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

sunshinewelly · January 2023

chor808 said:

They must find the odd one in the warehouse. My 36 will be dragged out of my dead hands, it's just amazing.

same here - i got one back in the day and its sublime.

Whitecat · January 2023

Anyone want a practically mint LS26 for a quite frankly insane low price?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/px221223397947004--yamaha-ls26-natural-pre-owned

(it’s on “24 hour early access” so you need to be logged in to see it/buy it)

edit: yikes, gone already!!!

goldtop · January 2023

^ Yup - "loyalty only" message now. How insane was insane?

Whitecat · January 2023

goldtop said:

^ Yup - "loyalty only" message now. How insane was insane?

£999 in 5/5 condition. It sold within about an hour of going live at most, maybe quicker.

danishbacon · January 2023

Whitecat said:

Anyone want a practically mint LS26 for a quite frankly insane low price?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/px221223397947004--yamaha-ls26-natural-pre-owned

(it’s on “24 hour early access” so you need to be logged in to see it/buy it)

edit: yikes, gone already!!!

I was online. I faltered and gave in (again) Succumbed to GAS.

The LS is a bit bigger than I thought it would be, it’s closer to an OM/Dread depth than a parlour. It’s a really nice form factor.

I like that the top has no runout and that it’s one of the earlier ones when they started making them, without the headstock scarf joint and heel joint on the neck. 2004 serial.

Thank you @Whitecat

silver lining to the unsuccessful LJ36 purchase

goldtop · January 2023

^ Dead jealous. Do they do them with their zero-impact pickups?

I found Yamaha sizes a bit tricky to properly follow. My CSF is tiny (Martin 0 size).

The FS and LS bodies have the same size top surface, with the LS being 10mm deeper. According to my hack-o-matic spreadsheet, the box volume of the LS is not so much smaller than my old Sigma J45.

danishbacon · January 2023

goldtop said:

^ Dead jealous. Do they do them with their zero-impact pickups?

I found Yamaha sizes a bit tricky to properly follow. My CSF is tiny (Martin 0 size).

The FS and LS bodies have the same size top surface, with the LS being 10mm deeper. According to my hack-o-matic spreadsheet, the box volume of the LS is not so much smaller than my old Sigma J45.

I think they did but they have a different model code. @sunshinewelly has one if I recall correctly.

it’s a legitimately superb guitar and having handled a few from different ‘eras’ in this family, they have slight and interesting variations in build.

Whitecat · January 2023

Ah amazing. Congrats!!! That top is superb. Engelmann that looks like that anymore is super rare indeed. You may have got the bargain of the year so far.

@goldtop they have run a few with pickups but they are dead rare. Peach has actually had a few a couple years ago but I’m not even sure if the electro models have ever been in the official catalogue. If you ever spot one with a cutaway, it’ll most likely be an electro.

Soupman · January 2023

@danishbacon that looks a cracker.

danishbacon · January 2023

Dug this up. Would like to go back and try and figure out when ARE or ARE II are introduced but it looks like cutaway electrics were available since 2004

Image: https://i.postimg.cc/V6w2WCc7/Screenshot-2023-01-11-at-20-46-41.png

Image: https://i.postimg.cc/59nD8yK3/Screenshot-2023-01-11-at-20-47-31.png

Image: https://i.postimg.cc/02jFnvLq/Screenshot-2023-01-11-at-20-52-31.png

Image: https://i.postimg.cc/xTZ7F72N/Screenshot-2023-01-11-at-20-53-22.png

Image: https://i.postimg.cc/NFfVWvFm/Screenshot-2023-01-11-at-20-55-12.png

goldtop · January 2023

^ Very useful - thanks for posting. It explains some of the history. Never seen an LJ shape. Bit confused though, as I thought the LS6 had laminated back and sides. Maybe I am misreading it.

I am off to Japan in March ... dare I risk trying to find and import one of these rare high-end models? (Baggage handling risks, VAT/etc, CITES!)

danishbacon · January 2023

goldtop said:

^ Very useful - thanks for posting. It explains some of the history. Never seen an LJ shape. Bit confused though, as I thought the LS6 had laminated back and sides. Maybe I am misreading it.

I am off to Japan in March ... dare I risk trying to find and import one of these rare high-end models? (Baggage handling risks, VAT/etc, CITES!)

No CITES on these. Cases reasonably sturdy

I'd try to get it on the plane/coat rack or gate check it. Loosen strings. Get it on your instrument insurance policy, unatended vehicle international cover prior to getting on the plane and have fun

Whitecat · January 2023

goldtop said:

^ Very useful - thanks for posting. It explains some of the history. Never seen an LJ shape. Bit confused though, as I thought the LS6 had laminated back and sides. Maybe I am misreading it.

I am off to Japan in March ... dare I risk trying to find and import one of these rare high-end models? (Baggage handling risks, VAT/etc, CITES!)

The 6 series definitely is lam back/sides, not sure what was going on there. 16 and higher is all-solid.

goldtop · January 2023

I'll double-check on CITES. Last thing I want is for it to be stuck in limbo if a Border Force person can't be persuaded.

goldtop · January 2023

Whitecat said:

goldtop said:

^ Very useful - thanks for posting. It explains some of the history. Never seen an LJ shape. Bit confused though, as I thought the LS6 had laminated back and sides. Maybe I am misreading it.

I am off to Japan in March ... dare I risk trying to find and import one of these rare high-end models? (Baggage handling risks, VAT/etc, CITES!)

The 6 series definitely is lam back/sides, not sure what was going on there. 16 and higher is all-solid.

Bit more research seems to show that you are right. And that the 16 spec is made in China, and the 26 spec (and 36) are the ones made in Japan.

The less glamorous FS5/FG5 is also made in Japan (with FS3/FG3 being made in China, but similar spec).

I'll be there for 4 weeks, so I'll put off buying a bigger acoustic and hope I can luck into something there.

guitarjack66 · January 2023

goldtop said:

Whitecat said:

goldtop said:

^ Very useful - thanks for posting. It explains some of the history. Never seen an LJ shape. Bit confused though, as I thought the LS6 had laminated back and sides. Maybe I am misreading it.

I am off to Japan in March ... dare I risk trying to find and import one of these rare high-end models? (Baggage handling risks, VAT/etc, CITES!)

The 6 series definitely is lam back/sides, not sure what was going on there. 16 and higher is all-solid.

Bit more research seems to show that you are right. And that the 16 spec is made in China, and the 26 spec (and 36) are the ones made in Japan.

The less glamorous FS5/FG5 is also made in Japan (with FS3/FG3 being made in China, but similar spec).

I'll be there for 4 weeks, so I'll put off buying a bigger acoustic and hope I can luck into something there.

I've always fancied going to Japan as it fascinates me. I'm not a fan of crowds like they have but their culture,language and architecture interest me too. They like their sport and guitars also,which is right up my street.

DavidR · January 2023

goldtop said:

Whitecat said:

goldtop said:

^ Very useful - thanks for posting. It explains some of the history. Never seen an LJ shape. Bit confused though, as I thought the LS6 had laminated back and sides. Maybe I am misreading it.

I am off to Japan in March ... dare I risk trying to find and import one of these rare high-end models? (Baggage handling risks, VAT/etc, CITES!)

The 6 series definitely is lam back/sides, not sure what was going on there. 16 and higher is all-solid.

Bit more research seems to show that you are right. And that the 16 spec is made in China, and the 26 spec (and 36) are the ones made in Japan.

The less glamorous FS5/FG5 is also made in Japan (with FS3/FG3 being made in China, but similar spec).

I'll be there for 4 weeks, so I'll put off buying a bigger acoustic and hope I can luck into something there.

Actually many suspect FS5/FG5 made in China and finished off in Japan according to some www content. Identical in appearance to FS3/FG3 but ship from Hamamatsu. Why don't you ask whilst you're out there @goldtop ;and let us know for certain?! Yamaha a little opaque about the actual source of their instruments sometimes. :-)

goldtop · January 2023

^ I can ask, but I don't speak Japanese, so conversation is at a polite/superficial level. Ms GT does, so perhaps I'll drag her along and ask some more nuanced and direct questions.

For sure, I remember when Edwards electric guitars were launched and those definitely were just finished off (hardware, setup?) in Japan. But most resellers claimed they were MIJ.

goldtop · January 2023

Just in case anyone near Bristol wants an LS26, I just found one on FB Marketplace:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1336514387144751/

Too far for me to travel (unlike Japan?!).

Dave_Mc · January 2023

goldtop said:

^ I can ask, but I don't speak Japanese, so conversation is at a polite/superficial level. Ms GT does, so perhaps I'll drag her along and ask some more nuanced and direct questions.

For sure, I remember when Edwards electric guitars were launched and those definitely were just finished off (hardware, setup?) in Japan. But most resellers claimed they were MIJ.

Yeah definitely (talking about Edwards here). And I think there was some variation as well, depending on the year- some years may well have been definitely made in Japan, and some definitely had a "made in Japan" stamp on the headstock. I saw one with my own eyes which I played which had that- a second-hand one a local shop had in- and also plenty online which had the MIJ stamp too. Mine didn't as far as I can remember, I suspect mine was from one of those years where it was only finished off in Japan.

danishbacon · January 2023

goldtop said:

Just in case anyone near Bristol wants an LS26, I just found one on FB Marketplace:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1336514387144751/

Too far for me to travel (unlike Japan?!).

I’ve played this one when I bought another guitar off Jack. It’s a nice one.

goldtop · February 2023

Just using this thread as a placeholder for my high-end L-series research.

I found this video after searching for LSX400 info (I think that was an earlier version of the LS26?), and thought it was worth sharing.

Stuckfast · February 2023

Wtf is going on with the reverb in that video?

Soupman · February 2023

I miss notes sometimes too, but at least I don't beat my guitar up over it!

Whitecat · March 2023

https://richtonemusic.co.uk/yamaha-ls26-are-natural-hard-case-2nd-hand/

Modellista · March 2023

Whitecat said:

https://richtonemusic.co.uk/yamaha-ls26-are-natural-hard-case-2nd-hand/

Interesting, exactly the same price as Yamaha were selling them for a couple of years ago.

danishbacon · March 2023

Modellista said:

Whitecat said:

https://richtonemusic.co.uk/yamaha-ls26-are-natural-hard-case-2nd-hand/

Interesting, exactly the same price as Yamaha were selling them for a couple of years ago.

Considering inflation since the sale, it's discounted! The LS has a recommended retail price of £5060 in the UK currently https://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/guitars_basses/ac_guitars/l_series/ls_series.html

goldtop · March 2023

That one's tempting, but I am hoping to find a better bargain in Japan. I've earmarked £1500 +/- for a LS26 (or just possibly the LL26).

I found a used LS36 for $1900, but I'm not too persuaded by the extra stuff on the 36, and the total after paying VAT/etc at Heathrow would be almost £2000.

chor808 · March 2023

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/b-stock/product/1075542/b-stock-yamaha-ll26-are-acoustic-western-guitar

B stock over 4k. I think I'll put mine back in the case

danishbacon · April 2023

A very keenly priced ll36 is up for sale

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266209730153?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=zGuEs6RfRqm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=inbbS_mWTY2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

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

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