Yamaha Ls16S A.R.E Brown Sunburst

40 Years of the L Series: An "All Solid" Evolution in the Service of Sound

To celebrate 40 years of the L series, Yamaha has evolved its craftsmanship with a more refined new generation. The 16 series marks a key milestone: it is the first fully solid model of the new L series, featuring a solid Engelmann spruce top treated with A.R.E., now standard across the range. Add to this new bracing and a vintage neck profile: the goal is clear, to offer a high-end acoustic guitar, modern in its performance, yet faithful to the aesthetic sought by guitarists.

For Whom and Which Styles?

With its Small Body format and vintage-profile neck designed for comfort, the Yamaha LS16 ARE is aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists seeking an expressive and balanced acoustic. It excels in fingerpicking, folk, acoustic pop, vocal accompaniment, but remains very comfortable with a pick thanks to its dynamic range. Its all-solid construction also makes it an excellent studio partner, sensitive to nuances and attack.

Sound

The solid Engelmann spruce top delivers a quick response, great touch sensitivity, and beautiful clarity in the harmonics. The A.R.E. treatment aims to provide a sense of sonic maturity: more openness, a more "settled" attack, and better complexity in the upper spectrum. The solid rosewood back and sides enhance bass depth, spectral breadth, and sustain, while maintaining clear note separation. The new bracing contributes to a very musical balance, with solid projection and dynamics that work well both in soft playing and more aggressive strumming. On the amplification side, the SRT Zero Impact Pickup combined with passive preamplification favors a natural and discreet output, without altering the guitar's aesthetic.

Technical specifications

Format	Small Body	Nut width	44 mm / 1.73"
Top	solid Engelmann spruce, A.R.E. treatment	Scale length	650 mm / 25 9/16"
Back	solid rosewood	Bridge	ebony
Sides	solid rosewood	Tuners	Gold oil bath (TM-29G)
Body depth	100 to 120 mm / 3 15/16" to 4 3/4"	Pickup	SRT Zero Impact Pickup
Neck	mahogany/rosewood, 5-ply	Preamp system	passive
Fingerboard	ebony	Case	Standard Accessory Hard Bag