Looking for a Yamaha LL500, FOUND ONE AT LONG LAST.......thanks for your input!!

Dyldog16

Looking to acquire a rosewood L series guitar from the 90's or 00's. My preference would be an LL500 . Also I'd think about an LL400, if offered. I've recently placed a down payment on an LS400 model & hopefully will pick that up in a few weeks. That will be a litmus test for me. I'm fast approaching retirement & I'm attempting to simplify my guitar collection. My hope is the Yamaha rosewood models will scratch my recent itch, since learning about them.

 I hope to sell my two Kevin Kopp guitars, a Roy Smeck model (K35 with 12 frets) & also my Trail Boss, both in hog/adi/sitka combos. I never thought that I'd ever sell these 2 guitars because both are sublime mahogany 12 fretters, which do all styles well. I also hope to sell my Iris ND200 model which is a fantastic singer/songwriter jumbo.

I'm open on purchasing a Yamaha L model & also open to possible partial trades with the Kopp & Iris guitars. I may even consider possibilities with my Martin HJ38 Stefan Grossman & Goodall RCJ models. I just need to lessen the numbers in my small herd & also release some of the equity without losing too much quality with the replacements. I'm based in Shrewsbury. Thnx

Dyldog16

Having acquired a fabulous Yamaha LS400 model, I'm relatively happy with the quality of this super little OM. I'm not really an OM guy either so I'm predominantly looking for an LL500 or LL400 model now. My perfect choice would be an LL500 because I'm a rosewood guy at heart & if anyone is leaning the other way, then I'd consider a potential trade with my newly acquired LS400 or one of my Kevin Kopp "hog" guitars. eg Kopp Trail Boss & Kopp Roy Smeck. I'm also considering the possibility of buying an LS500 to compare with the LS400 considering I'm more roserwood orientated these days.

So bump it up & see what comes my way....

Dyldog16

Decided to concentrate on buying an LL model, rather than an LS500. As much as I love this LS400 model, I'm just not an OM guy & prefer slightly larger bodied guitars. So if anyone has an LL500 model to sell or trade then I'm definitely interested. And if anyone has an LL400 then I may be interested. But rosewood will always be my preferred tonewood. And, as much as it would pain me, if anyone wants to trade my LS400 for an LL model then I'm open to it. Please feel free to PM me...

delab

Apologies as I can see you’re quite specific about what you want but… have you considered an FG9?

I recently bought one and despite knowing how good upper end Yamahas can be, having come from a LL16D, I am a little gobsmacked by it. I auditioned Atkins, Collings and Martins. 

The FG9, for me, showed them up. The quality of build and sound is something pretty special especially when you consider the comparative cost. 

Dyldog16

Thanks for your input on the FG9 which is warmly received. Ultimately our individual ears "hear" different things when we play them & I guess we all have our different biases & leanings. Much depends on what guitar vibe you've been used to hearing most of your life. The Yamaha signature tone is something that I'm only recently opening up to & it's definitely different to the Martin growl and also the Collings/Atkins vibe. Each to their own which is what makes guitars so intoxicating. The Yamaha sound, to my ears, is more modern & less vintage with a sweet sound. Ultimately, at this stage I wouldn't be prepared to spend £3k+ on a guitar which I'm still getting a feel for. But I'd be prepared to spend a lot less for one of the LL series which, going on my research, will tell me all that I need to know about my needs and tastes. I've bought an LS400 which has impressed me, albeit very different to my others. But I'd like to experience the larger bodied LL500 or LL400 models before coming to any conclusions. Thanks for your input & maybe I'll go for an FG9 in the future.

Dyldog16

Gentle nudge to the top again. I've been offered everything from an LS56 to an LL36 to satiate my rosewood preferences. But I'll wait as long as it takes for an LL500 to show up so I'm not in an urgent hurry. I'd be happy to consider letting the LS400 go in trade for an LL500 because I'm sure there will be others out there, who will prefer the smaller LS model to the LL model. Also I'd be prepared to listen to part trades with one of my Goodalls, Kopps or Iris ND200. Open to suggestions  ...que sera sera etc"

DavidR

delab said:

Apologies as I can see you’re quite specific about what you want but… have you considered an FG9?

I recently bought one and despite knowing how good upper end Yamahas can be, having come from a LL16D, I am a little gobsmacked by it. I auditioned Atkins, Collings and Martins. 

The FG9, for me, showed them up. The quality of build and sound is something pretty special especially when you consider the comparative cost. 

Could you do a full review @delab ? Haven’t come across too many reviews but always felt Japan built FG9 should be premium. Also huge departure from previous FG sales pitch in that it is pricey!

Take a look at FG5 too @Dyldog16 if you come across one. LL and FG are Yamaha’s dreadnought offerings. FG’s usually cheaper/student instruments but FG5 a bit of a standout on price/quality. Just sold mine because dreadnoughts now hurt my aging shoulder. Marketed to mimic well-regarded 1970’s ‘Red Label’ FG’s.

Yamaha. THE most underrated maker of the acoustic guitar. 

Dyldog16

Thanks for your recommendation on the Yamaha FG5. But I have played one of those & IMHO the L series Yammies are a notch above those in quality & tone. In the meantime I have bought a Yamaha LL400 which is the "hog" equivalent of the LL500 model. I'm definitely a rosewood enthusiast but this LL400 is absolutely fantastic & I'm definitely keeping it. The OM equivalent of the LL400 (ie LS400) which I've owned & enjoyed for awhile now, will probably be offloaded. It's just come back from a set up with new strings & it's a fantastic smaller bodied guitar. Ultimately, I prefer larger bodied versions so the LL400 will displace this in the pecking order.

In the meantime, if anyone wishes to offload their Yamaha LL500 then feel free to contact me anytime soon. Quite often, as we know, guitarists prefer smaller bodied models so if anyone would like to trade their LL500 for my LS400 then I'm open to it. And I'm also open to part trades with one of my other guitars, should any LL500 seller be open to it.

Bump this one up the list.....

Dyldog16

I'll give this another prod to the top. I've been offered an LL500 from the USA in a part-trade with one of my own. But I'm going to wait awhile longer & use that "open offer" as a back up. Ideally, I'd like one in better shape than this one. I don't mind player grade guitars in the slightest because it's all about the tone & playability IMHO. But Yammies seem to have the reputation of being starter-mid-range guitars & these L series models are definitely not that nor do they come with those prices. So, I'd rather buy an LL500 in better cosmetic shape just in case it needs to be flipped in the future.

Open to buying one outright, or one in trade with my LS400 or one of my others with cash adjustments etc

Still looking for an ideal Yamaha LL500.....

EreforGuitarGear

A friend of mine is selling a Yamaha LLX36C… if that’s of any interest? I can send photos in a message if of interest. He doesn’t do the Internet so I’ve said I’d help him sell some of his equipment. 

Basher

I've got an old L-25A from the (I think) early 80s (I bought it in 1985) that just doesn't get played. Not quite the same thing but in the general ballpark. 3-piece Jacaranda back and sides. 
It's got plenty of scuffs and scrapes so not a pristine instrument by any means.

Dyldog16

Thanks Basher & I've been in touch with you. When I'm next in the NW, I'll definitely be in touch & will try out your L-25A model. However, I'm still looking for an LL500 (and to a lesser extent, an LS500) mainly because of the slim, fast neck & nut width. My LL400 & LS400 neck profiles are a perfect fit for my hands. But I'll always prefer rosewood so I may move on those 2 guitars once I acquire a couple of rosewood L series models, as good as the mahogany models are. I do have a couple of LL500 "possibles" in the pipeline, in the USA but I'd rather buy one in the UK if possible. So I'll keep this thread active for now.

Dyldog16

I've managed to buy one of these rare "Yammies" from Italy so I'm now very contented & await it's delivery. But I'd like to thank everyone for the PM's & suggestions. I'm going to be commencing a new thread after I've received the LL500, maybe earlier, for an LS500 model (or LS20 to the Japanese market buyers). I own an LS400 (or LS10 to Japanese market owners) which is incredibly impressive BUT I'd like to A-B it alongside the rosewood equivalent. I've always preferred rosewood to mahogany although this LS400 model is doing a very convincing job in making me switch tastes.

But thanks to everyone for their input & "we" got there eventually!