NGD: Yamaha LA-8

Gomers · June 2022

My somewhat worrying obsession with Yamaha acoustics continues with the delivery of this LA-8 today.

I owned one of these about 7 years ago , it was nice but wasn’t ‘special’. Incidentally, that particular guitar recently came up for sale here in the UK at around twice what I sold it for.

Since then I’ve acquired my LL-500 which is VERY special. So when I saw this LA-8 online about a week ago at a fair price, the irrational part of my brain started working. As of yesterday, nobody had snapped it up so I took a punt on it thinking I’d probably be able to move it on if this one turned out to be a bit ‘meh’ too.

It arrived today and I’m happy to report that it’s quite a bit better than the previous one but not without some minor issues.

It sounds ace, set up is perfect and playability is buttery. So all good there. Issues - there was previously a pick up installed although this now is only an endpin Jack and a bare ended cable flapping about inside. Think I’ll go for a K&K pure mini.

The finish on the laminated Rosewood back and sides is showing some ‘cloudiness’ in places, like condensation that doesn’t wipe off but is definitely a defect in the finish.

Lastly, can somebody tell me what the object inside the guitar is (2nd photo) please ? I’ve no idea, is it a cleat, a mounting for a battery ? I’ve haven’t seen anything like it so am a bit stumped. Can’t see any evidence of cracks so am scratching my head a bit.

It’s a good size too, a very slightly scaled down version of the LL body shape, a smidge less width and body depth.

It’s a slightly rough old dog and I’m still trying to figure out the year from the s/n, either ‘95 or 2005 but overall I’m pretty chuffed with it.

And finally.....Yay, my tFB subscription appears to be letting me post pics

2008 Martin 000-15
2011 Yamaha LL6T
2004 Yamaha LL-500

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Mellish · June 2022

Good lad! Nice guitar and nice pics.

Never owned a Yamnie so no idea what that is in the second pic, sorry. But someone else here will.

Meanwhile, enjoy your new guitar

BillDL · July 2022

Beautiful guitar. As to the small block inside, it looks as though it has been glued onto the back and has the remnants of two screw holes where something has been mounted. It looks as though somebody has used a felt-tip pen on the bare wood to make it less visible, but has gone around whatever used to be mounted on it. It would be overkill to use a block of wood that big with a cable clip to hold the transducer wires,but you never know. Perhaps somebody had a battery for a preamp mounted on the block because they didn't want to cut a hole in the side for a battery compartment and used one of those combined end-pin/jack socket affairs with the integrated small profile preamp build into the extended cylindrical shape. It looks as though it's just soft pine, so somebody with small hands that is used to using a chisel could probably remove it for you.

By the way, is there a Shetland Pony standing on the beige velour footstool/chaise longue showing in the 3rd photo down?

Gomers · July 2022

My photos have disappeared !

Strangefan · July 2022

Photos are still there, what a lovely looking guitar

Gomers · July 2022

BillDL said:

By the way, is there a Shetland Pony standing on the beige velour footstool/chaise longue showing in the 3rd photo down?

LOL ! A hoof (previous owner unknown) that my dog has abandoned for later

ICBM · July 2022

Gomers said:

Lastly, can somebody tell me what the object inside the guitar is (2nd photo) please ? I’ve no idea, is it a cleat, a mounting for a battery ? I’ve haven’t seen anything like it so am a bit stumped. Can’t see any evidence of cracks so am scratching my head a bit.

It looks like a DIY mounting block for a cable retainer, to do with the removed pickup - it looks too small for a battery clip. Shouldn't be too difficult to remove, although cleaning off the (what looks like) cyano glue might be difficult.

Shame about the nasty strap button fitting too, although you could at least fix it by having the heel cap replaced.

Otherwise, nice-looking guitar.

Soupman · July 2022

Nice looking guitar. I'd certainly pick it off a shop wall to try it.

BillDL summed up your query about the foreign body.
Defo a wood block for mounting something, but removal attempts could pull strips off the back and it's right next to a brace.....

TheMadMick · July 2022

The block looks like a DIY mount for an internal mic - at least that's how it looks to me.

Nice box. Yammie are well under rated in my view.

Gomers · July 2022

Thanks for the comments re the unidentified item, will have a poke round when I restring it to see if there's any moving it, otherwise will probably leave it alone.

Going to leave the heel button where it is for now too. The cloudy finish on the B&S is intriguing, unfortunately it's quite difficult to photograph.

There's tons of tone in it though, so much better than the one I used to own which seemed a bit dull sounding. This one appears extremely resonant with loads of sustain and lush overtones and although of very similar build to my LL-500 (albeit laminated back and sides), they sound very distinct from each other.

I assume photos can still be seen, wonder why I can't see them now

TheMadMick · July 2022

The cloudiness could be oil from the underlying wood. I had that on a quite expensive set of loudspeakers veneered in ebony and that was the diagnosis (replaced under warranty thankfully).

It might also be damp, in which case, leave it alone and it should eventually go away on its own.

Mellish · July 2022

Yes, the pics are still there

guitarjack66 · July 2022

What is the fretboard neck like for width(ooerr missus!) and shape? I found my Yamaha APX 3 quarter sized a bit too thin for comfort.

Gomers · July 2022

guitarjack66 said:

What is the fretboard neck like for width(ooerr missus!) and shape? I found my Yamaha APX 3 quarter sized a bit too thin for comfort.

Its 1"11/16 nut width, the profile though is a bit fuller than my previous LA-8 which is why I'm getting on with the neck as well as I am, the previous one felt a lot thinner to me. The LL-500 by contrast feels slightly more slim but with a hint of V.

I've become very used to 1"11/16 nut width over the past few months, think it suits me best.

Mellish · July 2022

@Gomers ; - 1 11/16 is my favourite nut width. Give me 1 3/4 and a soft V and I can still gig with it but I'm sort of out of my comfort zone

artiebear · July 2022

Mellish said:

@Gomers ; - 1 11/16 is my favourite nut width. Give me 1 3/4 and a soft V and I can still gig with it but I'm sort of out of my comfort zone

Weird as I probably am, but nut width has never bothered me too much. It's a guitar, I play the guitar, it takes a few seconds to adjust ( and I play what could be describe as finger style nearly all the time, even though I spent most of my life without hearing the term finger style

). It's a tiny adjustment to make.

Mellish · July 2022

@artiebear ; - with a slim C/D it would be a different story, even with a 1 3/4. But introduce a soft V to the mix and I start to not struggle but wish there was less wood

artiebear · July 2022

Mellish said:

@artiebear ; - with a slim C/D it would be a different story, even with a 1 3/4. But introduce a soft V to the mix and I start to not struggle but wish there was less wood

There is a point where, for a bloke of limited size, a neck can be too much for certain idiosyncratic stretches and chords

As far as nut width etc goes, I just grimace more and reach

Gomers · July 2022

I'm two days in now, this thing is absolutely stellar ! Can't quite get my head round it, it's dangerously close to the LL-500 and has a better neck for me. I know Yamaha are known for their consistency but this LA-8 is in a different league to the one I owned some years ago. Seriously, mind....blown !

Going to try some John Pearse 80/20s on it when they get here.

Mellish · July 2022

John Pearse eh?

My experience has been bad - dead straight out of the box. But, tbf to JP, that may have been the string supplier, not him.

Let us know what you think when you try `em

Gomers · July 2022

Mellish said:

John Pearse eh?

My experience has been bad - dead straight out of the box. But, tbf to JP, that may have been the string supplier, not him.

Let us know what you think when you try `em

Noted buddy, thanks. Have tried JP PBs once before and they were fine. A slightly dead sound might not be a bad thing, these rosewood Yamaha’s are on the brighter side, great clarity.

Mellish · July 2022

@Gomers ; - if your Yammie is on the bright side mate, stick a set of Silk & Steel on and see what you think.

Ebony bridge pins should also help to tame it

Gomers · July 2022

Mellish said:

@Gomers ; - if your Yammie is on the bright side mate, stick a set of Silk & Steel on and see what you think.

Ebony bridge pins should also help to tame it

Thanks but the bright aspect is in a good way, like loads of clarity which I like. I had an 80’s Martin D35 once which was the complete opposite.

And sorry to disappoint but I’m just not a bridge pin, sound difference believer. Find it all a bit foo to be honest, I have done it before but found it made no discernible difference.

Think what I was trying to get at was I tend to find PBs exacerbate a bright guitar making them sound a little clinical and overbearing while 80/20 do settle down after not much playing in and seem to have a quite neutral response.

I’m in no rush to swap the strings out, it sounds bloody marvellous as is so will continue with the mystery strings that are on it now.

Mellish · July 2022

@Gomers ; - not a problem mate.

You *should* do what works for you

Gomers · August 2022

On a whim, I bought some Martin flex core TE PBs and have installed them on the LA-8.

The removal of the old 80/20s revealed the redundant piezo USP which I've left in place for now as to remove will require a new saddle making.

The new strings are quite nice to be fair, it's a long time since I've experienced the bright, crisp and fizzy tones of fresh PBs and I'm liking what I'm hearing so far. Will keep them on long enough for them to properly settle then I'll revaluate.

It has confirmed to me though that this particular LA-8 is a goodun'.

bugileman · August 2022

I own quite a few L series Yamaha myself, some are fantastic. Cloudiness on Yamaha guitars is quite common, over humidity can be a culprit. I played two LA-8 one at an auction which was good guitar (but lacking in volume) the other much better ......so they do vary. I put that down to the fact these are somewhat hand built.

Gomers · August 2022

Martin Flex Cores removed, just TOO sweet sounding. John Pearse 80/20s installed, better and lost their initial brightness very quickly. Think 80/20s will probably be the future. This may of course all change when I have the redundant piezo removed and new saddle made.

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NGD: Yamaha LA-8

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