GSWJ - JP Reviews Yamaha Guitar Royalty. The FG9 Dreadnaught. 

Would be nice to see you do a side-by-side comparison of a FG-9 and a LL56

just WOW! Yamaha is really stepping it up! thanks for this info!

Stunning playing thank you, sounds amazing

Yaaaaaaaay! I love that you reviewed this guitar. Im a big yamaha fan and this guitar looks so amazing. I hope I get to try it out some day. Yamaha should know I bought an LL16 because of your review. Gave me the confidence to be ok with paying less for a guitar that sounds better than a $3k Martin.

Look at JP, smiling like a kid with a new pair of skates ❤, absolutely amazing Yamerhammer!

Thanks for this JP i have been waiting on this video! Got me an FG9M ♥️🇮🇪

Already had an LL16, so I went for the smaller (and less costly) FSX5. Such great value with Yamaha!

Wow! stunning guitar, brilliantly played. Great review.....

Finally it's here. Been waiting for this review.

Love, love that guitar! Great review John👍🏻

Love the shirt J.P.❤

It's been a while. Thank you.

It is beautiful JP! The guys at all of the best acoustic dealerships are in love with it. Thanks, JP.

The FG9M is unreal in every way. The intonation, the playability… the DYNAMIC range are off the charts. It is also to me, absolutely stunning in its beauty and minimalist approach. It can’t be improved. If I could have a “custom” version, I wouldn’t want one. All I would do is ask if they could add the tuning forks logo under the Yamaha name that’s already there, on the guitar I already have. That is it. The FG9M is THE guitar out there right now and the new bar for everyone else for the foreseeable future.

Really sounds amazing.

9:08 .... "the whatever Taylor" ... Coffee nearly came out of my nose! 😂

Hi JP I watch your reviews with intent and listen keenly. Makes sense. Guitar Sense!

Beautiful FG9, looks and sounds amazing... :) Well done again Yamaha...:) Great review JP. Thanks :)

Hey J.P.! Great review...I was lucky enough to get an FG9M here at my store in Clarenville, NL. Wow! It was out-of-this-world good! I had our local songsmith/guitar virtuoso Craig Young, drop by and play it and he said the same as you...nothing from a mass producer is building something like it. Just an awesome piece of Guitarness...I sold it to another local musician and he loves it...wish I could have kept it...woe is me...

As of 2 months ago they had 2 of these beauties at Tony’s Music Box in Fredericton….a rosewood and mahogany…. I had the honour of getting a call from the owner to come in to try them out. Amazing guitars….. thanks for reviewing them JP….

Even the basic entry 230 USD Yamaha's are pretty damn good.... Yamaha does make great products . their Piano's are top notch too

Yamaha are making exceptional guitars ,I love my A3M & my Transacoustic ! ❤🎉

Thank you so much. I actually purchased the FG9R and I just needed someone wiser with more knowledge than me to affirm what an amazing guitar this is and that I wasn't going mad thinking that this guitar, in my opinion and to my ears, just blows everything away.

That guitar sounds great!

Hi there J.P. I went with your advice and put K&K Pure in my D41, I added Fishman Rare Earth Blend to it, to add a bit of magnetic with condeser to mix with K&K. OMG sounds amazing. Thanks

The fact they are doing nitro finish on these makes me very happy

I had the chance to play both the rosewood and mahogany models at NAMM and they played and felt great. I love the subtle Japanese inspired details. Although, in my opinion, if I was looking for "best" sound in the $4-5k range, a used martin 1937 authentic would be the way to go.

I will own one of these one day. And I will own a Boucher.... And I cannot wait! Thanks JP for being such a good guitar steward for us all

You're right John, the binding is Ebony...according to the Yamaha site specs.

Sound great . . . wicked volume . . . to each their own . . . bluegrass for sure . . . like to hear some sweet finger picking. Cheers.

Dreadnaughty stuff! K’next… (Only had money for the FG5 besides my D18)

Thanks John. Great review. I see my local shop has one in stock. I'll go down and play it. I'm curious if the neck profile is similar to the FG5. My only complaint about my FG5 is the neck is a little too chunky for my old arthritic hands.

Unbelievable!! Wow ! I have an FG5, LL16, 180-1 Black Label, FG 331 and FG700S. They all ring but that thing is simply amazing. You are one lucky guy to have that gem ! No doubt you will be using that on the road and studio. Will you put a K and K in it or other?

OMG the sound out of that Guitar is phenomenal... A huge Yamaha fan here the best I have is an 1980 FG-350w....

Took you awhile but you're 100% correct. I though I wanted the rosewood version but mahogany with Adirondack just sounds amazing. Especially if you're doing country/bluegrass. And they can be bought for closer to $3000 than $4k if you shop around.

3 colour sunburst with a black ebony fret board would be cool on a FG-9 Yamaha

It's nice but the Guild D55 is cheaper and in my opinion, a fuller sound. Have you demoed one yet?

Had to fight a huge mental block of buying my first Yamaha... but when I played the FG9R in Tokyo, it opened a whole new universe and I couldn't resist. First time watching your videos sir and I couldn't agree more. I've brought this home to play alongside my Goodall Brazilian, Santa Cruz African Blackwood. it stands tall and proud. the FG9 is a beast of a guitar which I will take to the grave. Great content and thank you for giving this dred the spotlight it deserves.

I have an FG5 that sounds amazing. No doubt this is a step above.

Why is it better then a LL56? I'm listening to both your videos.....this one (FG9) and the L56 one...back to back.

For somebody’s information, prior to the product launch, Yamaha posted a video here on RU-vid about the design process for the FG9. Yamaha worked closely with a US luthier who was the designer. But Yamaha did acoustic research and made suggestions to facilitate the transition of the one luthier prototype to something that could be scaled up to factory production. One fantastic detail was the design for the soundboard: it is Adirondack which is profiled to be thicker at the edges as the scientific team determined that would give it an acoustic punch, much like a tuned drum head. I’ll search for the link and post it below if I can find it.

I was a a guitar shop when a guy brought in his $10k classical guitar to be restrung. It was my first swing n hearing it 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎸🎸🎸

Love the channel! BTW, it's not "baited" breath, it's "bated" breath, which is a contraction of "abated breath", like when you breathing is affected when something startles you. As you can probably guess, I'm kind of a nerd. Anyway, a guitar as good as the FG9 would definitely cause bated breath.

$4k wow! I am impressed with the price and sound

Yamaha guitars are GREAT! They don't make poor quality instruments. Listen to it!!! Amazing clean, clear and very big sound. Well done J.P!!

I have three Yamaha Guitars, an FG830, An LL6M A.R.E. and an LS6. They are my go-to guitars along with my Alvarez AD66SHB. Yamaha has made the Holy Grail of their line.

Would like to hear you compare the FG9 with the LL56. Thanks for everything you do!

Shibumi is Japanese for: understated elegance, describes these guitars quite well .

JP did you ever hear of Sawtooth guitars i bought one on line left hand jumbo Maple series i am no great guitar player i play to have fun.I love the sound and believe sound comes before price.

Fantastic guitar .... if I could play like that I might consider it 😂

Yamaha only puts good playable guitars on the market across models and price range. I have a Yamaha 12 string, FG 412 SB II and a FG 310. A delight to play and listen to. The 12 string I have had for last 42 years and 310 for 13. I am 74 now and have been playing since I was 13. Long live YAMAHA guitars!

Watching your channel is like going to guitar church.

I have an LJ-26 and that is about all I can justify stretching my budget to. The sustain is crazy and the five-piece neck is a work of art. I do need to try out an FG9 though, because everyone who plays one seems to be impressed.

I love how you always find the BEST guitar ... "for a given realm".

Oh my goodness. This thing sounds amazing!!!! I have an FGTA and as much as I love it, the FG 9 just sounds even better. Still love my FGTA though

Went to buy a Boucher at Fantasie music but they had none in stock so I ended up playing one of those and couldn't put it down, still kicking myself for not taking it Great review nobody plays Keltic tunes like you.

Great review JP. I know that you’re a big fan of Yairi Alvarez but curious how you would compare this against comparable DYM60HD. Retails around $4,800 CDN

MONTHLTHISTH... Hahaha. I know I been waitin' down here in Alabama. I like my Alvarez guitars, buy I love my Yamahas!!! Cannot wait to watch this!

I bought an fg3 earlier this year. It's fantastic. I can't imagine the fg9.

WOW!

Looks like it has the ‘Clarence White’-sized soundhole! ;)

Baited Breath is from Shakespeare directly. Like Bedroom and Leapfrog, etc.. look it up, so much of our sayings are from Shakespeare

How does the FG9 compare to the Alvarez DYM60HD? I think it woukd be sweet to see a side-by-side comparison between the two.

I've been looking to upgrade my Taylor 214ce and thanks to your praise for Yamaha I'm looking at either the LL56 or the FG9. If you had to pick one which would you choose?

"This is the best guitar I've ever played in my whoooole LIFE!!!!!! I was sure I would ear it.

I have a Yamaha AC3M DLX which is fantastic but haven't tried a higher end Yamaha dreadnought. I have a 1980s Guild d50 to compare all acoustics with in my home. At this point I am afraid to try one of these Yamahas. I just might buy it!!!

is it better than a Collings

Hey, you said Eastman are high output factory. Are you sure about that? I thought they were still being handmade in smaller numbers and remain the most affordable boutique option? My old E10D has allowed me to enjoy an Adi top mahogany dread for a fraction of the cost of this wonderful Yamaha.

Stunning guitar ❤

So the top is carved (thinner at edges). Can you tell when you look at it?

Yamaha acoustics have been very good, very well made for decades. And many hard core players of others snub their noses at this Japanese company. So be it. Thanks for sharing and enjoy that masterpiece. 😉

I have owned my FG 9 M for about 9 months. My main guitar has been a '94 HD-28 since I bought it new. The Martin is a fine instrument but nowhere near the FG 9 in quality, volume and dynamic range. It is simply the best guitar I have played, including a Collings D1 and a custom luthier made drednaught. Thanks for the review! I have a question: Will you be putting a K&K pure mini in it? I am really torn about putting any pickup in in FG 9. On the one hand it would make it easier to play live, but the sound it is capable of producing can only really be captured by a mic. I'm very interested in your opinion. Thanks again for sharing this review.

good news they dropped the price to 4999. in Canada

How does this compare to the Yairi DYM60HD? Thats hand built by a larger factory company, about half the street price of the Yamaha?

JP.....I think you should do a few songs during string theory...or what about a short concert we're folks come in pay ......I don't know say 25.00...do some of your great songs....that would be badass what do you think?

What about the LL86? That's the top tier.

Higher than the LL56?

You ever tried a Zager guitar???

Love your reviews. Next time give Sebastians Hvis du tror du er noget a try. Danish trobadour, check him out.

I bought a Yamaha LS16M because of your review! The guitar blew me away listening to you playing it. Fell in love with it. I also have a 1995 Taylor 422 Grand Concert that I also love!

John! You make EVERY guitar sound great! You could play a banana and sound great... But, yeah. This is a really good one. $4K US, is just too much for me. I played a Yamaha 12 string this Monday and was blown away. It sounded so good! A Yamaha will be in my collection, but it will have to be one of the less expensive ones. Maybe an LL 16?

👍👍👍

Anyone’s thoughts on a Yamaha fg-830?

This is ridiculous 😂🤘

With the FG9 I hear individual notes in a chord, not the homoginized chord where you hear the chord but not the individual notes. More like a Fender rather than a Gibson electric .

Yamaha is an Extraordinary String Company. There is no surprise in my mind that they have decided to enter the Boutique Market.

Bated breath.. anxious gasping

That would be William Shakespeare. JP. He was no dummy.😊

Is the ll56 or fg9 better???

Laureate from Alvarez, or Bourgeois from Eastman can't touch this? Are they even close?

I think if most people went into a shop blindfolded, they’d walk out with an FG9. I’ve played 6 FG9’s and all 6 were phenomenal. Martin isn’t in the same league.

Ll56 or fg9?????

Beautiful guitar, and the sound is amazing, but it is pricey

Don't forget that the FG9 is a Boutique grade guitar. To compare to let's say a Martin. You would have to compare with a Custom Shop Martin and not a typical D18.

do an A/B video comparison of the Yamaha FS820 .. you'll find it sounds better than this...

Way better than a new D28 or a D18....

The honest truth is the year is 2024. Everyone has access to high quality materials and anyone can make an acoustic guitar. You can only do so much with a design that has been around over 100 years. Why do so many hyper focus on a name on a headstock instead of the music? Perhaps that is why we are at a stalemate.

JP is still the best guitar salesman on the planet. Everyone is giving this guitar great reviews, but no one does it like JP. I think you can buy this guitar for a shade over 4K US.If elected,Trump says he is going to devalue the dollar and add a 10% tariff on all imports, so this guitar may never be a better value.

I finally got to play a FG9R . It sounds amazing. To me, it sounds better than the LL56. Im happy with the FG5, but after I played the FG9, it's a whole different level. It's the best sounding guitar for $4k!

This is a beautiful guitar but it’s financially out of reach for a majority of players.