-
anybody with any experience? i'm eyeing one....
-
02-23-2010 08:56 PM
-
You can have mine, I just don't play it and would be happy to give it to you, a worthy player, gratis. The tuners broke (airplane travel the culprit) but I had them replaced. I heard a Brazilian cat actually gig with one at Uncommon Ground. Send me a PM
-
Although the problem seems to be solved already - Here are my experiences with the cheaper version by Tenayo, very briefly. Some fun and excitement at the beginning, mainly due to the idea and design. Also very handy when it comes to travelling. Plus, you get a lot of attention from the security personnel at the airport.
However, after one year of playing I could not stand it any longer, mostly because of the poor quality of it's sound. But that might be different with the "real" Yamaha. Finally, I changed to a solidbody with an AC 30 headphone amp. Some more weight, some more space needed. But far better inspiration, which, I think, adds a lot to your practice.
-
Hey Mr. B, I've got one of these and whereas it may not sound like a top of the line Ramirez, it does sound like a nylon-string guitar, it is easily portable, easily amplifiable and wasn't expensive. Also, it has inbuilt digital reverb (2 settings; huge room and massive room) BUT it does have a headphone output and an input that enables me to play along with my iPod and not disturb the rest of the world.
Plus, given the skeletal, see-through nature of the frame, you can do the "this guitar matches my shirt....whichever shirt I'm wearing" gag at every gig and get a laugh.
-
If NSJ is serious, you should accept the offer! I bought mine when I was traveling full-time for business, and it has been around the world with no more than a scratch here & there 6 years later. I should mention that the neck width at the nut is slightly narrower than a standard classical guitar, and it took me some time to adjust to the lack of bulk, but otherwise it was a great investment. I can play anywhere, anytime and only I need to hear it. Best of all, I can plug it into any PA or amp and get a very good classical guitar sound with no worries about feedback. It's so light you can play for hours with minimal fatigue. I did contact Yamaha and ordered a pickguard (I prefer a finger rest); they sent it free.
-
I did contact NSJ, and I'm taking him up on it--I'll let you all know what I think of it when I get it.
And NSJ, a public thanks--super cool-guitar-mojo sent your way. That kind of generousity is rare, and one of the really cool things about this corner of the internet...I promise to use it for teaching-- tax writeoff for you!
-
A blast from the past, but how did this work out Mr B?
-
I'm not Mr B- BUT I like mine. Definitely could use a better case as I also lost some tuners taking a hit in an airplane closet. I got the upgrade-wider-ebony fingerboard model (a few years back). Yamaha maybe updating again as I've noticed a new steel string on the horizon. I've seen Lee Ritenour take his (nylon) to the stage on a regular basis.
-
I have the steel string version. I bought it because I was doing a lot of travel for the last year. I thought it was fun to play through ear buds but pretty awful plugged into an amp. Now that the travel is done, it'seems been sitting in played for a couple months so I'll probably upload it. It filled a specific need but never inspired any attachment.
-
Not fair Jim, you're probably comparing it to one of those Soloway guitars.
-
+1 !
Originally Posted by w3stie
Not fair Jim, you're probably comparing it to one of those Soloway guitars.
That bar was pretty high!
-
Hey, an old thread!
Thanks to my good man NSJ, i still play mine every day in my classroom. Is it great? No. Does it play well and sound nice through headphones? Yep.
-
Just bought a used steelie version off ebay, strictly for use as a travel guitar. Will post my impressions.
-
Any thoughts on this guitar? What to choose, Steel or nylon? The wider nut is okay with me. Originally Posted by Woody Sound
-
Well it was a bad ebay deal (partly broken electronics), so I returned it, but my initial impressions: Originally Posted by Wildcat
Nice substantial neck, very nice tone through the amp. The built-in reverb is too ringy and exaggerated, with only two presets (no gradual adjustment knob). The action was a bit high for me. (But not unlike other steel-string acoustics.) I imagine you could lower the saddle, but I didn't want to alter a guitar I was going to return. It was a 110S, I know they have upgraded some things for a couple of newer versions, I don't know what they have improved/fixed/added. I needed the guitar for a specific trip. Now that that has passed, I have time to look into them a little more.
Bottom line: I will be needing a travel guitar for practice only, not performing, to carry on the train with other luggage from Western NY to Long Island and back, 2-3 times a year. Amtrak, then schlep through Penn, then onto the LIR. I LIKE this guitar for that purpose.
ps: Reason for the non-gigging trips? Our first grandchild on the way
-
So I don't own an acoustic guitar and really don't care for them. But a silent/travel guitar, that can be played through an amp, like this offers a great set of options in one package. Also, for the times I don't want to use my Soloway guitar, this is a good option.
My question is on the nylon version.
I have never owned a nylon guitar, however I am fine with the wider nut and flat fretboard.
I use a pick and do very little fingerpicking.
I would probably use it with an amp mostly. How good or bad is the tone amplified?
Thanks in advance.
-
I’ve never played the Silent Guitar, though I did come to Japan years ago to write the owner’s manuals (my day job) for the Silent Disklavier, which was the first instrument in Yamaha’s Silent series, I believe.
It was a nice Yamaha console piano, and one of the foot pedals could be used to disengage the keys so the piano would not sound. At that point, a MIDI box took over, so you could plug in headphones and practice without disturbing your neighbors. I thought it was brilliant. The perfect thing for your kid if you live in a crowded Tokyo mansion (condo).
I’m back in Japan this month, and I snapped these pics after coming off the bullet train in Hamamatsu (Yamaha’s home town) a few days ago. These instruments are on display in the station lobby.
If I had a kid learning trombone, I’d be all over that Silent Brass in a New York minute.
The only time I ever saw the Silent Guitar in concert was when Paul Rodgers sang with Queen a few years ago in Saitama, Japan. Rodgers and Brian May came front and center, each holding a Yamaha Silent Guitar, and launched into the opening riff of “Year of ’39.” Riff over, they each hurled their guitars stage left and right, pretty damn high and far, to waiting roadies on either side. It was actually pretty trick.
BTW — Massive kudos to NSJ. Passing that axe along to Mr. B. was a beautiful thing to do. There is no longer any doubt, imho: some of the best humans who play guitar populate this website.
Last edited by Flat; 10-27-2015 at 08:40 PM.
-
Played mine this afternoon. I think they're fabulous for what they are.
-
The steel string version sounds excellent though an amp. Originally Posted by Wildcat
-
I have one, great for travel. The onboard preamp tone is pretty blah, but going through a tube amp and a better reverb than the onboard electronics offer, it sounds pretty good. Not as stable with tuning as my Godin nylon, which has a much better EQ, neck and better intonation, but it's cool the way it breaks down.
Supposed to be a better version being released sometime soon with an upgrade to the preamp.
I like Leo Amuedo and Ivan Lins playing them on Ivan's studio DVD, but Leo plays a nylon Sadowsky now... those are around $4K. I'll stick with my Godin until I sell something, plus the Godin has synth output - pretty versatile.
Reply With Quote
Critic my Jazz Improvisation Solo practice
Today, 02:43 AM in Improvisation