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Yamaha LL16M ARE Original Jumbo - Natural

Acoustic-electric Guitar with Solid Engelmann Spruce Top, Solid Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Natural
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A Premium Acoustic-electric Guitar from Yamaha

When you need a guitar with exceptional tone and playability, check out the Yamaha LL16M acoustic-electric guitar. Part of Yamaha's legendary L Series, the LL16M uses a hand-selected, solid Engelmann spruce top treated with Yamaha's A.R.E. process and mahogany 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 LL16M delivers killer tone and playability in a premium acoustic-electric guitar.

Innovative construction yields a better guitar

The great tone and smooth playability of the LL16M 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 LL16M, 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 mahogany 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 LL16M'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 a full and accurate sound. 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 LL16M.

Yamaha LL16M Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • Innovative guitar design gives you an amazing-playing and great-sounding instrument
  • Hand-selected solid Engelmann spruce top and solid mahogany 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

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Original Jumbo
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Solid Engelmann Spruce with A.R.E. treatment
  • Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
  • Color: Natural
  • Body Bracing: Non-scalloped
  • Binding: Maple/Black
  • Neck Wood: 5-ply Mahogany/Rosewood
  • Neck Shape: Traditional
  • Radius: 15.75"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 25.5"
  • Nut Width: 1.75"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Urea
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Die-cast Gold tuners
  • Electronics: SRT Zero Impact pickup
  • Strings: Elixir, .012-.052
  • Case Included: Softshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: LL16MHB

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Gets the most play time.

I don't have a lot to add that others haven't already mentioned, but reviews are important and my LL16M compels me to add my 5 star rating. Quality control is top of line that you would expect from Yamaha. Out of a dozen guitars, this is the one that I pick up every day. Sure, it is an outstanding value, but I don't feel the pull for a more expensive guitar. It is a beautiful looking, sounding and feeling instrument. I am one with this guitar.
Rated 5/5

It’s a keeper!

I bought this LL-16 ARE almost two years ago and I am still enthralled by it. It is my second Yamaha. I also have an FG-830, and I really like it too. The 830 doesn't get a lot of playing time now that I have the LL. I got the LL-16 ARE because I wanted an all solid rosewood dreadnought. O.K. It's technically not a dread, but it's close enough for all practical purposes. I really like the shape of it. The slightly deeper waist makes it much more comfortable to play than a traditional dreadnought, especially when seated. I know this for a fact as I also have a Martin D-18. The strings that it settled on were phosphor bronze 13-56 gauge coated. Elixer Nanoweb seem to be the best sounding on this guitar. Unlike my other guitars, I did not change out any parts. I left the saddle and nut and the bridge pins in that it had. The only additions that I made were a strap button on the heel of the neck and an additional strap button just above the existing one on the other end. I put that in to accommodate a strap lock for my guitar strap. The existing strap button/TRS jack cannot be used with any strap locks that I have found, but no big deal. Besides it allows me to have the strap lock and still have access to the jack. All of this so far is good, but the best part is the sound of this beauty. It is loud, full, balanced and clear. I can't be more pleased with it. This guitar has cured my GAS for a multi thousand dollar Martin HD-28.
Rated 5/5

Get This One!

I'm a Martin man but not taking 3 grand out by the fire. My Sweetwater rep (Mitch Frazier) suggested this LL16M.
Best advice ever! Love this guitar and it's priced to use in the real world. Thanks again Mitch (for the millionth time)
Music background: Hobbiest
Rated 5/5

Third Yammie!

I already got the LL16D and FG3. I adore them both. In both cases I did both saddles in bone and removed the undersaddle p/u from the 16D along with adding a bone nut. In both cases the depth and body of tone improved along with adding buffalo horn pins.

So far I am loving the 16M as is. The urea and 80/20 strings add a sparkle that I really enjoy despite the undersaddle p/u. I did upgrade to buffalo horn pins.

The tone is incredibly balanced. The mahogany b&s imparts mahogany warmth and woody tone bur the choice of urea and 80/20 makes this a different beast from my Guild D20 all hog and the FG3.

Construction is immaculate. There is a solidness to it but tone is not sacrificed. The Engelmann top imparts a sweet resonance and sustain.

The shell rosette really pops out and adds a tremendous amount of class as do the maple bindings. Check out HP Cormier's review (but search for LL 16M to get a direct hit).

The body is about half an inch wider on the lower bout and so more boost and tone emerge like a Gibson AJ although more focused like a Martin D18.

You can't go wrong with this model. I'm not even going to say "for the price". Just "period". Yamaha's Japanese QC and values are readily apparent. This was ready to roll right out of the box, although I did tighten the screws on the tuners just a tad to improve stability, the Gotohs are sturdy,reliable and will outlast you or I.

Don't hesitate.
Music background: Amateur playing circle.
Rated 5/5

Yamaha ll16m

I wanted an acoustic guitar that didn"t cost a lot but had a great sound for the studio ,just guitar and a really good mic .I play several different guitars before checking out the Yamaha and I was blown away it met all my expectations and more it sounds fat and rich better than some guitars that cost a lot more, this is one of those sleeper guitars that will blow you away without breaking the bank. Thanks..Sweetwater is the best music store ever!!!
Music background: Guitarist, Music producer
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