better, but in my opinion Yamahas don't sound as good as Martins overall, so it may be closer than you'd think.

shsam75 said:

Low and behold they had the lefty epi in stock. Had a play around but and quite liked it. Didn't sound as nice as the tanglewood I currently have but it certainly looked good.

Really, just avoid modern Epiphone acoustics - you've nailed it exactly, they look the part but sound extremely average.

BigLicks67 · March 2015

Don't forget you can go for a Yamaha LL6 which at £380-400 is nearer the budget of the Epiphone Texan.

I think Martin's are pretty consistent these days - about 12 years ago when I bought mine they were all over the place. Luckily the advent of Taylors gave them a much needed kick up the backside.

I played about 10 martins recently across the price range and the all had a consistency of sound and set up.

Don't the HPL one's have those horrible stratabond necks though if so I'd avoid.

shsam75 · March 2015

I don't think the ll6 comes as a lefty. Still looking at Taylors online. Birthdays end of April so still a few weeks to decide

xwoozor · March 2015

For £600 you could be picking up something like those in a cash sale out of ebay (only had a quick look). Id consider used at that price range. You will then get a great guitar for life. Unlike an epi or yamaha.

martin
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Left-handed-Martin-GPCPA4-/141606980669?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20f86f0c3d

or stonebridge
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Left-handed-Stonebridge-DS34-SR/141606975345?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=20140122125356&meid=18b6525c650d47dc80491ea34e5112c7&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=141606980669&rt=nc

crunchman · March 2015

@woozor just reminded me about Furch/Stonebridge.

This is probably a better guitar than anything new mentioned so far:

http://rguitars.co.uk/collections/stonebridge/products/furch-stonebridge-d20cml-acoustic-guitar

BigLicks67 · March 2015

Here's a lefty ll16 on fleabay :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-LL16-LEFT-HANDED-ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-HARD-CASE-/331506123494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d2f4e02e6

.

woody · March 2015

That stonebridge is an absolute bargain.. different league to most of guitars being mentioned..to my ears they are better than martin d28, s(much tighter better defined bottom end) and can give the santa cruz and collings of this world a very close run for it..

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