SOUND CHECK
One Piece
YAMAHA FG9 M
By Chris Gill
WHEN MOST GUITARISTS talk about acoustic steel string guitars, a few American brands like Martin, Taylor and Gibson usually dominate the discussion. However, for many decades Yamaha has remained the world’s best-selling acoustic guitar brand, quietly but prominently leading the market thanks to the incredible value and quality that Yamaha instruments offer beginning-to-intermediate guitarists. It’s like Yamaha acoustics are so ubiquitous, players simply take their presence for granted.
With the recent introduction of their FG9 model steel string flattops, Yamaha has made a bold statement by offering guitars that deserve serious consideration by guitarists seeking an uncompromising, professional quality acoustic. Meticulously designed by Yamaha’s most experienced and skilled custom shop luthiers, using a combination of scientific analysis and handcrafted attention to detail, the FG9 represents Yamaha’s decades of insight as well as its cutting-edge vision for the acoustic’s future. Two FG9 models are available, both dreadnought style with the main differences being rosewood (FG9 R) and mahogany (FG9 M) construction. We took a look at the latter model.