I have owned a lot of guitars over the years. Martins, Collings, Gibson, Huss & Dalton. I now own an FG5 and an FSX5. I picked up the FG5 very recently, and find it is more comfortable for me with the larger body size and it's louder. Louder is important to me because I am near deaf and wear a pair of expensive hearing aids. Anyway, this FG5 is at least the equal of any of the expensive ones I have owned, and like you it's the FG5 I reach for.
Glad to hear the FG5 is opening up good, as you said. I bought My FG5 a year ago and it is also opening up real good! I also like the Elexer 80/20 strings alot. You have a nice touch on the guitar and I like your chording!
I was counting his guitars in the background y Yamahas are getting in the way they are huge sounding y very great indeed…y his voice is like Johnny Cash…Singggg yayyy Ty dude y you are 😎
I really like them both and there IS also a D model which should Sound even a little better according to Jarvis. D model for de Luxe with abalone top purfling. What about the LL-16 M for mahagony model and the FG 180 50th anniversary model from 2016? Any experiences or opinions in those guitars, guys? Nice weekend and happy playing hours.
Great comparison vid. You are a great player and I enjoyed the whole thing. Thank you.I have an LL16 but not an FG5. I do own an FG820, which I love, and was interested in your string choice comment. I have been trying D'Darrio XS on my FG820 and although I like them a lot, and they are lasting amazingly well, I think you are spot on about the Elixyrs being a tad warmer sounding. Anyway, thanks for a great vid, and again, I loved your playing, cheers.
Thanks for the comparison video. I'm more of a fingerstyle player than a flatpicking guy, so I always look for the fingerstyle comparison. I didn't think the FG5 sounded that great in the video. I definitely prefer the sound and beauty of the LL16. I have the LL16D and would be ashamed to tell how little I paid for it brand new, with a case. Even at normal street price, I don't think it has an equal for the money. I get excited every time I pick it up and play it. That said, a lot of this is just about preferences and unconscious biases.
I normally will always use my LL16 if doing a fingerpicking song...the notes are much clearer and resonate more...and yes the LL16 is a gem of a guitar and pro level without question. I also have an LS6 which is a phenomenal OOO size.
Thanks James for the demo and pointing out the strings and picks used. I’ve played for 40 years and I’m still experimenting with picks. I’ve just ordered a couple Prime Tones to try them. There seems to be a fine line between trying to quit the metallic brightness of a guitar and using a pick that muffles the tone too much. When I hear many people talk about reasonably priced guitars that mimic the Martin D-18, I hear the Yamaha D3/D5, Alvarez MD60BG, and the Eastman E10D mentioned. Have you had the opportunity to play any of these? I personally don’t think the Yamahas and D18’s are that similar with the D5 offering a more balanced sound.
I have played several D18s in shops…have never owned one…have never played an Eastman, Alvarez nor the D3/5. The 18s that I played did not sound nearly as good as the FG5 however that could have been old strings etc. And to your point when one gets that “special” D18 there is probably not anything that can touch it in the dred field. The 5 is a gem though and continues to warm up the more played. Very comfortable to play. Thanks for your comments and for listening. I too am always trying picks…like those Mountain thumb picks too for finger picking.
I use Planet Wave 0,73mm tortoise more bright sounding, Dunlop 1,5mm more fullness and depth in the Tone more mass because of the thickness, Dunlop max GRIP 1,14mm and a triangle Fender medium tortoise.
Hello James, good review on the FG5, thanks to you I bought one a month ago!!!!!! SUper guitar!!! By the way, how many hours a day are you playing the guitare ???? And how long you keep a set of elixir strings ???? Thks and best regards from Paris France.
Merci Bernard. I don’t play through the week but play 6-8 hours on Saturday and Sunday. I keep the Elixirs on until they start to lose their “ring” normally after about 50 or so hours play time. However I play quite hard with lots of bends and use a lot of the neck so for someone whom strums would probably last much longer.
I have owned a lot of guitars over the years. Martins, Collings, Gibson, Huss & Dalton. I now own an FG5 and an FSX5. I picked up the FG5 very recently, and find it is more comfortable for me with the larger body size and it's louder. Louder is important to me because I am near deaf and wear a pair of expensive hearing aids. Anyway, this FG5 is at least the equal of any of the expensive ones I have owned, and like you it's the FG5 I reach for.
Glad to hear the FG5 is opening up good, as you said. I bought My FG5 a year ago and it is also opening up real good! I also like the Elexer 80/20 strings alot. You have a nice touch on the guitar and I like your chording!
The best comparison of a yamaha that ive seen.. THANKS
Thank you Keith. 😎🎵🎶
They both sound great to me. Yamahas are great guitars, and the new FG9s are some of the best dreads on the planet right now.
JP Comier, thank you very much.✍️🤔😂🎸🏇
That was awesome. Great playing. I have the FG5 as well and it is wonderful.
Thank you !
I was counting his guitars in the background y Yamahas are getting in the way they are huge sounding y very great indeed…y his voice is like Johnny Cash…Singggg yayyy Ty dude y you are 😎
I liked the tone of the all a bit more in this demo. Plus I like the longer scale length. The LL holds up well in a loud acoustic session.
I really like them both and there IS also a D model which should Sound even a little better according to Jarvis. D model for de Luxe with abalone top purfling. What about the LL-16 M for mahagony model and the FG 180 50th anniversary model from 2016? Any experiences or opinions in those guitars, guys?
Nice weekend and happy playing hours.
Отличные гитары, звучит намного лучше чем американские дрова Martin
Great comparison vid. You are a great player and I enjoyed the whole thing. Thank you.I have an LL16 but not an FG5. I do own an FG820, which I love, and was interested in your string choice comment. I have been trying D'Darrio XS on my FG820 and although I like them a lot, and they are lasting amazingly well, I think you are spot on about the Elixyrs being a tad warmer sounding. Anyway, thanks for a great vid, and again, I loved your playing, cheers.
Thank you for listening and your comments 🎶🎵🤓
Thanks for the comparison video. I'm more of a fingerstyle player than a flatpicking guy, so I always look for the fingerstyle comparison. I didn't think the FG5 sounded that great in the video. I definitely prefer the sound and beauty of the LL16. I have the LL16D and would be ashamed to tell how little I paid for it brand new, with a case. Even at normal street price, I don't think it has an equal for the money. I get excited every time I pick it up and play it. That said, a lot of this is just about preferences and unconscious biases.
I normally will always use my LL16 if doing a fingerpicking song...the notes are much clearer and resonate more...and yes the LL16 is a gem of a guitar and pro level without question. I also have an LS6 which is a phenomenal OOO size.
The magic is in the fingers. Thanks for the magic James.
Thank you ! 🤓
Great comparison. I just got a FG-9R.
@@Joe-m6p6b Lucky Guy !! Congrats…top of the line and probably the best dred going anywhere. 🎶🎵👍👏
@@jamesmacdon9351 yes a fantastic sounding dread. Different to others like my other dread CS 21-11....
Could you please explain how to meausure the neck relief as accurately as possible?
Thanks James for the demo and pointing out the strings and picks used. I’ve played for 40 years and I’m still experimenting with picks. I’ve just ordered a couple Prime Tones to try them. There seems to be a fine line between trying to quit the metallic brightness of a guitar and using a pick that muffles the tone too much.
When I hear many people talk about reasonably priced guitars that mimic the Martin D-18, I hear the Yamaha D3/D5, Alvarez MD60BG, and the Eastman E10D mentioned. Have you had the opportunity to play any of these? I personally don’t think the Yamahas and D18’s are that similar with the D5 offering a more balanced sound.
I have played several D18s in shops…have never owned one…have never played an Eastman, Alvarez nor the D3/5. The 18s that I played did not sound nearly as good as the FG5 however that could have been old strings etc. And to your point when one gets that “special” D18 there is probably not anything that can touch it in the dred field. The 5 is a gem though and continues to warm up the more played. Very comfortable to play. Thanks for your comments and for listening. I too am always trying picks…like those Mountain thumb picks too for finger picking.
Came for the comparison stayed for the picking!
@@theprosperousitinerant8592 Thank you 😊
D3D5???
This is great the LL16 is phenomenal, what mic/setup are you using for this video
@@ElieBouChedid Canon T6i Rebel camera, Aston Origin mic, Boss BR800 as interface, cakewalk DAW, Slate plug ins.
I use Planet Wave 0,73mm tortoise more bright sounding, Dunlop 1,5mm more fullness and depth in the Tone more mass because of the thickness, Dunlop max GRIP 1,14mm and a triangle Fender medium tortoise.
Hello James, good review on the FG5, thanks to you I bought one a month ago!!!!!! SUper guitar!!! By the way, how many hours a day are you playing the guitare ???? And how long you keep a set of elixir strings ???? Thks and best regards from Paris France.
Merci Bernard. I don’t play through the week but play 6-8 hours on Saturday and Sunday. I keep the Elixirs on until they start to lose their “ring” normally after about 50 or so hours play time. However I play quite hard with lots of bends and use a lot of the neck so for someone whom strums would probably last much longer.
@@jamesmacdon9351 Merci de votre réponse, bonne continuation. Cordialement
Great video. Did the fg5 come in a hard shell case?
@@dr.stevenpennym.d.3241 Yes, a very nice high end custom fit case and thank you for commenting ! 🎶🎵🤓
Здравствуйте. Как по Вашему, что предпочесть yamaha fg-3 или LL-16?
FG3….prefer the warmer sound of the mahogany.
fg5
How do you think Mahogany version of LL16 and fg5？
Have not played the mahogany LL16 but probably a more warm sound. The FG5 is mahogany with spruce top.
@@jamesmacdon9351 Thank you~