Yamaha DW-8L

This is a 2001 Japanese made solid spruce top guitar. It is a gloss top which works great for agressive players such as myself who tend to scratch regular wood finish guitars and wear holes in them. There is no pickup although I am installing a L.R Baggs Duet pickup, which is the best pickup. The fretboard and bridge are rosewood and I am getting a bone bridge and nut installed A.S.A.P. The frets are a little narrow, and I wish I could have jumbo frets or larger frets. The frets were not filed very well and there is some "catch" as I run my hand up and down the neck. I'm not sure what woods the back and sides are, but I assume it is Nato or Mahogany, and the neck too.

I love the sound of this guitar. Being left handed it is rare to walk in a store and try a floor model that turns my crank. I am very picky and had some John Pearse Phos Bronze 11's put on instead of the crappy Yamaha stock strings. The Phos Bronze makes it a bit too bright. My friend has a Yamaha and I see he never plays with a pick and I realized these guitars inspire the player to not use picks. My style is everything from Blues to Gospel to Rock and Country and the only songs I would use a pick for are bluegrass "strummer" songs. Aside from a bit of buzz around the 10th and 12th fret, this is by far the best sounding guitar and funnest guitar I have played. Playing for eight hours straight is not a problem. The guitar is versatile and can be used for any style, in my opinion.

The action is perfect. The finish is very nice and unflawed. I have no complaints.

I took this to a few jams and in a soft shell walking around in the winter and there have been no problems so far. I busk for a living, so once I have my pickup installed the true test of durability will suffice, but so far this seems like a lifer. The finish is gloss and the top is warranted for life so I have no worries about taking my show as far as my energy will allow. This guitar is a workhorse, and not something you have to baby, like a Taylor or Larivee. I would use this guitar without backup and would replace it the same day if it would be lost, stolen, or damaged.

The warranty is lifetime for the top and neck, so I am satisfied. Waiting two months to have it repaired at headquarters would be a hassle, but worth it.

I have been playing and performing for 15 years. I didn't know Japanese guitars were so well made, but now that I do own one, it is plain to see that they rival anything to come out of U.S. I have also owned some soft wood Canadian guitars such as Seagull and Simon and Patrick and Norman, and I wish I would have just bought the Yamaha 10 years ago instead of watching 4 guitars deteriorate since it was a heartbreaking process. Thanks Yamaha!