I hate when people try to convince me "it's me" i.e. "the way you play" Man, that makes me so mad! This is a solid review, and I appreciate the honesty and thorough review. I've seen some reviews where they just list what the guitar is made of and play a little bit. But yours is great because you include the research and the experience you went through. Thank you! Thanks for telling how you are mic'd too, that affects the sound. Heaven is Here- nice song. Great job!!
Thank you for the review. The song you played was lovely. I enjoyed listening to both guitars. I preferred the Takamine, though. I just bought my daughter the GD11M/NS for Christmas. I think she's going to love it. Right now, she has an Alvarez.
All you need is to like the sound. If you never knew whether a guitar was all solid or laminate...but you loved the tone, what difference would it make. If you crave to play it and it sounds sweet to your ears....then it makes no difference where its made it what its made of. Make your music and nevermind the debate. Seems to me the more somebody spends the happier thier ego is. Thats got nothing to do with music.
I've been playing for 36 years and and I've played a large number of guitars from all price ranges, all kinds of appointments, laminated tops, "solid tops" ect, ect. One important thing to understand is that not all laminate is equal. Some laminates are a very thin cut of genuine wood. Factories will often use a wood "laminate" from a very high end piece of wood for the aesthestics/cosmetics of it. But even when a synthetic laminate is used, its important to note that there is still a solid wood top underneath the laminate. In cases of a true wood laminate for the aesthestics, you definitely end up having a solid wood top for all intents and purposes. Unless something is used under the wood laminate that isn't wood. But often it is spruce, Sitka, cedar, maple mahogany, ect. But they are cuts from less attractive pieces of wood to keep costs down. Does a synthetic laminate over ugly wood change the tone ? YES Does a real wood laminate over ugly wood change the tone ? Likely Yes Are any differences set in stone that these changes are better or worse in regard to tone ? NO If it sounds good to you, it sounds good. Perception is reality. I have played everything under the sun and I have found that great sounding guitars can be attained from every price range and every construction materials out there being utilized. There are good, bad and in between from all of the above.
Thanks for the comment, it really helped me clarify how my guitar was made. I bought a flame maple Dean acoustic back in 2006, it was said to be all maple construction on the body with a mahogany neck. Based on your comment, it looks like it has less attractive cuts of maple underneath as the construction, but there are paper thin cuts of high end real flame maple laminated on top (you can almost see through them on the curves). I was blown away by the tone when I played it at the store, bought it on impulse and to this day I will hold it up against most Taylors or Martins out there, including a $2500 Taylor I played the other day which didn't have as good of a tone or construction quality as my "laminated" guitar
@@jojobaggins9224 Laminated = covered/glued with artificial (often plastic) decorative skin called laminate. Veneer = Real wood in thin slices, usually 1/32" thickness, glued over the top of less attractive wood. I'm glad that you have a more accurate understanding about this now. #1) A plain maple top or flame maple top that does not have a thin wood veener over it is neither inherently better or worse than a guitar WITH the veneer. And #2) a veneer is genuine wood anyway.
I have to agree, even the high end brands have bad guitars, likely more than midrange and cheaper guitars because the expectations are so high, and midrange and cheaper guitars come with real gem's, guitars that play and sound far above what you expected.
A 23 year old Yamaha guitar is very well sought after. Those manufactured in Japan or Taiwan. They may be laminate but they sound so much better than many solid wood guitars you buy today.
I also have a Takamine (Mahogany). The NEX shape seems to give it a more focussed treble that sits nicely on top of the bass. The dreadnoughts tend to be more boomy and less defined. Nice review.
Takamine all day! I'm gonna get one soon. The cool tube preamp is so original. Shame they cost around £1000. I currently have a Tanglewood TW1000 but the preamp sounds so bad and it's time for an upgrade. Nice video demonstration! Thanks for sharing :-)
Sorry but this is the difference in sound between a dreadnought and a NEX (Scaled down Jumbo). You cannot compare two different body type acoustic guitars and base the sound difference on the type of top. Even if the Yamaha was a solid top, it would still sound like a dreadnought and the results would be similar.
+DR H Hi DRH, indeed it is an unfair comparison, Body types have huge impact on the sound... but the video was merely to illustrate the diference in resonance from a Laminated vs Solid Top. Dough i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
When my son was shopping for a new guitar he had me listen to about 30 and the body size made more difference than cost. To my ear a larger/deeper mid price guitar sounded every bit as nice as a smaller but much more expensive guitar and sometimes better.
it just wasn't cost effective to repair the old one IF it was you're only instrument but you can't let a 22 year companion go just like that. Well.. a wife maybe...It depends. Nice guitar though. Good choice in the Takamine
You can still use old Yamaha dreadnought to play 'textures', slightly undefined rhythmic strumming in the background, in a different key, or in dropped down tuning etc.
Your Yamaha sounded quite pleasant too. I think it could be due to newer strings on the Takamine that gives a louder, brighter and clearer sound. I feel that wood alone does not make that much difference. I have a plywood guitar that sounds better than my solid top. Anyway it was a good review and you play well
yeah true sir have my old plywood guitar being my companion for 4 years and it was just given by my conductor it was been stocked for 5 years in his office and it sounds good better than other solid top guitars i dont know why i might because that what taste of sound i love but others told me also that my guitar sounds good by the way its just a beginner guitar made up of plywood top sides and back haha proud owner of cheap guitar haha and now having morris w25 guitar:)
monrey lexis Retuta There's a test on youtube "Efficiency of laminate vs solid top". The test showed the laminate soundboards out performed the solid top every time with the energy put through them. They simply sustained the note longer.
@@asherasator Something doesn't add up. Longer sustain means lower efficiency, because some of the energy is not converted to volume due to lower flexibility (higher stiffness).
The Takamine is noticibly livelier. The treble stands out more and the bass is accentuated, too. The Yamaha sounds flatter in frequency response and quieter in volume. The Yamaha has it's place, though. It's a better guitar for durability (got kids handling it? Will you be taking it on a road trip or camping? , etc.) The Yamaha can be used in recording where you don't want the acoustic guitar to be in the forefront of the recording (used as a background instrument.) So, the Yamaha, in terms of recording can be thought of as a tool with a slightly different purpose than the Takamine. As far as people playing these, give either guitar to a competent player, and watch him do amazing things with either one of them.
Thank You for your review. Both guitars sound good. I agree with some folks that the T sounds a little brighter and the Y a little subdued. I appreciate that you are just 'the man on the street' and not a professional musician.
I was deciding between the Takamine GN51ce and the Fender 140SCE aswell. Bought the fender as I could test it out. Although the sound is very good, the build quality is simply bad. Shy away from Fender. I would suggest that in this price range you either buy a Takamine GN51 (or GN30) or Yamaha FG830 (or FG820). Sound and construction wise you will not be disappointed.
for me, the sound unplugged that Yamaha seems to have more bass...I thought that difference between solid and laminate was more bass and higher sound but I was wrong
+Gilson Mainardes The Yamaha is physically larger, so bass is enhanced. The reference is "dreadnaught", a size classification, and the Takamines are a tad smaller. Harder to find a case to fit.
+Me & Mo right...do you live in USA? how much cost a good acoustic guitar there? here in Brazil cost above 2 thousand dolars and are made in China...very expensive
+Gilson Mainardes The body size makes a diference. I didnt connect with the takamine. Sold it and bought a Yamaha LL6M, 2 levels up from the Takamine and sounds amazing.
Good Review. Thanks for sharing. When did Takamine start putting G series on the headstock? Anyone? I have an EG334RC that simply says Takamine. By the way, if you find out which fret is causing the buzzing you can have it built up for about 10 bucks a fret. It's worth it so you can then use the Yamaha as a beater. Also, I have never played a Fender Acoustic that I cared for. And lastly I have a Yamaha FJ 645A I dearly love, and my Tak of course.
I know this is an old comment but I just wanted to say I have a takamine from 2000, EG540C, and it says G Series on the headstock as well. I have no idea when that started.
+Navavi Aziz This Takamine is an excellent guitar, and mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
+John A Brooking The resins in the wood will crystalize, and solidify with age, as the wood drys & seasons. The glues will also become more solid and crystaline, with age, and the glue joints will loosen up a a bit, and a good guitar's sound will usually improve with age. Some guitars will eventually start sounding tubby & sloppy with age. Usually guitars that the builder attempted make to sound older when they are new, wind up sounding tubby, fat, sloppy and lacking definition, after 12-20 years. Laminate top guitars can still sound very good, and they are much less likely to crack. Fender acoustics were never very good. The real Selmer Maccaferri Gypsy Jazz guitars actually had laminate backs sides and baffles inside them. With the baffle making them almost impossible to work on, I have to pull the back off, and many times I will put a solid back on one after repairing it. It changes the tone, but what I do depends on a lot of factors and eventually the customer's final decisions, usually based upon my recommendations. Old Martins are a monumental pain to get playing perfectly, but they hold their value really well. I started working on guitars in 1980. I have taken unplayable brand name guitars and brought them back from the brink many times.
I am no expert but that Takamine Buzzes on a string. I have A ef 325 src I bought new in 1990 and now that i have seen other makes of guitar I got a raw deal paying $999.00 for it back then . You can fel every edge of every fret and the the thing is always in need of a setup. I have a Yamaha APX 1000 ordered for my 61st birthday. I would never buy another takamine no matter how good they are. This is only MO
Thanks Martin. I have to say...when you first started playing the Yamaha I thought it sounded great. Maybe it was the tune or the way you were playing it, but I was ready to pounce and say that there was no way the Takamine could sound significantly better than the Yamaha, laminate top or solid spruce top or whatever. But then when you started playing the Takamine it absolutely sounded so much more open and clear. Not that the Yamaha sounded like trash -- just that the Takamine definitely sounded better. (Which made me feel good because I ordered a Nex body Takamine yesterday and it'll be here on Monday and I can't wait! I have some nice dreadnought guitars but as I'm getting older, with some shoulder pain due to a motorcycle accident, the dreadnought shape is a little too big for me to play comfortably. The Nex shape should fit the bill perfectly.)
skaybaltimore any guitar will do, as long as it has Solid Top, it makes a world of difference. I sold the Takamine 6months after and then Bought the Yamaha LL6M that I have now a love it, Englemann Spruce Solid Top, magic... I do prefer the dreadnought size, but smaller body’s have a more focused sound...
@@MartimDurao Nice. The LLGM, IIRC, uses their A.R.E. system to "age" the wood through some proprietary molecular process. And it has a fully passive pickup system -- one pickup for each string under the saddle. Glad it's working out for you. I did receive the GN93CE the other day and it's flat out amazing IMO. The sound is balanced, the guitar looks gorgeous, and plugged in it's one of the best sounding plugged-in acoustics I've ever heard. And with the action set right in the sweet spot between low action and no buzzing it's a delight to play.
Some of the laminate guitars by companies like Yamaha and Alvarez have surprisingly good tone. This is an example. The Tak is a bit louder and fuller, but the Yamaha sounds very good.
Thankyou for a great video. I have a 1979 Yamaha 350W. All laminate back sides and top, from Taiwan and it sounds wonderful. (in my opinion better than my all solid woods Martin D18) I am not even sure WHY it sounds better, it just does. Maybe its partly to do with how they cost $600 new in 1979, so was a very expensive Yamaha.
very nice review indeed.... I have seen a review of a Takamine GD11, top, back and sides mahogany and man it is mindblowing... and relatively cheap ... maybe you can give it a try and review. thanks.
+carlos delaorden Hi Carlos. This Takamine is an excellent guitar, and mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
+Robinkae Hi Robinkae, This Takamine is an excellent guitar, and mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
I agree that a solid top sounds better than laminate but lets not get snotty about it. The solid top is not that much better. I have 2 dreadnoughts ... a $200.00 Fender laminate bass wood and a $700.00 Simon and Patrick cedar and rosewood.. The S&P is louder, richer with better bottom but sometimes I wonder if it's $ 500.00 worth of better.
it is my conclusion that takamine is a great value guitar for the money . the sound is deep and rich . i have heard many comparisons with different branded guitars and always my opinion is the same buy takamine ! for sound , value , and feel
In this recording, at least in my headphones, I liked the yamaha a bit better. Maybe if I was in the room I would have a different opinion. I also think this yamaha is a beautiful guitar. The takamine not so much. It can also be a factor in my preference for the yamaha sound.
At the time it was the best I could do. Nevertheless, 3 months after I sold the takamine and bought a Yamaha LL6M, a wonder of a guitar. Yamaha for life!!!! ;-)
@@MartimDurao I think you did a great job in this review. It felt like a fair comparision. When I compare guitars by playing them I usually prefer the ones with solid tops. But recordings doesn't always translate properly that real life better sound. For instance, a fuller sound can be recorded as boomy and a thin sound can pass as clraity in a recording. In the end it is all a matter of what works for the intended porpouse and personal preference. Cheers.
what song was it that you were playing mate so beautiful. Great review by the way, played guitar for 10 years since the age of 8 never bought my own and never knew about fret buzz which is embarrassing thank you mate.
All Solid Wood Martins are not un affordable, DRS-1 and DRS-2 are both great solid woods under a grand! The Martin DSR is even solid Indian Rose Wood, beautiful basic appointments (I prefer guitars without the glitz and glam) for just over a grand!
Quite an old video but anyway here's my 2 cents.......Your 2 years Yamaha is nice and sounds beautiful.....she is a little bit jealous with the new arrival, but never say again negative things about her before a newcomer or visit. This make her really sad. The Takamine sounds just NEW, with new strings, new energy....like a new love. Guitars, no matter what are they made of they are simply and always great machines. Thanks !
thanks for review and lovely song... Instruments are like individuals,..... each has it own characteristics and quirks. Perhaps it was time for a replacement, I tend to think its better to add another voice to the arsenal. I find it hard to remove an old friend...
: ) Thank you for your video and playing. I have a Takamine aswell, It's a P4DC, the sound is very balanced and good, so I am satisfied with it! You are right about the sound from Yamaha, not at all same full balanced sound as from Takamine!
Really lovely song, Martim. I love that F# to E transition - reminds of me Goodbye by Steve Earle. Really poignant piece. And thanks for the review. All the best. Keith
Surprised your searches did not reveal that fender ACOUSTICS are absolutely awful. They make great electrics but useless acoustics. If you are ever looking again, look at Crafter. Crafter are made in Korea, in their own factory (instead of in one of about 3 that make virtually all the others) and their guitars are fantastic.
+VIET MAI Yes, they are in the same price range, but the Yamaha FG420A doesnt exists anymore. This Takamine is an excellent guitar, as mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
Takamine sounds finer here. By finer I mean it sounds more "fine" not necessarily better. I own a newer model of a Yamaha guitar myself, and I'm quite happy and satisfied with it. 🤗 Back to the video, the Yamaha does sound more bassy and punchy on the strums, which I like. As for the Takamine, I'd go to it for more crunchy and trebly sounds, perhaps.
Yes I also have a Yamaha fg335 all laminate that is great. I am looking at a Takamine GN 20 NS ce which is similar to yours but with solid cedar top. Your video is of tremendous help for me. Thank you very much. John in Brisbane Australia.
Yammy sounds better,,,more mellow with years,,,takky sounds very steely..without mellowness,,, takky has more sustain...yammy wins on strumming..sound overall yamaha has more sound...
Hi, i'm a hobbyist and self-taught for 24 years. in the middle i have stopped mainly because of girlfriends etc.. Recently, las 3 years became more serious (Still a hobby) and been playing better.
I thought that old Yamaha sounded good . That vintage dreadnaught tone. The Tak has a modern sound like a Taylor, will get better when the solid spruce top age. Btw the lamination and the quality of wood laminates in Japanese guitars of the 60s and 70s are really very good imho. The craftsmanship were by hand and which the Japanese took seriously whether all laminate or otherwise. Today’s laminated guitars are of poor quality, play an all laminate Yamaha say an F310 and you’ll know what l mean. I had an Aria 12 string dread and my friend a Tokai 6 string dread in the early 70s. Not sure if it’s the glue they use but definitely the woods back then were better (older trees). They sounded awesome and full when new and gotten even better after 10 years of so. Today we both regretted having sold them, but we were poor students about to enter university and needed the extra money. If you come across these laminate vintage guitars from Japan give it a go, they will surprise you.
Yamaha vs Takamine?? Dude Takamine is great, especially the 12 String Takamine guitars. I wouldn't waste my time comparing them. But that's a nice 6 String Takamine though.
i have an old 82 tak..would not trade it for any gibson..that double bridge on it really gives me sound control....like me its getting old but man i love that guitar (PS. she did seem to sound better with age..) loved your vid..thanks.
Actually I liked the Yamaha better.....the Takamine had an excess 'shimmer' that was kind of over the top. The Yamaha had more balanced sound with better bottom end. But then again it is not really a fair comparison as you are pitting a dreadnought against a jumbo. Cheers!
This is in reality covert and deceptive marketing by Yamaha. Look at the size difference of the guitars . The Yamaha was meant to shine over the smaller Takamine as would the cheapest Dreadnought guitar on the market.
I have a couple of Takamine solid tops and I could have bought Yomamas but I just prefer better playability sound and electronics (can't say enough about the electronics). I guess a lot of people hear with their eyes. hahaha
A good few years too late, but here's my view anyway.. Yamaha; Compressed - sounds like when someone talks while covering their mouth with their hand, if that makes sense? Almost 'muffled'.. Some might say it sounds more mellow, but to my ears it's compressed. Takamine; Much better note separation and definition, clearer and more articulate and sonorous. It'll sound more focused than a dreadnought anyway, just because of the body shape, but it's more than that. There's a sonic distinction that the Yamaha badly lacks. At the end of the day, it's how it sounds to you, the player. Had a Gibson J45, various Larrivee acoustics (L-09 & OMv-09), Taylor 510 & 614e, Furch 23CR-C, Patrick James Eggle 'Saluda' (magnificent!) and what I've learned is that cost doesn't always guarantee sonorous quality. I've also a Faith Mars FRSB45 that's presently knocking bells out of the above, yet cost only a quarter! Wouldn't have a Martin thrown at me but hey-ho, we're all different. Just never found one that spoke to me. Hope you're still enjoying your music..
If you want to skip the extra long intro, go to 8:33 .
I love you
Thanks 😁
Thank you! I was about to leave and look for another video. If you're making a video review of anything on TH-cam get straight to the point.
It took me 8:33 to find your link. :)
@@ralfburhenne2421 LOL
Thanks for the video
For those who don't want to wait
08:33 yamaha
10:03 takamine
12:36 yamaha
14:09 takamine
Thanks. I appreciate his video but too much talking lol.
Yamaha wins. He wasted his money on Takamine.
I prefer the Yamaha. It's more raw and natural. I like the woody and boomy sound.
I hate when people try to convince me "it's me" i.e. "the way you play" Man, that makes me so mad! This is a solid review, and I appreciate the honesty and thorough review. I've seen some reviews where they just list what the guitar is made of and play a little bit. But yours is great because you include the research and the experience you went through. Thank you! Thanks for telling how you are mic'd too, that affects the sound. Heaven is Here- nice song. Great job!!
Thank you for the review. The song you played was lovely. I enjoyed listening to both guitars. I preferred the Takamine, though. I just bought my daughter the GD11M/NS for Christmas. I think she's going to love it. Right now, she has an Alvarez.
All you need is to like the sound. If you never knew whether a guitar was all solid or laminate...but you loved the tone, what difference would it make. If you crave to play it and it sounds sweet to your ears....then it makes no difference where its made it what its made of.
Make your music and nevermind the debate. Seems to me the more somebody spends the happier thier ego is. Thats got nothing to do with music.
Too much talking..let the guitars speak.
Remember that it is more important to improve the skill.
I've been playing for 36 years and and I've played a large number of guitars from all price ranges, all kinds of appointments, laminated tops, "solid tops" ect, ect.
One important thing to understand is that not all laminate is equal. Some laminates are a very thin cut of genuine wood. Factories will often use a wood "laminate" from a very high end piece of wood for the aesthestics/cosmetics of it.
But even when a synthetic laminate is used, its important to note that there is still a solid wood top underneath the laminate.
In cases of a true wood laminate for the aesthestics, you definitely end up having a solid wood top for all intents and purposes. Unless something is used under the wood laminate that isn't wood.
But often it is spruce, Sitka, cedar, maple mahogany, ect. But they are cuts from less attractive pieces of wood to keep costs down.
Does a synthetic laminate over ugly wood change the tone ? YES
Does a real wood laminate over ugly wood change the tone ? Likely Yes
Are any differences set in stone that these changes are better or worse in regard to tone ? NO
If it sounds good to you, it sounds good. Perception is reality.
I have played everything under the sun and I have found that great sounding guitars can be attained from every price range and every construction materials out there being utilized.
There are good, bad and in between from all of the above.
Strick nine in my case it affects sustain, I have now more sustain with my LL6M than my previous Yamaha FG420a
@@MartimDurao
Yes sir. That is an absolutely beautiful Takamine guitar, by the way.
I have the GN77.
Very fine instrument.
Thanks for the comment, it really helped me clarify how my guitar was made. I bought a flame maple Dean acoustic back in 2006, it was said to be all maple construction on the body with a mahogany neck. Based on your comment, it looks like it has less attractive cuts of maple underneath as the construction, but there are paper thin cuts of high end real flame maple laminated on top (you can almost see through them on the curves). I was blown away by the tone when I played it at the store, bought it on impulse and to this day I will hold it up against most Taylors or Martins out there, including a $2500 Taylor I played the other day which didn't have as good of a tone or construction quality as my "laminated" guitar
@@jojobaggins9224
Laminated = covered/glued with artificial (often plastic) decorative skin called laminate.
Veneer = Real wood in thin slices, usually 1/32" thickness, glued over the top of less attractive wood.
I'm glad that you have a more accurate understanding about this now.
#1) A plain maple top or flame maple top that does not have a thin wood veener over it is neither inherently better or worse than a guitar WITH the veneer. And #2) a veneer is genuine wood anyway.
I have to agree, even the high end brands have bad guitars, likely more than midrange and cheaper guitars because the expectations are so high, and midrange and cheaper guitars come with real gem's, guitars that play and sound far above what you expected.
In my humble opinion, the takamine has a fuller sound.
A 23 year old Yamaha guitar is very well sought after. Those manufactured in Japan or Taiwan. They may be laminate but they sound so much better than many solid wood guitars you buy today.
Parrot Brand Shhhh...why tell? Just kidding. I sold my 2002 Martin D42 because overall it failed to top my 1977 Yamaha FG350W, all laminate acoustic.
I also have a Takamine (Mahogany). The NEX shape seems to give it a more focussed treble that sits nicely on top of the bass. The dreadnoughts tend to be more boomy and less defined. Nice review.
This was a very entertaining review. Loving the energy!
Takamine all day! I'm gonna get one soon. The cool tube preamp is so original. Shame they cost around £1000. I currently have a Tanglewood TW1000 but the preamp sounds so bad and it's time for an upgrade. Nice video demonstration! Thanks for sharing :-)
Sorry but this is the difference in sound between a dreadnought and a NEX (Scaled down Jumbo). You cannot compare two different body type acoustic guitars and base the sound difference on the type of top. Even if the Yamaha was a solid top, it would still sound like a dreadnought and the results would be similar.
+DR H Hi DRH, indeed it is an unfair comparison, Body types have huge impact on the sound... but the video was merely to illustrate the diference in resonance from a Laminated vs Solid Top. Dough i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
When my son was shopping for a new guitar he had me listen to about 30 and the body size made more difference than cost. To my ear a larger/deeper mid price guitar sounded every bit as nice as a smaller but much more expensive guitar and sometimes better.
MARTIM D Hi, what was the reasons u sold yr Takamine. Was it be’cos of sound quality? Tks.
it just wasn't cost effective to repair the old one IF it was you're only instrument but you can't let a 22 year companion go just like that. Well.. a wife maybe...It depends. Nice guitar though. Good choice in the Takamine
Man .. your composition is awesome, enjoyed it.
You can still use old Yamaha dreadnought to play 'textures', slightly undefined rhythmic strumming in the background, in a different key, or in dropped down tuning etc.
Your Yamaha sounded quite pleasant too. I think it could be due to newer strings on the Takamine that gives a louder, brighter and clearer sound. I feel that wood alone does not make that much difference. I have a plywood guitar that sounds better than my solid top. Anyway it was a good review and you play well
yeah true sir have my old plywood guitar being my companion for 4 years and it was just given by my conductor it was been stocked for 5 years in his office and it sounds good better than other solid top guitars i dont know why i might because that what taste of sound i love but others told me also that my guitar sounds good by the way its just a beginner guitar made up of plywood top sides and back haha proud owner of cheap guitar haha and now having morris w25 guitar:)
monrey lexis Retuta There's a test on youtube "Efficiency of laminate vs solid top". The test showed the laminate soundboards out performed the solid top every time with the energy put through them. They simply sustained the note longer.
Parrot Brand That's because it's a demonstration, not a lesson or performance.
Parrot Brand. I doubt that very much
@@asherasator Something doesn't add up. Longer sustain means lower efficiency, because some of the energy is not converted to volume due to lower flexibility (higher stiffness).
sir, i enjoyed your review, it is very informative and you play well! i look forward to seeing more videos from you playing guitar.
The Takamine is noticibly livelier. The treble stands out more and the bass is accentuated, too. The Yamaha sounds flatter in frequency response and quieter in volume. The Yamaha has it's place, though. It's a better guitar for durability (got kids handling it? Will you be taking it on a road trip or camping? , etc.) The Yamaha can be used in recording where you don't want the acoustic guitar to be in the forefront of the recording (used as a background instrument.) So, the Yamaha, in terms of recording can be thought of as a tool with a slightly different purpose than the Takamine. As far as people playing these, give either guitar to a competent player, and watch him do amazing things with either one of them.
That Tak sounded so much less muddy. It had a great tone. Put some heavier gauge strings on it and it's going to run like a champ.
Thanks for the tips!
this is a good review Martim, I´ve got Yamaha´s APX500 III and the small APXT2, for me it´s quite good!
Superb review/comparison mate!! Thank you for putting effort into this.
love the Takas , love your honesty .......... cheers mate !!!
I enjoy your review and comparison very much......I like both guitars in different ways...also Beautiful playing !!!!!
Thank You
HI :) what do you think of takamine ED1DC series? Sadly it doesn't have a solid spruce top but just a normal spruce top?
Thank You for your review. Both guitars sound good. I agree with some folks that the T sounds a little brighter and the Y a little subdued. I appreciate that you are just 'the man on the street' and not a professional musician.
I liked the Yamaha. Maybe some new frets, elixir strings and a little tlc is all your old buddy needed. Hope you don't stop playing it.
8:33 Yamaha
10:01 Takamine
I like the sound of both Guitar’s
I was deciding between the Takamine GN51ce and the Fender 140SCE aswell. Bought the fender as I could test it out. Although the sound is very good, the build quality is simply bad. Shy away from Fender. I would suggest that in this price range you either buy a Takamine GN51 (or GN30) or Yamaha FG830 (or FG820). Sound and construction wise you will not be disappointed.
for me, the sound unplugged that Yamaha seems to have more bass...I thought that difference between solid and laminate was more bass and higher sound but I was wrong
+Gilson Mainardes The Yamaha is physically larger, so bass is enhanced. The reference is "dreadnaught", a size classification, and the Takamines are a tad smaller. Harder to find a case to fit.
+Me & Mo right...do you live in USA? how much cost a good acoustic guitar there? here in Brazil cost above 2 thousand dolars and are made in China...very expensive
+Gilson Mainardes The body size makes a diference. I didnt connect with the takamine. Sold it and bought a Yamaha LL6M, 2 levels up from the Takamine and sounds amazing.
+Gilson Mainardes yes, just bought the same Takamine used for my son for $325
+MARTIM D Did you try Yamaha LL6 ARE ( CAD 600 ) or LL16 ARE, since it's around CAD 800, and your price range is $900. ( I heard in the video )
Good Review. Thanks for sharing. When did Takamine start putting G series on the headstock? Anyone? I have an EG334RC that simply says Takamine. By the way, if you find out which fret is causing the buzzing you can have it built up for about 10 bucks a fret. It's worth it so you can then use the Yamaha as a beater. Also, I have never played a Fender Acoustic that I cared for. And lastly I have a Yamaha FJ 645A I dearly love, and my Tak of course.
I know this is an old comment but I just wanted to say I have a takamine from 2000, EG540C, and it says G Series on the headstock as well.
I have no idea when that started.
I liked the sound from Yamaha, been 23 years and sounds still amazing.
+Navavi Aziz This Takamine is an excellent guitar, and mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
The Yamaha is good, I mean if its already 23 years old then I must say its a very great product.
Lovely tune, both guitars sound good the takamine is a lot brighter will get fuller as it ages?
JohnA Brooking All solid wood guitars (This one only has a Solid Top) gain properties with age, become a bit more mellow :-)
=)
+John A Brooking The resins in the wood will crystalize, and solidify with age, as the wood drys & seasons. The glues will also become more solid and crystaline, with age, and the glue joints will loosen up a a bit, and a good guitar's sound will usually improve with age. Some guitars will eventually start sounding tubby & sloppy with age. Usually guitars that the builder attempted make to sound older when they are new, wind up sounding tubby, fat, sloppy and lacking definition, after 12-20 years. Laminate top guitars can still sound very good, and they are much less likely to crack. Fender acoustics were never very good. The real Selmer Maccaferri Gypsy Jazz guitars actually had laminate backs sides and baffles inside them. With the baffle making them almost impossible to work on, I have to pull the back off, and many times I will put a solid back on one after repairing it. It changes the tone, but what I do depends on a lot of factors and eventually the customer's final decisions, usually based upon my recommendations. Old Martins are a monumental pain to get playing perfectly, but they hold their value really well. I started working on guitars in 1980. I have taken unplayable brand name guitars and brought them back from the brink many times.
I am no expert but that Takamine Buzzes on a string. I have A ef 325 src I bought new in 1990 and now that i have seen other makes of guitar I got a raw deal paying $999.00 for it back then . You can fel every edge of every fret and the the thing is always in need of a setup. I have a Yamaha APX 1000 ordered for my 61st birthday. I would never buy another takamine no matter how good they are. This is only MO
I own Yamahahahaha and Ibanez acoustics now. I owned a Takamine years ago. They are all good acoustics. My favorite now is the Yamaha.
Yes, me to. I now own for the last 5 years a Yamaha LL6M A.R.E
Thanks Martin. I have to say...when you first started playing the Yamaha I thought it sounded great. Maybe it was the tune or the way you were playing it, but I was ready to pounce and say that there was no way the Takamine could sound significantly better than the Yamaha, laminate top or solid spruce top or whatever. But then when you started playing the Takamine it absolutely sounded so much more open and clear. Not that the Yamaha sounded like trash -- just that the Takamine definitely sounded better. (Which made me feel good because I ordered a Nex body Takamine yesterday and it'll be here on Monday and I can't wait! I have some nice dreadnought guitars but as I'm getting older, with some shoulder pain due to a motorcycle accident, the dreadnought shape is a little too big for me to play comfortably. The Nex shape should fit the bill perfectly.)
skaybaltimore any guitar will do, as long as it has Solid Top, it makes a world of difference. I sold the Takamine 6months after and then Bought the Yamaha LL6M that I have now a love it, Englemann Spruce Solid Top, magic... I do prefer the dreadnought size, but smaller body’s have a more focused sound...
@@MartimDurao Nice. The LLGM, IIRC, uses their A.R.E. system to "age" the wood through some proprietary molecular process. And it has a fully passive pickup system -- one pickup for each string under the saddle. Glad it's working out for you. I did receive the GN93CE the other day and it's flat out amazing IMO. The sound is balanced, the guitar looks gorgeous, and plugged in it's one of the best sounding plugged-in acoustics I've ever heard. And with the action set right in the sweet spot between low action and no buzzing it's a delight to play.
Is the taka eg5303sc the best taka of g series?
@@andrede7514 Not sure.
martin DXMAE vs takamine d series which would you choose please suggest me
Martin!
Over the years it will sound better and better when the spruce matures.
Some of the laminate guitars by companies like Yamaha and Alvarez have surprisingly good tone. This is an example. The Tak is a bit louder and fuller, but the Yamaha sounds very good.
Thankyou for a great video. I have a 1979 Yamaha 350W. All laminate back sides and top, from Taiwan and it sounds wonderful. (in my opinion better than my all solid woods Martin D18) I am not even sure WHY it sounds better, it just does. Maybe its partly to do with how they cost $600 new in 1979, so was a very expensive Yamaha.
very nice review indeed.... I have seen a review of a Takamine GD11, top, back and sides mahogany and man it is mindblowing... and relatively cheap ... maybe you can give it a try and review. thanks.
+carlos delaorden Hi Carlos. This Takamine is an excellent guitar, and mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
You play beautifully ,,,,,, the new guitar really suits you ,,
os dois são ótimos; mais eu prefiro o takamine ele é mais perfeito na minha opinião
+Leomarques Machado eu também concordo com você eu tenho um desse modelo gn71 tampo sólido gosto muito dele timbre perfeito
I like the Yamaha best. Its sound is quite melodious.
+Robinkae Hi Robinkae, This Takamine is an excellent guitar, and mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
The Tak sounder much much better than the Yammy in this video. Yammy is muted, muddier, lifeless and Tak was crystal clear sweet.
Aw man you trippin
Hi Martin...I just want to ask if this model Takamine EG560C is a good stuff also? Thanks in advance for your quick response. Cheers...
Jojo L The EG560C is good, but the EG560SC is better. There are a few variations.
Yamaha 9:44
Takamine 11:04
I like the tackamie it sounds like its trying to bust with sound. Good highs and lowes for me
Qual melhor desses Takamine GD15CE ou Yamaha FGX800C?
No Doubt the Yamaha FGX800c. This takamine I sold after 3 months and bought a Yamaha LL6M
will the natural wood colour darken over time
Normally they do!
I agree that a solid top sounds better than laminate but lets not get snotty about it. The solid top is not that much better. I have 2 dreadnoughts ... a $200.00 Fender laminate bass wood and a $700.00 Simon and Patrick cedar and rosewood.. The S&P is louder, richer with better bottom but sometimes I wonder if it's $ 500.00 worth of better.
I loved the sound of the Yamaha more. Takamine seems more louder, but Yamaha's sound is more subtle and honest.
it is my conclusion that takamine is a great value guitar for the money . the sound is deep and rich . i have heard many comparisons with different branded guitars and always my opinion is the same buy takamine ! for sound , value , and feel
In this recording, at least in my headphones, I liked the yamaha a bit better. Maybe if I was in the room I would have a different opinion.
I also think this yamaha is a beautiful guitar. The takamine not so much. It can also be a factor in my preference for the yamaha sound.
At the time it was the best I could do. Nevertheless, 3 months after I sold the takamine and bought a Yamaha LL6M, a wonder of a guitar. Yamaha for life!!!! ;-)
@@MartimDurao I think you did a great job in this review. It felt like a fair comparision. When I compare guitars by playing them I usually prefer the ones with solid tops. But recordings doesn't always translate properly that real life better sound. For instance, a fuller sound can be recorded as boomy and a thin sound can pass as clraity in a recording. In the end it is all a matter of what works for the intended porpouse and personal preference.
Cheers.
Love tune! Many thanks for sharing!
Great honest review, its the takamine for me but the yamaha is cool in another way. thanks for the video, very enjoyable great playing.
Very good Martin.
You can't buy the sound of your 23 yr old (29-30 yrs now 2020) wood of your Yamaha guitar, it sounds much better than the Takamine.
what song was it that you were playing mate so beautiful. Great review by the way, played guitar for 10 years since the age of 8 never bought my own and never knew about fret buzz which is embarrassing thank you mate.
The song is mine... :-) Thanks for the pleasant comment.
All Solid Wood Martins are not un affordable, DRS-1 and DRS-2 are both great solid woods under a grand! The Martin DSR is even solid Indian Rose Wood, beautiful basic appointments (I prefer guitars without the glitz and glam) for just over a grand!
Love the Song you played! Really beautifull!
Quite an old video but anyway here's my 2 cents.......Your 2 years Yamaha is nice and sounds beautiful.....she is a little bit jealous with the new arrival, but never say again negative things about her before a newcomer or visit. This make her really sad. The Takamine sounds just NEW, with new strings, new energy....like a new love. Guitars, no matter what are they made of they are simply and always great machines. Thanks !
thanks for review and lovely song... Instruments are like individuals,..... each has it own characteristics and quirks. Perhaps it was time for a replacement, I tend to think its better to add another voice to the arsenal. I find it hard to remove an old friend...
Cort has NEX style. I think they subcontract Takamine to Cort.
nice video ! the laminated sounds only-strings sound ( no wood sound) ( from brazil haha ) thanks, bro.
The Takemine definitely has more richness than the Yamaha.
I disagree. for some odd reason i think the yamaha sounded warmer.
Martin C cuz its 23 years old
: ) Thank you for your video and playing. I have a Takamine aswell, It's a P4DC, the sound is very balanced and good, so I am satisfied with it! You are right about the sound from Yamaha, not at all same full balanced sound as from Takamine!
Really lovely song, Martim. I love that F# to E transition - reminds of me Goodbye by Steve Earle. Really poignant piece. And thanks for the review. All the best. Keith
Great video and your playing is beautiful...thank you
Excellent video thanks
i have a,takamine ean40 c love it have it along time best guitar i ever bought need to be plugged in to the true sound cheers
Surprised your searches did not reveal that fender ACOUSTICS are absolutely awful. They make great electrics but useless acoustics. If you are ever looking again, look at Crafter. Crafter are made in Korea, in their own factory (instead of in one of about 3 that make virtually all the others) and their guitars are fantastic.
I'll check it out.
abztractbeats check out
Terada to, a Japanese brand
Sir, which one have the thicker neck?
Takamine
@@MartimDurao thank you
Great video man, very helpful
Are they in the same price range?
+VIET MAI Yes, they are in the same price range, but the Yamaha FG420A doesnt exists anymore. This Takamine is an excellent guitar, as mostly has a great preamp system. But i didn't connect with the Takamine, sold it and bought the Yamaha LL6M ARE that is a perfect fit for me, sound wise and most important, feel wise. Soon i will post a video of it.
how is the eg440sc different from the eg440c?
elitejesskid the diference is that the S stands for SolidTop. without the S means it's a laminate Top
Takamine sounds finer here. By finer I mean it sounds more "fine" not necessarily better. I own a newer model of a Yamaha guitar myself, and I'm quite happy and satisfied with it. 🤗
Back to the video, the Yamaha does sound more bassy and punchy on the strums, which I like. As for the Takamine, I'd go to it for more crunchy and trebly sounds, perhaps.
Me too, after 6 months I ditched the Takamine and bought a Yamaha LL6M, a wonder!!!!!
For my 👂 laminate keep sound before strumming or picking (save the sound before)..., solid wood more than responsive sound 😁
They both sound good both good guitars....
what model is the yamaha?
FG-420A, very old! I then sold the takamine and bought the Yamaha LL6M that is a wonder of a guitar
Really good song! Thank you!
Yes I also have a Yamaha fg335 all laminate that is great. I am looking at a Takamine GN 20 NS ce which is similar to yours but with solid cedar top. Your video is of tremendous help for me. Thank you very much. John in Brisbane Australia.
Yammy sounds better,,,more mellow with years,,,takky sounds very steely..without mellowness,,, takky has more sustain...yammy wins on strumming..sound overall yamaha has more sound...
since when are you playing mate
Hi, i'm a hobbyist and self-taught for 24 years. in the middle i have stopped mainly because of girlfriends etc.. Recently, las 3 years became more serious (Still a hobby) and been playing better.
Beautiful songs, well played!
What about Gibsons? Don't you like them?
like them a lot, Not for my budget sadly, like Martin's or Taylors...
I think with new frets the Yamaha would sound equally good.
I thought that old Yamaha sounded good . That vintage dreadnaught tone. The Tak has a modern sound like a Taylor, will get better when the solid spruce top age.
Btw the lamination and the quality of wood laminates in Japanese guitars of the 60s and 70s are really very good imho. The craftsmanship were by hand and which the Japanese took seriously whether all laminate or otherwise. Today’s laminated guitars are of poor quality, play an all laminate Yamaha say an F310 and you’ll know what l mean.
I had an Aria 12 string dread and my friend a Tokai 6 string dread in the early 70s. Not sure if it’s the glue they use but definitely the woods back then were better (older trees). They sounded awesome and full when new and gotten even better after 10 years of so. Today we both regretted having sold them, but we were poor students about to enter university and needed the extra money. If you come across these laminate vintage guitars from Japan give it a go, they will surprise you.
I like the sound of solid top takamine better.
Thanks. Your English is good and I like the video.
Great informative video even more entertaining was your song. On itunes maybe?
Yamaha vs Takamine?? Dude Takamine is great, especially the 12 String Takamine guitars. I wouldn't waste my time comparing them. But that's a nice 6 String Takamine though.
i have an old 82 tak..would not trade it for any gibson..that double bridge on it really gives me sound control....like me its getting old but man i love that guitar (PS. she did seem to sound better with age..) loved your vid..thanks.
Actually I liked the Yamaha better.....the Takamine had an excess 'shimmer' that was kind of over the top. The Yamaha had more balanced sound with better bottom end. But then again it is not really a fair comparison as you are pitting a dreadnought against a jumbo. Cheers!
This is in reality covert and deceptive marketing by Yamaha.
Look at the size difference of the guitars . The Yamaha was meant to shine over the smaller Takamine as would the cheapest Dreadnought guitar on the market.
I have a couple of Takamine solid tops and I could have bought Yomamas but I just prefer better playability sound and electronics (can't say enough about the electronics). I guess a lot of people hear with their eyes. hahaha
Sounds like Takamine has new strings and the Yamaha old ones.
Yamaha will always win takamine 👏👏🎶🎶💖💖
A good few years too late, but here's my view anyway..
Yamaha; Compressed - sounds like when someone talks while covering their mouth with their hand, if that makes sense? Almost 'muffled'.. Some might say it sounds more mellow, but to my ears it's compressed.
Takamine; Much better note separation and definition, clearer and more articulate and sonorous. It'll sound more focused than a dreadnought anyway, just because of the body shape, but it's more than that. There's a sonic distinction that the Yamaha badly lacks.
At the end of the day, it's how it sounds to you, the player.
Had a Gibson J45, various Larrivee acoustics (L-09 & OMv-09), Taylor 510 & 614e, Furch 23CR-C, Patrick James Eggle 'Saluda' (magnificent!) and what I've learned is that cost doesn't always guarantee sonorous quality. I've also a Faith Mars FRSB45 that's presently knocking bells out of the above, yet cost only a quarter!
Wouldn't have a Martin thrown at me but hey-ho, we're all different. Just never found one that spoke to me.
Hope you're still enjoying your music..
Thank you
takamine is more bright and resonating well than yamaha...