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Yamaha LL16-12 ARE Original Jumbo 12-String - Natural

Acoustic-electric 12-string Guitar with Solid Engelmann Spruce Top, Solid Rosewood Back and Sides, and Ebony Fingerboard - Natural
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Yamaha LL16-12 ARE Original Jumbo 12-String - Natural
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A Premium Acoustic-electric 12-string Guitar from Yamaha

When you need a guitar with exceptional tone and playability, check out the Yamaha LL16 acoustic-electric 12-string guitar. Part of Yamaha's legendary L Series, the LL16 uses a hand-selected, solid Engelmann spruce top treated with Yamaha's A.R.E. process and solid rosewood back and sides to give you a rich, warm-sounding guitar with full-range response. The 5-ply mahogany/rosewood neck sports not only a smooth-playing ebony fretboard, but also a new, slimmer neck shape and an enhanced fingerboard edge. A passive SRT Zero Impact pickup uses a separate element for each string to give you authentic plugged-in tones. The updated Yamaha LL16 12-string delivers killer tone, elegant 12-string shimmer, and superb playability in a premium acoustic-electric guitar.

Innovative construction yields a better guitar

The great tone and smooth playability of the LL16 are enhanced by Yamaha's A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) wood torrefaction, which gives your guitar a broken-in and aged tone. By controlling the atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity, the molecular properties of the wood are manipulated to mirror those of a guitar that has been played for years. Each L Series guitar also features modified non-scalloped bracing that enhances the guitar's low end. And the 5-ply mahogany/rosewood neck, after a revaluation of string height and spacing, presents a new design for improved playability.

Hand-selected spruce top for great tone

Sweetwater knows that the choice of top wood can powerfully affect the sound of an acoustic guitar. For the LL16, Yamaha chose a premium, hand-selected solid Engelmann spruce top. Chosen as much for its look as its tone, the top has a well-rounded, articulate sound with excellent projection — and its tone is only made better by Yamaha's A.R.E. wood torrefaction process. The guitar's solid rosewood back and sides provide exceptional bass and powerful punch, and they simply look great.

A full-range passive pickup system

Yamaha's SRT Zero Impact pickup was designed to deliver a faithful reproduction of the LL16's natural, dynamic sound. They also designed it to be inconspicuous in terms of its impact on the guitar's looks and tone. The passive design doesn't use a bulky preamp that's routed into the body, detracting from the instrument's looks and resonance. Instead, each string has its own piezoelectric element, yielding full and accurate transmission of that beautiful 12-string jangle. There is one important point to remember: because this is a passive pickup system, you'll need to use an external preamp when plugging in the Yamaha LL16.

Yamaha LL16 Acoustic-electric 12-string Guitar Features:

  • Innovative guitar design gives you an amazing-playing and great-sounding instrument
  • Hand-selected solid Engelmann spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides provide rich tone and projection
  • A.R.E. process "ages" the wood molecules to match the tone of naturally aged guitars
  • 5-ply mahogany/rosewood neck has been redesigned for today's guitar player
  • Updated non-scalloped bracing pattern delivers a fuller low end
  • Passive SRT Zero Impact pickup uses individual piezo elements for each string

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 12
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Original Jumbo
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Rosewood
  • Top Wood: Solid Engelmann Spruce with A.R.E. treatment
  • Finish: Urethane Gloss
  • Color: Natural
  • Body Bracing: Non-scalloped
  • Neck Wood: 5-ply Mahogany/Rosewood
  • Neck Shape: Traditional
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 25"
  • Nut Width: 1.81"
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Die-cast gold tuners
  • Electronics: SRT Zero Impact pickup
  • Case/Gig Bag: Softshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: LL16-12HB

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

The Best 12-String Guitar I've Ever Owned

I have been playing guitar for a decade now. I own four other twelve string guitars, one acoustic 6-string guitar, and an electric guitar. Three of those guitars are Yamaha's. This one I have always had my eyes on and I wanted it so bad, the opportunity presented itself to buy it so I did. This guitar is the best guitar I have EVER played.

1. For a twelve string, action has been the big thing for me. Something both my Epiphone and Applause Balladeer have been terrible at. The action on this guitar is PERFECT, and I mean perfect. I can go up the fretboard and down the fretboard and make clear and clean chords without buzzing or having to mash down on the fretboard. The action is very similar to my other two Yamaha 12-strings I own (the FG 411CE-12 and the FG 820-12). However, the action on this guitar somewhat beats my other two Yamaha's.

2. The resonance and tone of this guitar is unlike anything I have ever heard in my life. My other four 12-strings don't hold a candle to the resonance and tone of this guitar. My FG 820-12 and FG 411CE-12 come close to this. Both my Epiphone and Applause Balladeer both don't have this kind of resonance and tone this guitar has.

3. This guitar looks beautiful. It has the special binding around the headstock of the guitar, something I wished Yamaha would've put on the FG 820-12. The wood used on the body is very similar in looks to my FG 830 I own. It is very aesthetically pleasing to look at and also is one of the contributing factors as to why and how this thing sounds the way it does.

This guitar has become the workhorse in my stable and you should add it as well. I can truly say this is the best guitar I own. Thank you to both Dontae Harris (who is no longer with the company who got me started) and to Ben Blanchard for taking care of me with excellent customer service and quick delivery time. This guitar was well worth the wait and I love it so much.
Music background: I've been playing guitar for 10 years, taught myself how to play. I am a guitarist for the music ministry at my church for the last 7 years. First instrument was a Tambourine.
Rated 5/5

Incredible 12 string

I already owned a Yamaha ll16D (6 string) and it plays and sounds like a top of the line Martin... While I also have a Gibson 185 Custom I still spend more time on the Yamaha.... so with that experience in mind I decided to try the 12 sting version. Now paying close to a grand for a Yamaha acoustic is not the norm but this line of guitars may be one of the best in the industry.

The guitar came with the lowest action I'd ever seen on a 12. I had light strings installed at Sweetwater as well as a strap button. Outside of that the rest is just what Yamaha sent. The fit and finish are flawless. The wood grain is tight and the tuners are fine.

As for the sound.... WOW. I have owned many 12's over the years with mostly mixed results. This one sings. The fret board width and neck thickness fit my hands perfectly. The A.R.E process they use makes a real difference in how these guitars sound.

Overall..... I'm thrilled. Thanks to Kurt and his great staff for all the help.
Music background: Guitar/ bass player for at least 50 years
Rated 5/5

A lot of guitar for the $$$

I'm simply blown away by how well this guitar performs. This is the first Yamaha I've ever owned and straight up purchased it because my incredible service engineer Josh recommended it. IMO This Yamaha out performs guitars that cost significantly more. I think this one is a keeper if it holds up to the daily grind. Thanks again Josh and Sweetwater!
Rated 5/5

Very Happy

I wanted a Martin. Badly. I have a D28 six string and knew that it a twelve string would be awesome. But before I pulled the trigger on that I wanted to explore all other less expensive options. I saw the Yami (the nickname for their outboard engines which are the best). All the reviews were glowing. So I bought this for 1/3 the price of the Martin. The $ Martin was on wait. I got it and started playing. The action was perfect. The fit and finish was almost perfect. The neck feels hairy toward the nut like it wasn't quite sanded enough. I can't see it, and it's still smooth and doesn't affect playing in any discernable way, it's just feels a tiny bit...hairy. No biggie. When I played it I was, initially, a bit disappointed. There is not a lot of low end. Unplugged it sounds just like the twelve string in Give A Little Bit. BUT THEN I plugged it in to a higher-end Fishman acoustic amp. Now it sounded perfect. Plenty of low with the bass know at about 10 o'clock. NOW it sounded as I hoped it would. Then this morning playing it unplugged, it sounded a bit more balanced with adequate low end. Again, not a lot of low end, but enough. If you want to know how it sounds unplugged I would suggest listening to a good recording of Give A Little Bit by Supertramp. Plug it in and it sounds much more balanced. My daughter made a good point (because she listened to it plugged and un and agreed with my assessment)...maybe they designed it that way. I am very happy. I have what I think is a very credible 12 string and I saved $. Hence, the five stars. Oh, and the woods are beautiful and look as good as my Martin's. (PS, I hate the ultra white plastic binding on the Martin. This has very nice wood binding.)
Rated 5/5

awsome

Its a very nice guitar. Has a very nice rich tone especially with elexir strings. I got one and I don't want to change it. Totally worth it.
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