I’m a piano player. There’s no question that Yamaha is one of the premier instrument makers in the world: if they can go head to head with Steinway or Bosendorfer, then why would they not be considered in the same league as as Martin when it comes to guitars? I know the reason: it’s because they make instruments at all levels, from student to professional. But the quality is always really high, whatever band the instrument is in. I’m actually very fond of that ethos: whatever you make, make it the best you can.
Are the people (the company, etc.) who make those Steinway-level pianos the same people who make these guitars? You have to consider this in answering your question, "...why would they not be considered in the same league...."
I bought a Japanese made Yamaha piano 30-40 years ago. It cost about $400 more than a US made Yamaha piano--but it was clearly far better made. The sales guy told me that if it were made in the US to the same standards, it would cost at least $2000 more. A couple of years ago I called a piano broker and said I wanted to sell the 30 year old piano. He said don't bother. Pianos that old were a dime a dozen. I sent him photos and documentation. He sold the piano for about $1000 more than I had paid for it 30 years earlier. I have a lot of confidence in Japanese made Yamaha musical instruments and hope to get a fg9m. (I had an old LD 10 that was fantastic.)
@@garyries8571...I of course agree with you. I too trust Yamaha brand. Martin only produces guitar only acoustic, not even electric guitar. Yamaha is much bigger and high level company than Martin. Yamaha produces motorcycles ( best engine in the world). Pianos, guitar, drums, sound system, generators, etc and many more and has high quality
Awesome video and comparison. I own a D-18 and an HD-28. Am blown away each time I pick up either. Also had the opportunity to play a mahogany FG9 recently. Was blown away by it, too. All are great guitars!
Let me preface by saying that I’m a huge Yamaha fan. I own an FGX5 and would choose an FG5 over a D-18 , not because I don’t love the Martin as well, but it’s nearly twice the cost and that makes the Yamaha exceptional value. In this case however, the FG9R is actually more than the HD-28 and I get that it’s a hand built guitar but if you’re trying to convince someone who wants that Martin tone, there is no substitute for a Martin. From a brand positioning standpoint, Yamaha has positioned itself as great value vs the big brands with comparable specs as evidenced by the new red labels, L series and A3/A5 series. They seem to have moved away from that messaging in this case which I think many consumers will struggle with.
I've seen so many crappy Martins and Yamaha's....neither line is almighty. I play with a guy who has a brazilian rosewood D28.....I wouldn't give you 100.00 for it....well maybe to resell it to a stupid person who swoons over just a name.
I have no problem with laying down 4k for the Yammie. They’ve been on a tear the last 3-4 years making superb guitars with each year improving the previous. FG9 is an instrument to be had.
I don't think a Martin Dreadnaught is meant to be balanced, haha. Dreadnaughts have a strong base, and the high end comes through, but the mid-range is super scooped. This is particularly true of Martins, which have a stronger bass than any other brand. That's the appeal though. Personally the only Martin I own is an OM-28, which is a much more balanced guitar, though I'd love to ALSO own a Dreadnaught if I had the money to throw away.
I have always thought that Yamaha guitars are an incredible value. I have an LL16 and an FSX5. I think that they are both comparable to more expensive guitars, especially the FSX5. Thanks for the comparison, even if both are out of my self-imposed price range.
High-end Yammies and Martins are great guitars. Martins are outstanding in the low (especially) and middle register but the overall spectrum of the Yammies makes them more versatile. If somebody manages to forget for a while all the glorious tunes that have been recorded with Martins he will discover high-quality instruments made in Japan.
And those glorious tunes recorded with Martins were crafted with absolutely stunning instruments. There's a reason Martin vintage guitars are so much money. Modern Martins just ain't it anymore, you can get way better for the money with less qc issues.
I recently bought an LL26 and it blows me away every time I pick it up. Everyone that has played it has been shocked at how good it is. It seems like most people who buy one do not resell it. Very few used models for sale. That's always a good sign, to me.
Le LL made in Japan vengono vendute su ordinazione, sicuramente non sono molti quelli che la chiedono per venderla, anche perchè costano molto più nuove che usate
Agreed on all the Japanese made L series. Very hard to find on resale market. The 16 series on the other hand seem to pop up fairly regularly. I had an opportunity to play an LJ16 side by side with an LJ26 and there was no comparison.
LL16 is chinese made....I have one that is marvelous after I refretted it myself and got rid of the stupid 12th fret hump. I've played some dogs....it's hit or miss.@@jeffberdin
LL56 here but actually wanted the 26, just couldn't find one at the time and got a deal on this. Totally magical instrument, one of my life's great loves. Total privilege.
I’ve left the same comment on so many videos, but my FS5 sold me on Yamaha. It’s literally a perfect guitar IMO. Yamahas sound is so balanced. It’s got some of the airiness that martins have but also a bit of the shimmer of Taylor’s. They also just play wonderfully. It’s my favorite guitar, and the cheaper price is just icing on the cake.
@@RadarsRadicalRides I’ve never played an fs9 but there seem to be huge differences. Rosewood vs mahogany, different finish and look. Adirondack vs Sitka spruce. I think the electronics are the same. The fs9 is almost 3k more expensive. The fs5 goes for more of a retro look and feel and the fs9 more of an upscale finish. I personally prefer mahogany with steel strings and prefer the simpler looks of the fs5. Again, I’ve never played an FS9 but going on specs and price alone I’d choose the fs5
As a carpenter I have always been impressed with Japan’s woodworking skills and building techniques. Especially fit and finish, and glueless construction methods. And that’s just their old school home builders, and furniture builders yatta, yatta, yatta, but even they’re guitars from the 80’s are just insane. As their quality control; is far and away superior’ compared to.. well, quite possibly ’anyone else, That said. I would love nothing more than to have my own shootout testing all my favorites; but without any real guitar stores, in my area.. I’m going to have to settle for whatever my locals want to pass may way. Cheers.
The chinese ones are not......don't be fooled....I have a mess of the chinese yamaha's....one of mine a LL-16 blows away any martin...including the D-45. No contest when it comes to sound...but I've played a mess of both brands that suck. FG9 and LL26 or greater are marvelous...usually!
Nuts. The Martin is much more alive with sound. Yamahas seem muted on the low end and dull. I have purchased and owned Yamaha dreads, and they serviceable but not great . Yep, I don't think your nuts, just a guitar seller. Sum: Yamaha has good stuff, not worth missing an hd28.
Japanese have the best quality control in the world. Quality is a part of their culture, they put so much pride in it, and it's what makes Japan (and Japanese products) so amazing
Yamaha is an exceptional company in the music business with all their musical products; and their guitars from years ago to today; with the low price models to the FG9s are no exception. The Martin and the Yamaha both sound great. I am partial to the Yamaha; because my 44 year old one still sounds excellent. 😉
The Yamaha sounds good, no question. But I can‘t help myself, those Martins… damn. They all seem to have some incredible woody depth and magic I can‘t describe, and that no one else seems to be able to replicate. I really need an HD-28 at some point soon.
I would have to go with the Martin. To me, it sounds warmer with more depth and clarity. They both sound very good, though. My first guitar was a used Yamaha C150 with nylon strings that I purchased for $175 in 1988. Since then, I've owned Taylor, Fender, and Zager acoustic guitars. I liked the Yamaha but there are a few minor things I find annoying about their guitars, such as the lack of a top strap button. As always, great video, Chris!
The Martin still wins for me for string to string balance and it still has that hardness and special resonance in its midrange and overall response that all the competition lacks. The upper frequencies of the HD-28 is still thicker and punchier compared to the Yamaha that’s brighter and thinner. If you prefer a different sound than the Martin then go with Yamaha or a competitor. But for that price I have much more affection for the Martin for tone, punch and confidence in its longevity in the long run. Great demos!
If Chris was right, and the Yamaha has lighter gauge strings, that could account for the thinner/brighter sound. I’d like to see them put the same strings on both guitars and do the comparison again
The music store near me doesn't currently have any FG-9s yet, but they did have a FGX-5 that I played and that was a nice guitar. I sold my FG840 last year. I really miss that guitar. Had it for 7 years and it was my guitar I learned on.
If you can find any, try some vintage L-Series Yamaha's. I particularly love the late 70s-early 80s L models. The new FG9 is not the first high-end instrument for Yamaha. The current LL-26, LL-36, and LL-56 are unbelievable. I would have a hard time going for the FG9 over the other options that Yamaha have.
I just bought a LL26, love the idea that its a one person hand built instrument all solid wood guitar, after doing some reseaech im willing to give it a try, i wanted a Martin but figured thats a mass produced guitar and it seems to me the Value in the Yamaha is of higher quality and personal touch and attention to detail
For me they both sound very similar with high quality. so from an audience perspective if I were to hear this being played live in the hands of a well skilled guitarist at a live festival , I would think this dude sounds great.. I don't think the Listeners at the concert would be able to tell the differences if the rocker played both & switched guitars between sets.. I think the main reason why we think one is better sounding than the other one is because we are using our confirmation bias ,so how brain plays tricks on us & we think one is better sounding than the other one , when in fact based on my opinion they both pretty much do the same thing... at the end of the day whatever differences in my opinion are marginal at best. plus sound is very subjective...
I thought they both sounded similar. I own a 66 D28, and a Yamaha FG800. I would not sell or trade either for the world. If I had 4K fo spend on a guitar, I would likely seek out that Yamaha, mostly because I want an Adirondack spruce top guitar. Great match up, they are clearly both winners.
I have a similar feeling about a J45 and a Taylor 517 as I do with this. I think the Taylor sounds better and easier to play, but it hasn't been on hundreds of classic songs. This one is easier for me though. The Martin has that Martin sound and that is the standard.
My first acoustic guitar was a mid-70s FG-160. I've always respected their instruments. You're right, they do sound noticeably different. The Yamaha strikes me as a more open, "airy", jumbo sort of sound, while the Martin seems to have more "density" to the sound, which my ear seems to prefer. But I only heard this in the first couple of demo segments. My present acoustic (still have the FG-160 in high strung tuning) is a Taylor GAMC -- essentially an early, limited edition 514. I'd like to get a rosewood body acoustic someday, and I'm enjoying your informative, comparison videos @Alamo Music Center. I would certainly include Yamaha in the mix for my next purchase.
I prefer the HD28 in this comparison. Martin just has that unique, trademark sweet warm roundness. The Yamaha is much brighter and more hi-fi, not bad, tons of bass, I just prefer the Martin sound. And BTW, the HD28's bass just jumps right out at you, it is so present, even on my computer speakers.
I hope this doesn’t seem harsh. This was a lazy preparation for a comparison. Because the one thing you could control was the strings. Both guitars should have had the same coated strings yo@@installed.. There is a massive sound difference between production non coated and coated strings. I vote for a revised comparison.
The Japanese were building musical instruments before Columbus discovered America. In my opinion Yamaha is perhaps the greatest company in the world. They build my two favourite things, motorcycles and guitars. I' prerfer Japanese guitars, my Takamine is the best built guitar I have ever owned, it's the same as David Lindley plays, incredible quality. Thanks for your videos and God Bless Texas!
Decades will pass, but one fact will remain the same... No one will ever build better guitars than the japanese, acoustic or electric. Their quality control, craftsmanship and attention to detail have always been second to none. God Bless those hardworking geniuses!
Before Japanese invented guitars...philipines tribe warriors are already playing music instrument from guitars ,to drums and more or less strings..but when Spanish came all trees and woods are destroyed and used by Spain to make galleon SHIPS..
Your notes about the higher action and tackier medium strings ring true for me! I played a bunch of guitars the other day to see if Martins were as good as everyone says, and while the sound was superb, the ones at the store didn't feel as playable as the other guitars I tried out-at least not right off the wall!
Synchrony bank from Sweetwater or MF. I could never afford a Martin at four grand. I can afford seventy a month with no interest and have included it in my budget since 2018. I own a HD 28 and a D18.
Thanks for a great and very interesting comparison, well done! I love the FG9 Yamaha, sounds a bit less stiff and more "singing" than the Martin I think to hear from the video. Should try them live. I love both brands, I have always played my Martin D35, lots of festivals and recordings. But there is more than just Martin, which has always been my dream instrument. My wife plays a 90´s Martin M36, amazing guitar, for Bluegrass as well as anything else. I got a Yamaha LL36 for my birthday, 3 years ago and it is an amazing guitar, so beautifully built, so great sounding and playing! Perfect. Besides that I now very often take out my just as amazing Boucher BG152GM, wow! Adirondack top, as well as my Collings D42A. Then also my Collings CJ IRW is incredible. The D42A is stunning to see, a bit too focussed, loud and brutal. The CJ is fuller and warmer. I am truly spoiled, sorry. Hard to say which one is the best, possibly the Boucher, but I love them all and play them all. I still have to find out what are the differences between the Yamaha FG´s and the LL´s.
Yamaha is a class company. I own a phenomenal Yamaha piano and a solid silver bodied student flute. The new FG series was designed in concert with an American luthier, Yamaha was able to scale his design up for production with all the finest tooling and computer technology, adding some nice Japanese designs for the fretboard and rosette along the way. I learned all of this here on RUclips. Also, my dreadnought is an ‘89 Alvarez Yairi DY-90 in Brazilian Rosewood which is awesome. Also have a Japanese classical. And a Korean Epiphone jazz box. So I’m entirely pro-Asia, guitar wise. But … I liked the HD-28 in this comparison. Maybe it was the lovely thumping low E that Chris pointed out. Overall, the Martin delivered a pleasant, classic sound.
Excellent comparison! Thank You! Bought my wife a solid wood Yamaha OM about 32 years ago and it still plays great! I'm impressed with the Yamaha featured here. I realize tone is subjective, and for me I found the Martin to possess a more distinctive and somewhat richer and warmer bass and mid-range without being muddy. Also, during the strumming it seemed to me that the notes projected with a bit more individual clarity or balance overall. The Yamaha had great projection I thought and a beautiful sound with amazing sustain. However, I felt it was a bit thinner on the bass and mid-range and produced more of a "bell-like" sound overall. Also, during strumming it seemed to me to lose some of the individual clarity in comparison to the Martin. Both are excellent instruments each with their own "personality"! I believe the price tag on the Yamaha is fair price for such an instrument of this quality! I currently own a 1990 Martin HD-28 BLE (Brazilian Limited Edition) and I absolutely love it and I will never part with it. Years ago, I owned a 1943 Martin 000-28 (Brazilian Rosewood) and had to let it go due to hard times and regretted it ever since. Thank You so much for sharing this! Enjoyed your presentation very much!
i had a cheap 300 yamaha that looks just like this one including the pick guard… if someone saw me playing it they’d probably think it was the same $300 guitar. I know Yamaha can make some high-end stuff, but I’m a Martin man through and through.
My first guitar was a 1967 Yamaha fg 180 red label I bought new for 100 dollars when I was 12. I still own it and it sounds fantastic! I also have a 1984 HD/28 Martin I bought used for 1200 dollars. It sounds great also! Not better just different. I love them both. Thank you God! I will never sell either.
Other than a quickly ill-fated Sears Silvertone in my early teens, my first steel string was a 1971 Yamaha FG-180 Red label as well - at 17yo, new! I should still have that, but it stayed with me as my main guitar for 20 years, in its later years with me interspersed with a couple of great Takamines, accompanied ultimately by a D-28... Given to a friend, and was glad to see it have a home with him, I still miss that Yamaha!
I like the warmth of the treble strings on the Martin. And the Martin has a much nicer upper register in terms of sound quality. I don't know if it is the bolt on neck, but Taylor also has that thin nasal tone in their treble strings. Martin for me in this comparison.
@@soofitnsexy No offense to the Chris, but I believe the "thin nasal" tone you are hearing is the player, not the guitar. The Yamaha's Adi top is much stiffer and tighter than the Martin's Sitka top. The Adirondack top needs to be "pushed" a little before it will yield the sparkling tone they are known for. I don't think Chris was digging in enough to make the FG9 "sing". These are both amazing guitars (obviously), but I have heard the FG9 being played by a couple of really amazing players, and to me, it produces all the warm, deep bass response everyone expects from a quality dreadnought, but still retains the upper mid and high end sparkle that I haven't heard from many other dred's except maybe some super high end boutique drednoughts, like Bourgeois. I think I'm going to have to get one of these.
i appreciate u! Ive owned many high end collings bourgeoise several martins but never an Adi top!! have u played one in person! happy holidays from nyc@@richardstones6445
@@richardstones6445 Adirondack top will only add overtones to the existing frequency spectrum as it ages and opens up. It cannot add more base as that frequency is simply not there on the FG9. So you can play the FG9 for 100 years and it still won't sound as a Martin on the low end, and never will.
No doubt the tops will open up with age - both Adi as well as Sitka. But I can hear (and feel) a difference in these two tone woods on brand new guitars. I have a Martin 000-28 MD, and an OM guitar with an adi top from Bourgeois. The adi top is just much tighter and stiffer. I get a totally different vibe from each guitar when I really dig in and play aggressively. I'm not any kind of expert, especially with Dreadnought guitars, but when I sat in front of one being played, my ears didn't miss any of the low end that I hear in Martin's. Interestingly, one of the guitars that was being played was a Martin 28 style dreadnought with an Adirondack top. I was really trying to pay attention to the low end response between these two, and honestly I thought the FG9 held it's own in that regard. @@captainnemo9628
I already bought the fg9r Chris. They come with elixir 80/20 light gauge. I replaced the strings with pb elixir but i went back to 80/20 as it sounds a lot better.
I own a Martin D-28 and would have to say it depends what type of music you play. I love the warm tone of the Martin and think it can’t be beat for bluegrass flat picking. That said, I play other styles of music and feel the upper end Taylor’s have great tonal qualities and are a lot more versatile. I would have to play the Yamaha to see how it compares to an 814 Taylor
I bought a Yamaha FG-9R and I already have a Martin CS 21-11. Both are incredible good guitars. The new FG-9R sounds so mesmerising and magical. I highly recommend IT to the toughest hard core Martinists and to all members of the Holy Church of C.F.M.!
Listening to this video with Sennheiser HD595 headphones I there is something wrong with the sound of both E strings on the Yamaha. I have a 1991 L series and it doesn't have that problem. The Martin sounds perfect.
Martin for me, but as a HD28 owner I’m definitely biased. If I wanted another rosewood/spruce guitar with a contrasting sound I’d definitely consider the Yamaha. But then it would be up against Gibson & Taylor’s … all great brands 🤔
To my ears the Yamaha was a little better. The instrument sounds more connected through each register and it was a far superior guitar for fingerstyle. The Martin is a classic sound with standout bass tones but I didn’t feel the same connection between registers. Either way you can’t go wrong but I prefer the more modern sounding Yamaha
Awesome guitars. Own a couple Yamaha's and they are terrific guitars. Considering purchase of FGX5/FSX5 red label. If had $4k in hand and had to choose think I maybe would like D-28 modern deluxe.
Excellent review! Two lovely guitars each with its personal tone "signature". With me it would likely come down to playability. I do own a couple of Yamaha guitars and a piano. Great fan.
Ditson invented the shape when they asked martin to make a few guitars for them. These were smaller but were dreadnaughts none the less. Good review. I am looking at a used Yamaha fg9 for 1600 right now and am going to buy it
Yamaha sounds great, but I expected that as I own two Yamaha guitars and one Yamaha bass. They make very good instruments indeed. I think I prefer the sound of the Yam over the Martin, though both are exquisite. The only thing that might edge me towards the Martin would be the potential resale value
Both of these guitars sound amazing! When I listen to guitars that are “an homage” to Martin, even the ones like this one which are on par with materials and construction methods, there is just something about the Martin that just speaks to me. The resonate bass…the fact that the sound comes from the wood more than it does from the strings. They feel to me like they are not trying to prove anything. They just are…. That famous Martin sound. I think I will always prefer it. But this Yamaha is truly amazing.
The d28 just has a unique sound that is hard to describe, but it just stands out. That said, in one portion of the guitar passages, I thought the Yamaha really sounded much better than the Martin. I am in the market for a new guitar, and I have been considering the HD 28. The playability differences were interesting, and the last thing I want is an expensive guitar that is hard to play. I do prefer medium guage strings, but they can be harder to play. The Yamaha is more expensive. Whatever, when I go out to sample guitars, I definitely will look at the Yamaha (and I've been a fan of this brand guitar for years). Great video, thanks.
From my blind listening I will take the Yamaha. The notes are more defined. Years ago I sold my D35 and bought a Canadian made Laravee for its sweeter and more defined mid and upper range. As a bluegrass guitar the Martin is hard to beat
In 2004 my husband bought me a brand new Martin HD28 and at first I was delighted. But as years passed, I discovered other instruments with a smaller price tag that were better built. I discovered that according to my luthier that Martin overbuilt their guitars to reduce repairs. Then I discovered the binding delaminating after 10 years. I got it repaired, but I ended up selling it. Instead I bought a boutique OM that had better sound and better build quality for about the same price. Martin is sliding along on their “reputation”.
If you put Martin medium strings on the Yamaha and then put D'Adario lights on the Martin, you would have something else to talk about. Also the D28 with Adirondack Spruce top is totally another level❤
I bought a FG9 after owning a number of Martins. I don't care about branding, only sound. It's superb. Perhaps in the same vein I own 2 Heritage guitars after being a Gibson user. Do we play for the music or just for trend?
Don't kid yourself... Many, many people (myself included) have a deep emotional connection to the guitars we grew up watching our heroes play. Martin, I believe, will always have that connection for thousands and thousands of players. That said... I'm buying one of these FG9's. I think it is an incredible guitar, and in 30 years, when my grandson is playing it, I think it'll be an absolute ledge!
I do get it. I'm 68 and I played Martins and Gibsons for over 20 years. I used Marshall amps and wore the clothes worn by the bands I followed. It was only when I started seriously spending time in studios that I needed sound over image and the journey I then took with brands like Furch and Yamaha led me to realise my previous loyalty had been misplaced. I've still got a Martin D28 from 1974 but I very rarely pick it up.
For me, it’s all about Sound. I honestly don’t care what my Guitar says on the headstock anymore. I’ve been through the big brands and it’s not to say that I won’t ever buy one again but these days the guitars I’m playing, are largely brands that most people haven’t heard about, and that’s fine with me. I’m also in the studio world and someone who plays live a lot. Make my living as a full-time Musician and I’ve just come to find that there are so many more options out there when you really start looking. I was blessed to have a good friend of mine, whose father started building guitars from his basement right after I finished high school. He had been honing his craft and offered to build me a guitar for the cost of the materials. Of course, I couldn’t pass him up on this and since then my whole perception has shifted on the big brands versus the small builders. At the end of the day, a great guitar is a great guitar regardless of whether it’s made by Yamaha, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, squier, Eppiphone, Furch or a small independent builder from his or her basement workshop. It’s all about the feel , sound, and at the end of the day, whether the instrument inspires us to write and be creative
@@LucasHaneman Well said. I have played Martins for years, but I only have one Martin at the moment - a 000-28 Modern Deluxe. I love this little guitar. It inspires me to play, and the short scale gives my arthritic fingers a needed break. But when I show up at open mic, jam settings there will always be at least one diehard Martin guy who sneers at it because it isn't "traditional Martin" enough for them. There are some people who don't want guitars building methods and materials to ever evolve and improve. When I show up with this FG9, they may throw me out completely 🙂
Oh man, if I could own one Martin guitar it would honestly be yours! I love the OM body shape and the torrified top is a fantastic feature in my books. Really, you’re given a hard time for that guitar? Wow. I’m surprised. I guess in my case people have gotten so used to me bringing literally whatever out to any gig that they don’t get phased by it anymore. The normal reaction from people now is “wow, cool guitar! What is it? “ perhaps with the Yamaha that will be the reaction you’ll get as well in time. I honestly think they are intriguing guitars and obviously they sound great. At the end of the day it’s all about how we play not what we play. It’s funny that to guitarists these are such big issues yet non-guitarists couldn’t care less what we play. :-)
Thnx for another nice video/content. I love Yamaha guitars. Playing an LL6X, even i couldn't manage to record as i hear, i like the natural sound. Last week i played D18 street legend which was awesome. Someone may like a sound of a cheap F310 someone may like an expensive Martin or Taylor. No one can ask why you like blue or why you like green. But you cant see legends playing Yamaha acoustics on stage. For sure they are both super guitars and sound good. Does a Mexican Tele sounds bad, no. But can't beat an American Tele. That is image and branding. First thing you do is looking at the back of the head if its made in Japan, Mexico or US. If Revstar Standard series made by fender it will blow the market.... Yamaha needs a new sub brand or rebranding. By the way I listened the test with HS8 monitors its a deuce for me. Looking forward to a new video....
With the exception of his 12 strings, John Denver almost exclusively played Yamahas, albeit I'm sure custom made for him. Similarly Dan Fogelberg, solidly Martin dreadnoughts for his acoustic six-strings for his 30+ year career, in the late 80s had Yamaha build him a custom one-off "L-41X" signature,..I'm sure an ode to his primary D-41 which Martin also made a limited signature of (and used that Yamaha for some recording including reportedly his rendition of George Harrison's 'I Need You') - as well I'm sure at his level "just because." His personal guitar was sold on R***** awhile back, originally from the Gruhn shop...And, I believe he used a Yamaha as a converted tenor guitar on some of his songs. For sure, the traditional American icons still get most of the notice, but respect and recognition has been there for some time for Yamaha (and Yairi, Takamine etc) by "those in the know."
For the price of a Martin HD28 guitar I bought 3 guitars, one Takamine P7JC, one Yamaha LS-Ta, and a Recording King RD 342. For the price of one guitar I have 3 different types a jumbo, a dreadnought and an OM.
The Japanese have always been able to make top quality instruments. I prefer my takamine p3fcn classical guitar to any other nylon guitar of the same money. I'ts amazing quality and handmade. Alvarez Yairi have been making amazing guitars for decades also.
My favorite guitar is a Alvarez PD85SCAV ROSEWOOD sides and back Cedar top but I once had a Yamaha FG300 BEFOREi traded it in on a 72Gibson Hummingbird and bought a ES335 as well
As a Bluegrass player, there's just no comparison to the Martin sound, in my opinion. There are other major brands and customs that are built to have that "Martin tone" but this Yamaha just doesn't. I love that tight punchy boom and I'm always looking for more budget friendly BG dreads. Thank you for the comparison. Nicely done.
The Yammie sounds more crisp & snappy, maybe even harsh or shrill to me (just not a fan here of Adi). HD-28 sounds more mellow, warm and rich to me; almost cavernous even like an auditorium or reverb built right into the guitar. Can't believe I'm saying this as a Yamaha fanboy, but for me, here, it's the Martin.
Nope - wrote the Yahama off because I already have an HD-28. BTW - I don't recall the fellow that ran Alamo Music back circa 1980, or even if there is a here-to-then connection, but he sold a sound system to me (and a friend or two) that we gigged with for a couple of years in San Antonio and the surrounds. For those who might have been around, the name of the band was "Blaze". We went for that couple of years, then imploded as bands often do.
I love Yammies, and saw an FG9 R at 20% off for a holiday sale. If I had an extra $3,300 laying around, it would have been an instant purchase. Ended up getting an FG5 for 20% off instead, and absolutely love it, but boy was it hard to not just throw that FG9 on the CC! Nobody ended up buying it at the sale price, somehow…
As I mentioned before, why Martim has more bass... Because all Martin dreadnoughts have Medium strings 13-56, while Yamaha uses Light strings 12-53. Adirondack top from Yamaha also contributes to a brighter tone
YAMAHA is a top manufacturer of concert grand pianos and its CFX flagship is included in the Vienna Symphonic Library (Synchron Stage Vienna) along with a Steinway D274 and a Bluthner 1895. Reason enough to consider the FG9R in my view. On the other hand, an R1 (motorcycle) probably need not enter the picture. Because YAMAHA does not make motorcycles, ATVs, outboard motors, nor SHO Ford engines. Those products are the realm of “Yamaha MOTOR” which is an entirely separate and independent company that was spun out of Yamaha the music company some 70 years ago. While the two companies cooperate, share similar (but not identical) logos and maintain a 4%+ ownership of one another, from a financial perspective, they are only distant relatives. Today, at about 5-times sales, Yamaha MOTOR dwarfs its former parent, Yamaha the music company. Love your channel. Keep up the excellent work!
In my opinion I believe that this time it is almost impossible to distinguish which is the best sound; maybe a hair more than the Yamaha which seems really powerful on the bass! I believe that this Yamaha has nothing to envy of the D28! P:S: The only thing more that the Martin has is that aesthetically it has everything I like in an acoustic guitar: from the bridge to the headstock it is perfect for me while the bridge of the Yamaha aesthetically doesn't appeal to me so much, perhaps it was better in the 70s! For the rest I believe that Yamaha has nothing to envy of Martin this time!!
These are both very fine instruments, sonically in my estimation they’re very comparable in quality, and I could imagine somebody liking either one more than the other, depending on their personal tastes. For me, the Yamaha is a hard sell as it nearly $1000 more. although I think the Yamaha is a very fine instrument. Most guitars with Yamaha on the head stock are beginner guitars, or budget guitars. There is very little cachet in the brand. 20 years on if you wanna trade in or sell that Yamaha, I don’t think you will get as much for it as you will an HD 28, and remember you will have paid $800 more for it. I know that’s not the greatest reason to select the guitar, but it is a consideration for some. at the price point of a Yamaha, you could spec out an HD 28 with an Adirondack top with VTS, which I suspect would improve the Martin tone which is already rather good. Martin is an American icon and legendary inventor and producer of acoustic guitars for approaching 300 years, Yamaha is a sort of utility brand that does a little bit of everything pretty well.
I just thought of an interesting analogy, this Yamaha is to Martin. What a grand Seiko is to Rolex if the Rolex was cheaper. For those of you who know watches many would say the grand Seiko is at least equivalent to if not superior to a Rolex. With martin there’s just a fizz you get with a guitar made in the Hills of Pennsylvania from a company that’s been doing it nearly 300 years, versus a company that’s an industrial powerhouse that makes everything from musical instruments to jet skis.
They never say these important features in these reviews . Just ramble on about the woods, which is not that important really as most sound no different
It sounds like you have used a compressor on the audio? Anything else like EQ? It's already tricky to compare guitars with different strings and it would have been nice to know which were used.
Anyone who says the Martin sounded better than that Yamaha must have Martin ear plugs in. I wish they did a blind test . That Yamaha had amazing note separation and clarity… something very few Dreads can manage
I’m a piano player. There’s no question that Yamaha is one of the premier instrument makers in the world: if they can go head to head with Steinway or Bosendorfer, then why would they not be considered in the same league as as Martin when it comes to guitars? I know the reason: it’s because they make instruments at all levels, from student to professional. But the quality is always really high, whatever band the instrument is in. I’m actually very fond of that ethos: whatever you make, make it the best you can.
Are the people (the company, etc.) who make those Steinway-level pianos the same people who make these guitars? You have to consider this in answering your question, "...why would they not be considered in the same league...."
Not to mention their motorcycles...
@@belascialoja4812
I bought a Japanese made Yamaha piano 30-40 years ago. It cost about $400 more than a US made Yamaha piano--but it was clearly far better made. The sales guy told me that if it were made in the US to the same standards, it would cost at least $2000 more.
A couple of years ago I called a piano broker and said I wanted to sell the 30 year old piano. He said don't bother. Pianos that old were a dime a dozen. I sent him photos and documentation. He sold the piano for about $1000 more than I had paid for it 30 years earlier.
I have a lot of confidence in Japanese made Yamaha musical instruments and hope to get a fg9m. (I had an old LD 10 that was fantastic.)
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@@garyries8571...I of course agree with you. I too trust Yamaha brand. Martin only produces guitar only acoustic, not even electric guitar. Yamaha is much bigger and high level company than Martin. Yamaha produces motorcycles ( best engine in the world). Pianos, guitar, drums, sound system, generators, etc and many more and has high quality
Awesome video and comparison. I own a D-18 and an HD-28. Am blown away each time I pick up either. Also had the opportunity to play a mahogany FG9 recently. Was blown away by it, too. All are great guitars!
The Yamaha has stunning clarity, but both sound awesome 👍
Let me preface by saying that I’m a huge Yamaha fan. I own an FGX5 and would choose an FG5 over a D-18 , not because I don’t love the Martin as well, but it’s nearly twice the cost and that makes the Yamaha exceptional value. In this case however, the FG9R is actually more than the HD-28 and I get that it’s a hand built guitar but if you’re trying to convince someone who wants that Martin tone, there is no substitute for a Martin. From a brand positioning standpoint, Yamaha has positioned itself as great value vs the big brands with comparable specs as evidenced by the new red labels, L series and A3/A5 series. They seem to have moved away from that messaging in this case which I think many consumers will struggle with.
I've seen so many crappy Martins and Yamaha's....neither line is almighty. I play with a guy who has a brazilian rosewood D28.....I wouldn't give you 100.00 for it....well maybe to resell it to a stupid person who swoons over just a name.
I have no problem with laying down 4k for the Yammie. They’ve been on a tear the last 3-4 years making superb guitars with each year improving the previous. FG9 is an instrument to be had.
I have to admit that the YAMAHA sounds more balanced and full. To be honest I didnt expect that.
I don't think a Martin Dreadnaught is meant to be balanced, haha. Dreadnaughts have a strong base, and the high end comes through, but the mid-range is super scooped. This is particularly true of Martins, which have a stronger bass than any other brand. That's the appeal though. Personally the only Martin I own is an OM-28, which is a much more balanced guitar, though I'd love to ALSO own a Dreadnaught if I had the money to throw away.
I have always thought that Yamaha guitars are an incredible value. I have an LL16 and an FSX5. I think that they are both comparable to more expensive guitars, especially the FSX5. Thanks for the comparison, even if both are out of my self-imposed price range.
High-end Yammies and Martins are great guitars. Martins are outstanding in the low (especially) and middle register but the overall spectrum of the Yammies makes them more versatile. If somebody manages to forget for a while all the glorious tunes that have been recorded with Martins he will discover high-quality instruments made in Japan.
And those glorious tunes recorded with Martins were crafted with absolutely stunning instruments. There's a reason Martin vintage guitars are so much money. Modern Martins just ain't it anymore, you can get way better for the money with less qc issues.
everyone's talking about the fg9 and how wonderful it is. i got an 850 and its incredilble
i can imagine playing the fg9 i would fall in love with it
Yes you would.
I recently bought an LL26 and it blows me away every time I pick it up. Everyone that has played it has been shocked at how good it is. It seems like most people who buy one do not resell it. Very few used models for sale. That's always a good sign, to me.
Le LL made in Japan vengono vendute su ordinazione, sicuramente non sono molti quelli che la chiedono per venderla, anche perchè costano molto più nuove che usate
Agreed on all the Japanese made L series. Very hard to find on resale market. The 16 series on the other hand seem to pop up fairly regularly. I had an opportunity to play an LJ16 side by side with an LJ26 and there was no comparison.
LL16 is chinese made....I have one that is marvelous after I refretted it myself and got rid of the stupid 12th fret hump. I've played some dogs....it's hit or miss.@@jeffberdin
LL56 here but actually wanted the 26, just couldn't find one at the time and got a deal on this. Totally magical instrument, one of my life's great loves. Total privilege.
I’ve left the same comment on so many videos, but my FS5 sold me on Yamaha.
It’s literally a perfect guitar IMO.
Yamahas sound is so balanced. It’s got some of the airiness that martins have but also a bit of the shimmer of Taylor’s. They also just play wonderfully.
It’s my favorite guitar, and the cheaper price is just icing on the cake.
I like the look of a FS5m - do you know what the difference is between the 5 and the 9? Is it electronics?
@@RadarsRadicalRides I’ve never played an fs9 but there seem to be huge differences. Rosewood vs mahogany, different finish and look. Adirondack vs Sitka spruce. I think the electronics are the same. The fs9 is almost 3k more expensive. The fs5 goes for more of a retro look and feel and the fs9 more of an upscale finish. I personally prefer mahogany with steel strings and prefer the simpler looks of the fs5. Again, I’ve never played an FS9 but going on specs and price alone I’d choose the fs5
As a carpenter I have always been impressed with Japan’s woodworking skills and building techniques. Especially fit and finish, and glueless construction methods. And that’s just their old school home builders, and furniture builders yatta, yatta, yatta, but even they’re guitars from the 80’s are just insane. As their quality control; is far and away superior’ compared to.. well, quite possibly ’anyone else, That said. I would love nothing more than to have my own shootout testing all my favorites; but without any real guitar stores, in my area.. I’m going to have to settle for whatever my locals want to pass may way. Cheers.
I have a 1979 anniversary edition Alvarez/Yairi and it's a nice piece of work. And that Mahogany body sounds awesome!
@@Snarkapotamus oh hell yeah fantastic year!”
The chinese ones are not......don't be fooled....I have a mess of the chinese yamaha's....one of mine a LL-16 blows away any martin...including the D-45. No contest when it comes to sound...but I've played a mess of both brands that suck.
FG9 and LL26 or greater are marvelous...usually!
Nuts. The Martin is much more alive with sound. Yamahas seem muted on the low end and dull. I have purchased and owned Yamaha dreads, and they serviceable but not great .
Yep, I don't think your nuts, just a guitar seller. Sum: Yamaha has good stuff, not worth missing an hd28.
Japanese have the best quality control in the world. Quality is a part of their culture, they put so much pride in it, and it's what makes Japan (and Japanese products) so amazing
I have a 1975 Yamaha acoustic guitar that plays really sweet with a great warm. Rich sound
1975 huh?
Considering how insanely high Yamaha standards have always been, it'll probably still sound just as good in 2075 😂
Yamaha is an exceptional company in the music business with all their musical products; and their guitars from years ago to today; with the low price models to the FG9s are no exception. The Martin and the Yamaha both sound great. I am partial to the Yamaha; because my 44 year old one still sounds excellent. 😉
The Yamaha sounds good, no question.
But I can‘t help myself, those Martins… damn. They all seem to have some incredible woody depth and magic I can‘t describe, and that no one else seems to be able to replicate. I really need an HD-28 at some point soon.
Ahaha, and I do have a working Apple Newton here 😂
Bought by my father however-I was still in primary school at that point!
well said my friend. i have a martin 00016gte that is very resonance
I have to say the HD 28 gets me in the gut, I like that
We just got them in Canada, and I bought the first FG9-R that my local store got! And I couldn’t be happier! Better than the HD-28 (in my opinion)!
I would have to go with the Martin. To me, it sounds warmer with more depth and clarity. They both sound very good, though. My first guitar was a used Yamaha C150 with nylon strings that I purchased for $175 in 1988. Since then, I've owned Taylor, Fender, and Zager acoustic guitars. I liked the Yamaha but there are a few minor things I find annoying about their guitars, such as the lack of a top strap button. As always, great video, Chris!
I recently bought my second Yamaha acoustic, an FSX5. If they had announced an FS9 I likely would have waited for that!
Wow! Thanks, Chris. I’m going to take some Yamahas for a test drive the next time I hit the guitar shops.
It would be interesting to compare them with both same Elixir strings!
The Martin still wins for me for string to string balance and it still has that hardness and special resonance in its midrange and overall response that all the competition lacks. The upper frequencies of the HD-28 is still thicker and punchier compared to the Yamaha that’s brighter and thinner. If you prefer a different sound than the Martin then go with Yamaha or a competitor. But for that price I have much more affection for the Martin for tone, punch and confidence in its longevity in the long run. Great demos!
If Chris was right, and the Yamaha has lighter gauge strings, that could account for the thinner/brighter sound. I’d like to see them put the same strings on both guitars and do the comparison again
The music store near me doesn't currently have any FG-9s yet, but they did have a FGX-5 that I played and that was a nice guitar. I sold my FG840 last year. I really miss that guitar. Had it for 7 years and it was my guitar I learned on.
I have a HD-28 and a D-18 . I’ve never had the opportunity to play a really good Yamaha. This one looks and sounds amazing.
Martin has its signature tone. No doubt the Yamaha sounds great but it’s a different tone. All great sounds.
If you can find any, try some vintage L-Series Yamaha's. I particularly love the late 70s-early 80s L models. The new FG9 is not the first high-end instrument for Yamaha. The current LL-26, LL-36, and LL-56 are unbelievable. I would have a hard time going for the FG9 over the other options that Yamaha have.
I’ll be keeping my HD28 FOREVER! The tone of the HD28, in my opinion, is the tone everyone else is chasing.
chase away. ! go martin
I just bought a LL26, love the idea that its a one person hand built instrument all solid wood guitar, after doing some reseaech im willing to give it a try, i wanted a Martin but figured thats a mass produced guitar and it seems to me the Value in the Yamaha is of higher quality and personal touch and attention to detail
For me they both sound very similar with high quality.
so from an audience perspective if I were to hear this being played live in the hands of a well skilled guitarist at a live festival , I would think this dude sounds great..
I don't think the Listeners at the concert would be able to tell the differences if the rocker played both & switched guitars between sets..
I think the main reason why we think one is better sounding than the other one is because we are using our confirmation bias ,so how brain plays tricks on us & we think one is better sounding than the other one , when in fact based on my opinion they both pretty much do the same thing... at the end of the day whatever differences in my opinion are marginal at best. plus sound is very subjective...
I thought they both sounded similar.
I own a 66 D28, and a Yamaha FG800. I would not sell or trade either for the world.
If I had 4K fo spend on a guitar, I would likely seek out that Yamaha, mostly because I want an Adirondack spruce top guitar.
Great match up, they are clearly both winners.
I have a Martin DCPA4 and a Yamaha FG 830 the Yammie stands up to the Martin!😮😊🎶🎸
I have a similar feeling about a J45 and a Taylor 517 as I do with this. I think the Taylor sounds better and easier to play, but it hasn't been on hundreds of classic songs. This one is easier for me though. The Martin has that Martin sound and that is the standard.
More boomy and full sound for the Martin.
But for the player, the most important is the way the guitar responds to pick attack , and vibrates.
Both are great guitars. I have the Martin D35 and the Yamaha FG5.
My first acoustic guitar was a mid-70s FG-160. I've always respected their instruments. You're right, they do sound noticeably different. The Yamaha strikes me as a more open, "airy", jumbo sort of sound, while the Martin seems to have more "density" to the sound, which my ear seems to prefer. But I only heard this in the first couple of demo segments. My present acoustic (still have the FG-160 in high strung tuning) is a Taylor GAMC -- essentially an early, limited edition 514. I'd like to get a rosewood body acoustic someday, and I'm enjoying your informative, comparison videos @Alamo Music Center. I would certainly include Yamaha in the mix for my next purchase.
I prefer the HD28 in this comparison. Martin just has that unique, trademark sweet warm roundness. The Yamaha is much brighter and more hi-fi, not bad, tons of bass, I just prefer the Martin sound. And BTW, the HD28's bass just jumps right out at you, it is so present, even on my computer speakers.
I hope this doesn’t seem harsh. This was a lazy preparation for a comparison. Because the one thing you could control was the strings. Both guitars should have had the same coated strings yo@@installed.. There is a massive sound difference between production non coated and coated strings.
I vote for a revised comparison.
Martin fan detected :P
Kidding.. no hate
He made more mistakes playing the martin maby trying to get rid of the Yamaha?
The Japanese were building musical instruments before Columbus discovered America. In my opinion Yamaha is perhaps the greatest company in the world. They build my two favourite things, motorcycles and guitars. I' prerfer Japanese guitars, my Takamine is the best built guitar I have ever owned, it's the same as David Lindley plays, incredible quality. Thanks for your videos and God Bless Texas!
Decades will pass, but one fact will remain the same... No one will ever build better guitars than the japanese, acoustic or electric. Their quality control, craftsmanship and attention to detail have always been second to none.
God Bless those hardworking geniuses!
& Garth Brooks! :D
Before Japanese invented guitars...philipines tribe warriors are already playing music instrument from guitars ,to drums and more or less strings..but when Spanish came all trees and woods are destroyed and used by Spain to make galleon SHIPS..
This was a really good review of these 2 guitars. Thanks.
Super cool that you don't edit out the... Teensy mistakes? Very honest and I appreciate it. Also appreciated the breakdown about it after.
Your notes about the higher action and tackier medium strings ring true for me! I played a bunch of guitars the other day to see if Martins were as good as everyone says, and while the sound was superb, the ones at the store didn't feel as playable as the other guitars I tried out-at least not right off the wall!
Martin always has the deeper tones...wish I could afford one.
Synchrony bank from Sweetwater or MF. I could never afford a Martin at four grand. I can afford seventy a month with no interest and have included it in my budget since 2018.
I own a HD 28 and a D18.
Thanks for a great and very interesting comparison, well done! I love the FG9 Yamaha, sounds a bit less stiff and more "singing" than the Martin I think to hear from the video. Should try them live. I love both brands, I have always played my Martin D35, lots of festivals and recordings. But there is more than just Martin, which has always been my dream instrument. My wife plays a 90´s Martin M36, amazing guitar, for Bluegrass as well as anything else. I got a Yamaha LL36 for my birthday, 3 years ago and it is an amazing guitar, so beautifully built, so great sounding and playing! Perfect. Besides that I now very often take out my just as amazing Boucher BG152GM, wow! Adirondack top, as well as my Collings D42A. Then also my Collings CJ IRW is incredible. The D42A is stunning to see, a bit too focussed, loud and brutal. The CJ is fuller and warmer. I am truly spoiled, sorry. Hard to say which one is the best, possibly the Boucher, but I love them all and play them all. I still have to find out what are the differences between the Yamaha FG´s and the LL´s.
Yamaha is a class company. I own a phenomenal Yamaha piano and a solid silver bodied student flute. The new FG series was designed in concert with an American luthier, Yamaha was able to scale his design up for production with all the finest tooling and computer technology, adding some nice Japanese designs for the fretboard and rosette along the way. I learned all of this here on RUclips. Also, my dreadnought is an ‘89 Alvarez Yairi DY-90 in Brazilian Rosewood which is awesome. Also have a Japanese classical. And a Korean Epiphone jazz box. So I’m entirely pro-Asia, guitar wise. But … I liked the HD-28 in this comparison. Maybe it was the lovely thumping low E that Chris pointed out. Overall, the Martin delivered a pleasant, classic sound.
Excellent comparison! Thank You! Bought my wife a solid wood Yamaha OM about 32 years ago and it still plays great! I'm impressed with the Yamaha featured here. I realize tone is subjective, and for me I found the Martin to possess a more distinctive and somewhat richer and warmer bass and mid-range without being muddy. Also, during the strumming it seemed to me that the notes projected with a bit more individual clarity or balance overall. The Yamaha had great projection I thought and a beautiful sound with amazing sustain. However, I felt it was a bit thinner on the bass and mid-range and produced more of a "bell-like" sound overall. Also, during strumming it seemed to me to lose some of the individual clarity in comparison to the Martin. Both are excellent instruments each with their own "personality"! I believe the price tag on the Yamaha is fair price for such an instrument of this quality! I currently own a 1990 Martin HD-28 BLE (Brazilian Limited Edition) and I absolutely love it and I will never part with it. Years ago, I owned a 1943 Martin 000-28 (Brazilian Rosewood) and had to let it go due to hard times and regretted it ever since. Thank You so much for sharing this! Enjoyed your presentation very much!
i had a cheap 300 yamaha that looks just like this one including the pick guard… if someone saw me playing it they’d probably think it was the same $300 guitar. I know Yamaha can make some high-end stuff, but I’m a Martin man through and through.
My first guitar was a 1967 Yamaha fg 180 red label I bought new for 100 dollars when I was 12. I still own it and it sounds fantastic! I also have a 1984 HD/28 Martin I bought used for 1200 dollars. It sounds great also! Not better just different. I love them both. Thank you God! I will never sell either.
Other than a quickly ill-fated Sears Silvertone in my early teens, my first steel string was a 1971 Yamaha FG-180 Red label as well - at 17yo, new! I should still have that, but it stayed with me as my main guitar for 20 years, in its later years with me interspersed with a couple of great Takamines, accompanied ultimately by a D-28... Given to a friend, and was glad to see it have a home with him, I still miss that Yamaha!
I like the warmth of the treble strings on the Martin. And the Martin has a much nicer upper register in terms of sound quality. I don't know if it is the bolt on neck, but Taylor also has that thin nasal tone in their treble strings. Martin for me in this comparison.
yamaha thin and bright yet costs more
@@soofitnsexy No offense to the Chris, but I believe the "thin nasal" tone you are hearing is the player, not the guitar. The Yamaha's Adi top is much stiffer and tighter than the Martin's Sitka top. The Adirondack top needs to be "pushed" a little before it will yield the sparkling tone they are known for. I don't think Chris was digging in enough to make the FG9 "sing". These are both amazing guitars (obviously), but I have heard the FG9 being played by a couple of really amazing players, and to me, it produces all the warm, deep bass response everyone expects from a quality dreadnought, but still retains the upper mid and high end sparkle that I haven't heard from many other dred's except maybe some super high end boutique drednoughts, like Bourgeois. I think I'm going to have to get one of these.
i appreciate u! Ive owned many high end collings bourgeoise several martins but never an Adi top!! have u played one in person! happy holidays from nyc@@richardstones6445
@@richardstones6445 Adirondack top will only add overtones to the existing frequency spectrum as it ages and opens up. It cannot add more base as that frequency is simply not there on the FG9. So you can play the FG9 for 100 years and it still won't sound as a Martin on the low end, and never will.
No doubt the tops will open up with age - both Adi as well as Sitka. But I can hear (and feel) a difference in these two tone woods on brand new guitars. I have a Martin 000-28 MD, and an OM guitar with an adi top from Bourgeois. The adi top is just much tighter and stiffer. I get a totally different vibe from each guitar when I really dig in and play aggressively. I'm not any kind of expert, especially with Dreadnought guitars, but when I sat in front of one being played, my ears didn't miss any of the low end that I hear in Martin's. Interestingly, one of the guitars that was being played was a Martin 28 style dreadnought with an Adirondack top. I was really trying to pay attention to the low end response between these two, and honestly I thought the FG9 held it's own in that regard. @@captainnemo9628
I already bought the fg9r Chris. They come with elixir 80/20 light gauge. I replaced the strings with pb elixir but i went back to 80/20 as it sounds a lot better.
I own a Martin D-28 and would have to say it depends what type of music you play. I love the warm tone of the Martin and think it can’t be beat for bluegrass flat picking.
That said, I play other styles of music and feel the upper end Taylor’s have great tonal qualities and are a lot more versatile. I would have to play the Yamaha to see how it compares to an 814 Taylor
I bought a Yamaha FG-9R and I already have a Martin CS 21-11.
Both are incredible good guitars.
The new FG-9R sounds so mesmerising and magical. I highly recommend IT to the toughest hard core Martinists and to all members of the Holy Church of C.F.M.!
Listening to this video with Sennheiser HD595 headphones I there is something wrong with the sound of both E strings on the Yamaha. I have a 1991 L series and it doesn't have that problem. The Martin sounds perfect.
Martin for me, but as a HD28 owner I’m definitely biased. If I wanted another rosewood/spruce guitar with a contrasting sound I’d definitely consider the Yamaha. But then it would be up against Gibson & Taylor’s … all great brands 🤔
To my ears the Yamaha was a little better. The instrument sounds more connected through each register and it was a far superior guitar for fingerstyle. The Martin is a classic sound with standout bass tones but I didn’t feel the same connection between registers. Either way you can’t go wrong but I prefer the more modern sounding Yamaha
Awesome guitars. Own a couple Yamaha's and they are terrific guitars. Considering purchase of FGX5/FSX5 red label. If had $4k in hand and had to choose think I maybe would like D-28 modern deluxe.
exactly - Martin MD series vs. 4k for Yamaha - that is no-brainer - and in terms of holding value - nothing to talk about
Excellent review! Two lovely guitars each with its personal tone "signature". With me it would likely come down to playability. I do own a couple of Yamaha guitars and a piano. Great fan.
Ditson invented the shape when they asked martin to make a few guitars for them. These were smaller but were dreadnaughts none the less. Good review. I am looking at a used Yamaha fg9 for 1600 right now and am going to buy it
Ditson was the client of Martin.
Yamaha sounds great, but I expected that as I own two Yamaha guitars and one Yamaha bass. They make very good instruments indeed. I think I prefer the sound of the Yam over the Martin, though both are exquisite. The only thing that might edge me towards the Martin would be the potential resale value
Both of these guitars sound amazing! When I listen to guitars that are “an homage” to Martin, even the ones like this one which are on par with materials and construction methods, there is just something about the Martin that just speaks to me. The resonate bass…the fact that the sound comes from the wood more than it does from the strings. They feel to me like they are not trying to prove anything. They just are…. That famous Martin sound. I think I will always prefer it. But this Yamaha is truly amazing.
Amazing video Chris!!! Thank you.
The d28 just has a unique sound that is hard to describe, but it just stands out. That said, in one portion of the guitar passages, I thought the Yamaha really sounded much better than the Martin. I am in the market for a new guitar, and I have been considering the HD 28. The playability differences were interesting, and the last thing I want is an expensive guitar that is hard to play. I do prefer medium guage strings, but they can be harder to play. The Yamaha is more expensive. Whatever, when I go out to sample guitars, I definitely will look at the Yamaha (and I've been a fan of this brand guitar for years). Great video, thanks.
From my blind listening I will take the Yamaha. The notes are more defined. Years ago I sold my D35 and bought a Canadian made Laravee for its sweeter and more defined mid and upper range. As a bluegrass guitar the Martin is hard to beat
In 2004 my husband bought me a brand new Martin HD28 and at first I was delighted. But as years passed, I discovered other instruments with a smaller price tag that were better built. I discovered that according to my luthier that Martin overbuilt their guitars to reduce repairs. Then I discovered the binding delaminating after 10 years. I got it repaired, but I ended up selling it. Instead I bought a boutique OM that had better sound and better build quality for about the same price. Martin is sliding along on their “reputation”.
Awesome comparison, Yamaha surprised me, however, Martin forever :)
If you put Martin medium strings on the Yamaha and then put D'Adario lights on the Martin, you would have something else to talk about. Also the D28 with Adirondack Spruce top is totally another level❤
So where and how do the LL36 and LL56 fit into all of this?
That's a very good question! Maybe the boys will address it in a future vid... 🙂
I have a Yamaha FS5 and I couldn't be happier.
I bought a FG9 after owning a number of Martins. I don't care about branding, only sound. It's superb. Perhaps in the same vein I own 2 Heritage guitars after being a Gibson user. Do we play for the music or just for trend?
Don't kid yourself... Many, many people (myself included) have a deep emotional connection to the guitars we grew up watching our heroes play. Martin, I believe, will always have that connection for thousands and thousands of players. That said... I'm buying one of these FG9's. I think it is an incredible guitar, and in 30 years, when my grandson is playing it, I think it'll be an absolute ledge!
I do get it. I'm 68 and I played Martins and Gibsons for over 20 years. I used Marshall amps and wore the clothes worn by the bands I followed. It was only when I started seriously spending time in studios that I needed sound over image and the journey I then took with brands like Furch and Yamaha led me to realise my previous loyalty had been misplaced. I've still got a Martin D28 from 1974 but I very rarely pick it up.
For me, it’s all about Sound. I honestly don’t care what my Guitar says on the headstock anymore. I’ve been through the big brands and it’s not to say that I won’t ever buy one again but these days the guitars I’m playing, are largely brands that most people haven’t heard about, and that’s fine with me. I’m also in the studio world and someone who plays live a lot. Make my living as a full-time Musician and I’ve just come to find that there are so many more options out there when you really start looking. I was blessed to have a good friend of mine, whose father started building guitars from his basement right after I finished high school. He had been honing his craft and offered to build me a guitar for the cost of the materials. Of course, I couldn’t pass him up on this and since then my whole perception has shifted on the big brands versus the small builders. At the end of the day, a great guitar is a great guitar regardless of whether it’s made by Yamaha, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, squier, Eppiphone, Furch or a small independent builder from his or her basement workshop. It’s all about the feel , sound, and at the end of the day, whether the instrument inspires us to write and be creative
@@LucasHaneman Well said. I have played Martins for years, but I only have one Martin at the moment - a 000-28 Modern Deluxe. I love this little guitar. It inspires me to play, and the short scale gives my arthritic fingers a needed break. But when I show up at open mic, jam settings there will always be at least one diehard Martin guy who sneers at it because it isn't "traditional Martin" enough for them. There are some people who don't want guitars building methods and materials to ever evolve and improve. When I show up with this FG9, they may throw me out completely 🙂
Oh man, if I could own one Martin guitar it would honestly be yours! I love the OM body shape and the torrified top is a fantastic feature in my books. Really, you’re given a hard time for that guitar? Wow. I’m surprised. I guess in my case people have gotten so used to me bringing literally whatever out to any gig that they don’t get phased by it anymore. The normal reaction from people now is “wow, cool guitar! What is it? “ perhaps with the Yamaha that will be the reaction you’ll get as well in time. I honestly think they are intriguing guitars and obviously they sound great. At the end of the day it’s all about how we play not what we play. It’s funny that to guitarists these are such big issues yet non-guitarists couldn’t care less what we play. :-)
Choices are always good!
I liked the tone of the Martin better overall but only by degrees. Both sound fantastic.
Thnx for another nice video/content. I love Yamaha guitars. Playing an LL6X, even i couldn't manage to record as i hear, i like the natural sound. Last week i played D18 street legend which was awesome. Someone may like a sound of a cheap F310 someone may like an expensive Martin or Taylor. No one can ask why you like blue or why you like green. But you cant see legends playing Yamaha acoustics on stage. For sure they are both super guitars and sound good. Does a Mexican Tele sounds bad, no. But can't beat an American Tele. That is image and branding. First thing you do is looking at the back of the head if its made in Japan, Mexico or US. If Revstar Standard series made by fender it will blow the market.... Yamaha needs a new sub brand or rebranding. By the way I listened the test with HS8 monitors its a deuce for me. Looking forward to a new video....
With the exception of his 12 strings, John Denver almost exclusively played Yamahas, albeit I'm sure custom made for him. Similarly Dan Fogelberg, solidly Martin dreadnoughts for his acoustic six-strings for his 30+ year career, in the late 80s had Yamaha build him a custom one-off "L-41X" signature,..I'm sure an ode to his primary D-41 which Martin also made a limited signature of (and used that Yamaha for some recording including reportedly his rendition of George Harrison's 'I Need You') - as well I'm sure at his level "just because." His personal guitar was sold on R***** awhile back, originally from the Gruhn shop...And, I believe he used a Yamaha as a converted tenor guitar on some of his songs. For sure, the traditional American icons still get most of the notice, but respect and recognition has been there for some time for Yamaha (and Yairi, Takamine etc) by "those in the know."
best demo for me, i missed those pieces, specially the second song. hope you share with us the tab 😊
For the price of a Martin HD28 guitar I bought 3 guitars, one Takamine P7JC, one Yamaha LS-Ta, and a Recording King RD 342. For the price of one guitar I have 3 different types a jumbo, a dreadnought and an OM.
And 3 types of spruce, sitka, engelman and adirondack.
It’s all about resale value. Why guitar sounds the bit but also holds the best value over time
I would love trying both versions of the Yamaha.
The Japanese have always been able to make top quality instruments. I prefer my takamine p3fcn classical guitar to any other nylon guitar of the same money. I'ts amazing quality and handmade. Alvarez Yairi have been making amazing guitars for decades also.
My favorite guitar is a Alvarez PD85SCAV ROSEWOOD sides and back Cedar top but I once had a Yamaha FG300 BEFOREi traded it in on a 72Gibson Hummingbird and bought a ES335 as well
Yamaha has exceptional clarity, while Martin is muddy. Especially evident in fingerstyle demo
As a Bluegrass player, there's just no comparison to the Martin sound, in my opinion. There are other major brands and customs that are built to have that "Martin tone" but this Yamaha just doesn't. I love that tight punchy boom and I'm always looking for more budget friendly BG dreads. Thank you for the comparison. Nicely done.
The FG9R isn’t budget at all though. I didn’t catch him talking about it here, but it’s $4000.
I have a D28 but that Yamaha is the best acoustic I've ever played.
Hd28 Martin heading towards 4k at a rather rapid speed since Brext in the UK- but still worth it!
The Yammie sounds more crisp & snappy, maybe even harsh or shrill to me (just not a fan here of Adi). HD-28 sounds more mellow, warm and rich to me; almost cavernous even like an auditorium or reverb built right into the guitar. Can't believe I'm saying this as a Yamaha fanboy, but for me, here, it's the Martin.
Nope - wrote the Yahama off because I already have an HD-28.
BTW - I don't recall the fellow that ran Alamo Music back circa 1980, or even if there is a here-to-then connection, but he sold a sound system to me (and a friend or two) that we gigged with for a couple of years in San Antonio and the surrounds. For those who might have been around, the name of the band was "Blaze". We went for that couple of years, then imploded as bands often do.
I have a reimagined HD-28, a D-28 Modern Deluxe, and the FG9 R. The Yamaha FG9 R handily beats them both. Facts.🤷🏻♂️
I figured. It's an incredible guitar to understate it
I love Yammies, and saw an FG9 R at 20% off for a holiday sale. If I had an extra $3,300 laying around, it would have been an instant purchase. Ended up getting an FG5 for 20% off instead, and absolutely love it, but boy was it hard to not just throw that FG9 on the CC! Nobody ended up buying it at the sale price, somehow…
As I mentioned before, why Martim has more bass... Because all Martin dreadnoughts have Medium strings 13-56, while Yamaha uses Light strings 12-53. Adirondack top from Yamaha also contributes to a brighter tone
I have an FG830, an LL6M A.R.E. and an LS6. Yamaha has that secret sauce.
I'll bet the binding won't fall off the Yamaha...
YAMAHA is a top manufacturer of concert grand pianos and its CFX flagship is included in the Vienna Symphonic Library (Synchron Stage Vienna) along with a Steinway D274 and a Bluthner 1895. Reason enough to consider the FG9R in my view. On the other hand, an R1 (motorcycle) probably need not enter the picture.
Because YAMAHA does not make motorcycles, ATVs, outboard motors, nor SHO Ford engines. Those products are the realm of “Yamaha MOTOR” which is an entirely separate and independent company that was spun out of Yamaha the music company some 70 years ago. While the two companies cooperate, share similar (but not identical) logos and maintain a 4%+ ownership of one another, from a financial perspective, they are only distant relatives. Today, at about 5-times sales, Yamaha MOTOR dwarfs its former parent, Yamaha the music company.
Love your channel. Keep up the excellent work!
In my opinion I believe that this time it is almost impossible to distinguish which is the best sound; maybe a hair more than the Yamaha which seems really powerful on the bass! I believe that this Yamaha has nothing to envy of the D28!
P:S: The only thing more that the Martin has is that aesthetically it has everything I like in an acoustic guitar: from the bridge to the headstock it is perfect for me while the bridge of the Yamaha aesthetically doesn't appeal to me so much, perhaps it was better in the 70s! For the rest I believe that Yamaha has nothing to envy of Martin this time!!
These are both very fine instruments, sonically in my estimation they’re very comparable in quality, and I could imagine somebody liking either one more than the other, depending on their personal tastes. For me, the Yamaha is a hard sell as it nearly $1000 more. although I think the Yamaha is a very fine instrument. Most guitars with Yamaha on the head stock are beginner guitars, or budget guitars. There is very little cachet in the brand. 20 years on if you wanna trade in or sell that Yamaha, I don’t think you will get as much for it as you will an HD 28, and remember you will have paid $800 more for it. I know that’s not the greatest reason to select the guitar, but it is a consideration for some. at the price point of a Yamaha, you could spec out an HD 28 with an Adirondack top with VTS, which I suspect would improve the Martin tone which is already rather good. Martin is an American icon and legendary inventor and producer of acoustic guitars for approaching 300 years, Yamaha is a sort of utility brand that does a little bit of everything pretty well.
I just thought of an interesting analogy, this Yamaha is to Martin. What a grand Seiko is to Rolex if the Rolex was cheaper. For those of you who know watches many would say the grand Seiko is at least equivalent to if not superior to a Rolex. With martin there’s just a fizz you get with a guitar made in the Hills of Pennsylvania from a company that’s been doing it nearly 300 years, versus a company that’s an industrial powerhouse that makes everything from musical instruments to jet skis.
Being left handed, high-end Yamahas seem to be unavailable to me. Does anybody know if they can be ordered?
What mic are you using to mic the guitars sir?
Great video, does anyone happen to know the name of the song that is being fingerpicked?
Owned a Yamaha since 1981 great guitar
What are the nut width and fretboard radius on these guitars. That also maters , don't yo think
They never say these important features in these reviews . Just ramble on about the woods, which is not that important really as most sound no different
The Yamaha seems to have a bit more sparkle in the highs - do they have the same gauge strings ? - OK you answered in the summary
It sounds like you have used a compressor on the audio? Anything else like EQ? It's already tricky to compare guitars with different strings and it would have been nice to know which were used.
I prefer the Yamaha FG9R which is warmer, rich overtones and better sustain.
Great review thanks
Would be very happy to own either. Very nice guitars
What is the name of song 🎵 in 8.41 min. Maybe you can give tabs to us? Thanks for the great video. I've Yamaha FG 800m.
My top best list brand presently:
1. Yamaha (nothing can beat its sound in its price segment)
2.Taylor and Martin
3. Gibson
Anyone who says the Martin sounded better than that Yamaha must have Martin ear plugs in.
I wish they did a blind test .
That Yamaha had amazing note separation and clarity… something very few Dreads can manage
I think the Martin sounds better. The Yamaha is too bright. It's all subjective