Yamaha FS9 - Mahogany or Rosewood?

We're totally impressed with the new Yamaha FS9, but today we're wondering which tonewood works the best on the new model... mahogany or rosewood?? What do you think? Which one would you choose?
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GUITAR SPECS:
FS Concert-Style body shape
Adirondack spruce top
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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[@andreweiypo6176]

Bought the FS9M. Love it. Realized I'm a Mahogany guy.

[@lhvent]

I think Yamaha has knocked it out of the park with this model. What can I say.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

"Where is the ball, Yamaha?"

[@mariodriessen9740]

Absolute gorgeous guitars! 🧡 I usually prefer mahogany over rosewood, but I’d be more than happy with either of these. 🧡🧡🧡

[@steby123]

The choice is obvious; one of each !!!!!

[@championhairpuller]

Those guitars are killer. Yamaha outdid themselves. Mahogany please.

[@triples4good]

Rosewood for me. I agree with Quentin. The mahogany is more scooped out in the mids, the rosewood sounds more balanced.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

He said the opposite.

[@henksalomons8010]

rosewood for me please

[@Mike-B19]

Rosewood all the way on this model! Both sound beautiful though.

[@jojojojojojojojojojojojob]

has anyone ever seen a qc issue with yamaha guitars?? i have seen hundreds of guitars come through the shop and all just quality through and through.

[@stevelankford7087]

Wheeeeew! If only had that kinda cabbage at the moment. But I can dream right!

[@tipp55]

Great guitars. Yamaha always built very decent guitars but now they've excelled themselves with these two models. Even the new pickguard is now aesthetically pleasing as is the lovely finish. Well done Yamaha.

[@DCV321]

Yep, I'm a rosewood guy all the way. Nice sounding guitar but I'll keep my HD-28.

[@rzh3443]

They both sound great, very transparent and reverb- y. Yamaha should have designed a special headstock logo for these models. That might have set them apart for future resale.

[@iansnyder274]

I know. It reminds of the piece of shit acoustic my mom rented for me from the local musoc shop for $15 a month back in 1981. Yamaha guitars were hot garbage back then. Just shite. I have a yamaha transacoustic and its great. I would love to get the Mahagony FS9.. incredible sounding

[@persiaguitar]

some thing wrong with my ear I suppose :( The sound is rough for me

[@joshuafernandes4935]

Why don’t Yamaha make a f cut version ?

[@paulkangas515]

Rosewood all the way for me please.

[@miamistomp]

They both sound lovely Note - Paul wearing a Martin shirt, which says everything Nobody wearing a Yamaha shirt unless they are riding an Rd 350 If I am spending 4k - I am sure I can find a Martin that sounds as good and if I need to sell it- it will be a lot easier Sometimes buying the brand name is a better decision

[@architypeone8646]

I don't like the pickguard...doesn't need to go all the way to the neck. Otherwise, both are stellar guitars.

[@marco_cee_]

Easy enough to remove/replace.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

Then take it off or order one whithout.

[@jasper_north]

Also the end of the pickguard looks funny shaped… round, like a drop. Martin has more like a sloped pickguard…big difference and much prettier.

[@jasper_north]

Yes I am sensitive to that…

[@mariodriessen9740]

Hahaha…, so am I. But I don’t really mind the Yamaha pickguards. I had to get used to them, but I like them now. Of all the big brands I don’t think I will ever get used to the pickguard shape that Taylor uses. But the ugliest ones of them all (and I hate that, because I really want to love them) are the pickguards on Guild acoustics. And on sunburst models in particular. And it’s weird, because from the standpoint of a designer I totally understand how and why they came up with that shape, but it just doesn’t work for me. And as silly as it may sound, the shape of a pickguard, nice or ugly, can absolutely be the deciding factor in my decision to NOT buy a certain guitar. 🫣 But it can always be even worse. One of my dream guitars is the Gibson SJ-200. The pickguards on those are usually unbelievably beautiful, although some people think it’s too much. But have you ever seen the pickguard on the Tom Petty signature SJ-200? As much as I love the SJ-200 and as much as I love Tom Petty and as expensive as ‘his’ signature guitar may be…., I would need to be forced to climb the stage with a guitar having a pickguard like that one! 😅

[@jasper_north]

@@mariodriessen9740 Thank you!!! So true… hurts my eyes at times. Like a big ugly stain out of shape on the beautiful wood structure. God! Guild pickguard is a complete joke.

[@blufordbirdsong1834]

Funny I usually hear a bigger difference in mahogany and rosewood. It’s there but very subtle.

[@guitaristforfunn]

well... you're not in the room with the guitar. every set of speakers will sound different.

[@maxwellfan55]

I'm a mahogany man, less bass but clearer note separation. Two great guitars from a respected manufacturer.

[@johnwashburn3793]

I typically prefer mahogany, but this rosewood really sings.

[@bradgriffith4231]

I have Guild dreadnaughts, with 5 different wood combos. Also 2 jumbos with different woods. They all have their own distinct sound. My all mahogany, top too, is killer.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

I am a MADAGASCAR MAN 💪✍️😁🙏😎

[@G_Demolished]

At that price point, I’ll take the Martin OM28 and 90 packs of EJ16 strings.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

Price for an OM 28 is the same.

[@G_Demolished]

@@Joe-m6p6b You must be outside of the states somewhere. It’s significantly cheaper in America. Sweetwater sells the Yamaha for $700 more.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

@@G_Demolishedall right..

[@G_Demolished]

@@Joe-m6p6b 4099.99 - 3399.99 = 700

[@jasper_north]

If only they would change the pickguard close to the neck (18th fret?), that looks funny curved and cheap. Not in balance.

[@guitaristforfunn]

They don't want to cover up the rosette with a pick guard.

[@jasper_north]

@@guitaristforfunnThere is no rosette below the 18th fret…

[@Joe-m6p6b]

I just got the FG-9R and the pick guard material is much better than in my Martin CS 21-11 which I did not put onto the beautifully, super tight grained Adi top. The FG-9 body is different, slightly bigger than a Martin dread.

[@jasper_north]

@@Joe-m6p6b problem with Yamaha is that the neck is a bold on

[@Joe-m6p6b]

@@jasper_north it is bolt on and glued (fretboard and top). Why should it be a problem?

[@jeaniepeffer1818]

I'm old, my ears don't work !! Why don't you just bang on that guitar even louder than you already do ???

[@Joe-m6p6b]

Hahaha, Quentin Brutalinsky is banging hard every guitar? 💪🎸✍️🚔

[@Joe-m6p6b]

"It is probably maple?" Didn't He know the details of a 4k guitar which he would like to sell and present to the world of guitar aficionadis on KZbin...?✍️🤔🏇🙏

[@marco_cee_]

These are great guitars, but the name on the headstock often means they are overlooked; at $3k, people are more likely to look at Martin or similar.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

They are 4k, the price of an ordinary D-28.