Yamaha Compass Series acoustics

[Hard2Hear]

Has anyone else played one of these? About a year ago or so I played 3 models at Mars in Cincy (all themed, one blue ocean, one nautical, and one southwest themed), but now I can't find any anywhere. I thought they were a great guitar and I was very suprised at the time that Yamaha made something that nice. Any of you that know me know that I am a tone freak and am very picky with acoustics. I consider this guitar a great alternative to a Taylor for about 1/2 the cost of entry-300 and 400 series models. Now if I can only find someone who has one for sale!

H2H

 

[eyeslikefire]

Got this off their web site.
Hope it helps.
Authorized Yamaha Dealers in NASHVILLE, TN.

NASHVILLE USED MUSIC
4876 NOLENSVILLE RD.
NASHVILLE , TN 37211
615-832-7450

MARS, INC.
719 THOMPSON LANE
NASHVILLE , TN 37204
615-463-3208

BTW, They look great!

 

[Hard2Hear]

Yeah, I have been to the dealers who had them a year or so ago, but they are all gone from the stores. Even Musicians Friend (and several other online retailers) isn't carrying them any more. I guess no one believed a quality guitar could come from Yamaha and they didn't do so well. Heck! I didn't think so until I accidentally played one.

So I'm guessing no one here played one or owned one?

H2H

 

[JohnWaynesTeeth]

Hard2Hear, Whenever anyone has asked me about a good starter guitar I have always pointed them towards Yamaha as one of the brands to try. IMHO Yamaha makes a good quality guitar in the low-end to mid-low range. They make some nice high-end classical and arch top guitars as well. I think that their piano building experience really helps there craftmanship (I assume it's the same company)

I remember seeing the compass series but I don't think I've played one. Musicians friend has the CPX5 listed in stock for $499, is this not the model you are looking for, or is the website wrong?

If they disappeared quickly then I would expect that you could pick up a used one for a real good deal on e-bay, gbase.com, etc.

Pete

 

[Hard2Hear]

actually it's the cpx15 I'm looking for. They are made at the factory with the high end classicals. A guitar way out of the league of anything I have ever seen from Yamaha. Actually, it looks and feels like they probably reverse engineered a Taylor pre-New Neck Technology and built a guitar based off of that. The CPX 5 and 8 are cheaper versions of the 15, but play nothing like the 15 itself. I have played all 3 model series myself. I would put the CPX 15 against any other guitar on the parket right now that is mass produced (Taylor, Martin, Gibson) and I think it holds its own. But I can't find them used yet. The guitar I actually want to get is a Taylor 814CE, but I'll be danged if this Yamaha isn't a dead ringer, tone and playability wise, as it.

Musicians Friend has a new limited edition for $1999 (here ) but they just had the regular one for $699 on closeout in their latest catalog, but they are out of them. Probably bought by dealers to sell at full price. I think it's a great guitar for $800-1000, but at $2000 I would get a used presentation series Taylor.

Well if any of you spot one used, lemme know!

H2H