This technology is guaranteed to turn heads, immediately after strumming the first chord (with the TA effects on). If brands like Martin and Taylor had guitars with this function, it would be the only guitar anyone would ever want to play or hear (when playing unplugged). But since its from Yamaha, people doubt it and downplay it automatically. I decided to trust the company and invest in trying it out, and while it definitely turned heads when I played it, I knew something wasnt right. There is one downside from my experience with these guitars. I first owned the lower end version and loved it, but noticed its sound volume was very low if I didnt have the TA system on. So i bought this higher end version with the solid spruce top. I could tell the difference in volume immediately. But after a couple weeks of playing it I could tell something wasnt right. In my professional opinion (playing the guitar and performing on stage for over 25 years) the highs had a harsh tinny sound. I always play with Elixr light strings and thought maybe thats the problem. so I switched to the medium gauge. Well that made it more dull but the sound was still unbalanced. I couldnt get over it and over time I resented buying this guitar cause i thought maybe it was just me but other guitar players agreed after I played it for them. Maybe I just got unlucky and got the bad one out of the batch, but doubtful. Definitely try it out but be mindful of the return policy and dont keep it if you dont truly love it. Honestly I might have been better off just keeping the lower end model. The thing is I really wish I loved it. if the technology was open to use and other brands like Martin or Taylor could put their spin on it with their high quality building habits and standards, I am sure it would be something out of this world and would reinvent future of the way people play unplugged.

The LS-TA is an inferior made guitar. While the instrument sounds ok, the frets are made of butter. They wore out in absolutely no time. I have played guitar for more than 50 years and own many acoustic guitars. This is the worst one I have ever owned. As long as you do not mind having to pay for a re-fret in about a years worth of playing, than this is the guitar for you. I am paying for a re-fret and then selling the guitar. It is that bad. There are too many choices out there, in the same price range. So do yourself a favor and don't buy the Yamaha. Also; they would not stand behind their product and fix it. Bad company, bad service and bad guitar.

I've owned Hummingbirds, OMCs and Vintage Gibson Archtops. Some sold for 3-4 grand. Yamaha is the most underrated brand in all of music because they own their own shipping containers and ships so they cut out the middleman by not having to get parts from across the world sent to their factories to build the instruments themselves. You're buying an instrument easily worth 2 to 3 times the price and that's why every famous musician records on a Yamaha piano (Prince, John Legend, Elton John). This guitar is like butter with or without effects. The neck is a dream and it stays in tune. It's a little heavy because it's all beautiful solid woods. I've had the LL-TA, FS-TA and CFSTA transacoustics and this is the best by far. Just play one before buying the trendy brands. You'll pinch yourself.

For the money this guitar is the best buy on the market today hands down! I own high end a Martin, Taylor and a Gibson Hummingbird and love them all and this Yamaha is right there with them. Buy it!!!

I'm so glad I actually went to Guitar Center to try guitars. I was planning on buying a Taylor, which would have been fine, I'm sure. Just on a lark I tried a few of the other brands, where you could get all solid back and sides for the same price point. I have long known Yamaha was a great company because their classical guitars and pianos (not to mention motorcycles) are some of the best in the world. This guitar is really a superb instrument, just as a guitar. It plays great and I love the big body shape. The game changer though is this transacoustic system. Wow. This is going to be my go-to guitar for solo, singer-songwriter, coffeehouse-type gigs or shows where I do my own original tunes. It has a wonderful ambiance that you just have to hear. It really does take your expression to another level. I bought mine scratch and dent, which means I actually got over $200 off because the clear pickguard had come loose. I actually think somebody tried to pull it off and you could see how it could happen. It looks like a sticker or decal or something on there. But the tech guy said it's an easy fix, just have somebody remove/replace it who knows what he's doing. When I got home I played it for a while and the next day I called GC and bought 5 years of Procoverage, which is rare for me. The electronics in the guitar look kind of complicated and it's quite a contraption in there so if there's a problem, I want it replaced. I love this guitar.

Really good quality and sound