Yamaha FS9 - The High-End of Yamaha Acoustics!

[@realtalk5931]

Don’t ever sleep on Yamaha. To me the voicing on their guitars is the best. Very dynamic and pleasing.

[@texhaines9957]

Completely forgot about these coming. It really sounds good, and I understand how each guitar may have its own song, if played long enough. Thanks Quinton and Paul.

[@leelossi1257]

That was awesome Quinton! You really like this guitar!!!!

[@abclar1]

This is the best resonating guitar I have heard here! Thanks M.V.

[@jeffk4930]

I liked the way Quentin noodled round a bit. My favorite pastime is noodling!

[@jacqueslapidieux3182]

A winner, looks and sounds incredible! Beautifully balanced tone, full frequency response that just sounds right.

[@bosse641]

it rings for sure! WOW. ....amazing. And the clean beauty. WANT ONE.

[@richardstones6445]

I just ordered one. Should arrive this week. I haven't been this excited for a new guitar in a long time. As a long-time Martin fanboi, I have a hard time believing that I now own two Yamaha guitars. I bought the FG5 Red Label five or six months ago and was just blown away with the quality of materials and the craftsmanship coming from the Japanese luthiers at the Hamamatsu factory. And these FG/FS 9's take it to an entirely different level.

[@jimharris3889]

What are your thoughts ? I bought a Yamaha LL26 a few months ago and I too was BLOWN away at the quality and actual sound of that guitar, THIS guitar is calling my name as I also want an OM style guitar, what are your impressions ?

[@richardstones6445]

@@jimharris3889 I really love this guitar. I have owned some really nice guitars. In addition to my Yamaha FG5, I have a Martin 000-28 Modern Deluxe which cost slightly more than the FS9. And I've owned a Bourgeois Brazilian rosewood OM that literally cost 3X what my FS9 cost (I sold it because I felt guilty having that much money tied up in a single instrument). I really love my Martin, but to be completely honest, I think the FS9 is its equal, or even slightly better. The Modern Deluxe guitars are very light, with the titanium truss rods, but to my feel, the FS9 is actually lighter than the Martin. That really surprised me since it has a bolt-on neck. I was expecting it to be a bit on the heavy side. It is an extremely sweet sounding guitar with really great resonance and string-to-string clarity (articulation?). The Adi top isn't baked, so it has a lot of "maturing" to do still, but the quality of the tonewood is amazing. I play mostly fingerstyle now because I have some old-guy hand problems that make it hard for me to hold a pick, and the responsiveness to my finger picking is very satisfying. I have purchased the new LR Baggs HiFi Duet system and I am having my favorite tech install it for me. I don't know what else to say about it. It is really, really a wonderful guitar.

[@Fronz05]

Love Quinton's riffing on a new rhythm and I own 2 Yamaha guitars and they are always great! Thank you!

[@lhvent]

I would absolutely love to sit down with Quinton with the FS9 and my LS6. Yamaha makes some special guitars.

[@kerbyfab]

How do you like that LS6? I’ve been eyeing the LS6M model, but didn’t know if I should go up to the LS16M.

[@truckmonkey68]

@@kerbyfabI have the LL16M and it is an amazing guitar! Beautiful sound and overtones and super loud with great projection. I love it!

[@heidih2887]

oooohhh, SWEET! LOVE how this one sounds! Something extra-special! 😍🥰😍🥰

[@championhairpuller]

Great call on Tommy! His acoustic work is amazing, as is his electric.

[@smandez2023]

Wow does that Yamaha sound amazing!

[@redson425]

That is a superb sounding guitar.

[@JS-nf1sn]

That thing sounds amazing.

[@michaelmcinnis911]

Wish Yamaha would make some left-handed high end guitars (like the FG9 & FS9). They've saved me a lot of money because they don't!

[@auramac]

Same here! Being a lefty, I don't even get to try them!

[@CrisGuitarBR]

As great as this guitar is, Yamaha offers wonderful options at a much more friendly price point, such as the FS5/FG5. Therefore, I would need more reasons and cash to choose this one over saving more to buy a luthier-made or boutique brand guitar. Just my opinion.

[@scottfishkind5335]

Can't wait to play one! I played the FG9 at Elderly Instruments in Lansing MI and it was so ridiculously amazing!! They hadn't received the FS9 at the time I was there.

[@kerbyfab]

Sounds like a Yamaha… great acoustic sound! Does the FS stand for Folk Style?

[@jaykenney3270]

Kerbyfab, FS means Folk Small. FG is Folk Guitar.

[@Supermastinflin]

Quinton where do you work ??! ❤❤

[@johncrane6673]

Great review. Listening to you guys struggle to find superlatives to adequately describe this guitar makes me wonder why anyone pays $20K for any guitar. Just stunning.

[@ghimaumelaya]

Many would cry for such a ringing! 😂

[@stephensmith60]

I say: keep playing the little tunes that you're used to playing. I do the same. Sometimes it's just a part of warming up. This way too - one becomes a little more creative each time they play the same old tune. I have several acoustics, and one of my favorites is a Yamaha FG 830; and that's right up close to my Martin D-28. A thorough action adjustment, a replacement of the nut, and a great set of 12 - 53 (80/20 Bronze) strings will pull the mid-sounds right out of this guitar. 😊👏🏻🥂.

[@Christ-is-King-]

Everyone loves Quinton. I know I do!

[@leraph3904]

Hey GUYS, Did you already try FURCH GUITAR? I just bought a vintage 1 om SR.......Seriously......AMAZING as you can't imagine

[@Joe-m6p6b]

Maravilloso.

[@JN-North.Guitars]

Nice playing & great geeetar! 👏👍

[@juandelacruz5247]

I'll go with Alama... affordable and beautiful hand-made guitars.

[@bend1499]

How do these compare to Martin's OM-28 modern deluxe?

[@rexmotif]

The sound🔥🔥🔥🔥🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@miamistomp]

Yes,Yamaha makes good guitars and especially the lower end is a lot of guitar for the money. This guitar looks good and sounds good but can't imagine any regular , working musician dropping 4k on that guitar. 1/2 buys me a nice Gibson/Martin used and has resale value if money becomes an issue-I guess a rich man's guitar Luckily I am not in their market because I don't see or hear anything that gives me the hots ( and I hate the inlays)

[@SingSurfStrum]

That’s a peach ! Do it Q 👍

[@mikehoehn1475]

Sounds like a high end boutique instrument.

[@marc8vino]

What to do when you are downsizing acoustics? I'm selling off around 10 down to 17. I really want one of these but I am nowhere near any store that would have one. I wonder how these would compare to my Collings, Bourgeois, Santa Cruz OM's. I'm selling a 000-18 with VTS adi top. It just didn't stack up to the others. I think I might still try and find a good Martin 000-18. These Yamahas sound like it would be a different voice for sure. I just wonder after keeping my favorite OM's if a Yamaha FS9 M would fit in. Has anyone compared these to Collings, Bourg, and Santa Cruz?

[@richardstones6445]

@marc8vino I owned a Bourgeois OM Heritage, (Bearclaw’d Adi top, Brazilian back and sides), shadetop finish. It was the best small body guitar I’ve ever played; just an incredible instrument. But I paid 3X the cost of my FS9 for it (literally). I also own a Martin 000-28 Modern Deluxe which cost slightly more than the FS9 (w/electronics). There is no denying the Bourgeois was the best of my guitars, but I would put this FS9 as my 2nd best guitar. And honestly, the biggest reason that the Bourgeois is #1 is because of the Brazilian tone wood. Concerning quality of tonewoods, excellence in craftsmanship, and responsiveness, resonance, and articulation of tone, this Yamaha is the Bourgeois’ equal.

[@ElMcMeen1a]

Treble sounds a bit thin to me.

[@Jam-m7m]

Acoustic letter Yamaha Fi rosewood vs mahogany

[@DoU12Rock]

How does that feel with that really short scale? 25 3/4 is 5 inches shorter than a Martin Do the strings feel sloppy?

[@IRequireMedication]

Um, you seem a little confused

[@richardstones6445]

@@DoU12Rock Martin normal scale length is 25.4” (0.4 in longer than this). Martin short scale is 24.9”) (000 models for example). This FS9, which is right in the middle feels fantastic. I get the benefit of (very) slightly shorter fret widths (easier for my old, stiff fingers to stretch into some chord shapes) without the degree of slack tension that comes with a 000 Martin. For me, it’s perfect.

[@venturaVlogger]

Its sounds so tinny with less bottom end

[@rinzan28]

Bald head with a cap: Hold on I got something. Owner: Do it

[@fishbustin7926]

Who can afford a decent guitar anymore?

[@smandez2023]

Depends on your definition of decent.

[@lilycat1694]

I sold my D28 Reimagined recently. Embarrassing, but there was a lot of money tied up in that guitar that I needed for other things (bills). Saving for a future guitar purchase. May have to go affordable Eastman or Yamaha or maybe Martin. I miss the beautiful D28, but in all honesty I never really connected with it in a way that I felt it was worth all the $$$ I spent on it.

[@davidbaillieul109]

Beautiful rig. I had a LS16m at one point that rang like that. Engleman spruce will do that.

[@Esteban69129]

$4k? Oof…

[@Louis_Cypher]

In my opinion, the whole Yamaha sounds alien to European ears. She sounds cold, glassy, ​​soulless. Perhaps this is tuned for the Japanese ear and the Japanese have their own idea of ​​great sound.

[@DJWRailroad]

@Louis_Cypher - could be due to its size? But, then, other "high-end" small body guitars produce some surprisingly huge sound.