Banjo Ben Reviews The New Yamaha FG9!

Yamaha was kind enough to select me as 1 of 20 dealers in North America to feature their new FG9s! These models are available in Rosewood and Mahogany. They're built for tone and versatility whether you're flatpicking bluegrass or thumpin' fingerstyle to some Merle Watson. They shine no matter what you play and I tried to showcase that in this demo video. You can really tell the difference in tone between these 2 guitars. Check them out for yourself!
Check out my blog page write up here:
store.banjobenclark.com/blogs...
FG9 Product Page:
store.banjobenclark.com/pages...

[@1deadtoe707]

This is way to do a comparsion between 2 guitars. Demo guitar 1 immediately followed by Demo with Guitar 2. I wish more more guitar comparisons were done this way. A double thums up, BB.

[@mrdogmoon]

These guitars don’t surprise me at all Ben Yamaha makes quality products and have for a long time. I’m anxious to try one out one of these days. I need to get down to your store and see Jake, Justin, Darrel sometime this summer. Thanks for the display on these fine guitars.

[@teladan5]

I hope to get a chance to play one someday. I have a smaller FSX5 that I just love. I can only imagine how much nicer the FG9 sounds. Hope they make an FS9 one day.

[@horse1-1]

Really great demo

[@user-zz8hl8se6t]

i have a yamaha fg800 that sounds great, you cant go wrong with yamahas

[@stephanehuot9893]

Great, great review !

[@joepayne7843]

They sound awesome! I'm leaning towards the mahogany. They definitely have a sound of their own.

[@55TeleMark]

The mahogany has a beautiful, natural compression. The rosewood sounds so powerful it’s a bit harsh. Very nice guitars.

[@soofitnsexy]

rose is thin and bright

[@tjstevens001]

That's a fine guitar! Also, some fine playing too!!

[@ronniecraft3895]

i like the rosewood best , love the booming sound ,and still balanced !!!!!

[@4jrbirdman]

nice job, can't lose either way

[@mitzioden4926]

Great sounding guitars. I prefer the mahogany for the clarity of notes. They both have good bass tones.

[@azcharlie2009]

If you just focus on the low E string, you can really hear the difference between the two. Rosewood wins everytime..... Banjo Ben! I remember watching one of your videos way back where you taught "a bag o licks"! I learned one there that has stuck with me forever! Thank you

[@andyorr1304]

I have the LL26 that I bought from the General Store. I couldn’t imagine a better guitar - been playing for 45 years - and I’ve owned all the usual suspects along with Santa Cruz, H&D, Bedell, Collings, etc., The LL26 is equal or better. I’m definitely interested in the FG9. Are they in stock?

[@lhvent]

I can't afford an FG9, but that being said, these are amazing guitars in every sense of the word. I have an FG830, an LL6M A.R.E. and an LS6. Yamaha is top-notch.

[@richardstones6445]

I see some people online questioning Yamaha's decision to use a bolt-on neck. They seem to associate it with cheap guitars, which is interesting because it is the design that some of the finest hand-crafted guitars in the world use. Dana Bourgeois uses a bolt-on neck for all his guitars. The higher the quality of the guitar, and the higher the likelihood that the guitar will last a very long time, the more important it is to have the ability to make neck adjustments without a major deconstruction of the instrument required. I think that is the reasoning Yamaha used. It is a statement that they consider this FG9 to be of very high craftsmanship and material quality. The only downside from my perspective is the added weight they create.

[@deandee8082]

welp, OBVIOUSLY a bolt on is a far more structural joint than glue, therefore more resonant and all that, glue can become soft over time, brittle, it can become too hard, it can interfere with the vibrations from heel to body... the best selling guitar in the world by far is a bolt on neck.. the strat, solid body sure, but it beats out its set neck les paul in a big way, there are a lot of reasons bolt on is superior, structural, a harder more solid joint, its REMOVABLE with bolts so if it needs to be shimmed, re-fretted, worked on whatever there ya go... however the real proof is in the ear, listen to it, any issues with this bolt on? not to my ears .. also many may not know this but the Japanese are among the best of the best fine wood workers in the world, joinery, instruments, furniture, you name it, and it shows all over Japan... they know a thing or two about a thing or two in regards to working wood.. IMHO they are at the top of the chain, but that's just me, my opinion . . in any event Yamaha Japan is very clued up and IMHO make some of the finest acoustics in the world .. there is one thing a listener requires of an acoustic, the ear or the sound.. aside from overall quality a player wants feel, playability, sound and comfort or ergonomics, weight so forth... Yamaha has ALWAYS fulfilled those items in a big way... I have 12 or so vintage Yamaha's and each one is phenomenal, of course over time wood warps so forth if care isn't taken so some need work, natural for a 70 yr old + guitar, many many of your Martins have many many issues, pick guard shrinkage destroying tops, neck shrinkage, belly bulge, lack of or dead truss rods, you name it, no one make can and avoid that type of stuff from happening, however you can address it to a degree, and a bolt on neck allows you to easily deal with such issues that otherwise are very expensive and timely to deal with .. not many luthier's have taken a guitar into their shop with belly bulge all that and said ICK, a bolt on neck, in FACT, many have converted set neck to bolt on because of . . but to each their own, they're not budget so of course those who know what time it is will be playing these and for some time into the future for sure.. the guitar sounds great to my ears!

[@ramspencer5492]

If I just wanted mahogany I would go with a red label.... That rosewood is sweet! I would pick this over a Martin HD28 for sure...

[@demolitionwilliams7419]

Oh dude this crushes an hd28. It's basically a Japanese bench built guitar that comes close to perfection

[@MelodyMaker]

As expected....the rosewood crisper & the mahogany warmer. What is the material of the bridge pins sir?

[@jonflores5832]

I think it’s ebony bridge pins

[@steveinthethumb6441]

Mahogany. Depth with clarity. My 44 year old Yamaha has the same woods, far less in cost; but still love it.

[@howlinhog]

Some hard drivin Bluegrass definitely deserves the Rosewood.

[@phoenixsound]

The recording here doesn’t do the guitars justice. I have played the mahogany version and it was by far the best dreadnought I have played so far. Time to trade in my HD35.

[@rjrguitar]

Wow...to my ears, the Yamaha Rosewood has less scoop in the midrange than a typical Martin Rosewood. I almost always prefer mahogany over rosewood, but with the Yamaha, I'm not so sure. In a weird way, the Yamaha Rosewood reminds me of a spectacular 1941 D-45 that I played many years ago...that old guitar had EVERYTHING in perfect balance (unlike a prewar D-28), wherein it sounded like a prewar OM but much louder.

[@clawhammer704]

I see what appears to be the heel pulling away from the body near the start of showing the back.

[@stevebernard221]

I noticed that as well....Not like the old L-Series!

[@ctsingletrack]

It's a bolt on neck. Something I'm not used to seeing on high end guitars.

[@tomformanek3312]

@@ctsingletrack The world is changing. Tonewood choices will have to expand, manufacturing is always improving and having a great sounding instrument that doesn't need to be steamed apart to reset the neck will be the gold standard. A sizeable part of guitar owners seem unable to move forward. Maybe it's fear of peer pressure and having a status symbol, but the same old woods, the same old build methods and the same old headstocks will be clung to for dear life. And they will pay lots more over time to feed their anxieties.

[@alan4sure]

​@@ctsingletrack Collings is bolt on necks.

[@horse1-1]

glad I'm not the only one

[@lhvent]

I like the sound of the mahogany myself. That being said, these models are out of my price range. I have the FG830 and an LL6M ARE. Great guitars on their own right.

[@jonflores5832]

Which one do you like more? The 830 or LL6? I imagine the 830 with the new scalloped bracing probably comes close to the LL6 with a ARE treated top with non scalloped bracing.

[@lhvent]

@jonflores5832 The LL6 ARE is great, and the FG830, with the scalloped bracing, sounds great.

[@jonflores5832]

@@lhvent so no preference? You like them the same

[@lhvent]

@@jonflores5832 FG9 is a cannon

[@steventwist173]

What’s in the sound hole in the rosewood ? Near half past ? Please

[@echoguitarist]

I played the rosewood one side by side with a D28 and i have to say that the Yamaha was superior. It might be the best acoustic I've ever played. No joke. INCREDIBLY responsive. But yes, they're very expensive.

[@quigley4440]

Guess I'm a mahogany guy. Balanced and perfect for singer songwriter.

[@biscayne66]

I have a hard string attack, so it'd be mahogany for me. (like all my others). :)

[@anatol1204]

Picking R Strumming M you get both and you are covered 😂

[@coolhandluke2310]

I prefer the hog for lead work.imho

[@redeemedsinner8091]

I contacted Banjo Ben Clark's General Store for their help to find a professional banjo, but they didn't care to help me. Jake just brushed me off.

[@JFord1234]

Rather have BlueRidge br160

[@DannyBrooks1]

They both sounded great but that pickguard is aweful.

[@LifeWideOpen780]

Rose wood sounds vetter

[@deandee8082]

no issues to my ears, some good playing too . . . 🙂

[@mielv4491]

yaw maw haw

[@soofitnsexy]

gotta be honest and i love yamaha!! these are thin harsh and bright ...could be the setups...The pickguard is awful and the fret markers Corny af....big fail here maybe at 1500 to 1999 it coulbe ok but not for the asking price,,,Thanks for the vid!!

[@John-wr6yo]

Yep the spanish heel is pulling away from the body with a big gaping crack,and that is crapp ,not right. No one in thier right mind wants to pay for shit like that.

[@123logmeon]

I have tried them but both are too high endu for me.. I still prefer the sound of the fs830 guitar which is way less money.. I feel those are one of the best deals and nice sounding Yamaha… so, $4000 for a bolt on neck, not so great tuners, gloss finish( don’t think it’s nitro)… not for me.. too much better sounding guitars out there ….

[@dada1952]

Not so great tuners? They are Gotoh 510 tuners. Probably the best out there these days. I have a FG830... nice cheap guitar but come on... don't be silly comparing it to the FG9.

[@robertspradling5797]

The sound is thin and harsh. Very little warmth. I have heard better sounding $300 Chinese guitars.

[@alan4sure]

Listening thru your phone spkr?😅

[@dodgermartin4895]

I respect everything Ben is saying.... but a Yamaha a thousand bucks more than the iconic Martin D-18 or D-28.... when you're getting up in the $4,000 range.. the absolute dead last thing that will come into my my mind is a Yamaha anything.... at that range I'm thinking Collings or Huss & Dalton or Bourgeois or Henderson, or a another boutique maker. Yamaha cut their teeth on the $500 and under market...and they do really good right there. Sorry for the skepticism.

[@guitareddy100]

Why buy a guitar made in Asia when you in the USA make the best guitars bang for the buck I don’t care if it makes the standard. Support your own industries .🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@banjobones8075]

$4,000 ! Made in China now not Japan. No thanks

[@teladan5]

This guitar is made in Japan, just like the FG/FS5 series. The FG/FG3 series is made in China.

[@banjobones8075]

@@teladan5 not worth 4k

[@teladan5]

What if it said Martin or Taylor on the headstock?

[@banjobones8075]

@@teladan5 not if made in china

[@teladan5]

Like I said before, the FG3 and FS3 are made in China. The 5 series (I have the FSX5) and 9 are made in Japan, not China.

[@John-wr6yo]

You shot yourself in the foot with the neck pulling away from the body of that guitar. That bolt on ne k dont look so good with that big gaping neck joint.

[@weed491]

The heel is pulling away from the body ! That looks worse than some 100 dollar guitars , unbelievable! That one picture has done me in for ever even thinking about any Yamaha at any price ! Looks absolutely horrible!!!!!!

[@tedwasielewski9641]

So I paused the video at 1:46 and see what you are talking about. Then I examined my FG 9 M that I have had for about 3 months and the heel joint is perfect, as is the rest of the guitar. I have a '94 HD-28 which has been my main guitar since I bought it new. It is a great guitar, but over the years I have had the bridge lift, the binding separate, and a finish bubble that flaked off and had to be filled/refinished. The FG 9 I own is the best guitar I have ever played. I agree that I wouldn't buy any guitar with an obvious flaw, but I also wouldn't judge these fabulous sounding instruments from a few seconds on a video. If you have the opportunity, play one, look it over and then you will be able to have a fully informed opinion.

[@sircusboy351]

I know this is an expensive guitar and it should be flawless. I’m sure it didn’t leave the factory that way and something they are learning with boutique style bolt-on necks. That being said it’s unfortunate. You have a good eye. But don’t hate on them entire company cause of one guitar. I have 3 vintage red labels, an ll-ta, an fgx800c. They all blow me away every time i pick them up. And some will never leave my collection they are that good. Just go play a fgx800c and be blown away what that guitar does under 400 dollars. I’ve played 3 examples and they were incredible.

[@colinpadley1897]

Can't see it?

[@jamesdoctor8079]

Its a bolt on neck dude

[@ramspencer5492]

No it isn't... Your tripping. Go look at one in person... Bring a Luthier with you if you want.... These guitars are ridiculously well made. Incredulous....