Introduction to the Yamaha LL16 ARE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Yamaha has built a reputation for high-quality acoustic guitars over the past several decades. Their L-Series models represent the pinnacle of Yamaha’s craftsmanship and expertise. Handcrafted in Japan using only premium solid tonewoods, the L-Series guitars are known for their rich, resonant tone and impeccable playability.
The Yamaha LL16 ARE acoustic-electric guitar sits at the top of the L-Series lineup. It’s an all-solid rosewood and spruce guitar featuring Yamaha’s proprietary A.R.E. wood treatment technology. A.R.E. stands for "Acoustic Resonance Enhancement" and is designed to improve the resonance and projection of the guitar. On the LL16 ARE, both the Engelmann spruce top and rosewood back and sides are treated with A.R.E. for a louder, richer acoustic tone.
The LL16 ARE is based on Yamaha’s popular and time-tested Original Jumbo body shape. With its wide lower bout and curved waist, the jumbo design produces incredible volume, bass response, and projection – perfect for singer-songwriters who need their guitar to cut through a mix.
Let’s move on to the next section!
LL16 ARE Overview
The Yamaha LL16 ARE is a premium acoustic-electric guitar designed for discerning players looking for top-notch sound and construction. This handcrafted guitar features an Engelmann spruce top paired with rosewood back and sides, resulting in a rich, resonant tone with excellent projection.
Some key specs and features of the LL16 ARE include:
- Solid Engelmann spruce top with Yamaha’s A.R.E. wood treatment
- Solid rosewood back and sides
- Original jumbo body shape
- SRT Zero Impact pickup system
- Ebony bridge and fingerboard
- Bone nut and saddle
- Die-cast chrome tuners
- Tortoise pickguard
- High-gloss finish
- Premium hardshell case included
The all-solid wood body with Yamaha’s advanced A.R.E technology gives the LL16 ARE the crisp, clear tone expected from high-end acoustic guitars. The jumbo shape produces incredible volume and bass response perfect for live performances. Overall, the LL16 ARE provides exceptional playability, premium features, and studio-quality sound.
Body & Construction
The Yamaha LL16 ARE features an all-solid wood body, showcasing premium tonewoods selected for their acoustic properties. It has the original, deep body shape that the L-Series is known for, providing a strong low-end response and excellent projection.
The top is made of solid Engelmann spruce, a popular choice among acoustic builders thanks to its balanced tone and good resonance. It has been treated with Yamaha’s A.R.E. technology, which ages the wood to enhance its acoustic properties.
The back and sides are solid rosewood, which adds warmth and richness to the overall tone. Rosewood is a traditional partner to spruce tops, complementing the crisp treble with its mellow lows and midrange.
In terms of dimensions, the LL16 ARE has the traditional jumbo depth of 4 7/8" (124mm). It has a lower bout width of 16 1/4" (412mm), waist of 10 1/8" (257mm), and upper bout width of 11 1/4" (285mm). The body depth provides excellent projection and volume, while the waist contour adds comfort.
Overall, the all-solid wood body of the LL16 ARE provides a lush, warm, and balanced acoustic tone thanks to the combination of premium tonewoods. The original jumbo shape offers powerful projection and a strong low-end, delivering impressive volume and richness.
Neck & Fretboard
The LL16 ARE features a comfortable slim taper neck profile that provides excellent playability. It has a standard 25.6" scale length, allowing for familiar feel and fret spacing.
The fingerboard is made from premium ebony, known for its hardness and durability. It has 20 frets in total with abalone and pearl dot inlays. The ebony fingerboard contributes to the guitar’s bright, articulate tone. It also enhances playability with its smooth finish.
Some additional specs about the neck and fretboard:
- Nut width: 1 11/16"
- Neck width at body joint: 2 1/8"
- Neck depth: 21mm at nut, 24mm at 12th fret
- Fret size: Medium jumbo
- Fretboard radius: 16"
The neck has a hand-rubbed finish that gives it a natural, played-in feel right out of the box. Overall, the neck shape, scale length, and ebony fingerboard come together to offer a premium playing experience on the LL16 ARE.
Electronics & Hardware
The Yamaha LL16 ARE comes equipped with Yamaha’s SRT Zero Impact pickup system. This is an undersaddle piezo pickup designed to accurately capture the guitar’s natural acoustic tone and dynamics. It features individual string sensors, so each string’s vibration is isolated for a clear and balanced amplified sound.
For tuning stability, the LL16 ARE has sealed die-cast chrome tuners. These allow for smooth and accurate tuning, while being resistant to corrosion. The guitar has a rosewood bridge and synthetic bone saddle. The bridge transfers the strings’ vibrations evenly across the top, while the bone saddle provides a bright and responsive amplified tone.
Overall, the LL16 ARE has high-quality electronics and hardware that complement its all-solid wood construction. The SRT pickup provides a transparent amplified tone, while the die-cast tuners and rosewood/bone bridge offer tuning stability and balanced string response. This allows players to easily amplify their performances without compromising the guitar’s warm, resonant acoustic sound.
Sound & Tone
The Yamaha LL16 ARE produces a rich, resonant tone with excellent projection and volume. The all-solid wood construction really allows the guitar’s voice to shine through. The Engelmann spruce top provides crisp, articulate highs with shimmer and sparkle. The midrange is clear and focused, allowing chords and fingerpicking to be heard accurately. The rosewood back and sides add a deep low end with warm, rounded bass notes that fill out the sound.
Overall, the guitar has a very balanced tone across the frequency spectrum. The A.R.E. treatment seems to allow the LL16 ARE to "open up" and project its voice powerfully. It has the crispness you’d expect from a spruce top, along with the warmth of rosewood back and sides. The large jumbo body shape gives it impressive volume and bass response without muddiness. Whether strumming rhythm chords or intricate fingerstyle playing, the LL16 ARE provides excellent tonal clarity.
The guitar is very responsive, and articulates dynamics nicely. It’s easy to control the tone and volume based on your attack. The LL16 ARE has enough headroom to handle aggressive strumming without distorting or muddying up. The A.R.E. treatment really seems to allow the tonewoods to resonate freely. Overall, players looking for a rich, balanced acoustic tone will appreciate the LL16 ARE.
Playability & Feel
The LL16 ARE is designed for comfortable, effortless playability. It has a slim taper neck profile that makes it easy to grip and navigate up and down the fretboard. The neck width measures 1 11/16" at the nut, providing substantial space for fingering chords and single note runs without feeling too wide.
The action on the LL16 ARE is set low and smooth right out of the box. String height at the 12th fret measures approximately .012" on the treble side and .010" on the bass side. This facilitates intricate fretting and makes barre chords easy to hold down. The guitar has a 25.6" scale length and comes equipped with medium gauge strings from the factory, providing an ideal tension that is not too loose or tight.
The LL16 ARE gets a professional setup from Yamaha before shipping, ensuring optimal playability. The nut slots and saddle are cut to just the right depth, providing buzz-free operation across all six strings. Intonation is accurately calibrated all along the fretboard. The guitar holds its tuning well, even during aggressive rhythm playing.
Overall, the LL16 ARE is a very comfortable and playable acoustic-electric guitar. It feels smooth, fast, and responsive thanks to its quality components and meticulous factory setup. Whether strumming chords or playing intricate solos, this guitar is a joy to handle. The slim taper neck profile and low action facilitate complex fingering while still providing a solid, reassuring grip.
Alternatives
The Yamaha LL16 ARE competes with other high-end acoustic-electric guitars in the $1500-$2000 price range. Some comparable alternatives include:
Taylor 314ce
The Taylor 314ce is a Grand Auditorium style acoustic-electric with a solid Sitka spruce top and layered rosewood back and sides. It produces a balanced, articulate tone and comes equipped with Taylor’s ES2 pickup system. The 314ce sells for around $1799.
Martin D-18E Retro
This Martin dreadnought acoustic-electric features a solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It has a vintage-inspired aesthetic and Fishman Matrix VT Enhance electronics. The D-18E Retro has a street price of approximately $1999.
Guild F-30R Jumbo
Guild’s F-30R jumbo acoustic-electric has a solid Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides. The hand-scalloped X-bracing contributes to its rich, resonant tone. It includes an L.R. Baggs Anthem pickup and sells for around $1699.
Gibson J-45 Standard
The Gibson J-45 Standard is an iconic acoustic with a Sitka spruce top and walnut back and sides. This handmade guitar produces a balanced tone well-suited to multiple styles. The street price is approximately $1799-$1999.
While the Yamaha LL16 ARE can hold its own against these models, it stands out with its A.R.E. wood treatment, original jumbo body shape, and excellent playability. Ultimately, personal preferences for size, aesthetics, and electronics will determine which guitar is the best fit for a given player.
Pros & Cons
The Yamaha LL16 ARE acoustic-electric guitar has several notable strengths along with a few minor weaknesses to consider:
Pros
- Rich, resonant tone from all-solid wood construction
- Excellent projection and volume from original jumbo body
- Engelmann spruce top responds well to playing dynamics
- Rosewood back and sides offer a warm, balanced sound
- SRT Zero Impact pickup reproduces the acoustic tone faithfully
- Premium build quality and attention to detail
- Comes with a high-quality hardshell case
Cons
- Higher price point around $1500-$2000
- Large body size may be uncomfortable for some players
- Lacks onboard EQ controls for tone shaping
- Powerful projection can lead to feedback issues on stage
- Not as affordable as all-laminate acoustic-electrics
While the Yamaha LL16 ARE does come at a higher price point, its all-solid wood construction, handcrafted details, and proprietary A.R.E treatment help justify the cost for discerning players. The powerful projection can lead to feedback, but careful stage placement and sound reinforcement can help mitigate this. Overall the LL16 ARE offers an exceptional playing experience with few significant weaknesses.
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
The Yamaha LL16 ARE acoustic-electric guitar earns high marks across the board for its premium tonewoods, quality craftsmanship, and versatile sound. As we’ve seen throughout this review, the LL16 ARE is built using top-notch Engelmann spruce and rosewood, further enhanced by Yamaha’s proprietary A.R.E. wood treatment. This results in a guitar with excellent resonance, balanced tone, and impressive projection that any experienced player would appreciate.
Despite the higher price point, the LL16 ARE offers solid value considering its all-solid wood construction and handcrafted attention to detail. For guitarists seeking rich, warm acoustic tones with the flexibility of plugging in, it’s easy to recommend the LL16 ARE. The A.R.E. technology in particular gives it an edge over comparable models from other brands.
Overall, the Yamaha LL16 ARE is a fantastic choice as an acoustic guitar for the stage or studio. It has the looks, feel, and sound that discerning players desire. If you’re searching for a premium, handcrafted acoustic-electric that can keep up with any musical scenario, the LL16 ARE deserves a close look. Its blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern enhancements make it a guitar that you can rely on for years to come.