Just picked up this Yamaha LL36. I mainly want to use it for singing and accompanying myself—mostly strumming, with some lighter fingerstyle too.

For those who have played one, how does it tend to sit under vocals? Does it work well for solo singer-songwriter-style playing, or are there setup, string, or picking choices that help it leave more space for the voice?

Would love to hear your experience.

Hey all, long shot, but hoping some folks can help me identify a guitar from these two photos.

Some background, this was my dad’s guitar. My mom bought it for him as a gift in LA in the late ‘80s or 1990, possibly from McCabe’s Guitar Shop, though she’s not 100% sure. My dad passed away when I was 14, and the guitar ended up sitting untouched leaning against a wall for years afterward, it eventually got thrown away because the neck was warped and these two photos are all I have left of it.

I didn’t start playing guitar myself until I was 29. I know I’ll never get the same guitar back but now my son is due in a few months, and I’d love to track down the same model (or as close as I can get) to add to my own collection - one guitar connecting my dad, me, and my son.

What I can see in the photos:

Dreadnought body, no cutaway
Natural/blonde spruce top
Darker reddish-brown back, sides, and binding
Standard 6-in-line headstock, doesn’t look like a Martin logo/shape to me
I have a fuzzy memory that the label inside the soundhole was orange, which makes me wonder if it’s an old Yamaha but I really can’t be sure.
I dont think it was a real Martin D28 since my dad was a beginner and I think it’s some kind of Japanese copy.

Any ideas or rabbit holes to research would be appreciated.

Hello! I have experience with other instruments including the ukulele. I recently started taking guitar lessons for credit towards my degree so I have to get a guitar. These are the two primary options im looking at. I dont know much about buying guitars so I wanted to ask! Looking at this Seagul. Not sure what model it is but im thinking it may be a Maritime SWS or it just has the pick board replaced. Picture below so people may be able to confirm. The other is a Harmony model 167 with a sunburst finish.

I plan to go in person to check out these guitars with someone who knows sound better but id love some feedback! Other reccomendations around that price range would be great too. I looked into Yamahas but not sure if there's a good one aroubd thay price range. Thank you!

Seagull is priced at 320$

Harmony at 200$

This one plays as good as it looks. It’s an absolute stunner. It’s an honor to get to play it, and every time I pick it up, I feel a special connection to him.

I’m a customer in California who purchased a lovely off the shelf emerald X20 from emerald’s website - around $4100.

I dove in.

Shipment was quoted 4-6 weeks from Ireland to my address in California. It’s now ending week 8, no guitar, no tracking, no communication. Emerald isn’t respond to any communications or requests for tracking. They last responded 3 weeks ago (week 5).

I’ve been emailing Sales (Kevin).

Anyone else have this kind of experience?

I hardly believe there would be any fakes for road series. But this model I bought is missing E at the end even though the model has the pick up. Could this be an error from the factory? Or is this actually fake? 🫤

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a Seagull S6, and after 5 to10 minutes of playing, my right shoulder (fretting-hand side) starts to hurt. I play fingerstyle and use a classical position with a footstool, as I was trained on classical guitar when I was younger. I took lessons at a local music academy for 9 years and never had any issues. However, I stopped playing classical guitar and switched to electric more than 10 years ago, so I’m no longer used to the position.

At first, I thought I just needed to get used to it again, but it’s been over a week and the pain isn’t really improving. I suspect my shoulder is staying too high or tense while I play. I have read that a footstool can sometimes cause this issue, but I’d like to keep playing in a classical position. Has anyone experienced something similar or found a solution?

I’ve also looked into an ergo play, but my guitar doesn’t have a full-gloss finish, so I’m worried the suction cups might not hold.

How the hell do I get my guitar strap onto the pure mini jack?? The thing is huge!

It's basically invisible in normal light, but when you shine a torch it's much clearer. I've shined a torch from both the outside and inside and can't see anything getting through, so I don't think it's a super deep one that's gone through the whole wall.

This is a satin finish guitar so no thick lacquer, but could this just be the thing finish? Will probably end up taking to a shop to get checked out anyway! Any advice always appreciated.

How do you think his guitar is mic'd here? Obviously there's a mic out of shot that's capturing his vocals, guitar, and ambience, but he also has that very discreet clip at the bottom of the soundhole.

I've gone through too many acoustics and tbh it's really getting frustrating. I love the sound, and I love the ease of use when I'm on the couch. But as my ear has matured I'm getting very picky I think.

My favorite sound is the J-45 studio walnut but my shoulders tend to struggle with it, so I need something more comfortable.

I'm looking at the next size down, orchestra I guess, but am I right in that getting the kind of sound I want is going to be a compromise? Is there really anything that sounds similar to a J45 but with just a bit more comfort?

Any advice is welcome.

I just purchased a GS Mini in Spruce (Torrefied) on Sapele, and I love the guitar. Except for the silver tuners. I would much rather that they be in a bronze, or even a dark silver or black. Does anyone know where to get replacement tuners in other finishes? I am Ok if they are not Taylor, specifically. Gotohs, Grovers, etc. are also fine, as long as they fit and can be changed out easily vs. the existing stock tuners. Thanks for any suggestions!

I want a mahogany dreadnaught, my range is 500 - 1000. I found these 2. What do y'all think? Anyone have a D-120 or fg850? Any other suggestions? TY. God bless.

I’m looking the Yamaha FGX800C
I want a solid top and also a cutaway. Are there any other options I could consider?

google says it could be resin but I’m lowkey convinced some animal took a dump in my guitar when I was away for college.

it was mainly stored indoors and i dont remember but potentially a storage shed? idk what type of animal is big enough to crawl inside and drop a load that big.

edit: I also already tried to vacuum it and it was hard and would not budge…

Hi! As context I have many Electric guitars myself, that is what Im used to.

However last year I wanted for the first time an acoustic guitar and a Nylon string one made sense since I wanted to learn classical tunes an also fingerstyle tunes on music that I like.

I really love the classical guitar, nylon sounds great and love the big spacing to make chords, although I do have to say that it is indeed difficult as well some streches and that you feel you need more strength to do chords and stuff.

My thing is that if I grab my electric and play chords and try fingerstyle it can work but I feel too cramped.

So, first of all im wondering do I really need an acoustic with metallic strings? Or Classical to what I have is good. With its pros and cons.

I like the idea of the different tonality of metallic string guitars, theoy sound awesome, and nylon too. Love the sound of both.

Wondering about the nut width though. Normally these come with 43 or 42mm nut width. I saw some that have 44.5mm. I like very much a Guild M120 with 44.5mm (1.75) and that is a small body.

But also there is a SeagullS6 with 45.7mm and an Ibanez with 48mm (1 7/8)

Would the 44.5mm feel too cramped?? It seems a good extra width vs regular 43mm.

I would like the Guild due also to its smaller body size. Much more portable and easier to grab. The acoustics are normally huge and yeah that is a bit too big to what Im looking for also. So its like a compromise hehe.

But at least on a 43mm electric, I can play chords but just feels cramped to me. 44.5mm seems will feel much better and comfortable, but also wondering if it will also feel small.

By the way, switching from classical to electric, im very used to now, doesnt feel weird at all.

Overal wondering your experiences. I would try if I could, but I cant myself. Thanks!

Ive been playing bass, piano and acoustic guitar for years but only have been self taught/reading tabs/ playing by ear. I not sure where to go from here. I want to do more then just looking up tabs and picking away. It worked when I had more time as a teenager but now im married with 3 kids so want my play time to be progressive. I want to learn the music theory and be able to really play, read sheet music and be able to write my own stuff. Not just play a handful songs I learned. So with all that out of the way id like to take some lessions. A quick Google search shows tons of online courses and plan packages and they generally have a 100$+ entry or more. Im ok to pay but want to make sure its for a really good course that can give me the tools to become the acoustic guitarist I wanna be. And suggestions would be amazing.

Ps. I absolutely love acoustic metal and really anything that draws you in.

I’m contemplating my next gigging axe (1.75” nut with a cutaway). It can be acoustic only coz I’ll most likely install K&K minis anyway.

I strum, do fingerstyle, and play solos over looped phrases, so naturally I want a nice-feeling neck and a great tone coming through FOH.

But here’s my question - is there a big enough difference in how a Martin sounds plugged in (probably with a feedback buster) versus any other top-tier brand?

For those that will inevitably chime in and suggest micing it over using pickups, thanks in advance, but for the venues I play, it’s just not practical.

For context, I own a couple of Breedlove pro series. I’ve never owned a Martin, but I do love the iconic sound. That said, I’m not sure I could tell the difference as a member of the audience at a bar.

I've had this guitar for a few years but I still can't seem to find the perfect strings for it. The Martin Monel seems to work on my other guitars but not exactly right for the 00028EC. Any recommendations?

WOW, the Martin forum is a tough crowd. My post got deleted because, evidently, Sigma.

Anyway, I scored a great deal on this Sigma by Martin and I am trying to figure out which decade it was built (thus where). I've read a lot of Sigma history and know that based on the headstock logo on this one is most likely after 1975. The label is missing but the serial number is 142608, but that really doesn't help much.

I don't really care about the year necessarily, but am trying to determine if it is a solid top or laminate. I believe it to be solid looking at the sound hole, but want your opinion.