Hand selected materials, handcrafted construction — an amazing price.

The Yamaha LLX6 acoustic-electric guitar can be judged an excellent deal on materials alone with a solid Englemann spruce top, multilayered mahogany/rosewood reinforced neck, and ebony fretboard. Yet where this jumbo guitar really shines is on the strength of its handcrafted construction by expert Japanese luthiers. Every step in the creation of this excellent instrument, from tonewood selection to hand-sanding the frets, is done in a small factory by master craftsmen.

Body top
Most manufacturers are using Sitka spruce tops for their high end models. In Yamaha's experience, Englemann spruce (Canada) naturally suits the role for top woods better than any other. The overriding quality for body top material is an allowance for resonance and Englemann spruce has this attribute in abundance. It is a light wood that is easy to work and enables a good tone response with a wide harmonic range. Visually Englemann spruce is comfortable on the eye and its opaque light yellow tint is reminiscent of a mature acoustic instrument.

Back & side
Yamaha uses rosewood for both the back and sides on the Yamaha LLX6. The rosewood blends extremely well with the Englemann spruce top. It disperses resonance evenly and effortlessly.

Neck block
The neck block reinforces the neck joint. Yamaha has improved the conventional C block design by enlarging the surface area that is in contact with the top of the guitar. The block securely meets the underside of the top adding a real depth to the tone of the instrument.

Bracing
X-bracing maps out the vibration patterns of the guitar. Each of the eight braces has been carefully positioned in order to bring out the tone in a balanced fashion and find a natural harmony with the guitar's tone woods.

Multilayered reinforced neck
Traditionally, an acoustic guitar neck is carved from a single timber block. As the grain of the timber has to be angled at about 14 degrees to accommodate the headstock, it leaves itself vulnerable to excessive stress. To alleviate the potential of neck movement over time, Yamaha has introduced multilayered necks.

The LLX6 model features a strip of rosewood set into the center of the mahogany neck. Rosewood has been chosen for its rigidity and the way it complements mahogany tonally.

Bridge
The unique larger bridge on the LLX6 acoustic-electric guitar provides a more efficient transfer of the string vibrations to the body of the guitar, giving a tight, clear midrange and a full, balanced tone. Handcrafted with chamfered edges, the bridge design offers a perfect balance of tone, comfort, and style.

Yamaha has over thirty years experience of crafting quality steel string instruments by hand. Today's L Series guitars are a testament to the decades of that extensive research and development work.

Yamaha design themes center around the following points:

A balanced tone and response. The ultimate goal. Bass and treble must complement each other, encouraging inspiration from the guitarist rather than compensation.

Dovetail neck joint. Since the '70s, Yamaha has adopted a unique dovetail neck joint. This particular joint gives the guitar the excellent surface to surface (neck to body) contact. In the joint there is nothing but timber. This enables and indeed encourages resonance flow from the neck to the body, aiding the achievement of a balanced tone and response.

Blending of woods. Yamaha's experience of blending quality woods ensures that the highs are really sustained and note texture is under maximum control at all times by the player.

Body Designs. Yamaha's original L Series guitar has shoulders that are slightly more slender than a standard dreadnought design and the body has been designed to be subtly wider. This gives the acoustic guitar a more definite tone.

Lacquer expertise is one of Yamaha's most significant strengths. They work very closely with lacquer manufacturers. The focus being less is more. Specially developed finishing materials, unique to Yamaha are used on handcrafted models such as the LLX6 guitar. Ultimately, this gives the Yamaha guitars every chance to breathe and tonally shine. A good acoustic guitar must feel alive and not simply just sound good.

Yamaha L Series LLX6 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Case Features:

• Body Wood: Rosewood
• Top wood if applicable: Solid Englemann Spruce
• Scale Length: 650mm (25-9/16")
• Neck Joint: Dovetail
• Neck Wood: Mahogany/ Rosewood (3 ply)
• Fretboard: Ebony
• Frets: 20
• Nut Width: 44mm (1-3/4")
• Bridge: Ebony
• Pickup Bridge: 1-way Piezo (neck block mount pre-amp), System54
• Tuners: Die-cast
• Hardware color: Gold
• Pickup selector:
• Finish: Hi-Gloss

Want a great handmade acoustic without paying for a name? Order this one today.

Yamaha L Series LLX6 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Case

Write A Review

1 User Rating

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Customer Reviews

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

30 Years Later

Posted by Smooth Benson from Santander, Spain on Oct 12, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician Songwriter

Reviewer's Play Style: Various

I'm like a baby boy with a new toy with my new Yamaha LLX6. I haven't had an acoustic for 30 years as I never found one I liked that didn't cost $4000 -- till now. To test an acoustic, I play the opening chords of 'Torn and Frayed' and I know in 2 bars. Sure, the J200s and Doves I've tried passed the test, but too expensive. When I tried this LLX6, I was amazed how it booms, full of harmonics! I can't put it down. Mine has a one-way Piezo-to-battery-to-jack: no goofing around with e.q.s that give you that horrible plastic sound. It's pure acoustic whether played in clubs or recordings. This guitar's totally pro quality. Love it!

If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.

Yamaha L Series LLX6 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Case

Read 1 Review