Introduction
Yamaha first introduced their TransAcoustic technology in 2016 with the launch of the FG-TA and LL-TA acoustic-electric guitars. This innovative technology allows acoustic guitars to produce reverb and chorus effects without needing any external amplification or effects. Through the use of an actuator installed inside the guitar’s body, the TransAcoustic system creates rich, immersive effects that enhance the unplugged playing experience.
The Yamaha LS-TA represents the flagship model in the TransAcoustic line. With its concert body shape, solid Engelmann spruce top, and mahogany back and sides, the LS-TA delivers an exceptionally resonant and balanced acoustic tone. But what really makes this guitar stand out is the built-in reverb and chorus effects. Without needing any cables or amps, guitarists can engage lush, studio-quality reverb or shimmering chorus effects with the simple turn of a knob. This allows for an inspiring playing experience anywhere you can take an acoustic guitar. Whether practicing at home, performing live, or writing songs, the LS-TA’s onboard effects elevate the musicality and enjoyment.
Having reverb and chorus effects without requiring any external gear is a major benefit for guitarists. It means you can enjoy spatial, immersive tones whether playing acoustic guitar through a PA system live or just unplugged on the couch at home. The LS-TA enriches the acoustic experience in a way that’s simple, accessible, and sounds incredible.
Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic Features
The Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic guitar has a concert body shape with dimensions of 15 3/4" width, 4 5/8" body depth, and 19 7/8" body length. It features a solid Engelmann spruce top and mahogany back and sides, which provide a balanced and articulate tone.
One of the standout features of this guitar is the built-in TransAcoustic reverb and chorus effects. The reverb effect adds rich, spacious ambience to the guitar’s natural acoustic sound. The chorus effect provides gentle, shimmering modulation to the tone. Both effects are specifically voiced for the LS-TA and can be used individually or together.
These effects are made possible by Yamaha’s innovative TransAcoustic actuator installed inside the guitar’s body. The actuator functions as a speaker, taking the guitar’s natural sound waves and transforming them into reverb and chorus effects that emanate from the sound hole. This allows you to experience immersive reverb and chorus without needing any external amps or effects.
The TransAcoustic system has easy-to-use controls mounted on the guitar’s side. A 3-way toggle switch lets you choose between reverb, chorus, or bypassing the effects. There are also knobs for reverb level, chorus level, and line out volume. The preamp has a built-in tuner and EQ controls for shaping your amplified tone.
In addition to the TransAcoustic effects, the LS-TA has a piezo pickup for plugging into an acoustic guitar amp or PA system. This allows you to amplify the guitar’s sound with effects or play it clean. The piezo pickup combined with the TransAcoustic system provides flexibility for both amplified and unamplified playing.
Playability and Feel
The Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic boasts a comfortable and highly playable neck profile. It features a slim taper mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard and 20 frets. The neck has a smooth, fast feel that allows for easy riffing and lead playing up and down the fretboard.
The action on the LS-TA comes set up low and comfortable right out of the box from the factory. On the review model, there were no sharp fret ends or other setup issues. The action measured just over 2mm on the treble side and 2.5mm on the bass side with comfortable relief in the neck. This makes for effortless chording and fretting across all areas of the neck.
Overall, the LS-TA TransAcoustic is a joy to play whether unplugged or amplified. The smooth neck and low action lend themselves to versatile playing styles from strumming to fingerpicking. The comfortable feel inspires the player to pick up this guitar and play for hours without fatigue. From the first strum, the LS-TA feels like an extension of the player’s hands.
Unplugged Sound
The LS-TA’s all-solid tonewood construction of Engelmann spruce and mahogany produces a beautifully balanced unplugged acoustic tone. The tight-grained Engelmann spruce top offers shimmering highs with excellent projection and responsiveness. This is nicely complemented by the mahogany back and sides, which provide a warm, rich low-end.
The concert body shape also has an impact on the unplugged sound. Compared to a dreadnought, the smaller concert body emphasizes more midrange punch and clarity in the tone. This gives the LS-TA excellent note separation and articulation when playing complex chords or fingerstyle patterns. The focused mids help each individual note come through clearly.
However, the LS-TA still has enough body depth to deliver strong bass response. The notes have a tight, percussive attack with sustained resonance and warmth. Overall, the LS-TA is very well-balanced tonally. It’s not too bright or bass-heavy, providing an organic, musical voice. The concert body allows the guitar to be played comfortably for long periods without fatigue while still projecting nicely.
TransAcoustic Effects – How do they sound?
The built-in TransAcoustic reverb and chorus effects are what really make the LS-TA stand out from other acoustic-electrics. The reverb effect provides a rich, spacious ambience that makes your guitar sound like it’s being played in a cathedral or concert hall. I found the reverb to have a very natural decay and liveliness that enhanced my fingerstyle playing without becoming overpowering.
Switching on the chorus effect provides a gentle, shimmering modulation that adds motion and warmth to your tone. It’s very musical sounding, without any of the seasick warble you might associate with a cheap chorus pedal. The rate and depth of the chorus are optimized for acoustic guitar, providing just the right amount of movement.
One of my favorite things is using the reverb and chorus together. This combination creates an immersive, multi-dimensional soundscape that makes your acoustic guitar come alive. Strumming chords rings out with a lush sustain, while fingerstyle lines become infused with an almost orchestral resonance. Both effects complement each other extremely well for an inspiring playing experience whether practicing at home or performing live.
Overall, the TransAcoustic technology succeeds in its goal of enhancing your unplugged acoustic tone with studio-quality reverb and chorus effects. Yamaha found a great balance where the effects provide noticeable ambience but don’t overwhelm the natural acoustic sound. I never felt like my guitar tone was being drastically altered or controlled by too many effects. Instead, the onboard reverb and chorus simply elevate the LS-TA’s musical voice to new heights.
Amplified Sound
Plugging the LS-TA into an acoustic amplifier or PA system is a breeze thanks to the onboard piezo pickup and preamp system. The guitar comes equipped with a high-quality piezo pickup placed under the saddle to capture the vibrations of the strings.
When plugged in, the piezo produces a balanced, natural acoustic tone without sounding overly electric or synthetic. There’s a nice resonance and warmth to the amplified acoustic voice. The preamp provides handy EQ controls for shaping your amplified tone, including bass, midrange, and treble adjustments. This allows you to easily dial in the perfect sound at higher volumes.
One of the coolest aspects of the Yamaha LS-TA is that the built-in TransAcoustic reverb and chorus effects translate beautifully into the amplified signal. You can immerse yourself in lush, spacious reverb or shimmering chorus when plugged in. The effects help make your playing sound bigger and more dimensional through an acoustic amp or PA.
Being able to utilize the gorgeous TransAcoustic effects while amplified makes the LS-TA an extremely versatile stage and studio guitar. Whether unplugged or plugged in, you have access to lush reverbs and choruses that will take your music to the next level.
Look and Finish
The Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic comes in two classic finish options that let the guitar’s solid woods shine through beautifully.
The vintage tint finish has an amber hue that gives the Engelmann spruce top a refined, vintage look. When backlit, the vintage tint glows in a rich warm tone that accentuates the flame maple back and sides.
For players who want a more traditional finish, the brown sunburst option features a tobacco burst that starts dark around the edges and fades lighter towards the center. This allows the contrasting woods to stand out in an elegant way.
The LS-TA has excellent build quality and attention to detail you expect from a Yamaha guitar. The dovetail neck joint is cleanly cut for solid stability. The fretwork is immaculate with smoothly finished frets across the ebony fingerboard.
To showcase the LS-TA’s looks, product photos should capture both the vintage tint and sunburst models from multiple angles. Clear closeups of the woods, rosette, fretboard, and headstock logo are needed. Photos of the guitar being played help potential buyers visualize how it will look when performing.
The LS-TA TransAcoustic is an aesthetically pleasing guitar available in two rich finish options that highlight its all-solid-wood construction and Yamaha’s renowned build quality.
Included Accessories
The Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic comes with a high-quality hard gig bag to protect the guitar during transport and storage. The padded gig bag features backpack straps for easy carrying, as well as exterior and interior storage pockets.
Inside the gig bag, you’ll also find a polishing cloth for keeping the guitar looking its best, a Yamaha strap, and an accessory kit. The accessory kit contains extra strings, picks, a capo, and other useful items. Having these accessories included right in the package makes the LS-TA an even greater value.
You can take the LS-TA anywhere knowing it is safe inside the durable gig bag. The storage pockets allow you to keep small accessories with the guitar at all times. Overall, the included case and accessory package add to the appeal of this fantastic TransAcoustic model.
Pros and Cons
The Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic guitar has many excellent qualities that make it a compelling choice for players looking for built-in effects. Here are the main pros and cons based on our hands-on review:
Pros
- TransAcoustic reverb and chorus effects sound incredible and inspire creativity
- Actuator system seamlessly delivers the effects without external amps or pedals
- Controls make it easy to blend and adjust the reverb and chorus
- Concert body produces rich, balanced acoustic tone and projection
- Engelmann spruce top and mahogany back/sides are tonewoods favored by many
- Neck profile is comfortable and accessible for most playing styles
- Piezo pickup faithfully reproduces the guitar’s voice when amplified
- Gig bag included provides quality protection for transporting the guitar
Cons
- Higher price tag due to the TransAcoustic technology and premium materials
- Electronics may intimidate some purely acoustic players
- Effects always engaged when unplugged, which some may not prefer
- Not as bass-heavy as a dreadnought body, depending on player preferences
- Gig bag doesn’t offer the most heavy-duty protection like a hardshell case
Overall, the LS-TA’s innovative TransAcoustic features and inspiring acoustic sound make it a top-tier option worthy of consideration for players wanting built-in reverb and chorus effects. While the price is on the higher end, the value is justified by the quality materials, Yamaha craftsmanship, and unique sonic capabilities this model provides.
Conclusion
The Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic is best suited for fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters, and guitarists looking to add lush, immersive effects without needing any external gear. Its built-in reverb and chorus provide studio-quality ambience that enhances both practice sessions and live performances. The concert body produces balanced tone and projection, while the solid Engelmann spruce top and mahogany back/sides offer warmth and richness.
At around $1,000, the LS-TA sits in the upper mid-range price tier for acoustic-electrics. While not exactly cheap, it delivers outstanding quality and innovative features that make it well worth the investment. The onboard effects are seamlessly integrated and feel like an extension of the instrument, not just tacked-on extras. Yamaha’s meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship is evident throughout.
For players seeking an inspiring practice and performing guitar with stunning looks, lush effects, and excellent amplified sound, the Yamaha LS-TA TransAcoustic comes highly recommended. It’s an excellent value for a feature-packed acoustic-electric that will continue to impress and inspire for years to come. The LS-TA is a marvel of innovation that truly sets itself apart from other guitars in its class.