A 12-String With a Head Start on the Good Stuff

Most acoustic guitars need years of regular playing before they really open up tonally — before the wood loosens, the resonance deepens, and the whole instrument starts speaking the way it was meant to. Yamaha decided not to make you wait. The LL16-12HB ARE is part of the L Series lineup, and it pairs all-solid tonewoods with Yamaha's A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) wood treatment — a process that manipulates the molecular structure of the spruce top to replicate the acoustic properties of decades-old, played-in wood. You get that open, mature sound from the first time you pick it up.

Add twelve strings to the equation, and you've got an instrument with shimmer, presence, and a full-range voice that naturally fills a room. The LL16-12HB is built on Yamaha's Original Jumbo body shape — a design known for generous volume and wide dynamic range — with solid rosewood back and sides delivering that characteristic depth and harmonic complexity in the low and mid registers. It's a genuinely well-spec'd 12-string at a price point where all-solid construction is not always a given.

Whether you're after rich strummed chords for singer-songwriter work, folk arrangements, or fingerpicked textures, this guitar has the tonal richness to reward you. It also includes Yamaha's passive SRT Zero Impact pickup, making it ready for stage or studio use without bulky internal hardware disrupting the acoustic character.

This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed Minor indentation on back of body near neck. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.

Tonewoods That Do the Work

The top is solid Engelmann spruce, hand-selected and treated with Yamaha's A.R.E. process. Engelmann spruce is lighter and more flexible than Sitka, with a warmer, more complex response — characteristics that suit the rich, layered texture of 12-string playing particularly well. The A.R.E. treatment takes it a step further by thermally altering the wood's cell structure to mimic the acoustic profile of a naturally aged instrument. Players often notice this as a responsiveness and openness that typically requires years of regular playing to develop on a new guitar.

The back and sides are solid rosewood — confirmed all-solid construction on this model — which adds depth, complex overtones, and excellent low-end projection. The combination of Engelmann spruce and rosewood is a traditionally premium pairing, and on a 12-string it pays off noticeably in the way high and low octave pairs speak together across the full frequency range. Yamaha uses a modified non-scalloped bracing pattern designed to retain the L Series' characteristic clarity while reinforcing a fuller low end.

Neck, Fretboard, and Playability

12-string guitars can be a workout, but the LL16-12HB's neck is designed to make the experience as comfortable as possible. The 5-ply mahogany and rosewood neck is both stable and resonant, featuring a slim, traditional neck profile with an enhanced fingerboard edge — a revision Yamaha made specifically to improve playability for today's players. Scale length is 25 inches, and the nut width sits at 46mm (1-13/16"), which gives enough string spacing for clean fretting without making the neck feel uncomfortably wide.

The ebony fingerboard and bridge are premium-level materials often found on significantly more expensive instruments. Ebony is dense, smooth to the touch, and extremely durable — it gives the fretting hand a fast, clean feel and the guitar a tight, articulate attack. Die-cast gold tuners handle the job of keeping twelve strings in check, providing reliable stability and a handsome aesthetic that complements the gloss natural finish on the body.

Stage-Ready With the SRT Zero Impact Pickup

Yamaha's SRT Zero Impact pickup system is a passive design — no internal preamp, no battery, no bulky hardware routed through the body. Instead, individual piezoelectric elements under each string capture the acoustic signal with a high degree of string-to-string balance. Because it's passive, you'll need an external preamp or a DI box with preamp capability when running directly into a mixer or PA. The upside is that the pickup has minimal impact on the guitar's acoustic resonance and appearance, which is the whole point of the "Zero Impact" name.

The output jack exits cleanly at the endpin. For players who want to plug in at a gig without compromising the acoustic experience of playing the instrument unplugged, this is a sensible approach — especially on a 12-string where you want the acoustic character preserved as much as possible.

Product Features:

• Body Shape: Yamaha Original Jumbo — generous volume, wide dynamic range
• Top: Solid Engelmann spruce with A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) treatment
• Back & Sides: Solid rosewood — all-solid construction for rich overtones and projection
• Bracing: Modified non-scalloped pattern for enhanced low end and clear articulation
• Neck: 5-ply mahogany/rosewood, slim traditional profile with enhanced fingerboard edge
• Fingerboard & Bridge: Ebony — dense, fast, and durable
• Scale Length / Nut Width: 634mm (25") / 46mm (1-13/16")
• Electronics: SRT Zero Impact passive piezo pickup — individual element per string
• Tuners: Die-cast gold
• Finish: Gloss urethane body, matte neck; Natural color
• Strings: 12-string steel string configuration

Brand: Yamaha

Model: LL16-12HB ARE

Condition: B-Stock

Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.