Yamaha FG9: New Top-of-the-Line Dreadnought!
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- čas přidán 25. 04. 2023
- Handcrafted in Japan, the FG9 R steel-string acoustic guitar features an Adirondack spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides-and its extraordinary projection and clarity make it ideal for singer-songwriters. What do you think? Think these will hang with the iconic dreadnoughts we know and love? Leave a comment… what should we compare them to?
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GUITAR SPECS:
FG dreadnought body shape
Adirondack spruce top
Indian Rosewood or Mahogany back and sides
25 9/16" Scale
1 3/4" Nut
Scalloped X bracing
Bolt-on, one-piece mahogany neck
Ebony fingerboard and bridge
Bone nut/saddle
Nitrocellulose lacquer finish
Hardshell Case
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Hello, this is Jason Callas. Just wanted to say hello to Quinton! I played drums in a group with him back in the 90s, In Frederick, Maryland. Also did some gigs with his dad in a local country band.
Wow - it's been a long minute! Hope all is well with you! I think of that group often - particularly now as my 14 year old is desperately trying to learn La Villa Strangiato :)
Thanks for another great review!
I love the Yamaha's and I'm so excited my local shop has a FG9-M. I'm totally going to play that sucker this week. They sound so awesome.
You don't have anything else better to do than be the grammar police? CZcams or any social media must drive you insane. @@theinvisibleman2070
Wow! Spectacular instruments. I tend to gravitate towards Mahogany, but... I used to say, "For the money..." Yamaha does not need qualifying introductions; they are great guitars. Thanks for another great demo.
The guitars and the playing are both awesome. Would love to own one of those. I have a revstar pro and can attest that high end Yamaha guitars are amazing instruments.
All i can say is wow. Incredible guitars.
I've owned and played many acoustics cheap and expensive over the years but my absolute favorite is my 1973 Yamaha FG-160. It just turned 50 this year and resonates like nobody's business. It sounds and feels like everything I want and expect from an acoustic. I have a few Yamahas and they're my clear favorite brand at any price. I'll probably never be able to afford this one but I'd love to try it. I have no doubt it's fantastic.
There are lots of things I can't afford. I can appreciate them from a distance. On the other hand, I am getting an FG9S.
I own a 1973 FG200 and I’m yet to find a guitar that plays smoother or as easily. I own a 2023 FG5, and the sound is marvelous! However, the playability is no wear near my FG200. I got to play a FG9R, and that plays like butter. The sound can compete with any of the established iconic guitar brands. I saving my pennies
I'm so happy they gave that pickguard shape a makeover
Those Yamahas look and sound beautiful. I could listen all day.
@@theinvisibleman2070 Sorry for the slip. I hope I didn’t ruin your day.
I also have an LL6M ARE that is so great.
Both guitars sound great, but I do prefer the sound of the rosewood guitar. Thanks for this useful comparison and demo.
When the folks from Yamaha explained the bolt on neck, they said that the bolted on neck works to more isolate the sound to the BODY of the guitar instead of the neck. Amazing
sounds on the video.
Don't want to bump in to that Guy camping in the woods.😂🤣😂
That's not the only good reason. There are several, including maintenance and tuning.
That's a little bit of hocum, the isolation, but a well fitted bolt on neck will be a lot easier down the road if the bracing is lively and causes adjustment earlier than a stiff old cob of a guitar with thick bracing and top. Bourgeois comes to mind. Mine needed more frequent adjustment (gone now, I'm building my own) - but oh my what enjoyment was had in the time between adjustments.
Guitars are fairly simple aside from getting really good judgement on voicing and then making tradeoff decisions. I talked to the instrument maker from CW (well, I do on a regular basis) and he mentioned that they had a demonstration guitar with the dovetail fitted precisely and no glue so that they could just pull it apart to show patrons how it was constructed. I asked him how it sounded and he said as good as any other guitar (of course it would).
I'm sure bolt on is better suited to CNC dimensioning of parts which does take a little bit of the human element out, but it's the way things are and have been as long as joints have been cut in jigs.
Its glued as well
No longer into dreadnoughts but these sound great. I do see they have entered the upper mid range in price; but the sound and , probably, build quality are equivalent to other makers. The bolt on necks are used by many builders and a neck reset is an hour job with a shim.
Imagine one of those in the blind test with Quinton when he almost chose the FG800 over the Gibson and Martin. I look forward to seeing the comparison between the FG9 and the Martin and Gibson.
Gibson and Martin quality has gone down a lot over the last 3 decades. I've owned several of each.
I’m trading a Taylor for a Yamaha for the single reason that out of all the guitars I own I’m always grabbing my old fgx800c . This is the new “dream” guitar for this guy. But I’ll have to settle on the fgx5 red label for now
Yep. Get rid of the taylor. Any Yamaha is preferable, I think. FG5 is an awesome guitar.
Love my FGX5…. It’s a beast!!
I’ve owned Taylors, I don’t like that little open notch behind the neck on the Taylors. I always find myself grabbing my TAs lately too.
I'd definitely get this over a Taylor. Not over a Martin, but that's my preference. But this guy definitely beats a Taylor
I'm the same way. I used to for some reason think Yamaha guitars were cheap, but I've found recently even their low end stuff is so good. The transacoustic is so much fun to play
The Mohagany has that warm tone
Wish they would make a FG5 in rosewood. Don’t think I could ever jump up to the FG9 price. But a $1500 FG5 rosewood I would be all over it
100%!
LL16. all solid, with Indian rosewood b/s and Engleman spruce top. I have two. They are magnificent...
Top of the line, thanks!
I bought a brand new LL26 back in 2010. I had my pick of the litter over acoustics two or three times the $2100 CDN I paid. It slayed all of em. No bling, no electronics, just perfect engineering and craftsmanship. Hiroshi Sahurai and his crew were and probably still are the best luthiers on earth.
I played these guitars a few weeks ago at my local music store in Cologne Germany. It blew me away. Better than all the other famous guitars from the well known brands. There was only a Furch Guitar that has been quite as good. But these Yamahas are really incredible.
Was pretty impressed with these guitars when you highlighted them in your recent NAMM video. It looks like they don't have electronics on them though. That's kind of becoming a "must have" for me now.
They will leave it up to the new owner to decide which pickup to install. Smart eh.
hardly any guitars have electronics
Is there or will there eventually be a FS version?
I am the classic USA made,must be gibson or martin snob...that said,I also know I am silly as two of my best guitars are old ibanez instruments. These sound incredible!
noooo. a standard d 18 kills these
It's cool that they went with a radiused top on the FG9, you usually only see that on luthier-built guitars.
fun fact, anyone who makes a guitar is a luthier, so even the workers who handmake epiphones are luthiers.
All the FG range have radiused fingerboards. ???
HOLY FG YAMMY'S!!! Aside from the price, very nice.
Wonderful. No powershell bling. Pure class. Could do with a set of 13's for my taste.
Agree
powershell lol
They both sound great! Very good quality instruments indeed. Have you tried the Yamaha L56? They are canons.
Have an early 80s 340b orange label. Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Cannon is the one word I use to describe it. And the harder you beat it, the better it sounds. A magical guitar!
That thing has serious volume and clarity even over youtube audio.
and wayyyy too much treble. either their microphone sucks or these guitars are 50x brighter than any other guitar on the market.
@@KellerFkinRyan talyors sound brighter this sounds very clear and has great bass as well.
Good balance over CZcams at least which is hot and miss compared to actually going there to play it in hand.
Brilliant presentation of the finest japanese guitar making art. Yamaha sets standards in quality.
I'd go rosewood on this one.
Do you guys have the weight of the Mahogany and Rosewood models? Thanks. Liked.
I like it, I like it a lot!
let's see some gig footage!
Another great voicing of a guitar, Quinton. Glad you did some finger style. Not trading my Martin. Thanks Paul and Quinton.
Beauties. I would get the Mahogany one. Sounds so good. How is the playability ? The feel of the neck ?
Well even my lowly FG800 has great neck feel so obviously this one gonna be a blast to play
sounds better than any of the martins you have shown in the last few weeks. I have an MARTIN D-18 special that is my strummer and an LS-16 yamaha that is my picker
Maybe do a comparison between the Yamaha FG9, Taylor, Martin and Gibson of equivalent value? I think the Yamaha would hold up well.
sounds good...
Good luck finding one to own. They’re planning to build about 150 copies the first year. Think of a world wide availability of that few. I’d like to know if that’s due to max capacity or by design to keep prices at a premium. Still, an amazing guitar.
I have an FG800. In the same way with Ford proving they could make a race car sold their brand in the lower level cars, I get that feeling from Yamaha here
Can you describe the profile and taper of the neck as well as the exact bridge spacing. I know the neck is 1 3/4. Are there any dimensions given from Yamaha on the neck thickness in the first position and at the 12th fret? Thanks!
Will you please review the Yamaha LL56?
Is it possible for y’all to post a review of an Alverez Alvarez Masterworks 12-Fret Round Shoulder Dreadnought model MDR70ESB
Really like a Collings right?
They do come strung with light gauge strings, incidentally, and have bolt-on necks.
You can hear the bolt on for sure
For the nitpickers, I prefer the logo they use. If thats all you got to whimper about, must be a fine guitar. As Im sure it is!
Does anyone else suspect the launch of an FG7 line, made in the China factory, similar to what Yamaha did on the new red labels with the FG/FS 3 and 5 series? I have been hoping to see an all-solid spruce/rosewood square shoulder dreadnaught for a long time! (LL16 is a beautiful guitar but not to everyone’s taste compared with the HD28s of the world)
They will make some budget water down models if this one is a success I guess
I like the pick guard
disgusting
I love Yamaha pick guards. So distinctive!
Those are beautiful guitars. I really wish that Yamaha could come up with a more deluxe logo for the headstock of their upmarket guitars. At the very least, they could use the simple three -pillars logo they use on their Revstar electrics.
They have the tuning forks on some.
Tuning forks on the red labels are a nice touch! 👍🏻
Well, whataya' know, a Yamaha still made in Japan. Ahhh, the memories of the FG purchased while in 3rd Recon Okinawa. Outstanding (Japan models).
Man, you should see my living room. I've got a host of your old friends laying around. But I'm hearing the siren's song of this FG9 mahogany, though.
@@truthray2885 - At the time, that Japan Yamaha was top of the line (can't recall the exact mod...FG-300?), picked up in Tokyo (2-day hop, between deployments) for $325 I believe (with Military discount, still exorbitant then!) and sounded on a par with my Martins back home.
Careful with that GAS!
Yo, $4K+ puts them in some lofty territory. You have the Martin HD-35 for $3,500. I dunno, man.
You'd have to play them in person to tell. I played a D28 stock guitar once and it was taken, and ordered one from martin and it came and was underwhelming in every way other than appearance. Martin's main line guitars are kind of hit or miss and Yamaha's seem to be less miss and more hit. But there's no replacement for hearing with some compensation (compensation being thinking hard about whether or not louder and brighter is always better, because it's strong live, but sometimes a warmer guitar that's a little quieter sounds bigger and better contained in its territory once a mic is on).
These guitars from Yamaha will be delivered with consistent high quality, unlike mass produced Martins (inconsistent and hit and miss). There’s no point in trying to explain how good these upper echelon Yamahas are to brand whores. These new guitars are on another level, much like the LL26/LL36/LL56 are.
Once you get close to that $4000 mark, I can't fathom any reason to buy a Martin other than the name on the headstock. A Collings, Bourgeois, Santa Cruz, and likely this Yamaha, will knock those out of the water. Modern Martins are like 80's Gibsons, CRAZY hit or miss.
These are amazing guitars. I have an FG830 that is one of the best acoustic guitars in its price range. In fact, it punches way above its price range. That being said, the FG9 Series R&D went above and beyond on this amazing series.
i highly recommend the fg830. such a killer guitar for really not that many dollars.
@@staleyexplores for sure
I love my FG830. It plays way above it’s price!
My 800 sounds pretty good or did till it slipped down the wall and snapped the headstock off glued It back on but it's not the same somehow, I Also picked up a fg 411s for 30 quid sounds lovely , love Yamaha's
@@staleyexplores I got mine new online for something like $265 or so. I was shocked at the deal - it's a great guitar.
I have custom made guitars, a Martin D-35 and a Yamaha LL-16. The Yamaha can hold its own but does not have the all around high marks in every style that the Martin D-35 has. How does the LL-16 match up to the FG-9? (I had a 1970 Yamaha FG-300 red label I gave to my younger son after playing it for 48 years).
Well this is their top of the line model and LL16 is their midrange model so you can expect this one blow the LL16 out of the water. Just like LL16 beats the very good and affordable FG830
@@phanhuyduc2395 An FG9 comparison to an LL26 or LL36 would be more apt.
FG5 COMPARED TO FG9
Also, should make an FG5 rosewood.
Quinton can make any guitar sound good if set up properly.
I just wished I could afford one.
Yamaha are so underrated.
Obviously they’re stepping their game up significantly, but at least in terms of the sound I’m getting (iphone 14 on its own & then with and earbuds) the guitars have a crystalline crunch that’s getting towards the shreik-ey zone. To be fair, they’ll probably cut through a boomy mix very well. I do have a huge soft spot for Yamaha ( and Ovation) since they were the first really good quality Guitars I played. And they Definitely have Bluegrass & Old Time street credibility. Mac Wiseman played a high end LL for years. Your videos are among the very best on CZcams for really useful demonstrations & comparisons. Thank you!
Agreed. Toi much crystal sound for me
My guess is that there willl also be an FG7, similar in specs to the FG9, but made in Yamaha's Chinese workshops, and offered at a lower price-point.
Hope so!
why no pickup?
Think I'll stick with my D35
exactly this is trash ugly pickguard and wayyyy ovrrpriced my d18 blows these away
Nice but do I have to go to Japan to find out what the low E string to the high E spacing is at the Saddle,,,, it's just not worth it if I have to dig this hard to find out information on a guitar😢
2.2"
@@ennsguitars7607 thank you for the info, so it's doable for finger-picking but more favorable for flatpickers.
What luck! Enns just saved you a trip to Japan! (Guessing a call to USA Yamaha would have done the trick also)…
@@jed1166 Great, I'll use my frequent flyer miles to go to Hawaii!!! If every guitar manufacturer required I call them for important specs I would stop looking at guitars do to frustration. I'll stick with more transparent brands that offer the courtesy to explain what is important to the purchasing player!
Nobody can dispute the craftsmanship and quality, but $4K USD buys any Standard series Martin. Tough to justify this over an HD-28 or custom 28 with Adi top.
These are equivalent to custom shop and will be in very limited numbers. They’ll hold their value in comparison. A lot of D18-D28 standards on the market you’ll rarely see one of these once they are sold out.
@@unshartedterritory 💯
No argument. In the event a buyer ever decided to part ways with his/her FG9, I'm sure it would quickly find a new home.
Probably a very good investment.
@@unshartedterritory By the way, I dig your CZcams handle✌️
Why buy a martin, when you have this FINE Yamaha?
I have a '94 HD-28 which has been my main guitar since I bought it new. It is a very fine guitar. Two weeks ago I got a FG 9 M and , much as I hate to admit it, the Yamaha is an overall better guitar IMO. In the years that I've owned the Martin I've had a bridge lift repair, binding separation, flaking finish and a small crack inside the pickguard. Still a very fine sounding guitar, but a fair amount of maintenance for a guitar that I have babied over the years. The Yamaha is built so well; ebony binding, Adirondack spruce top, gloss nitro finish on the body and satin finish on the neck. The sound is wonderful, especially for a brand new guitar. If you have the opportunity, play one.
The only selling point for yamaha for me is the price love my fg830 but it’s interesting to see them branching out I like how it’s not covered in bling like the D45 it’s nice and subtle.
I think they got this right with the adirondack. So many of them come with Sitka, and while it's nice it doesn't have quite the same projection. For 5k they'd better sound good, and these do.
I love Yamaha and even think their all solid wood “made in China” models are pretty darn good. But like Quinton, I’m a Martin man.
How do these compare to the L56 series?
The L 56 is not a series. It is one of a series. Starting with L6, L16, L26, L36, L56. The last three are hand made in japan. They come in LL, Dreadnaught...LS smaller "folk" body. LJ Jumbo. Some mistake the LL for a jumbo, but yamaha call it a "modified dreadnaught" because the lower bout is wider and rounded, and the upper bout is a bit like a slope shoulder and a tiny bit narrower. The LL fits a dreadnaught case....
@@Wobbz9413 I think it's pretty obvious what I mean. Call it series or whatever you want, I'm referring to the 56 (LL/LJ/LS).
I owned Yamaha Ll16 n it has a incredible sound than Taylor guitar n price is reasonable price for people like.this LL 16 sound like Martin d -28 .
Electronics ? $ ? I would suggest the Rosewood because a good player can make it sound like the mahogany if need be.
Street price of 4K for the FG9R....Hmmmm
Do you play Paul.
That guitar ain't playin'!!! I love it.
I don't like the open tuners. What if I get my tongue caught in those gears? Or eyelashes, like my business suit's tie in the gears of my wheatfield combine? I hate that when it happens. I enjoy Yamaha's discussions of their 'scientific' design steps. I recommend a lot of Pacifica's as a low-end Strat-style because the guitar's built to last, and one of the best modding platforms for young guitarists to maintain in their life.
I sold my expensive Martins, Blueridge and my main is a cheap Yamaha fg800 with K&K. It sounds better than any guitar I’ve played.
I've listened to all the demos of these on CZcams and the only think I notice that worries me is that lack of low end, especially on the e string. There was one demo comparing this with the D45 and you could really here it. Sad I will never get to compare them in person.
I prefer my 15 year old Yamaha FG700 that I bought like new for about £40 15 years ago to my 5 month old way overpriced J45 the Yamaha is better finished around the edges and feels better to play sound of course is very nice on the Gibson but I love the sound of both, the new Yamaha's look very close at first glance visually to the cheaper models though the mahogany one sounded better but I would probably go rosewood for my present desired taste but price wise would probably force my hand to buy a more desirable Martin
That pickguard is ugly but it sounds great.
pickguard almost as ugly as all epi headstocks
I would have a very hard time spending 4K on the Yamaha when there are so many Taylor and Martin options in that price range. It just seems like it would be much harder to sell Yamaha if and when the time ever came.
LS36ARE is $300 cheaper than martin om-28 md but still it sounds just as good as 000-42md, which is over $10,000 after taxes.
Yeah, for that price point I’m just going to bump up another grand and find a used Authentic series D28.
Or pay a little less for the Guild D55.
That’s because you are too brand focused. Your loss.
I am exactly the opposite for obvious reasons
@@G_Demolishedget the best guitar for tone quality value playabity not just name biased recognition unless you are just going to flip it
Ll56 shoot out
Ofcourse an amazing guitar but one critical cosmetic note: Were the Pick Guard meets the neck there is always this tiny “unfilled” area. As if the PickGuard doesn’t quite fit? It does but it looks like it… Have a closer look please or stop the video. I am being picky I know.
Top.of the line ?
Yeah. They're really nice. Don't be scared cause the headstock says Yamaha. These two guitars sound just as good as any of the high end martins.
not even close
No not top of the line. The LL56 would be closer I think, but the custom shop ones go for a fortune.
@@Wobbz9413 notice they said top of the line, but didn’t specify which line… lol
High end Yamaha guitars withe better than typical Yamaha QUALITY, whats not to love???????????????????
Let me run out today n grab a yamaha phaggie, I mean fg
I bought a Yamaha online because it sounded good on the video. Been sorry ever since.
What model, do you think you are a problem not the guitar 😂
@@phanhuyduc2395 The guitar sounded great plugged in, not so great unplugged. My mistake. I owned it. What's your problem?
@@mt-nv4jd which model did you buy?
@@richardlucascronley5128 FSX3.
@@mt-nv4jd well you bought the one made in a factory in China so yeah it’s not gonna sound as good as the Japanese made ones
Are these the most expensive Yamaha guitars ever?
No. Yamaha makes Classical guitars and L series guitars that can cost up to 10.000 dollar. Most are for their domestic market in Japan.
Yamaha’s custom shop puts out stuff that’s 20k plus.
@@mda2103 Love the L Series guitar. I have two from the 80's and they are great to play. Would love to see a comparison of this FG with a L Series model of similar level (or price range).
The most expensive Yamaha guitar ever was a custom order acoustic especially made for John Lennon. Cant remember the details, but should be online....
@@stevebernard221 yes I have two LL16s. They are magnificent guitars. Far better than anything else Ive tried!
Awesome guitars, both of them.... But for $4,100..... Way out of my skill grade.
Let trey hensley give it a rip
he bought one and loves it!
If you cannot hear the difference in clarity between the Rosewood and the Mahogany models, you do not need a high-end guitar. Take 200 bucks to the local pawn shop and get something in your wheelhouse.
Oh, that makes a ton of sense. Brilliant.
do these guys have a bad microphone or is it supposed to sound so harsh and tinny? every other video ive seen has been sooooo much more mellow and smooth sounding, which made me want to buy one. this video makes it sound worse than really anything ive heard.
$4000 is kinda steep for a Yamaha
Master built Yamaha. This isn’t your average run of the mill production hands touching this.
As the owner of a Japan built Takamine, I can tell you that premium Japanese guitars take a backseat to none…
Top end Yamaha. I think it aims to compete with the more expensive Martin Authentic level guitars. Or Pre-War Company's guitars. In that light, if they match, they are not a bad deal.
OMG, where do you people come from.?!?! You and those like you are absolutely clueless. You clearly have no idea how inexperienced you sound. Upper echelon Yamaha will rival the best guitars in the world. Those who know know.
It doesn't look particularly spectacular. I'm sure its a magnificent guitar but it looks like a €500 one.
Sounds too tinny, like a first act Walmart toy guitar.
If you ever see me handing someone $4,000 for a Yamaha acoustic guitar, you have my permission to swiftly kick me in the flipper...repeatedly. Thank you in advance.
"everybody told me you get far, in thirty seven dollars and a jap guitar."
That mahogany one wow.
HA!! - Seemed to work ok for Mr. Earle - czcams.com/video/AINUPFbFpqg/video.html
4k is a bit too much