yamaha electric guitars review

There was a huge difference in sound and feel between the cheaper laminate guitars. On-board tuner for string tuning accuracy. There are so many styles, features, and prices to consider, it’s hard to know where to start. Thanking you in advance. Our Gear Advisers are available Some tape and tissue on the batteries themselves seems to have quelled that. It's readers like you that point out new things as well as find small errors that help me to refine the reviews for everyone to make informed purchase decisions! WOW AMAZING REVIEW....CLEARED THE CONFUSION,ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS FOR THIS "NEWBE"THANK YOU, THANK YOU !ORDERING AS SUGGESTED. However, the Neumann KM56 has a more punchy sound for bluegrass and flat-picking. Not only does the SRT have both an onboard microphone for picking up the natural acoustic sound of the guitar, but it has a blender to balance between the loudness or "gain" from the piezo pickup without sacrificing that true acoustic sound you would expect from an acoustic guitar. From what I understand, the SRT pickup system is still only available in 4 models, A3R, A3M, A3CR, and A3CM. Best bang for the buck for what has come out in the last several years! I think your answer will come down to which guitar feels better to you, and which one sound better for your most common use scenario. The tonal range provided by the pickup configuration enables flexibility so you’re not forced into playing a … . Some professional guitar players may actually prefer one wood over the other, but for most players, it does not have an affect other than color preference. Both have a blender with an element pickup and a condenser microphone, and I have heard these things live. Ebony is a bit more expensive than Rosewood as well. Yamaha Inc. also has a built-in 1 year warranty on the on-board electronics and the attached hardware. More, Popular Categories, More Ways to Complete Control of the Sound with Body Resonance and Microphone Piezo blending. With 1 push of the A.F.R. It isn't worth the time, effort or money to go out and buy a high end guitar that you know is going to take some knocks and also there is the threat of theft. Yamaha NTX1200R has great playability that is embraced by both steel-string and electric guitarists giving it a classical move. Thank you Ricco. If you are looking for a more mellow, bassy and warm sound, you can back the mid and high ranges off while accentuating the bass a bit. Could you mention in your reviews if the guitar is also made in left handed? I was floored too at how much Gibson was asking for that Jumbo model I think. . If you are going to spend over $1,000, however, I would also look at some other brands, such as Larrivee, Taylor etc. Keep Strummin! When he and I sat down and I pointed out the cheap tuners and flimsy craftsmanship when compared to a Larrivee in the same store- his jaw about hit the floor- and nonetheless he did not go with the mass produced Gibson. to guide you through your entire shopping experience. (Complete Comparison table of all A series models below - (A1R, A1M,  AC1R,  AC1M, A3R, A3M, AC3R, AC3M)After researching this guitar thoroughly, much of the online information surrounding this guitar is incomplete or incorrect, even on the Yamaha USA website - so I called them to get the straight facts - Yamaha USA. I know that when I played the A3R, I liked the neck because I play fingerstyle. Where to buy this guitar online - some suggestions. I'll bet that will be a great test outside of a controlled studio setting, although I know it will perform greatly! Because of this, I would not hesitate to buy or promote the Yamaha A3R as our #1 pick in acoustic or acoustic electric guitars in the "under $1000" range. would this guitar work for me? I have a couple issues. In Canada in order to get solid back and sides you looking at 2300.00 cdn. Although the Palathetic Pickup in the Takamine is excellent for gigs and touring pros, it will not suffice for pure acoustic sound, as no pure transducer will because it cannot pick up the subtle overtones and ambiance you can achieve with a condenser mic / transducer combination. The SRT preamp and pick up offers 3 different microphone modeling types at the flip of a switch to match any playing style (each microphone would cost several thousand dollars to gain this kind of sound in a professional recording studio). Very few guitar reviews ever mention if this guitar comes in a LEFT HAND VERSION. Thanks Jose for your honesty. Thanks for your kind words. The tuner also has a distinct alternating lighting signal which will notify the player 1 hour before the batteries of the pickup lose their power, giving plenty of warning to change the internal power suppply without interrupting or distorting the output sound or performance. Thanks for stopping by and your comment, Martin. I have a $3500 Larivee in my stock, and if one looks close enough, it has some very minor blemishes as well. The SRT pickup system is great, as you can dial it to the sound that you like the best. Using the "Focus" setting, one can hone in on the close and crisp sound of the acoustic guitar tonewoods and strings as thought the guitar were miced right near the soundhole for direct, up front, real acoustic sound. I loved the series so much I was able to get my hands on a A6R so now I have the best of both tone worlds. It's well built and plays well, but all this "Japanese influence" combined with the Yamaha name somewhat steers you away from realizing that this is a guitar made in Indonesia and not Japan. In other words, the SRT1 allowed you to model 2 mic setups- a focus setup meaning 1 close mic vs. a wide setup which means a close mic and a distant mic giving more studio resonance. My dream has always been to have a guitar that apart from a piezo pickup has some mic system to pic up the actual wood and air vibration. If you buy this guitar here through Amazon, it will go through a 3rd Party Music Supply Vendor with an A+ BBB rating and for just $1 extra dollar you can buy the bundle which includes over $80 worth of guitar accessories including, The best deal, getting the guitar bundle with all of the extra accessories for an extra $1 is at Amazon.com here. We, that are left handed, will probably always be Left handed in a Right handed There was a young man who come to the store looking for a Taylor, but after playing my A3R he's now a believer. On the other hand. Mic Type 1: Neumann U67 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone, Mic Type 2: Royer R122 Active Ribbon Microphone, The Mahogany versions (labeled with the letter "M" in the model number) have the Neumann KM56 and the Royer 122 and not the Neuman U67 as shown below, Mic Type 1: Neumann KM56 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphone, 1-The Neumann U67 (AVAILABLE IN THE SRT and THE SRT2 Rosewood Models) - great for wide EQ and any playing style, giving the player a large diaphragm condenser studio mic sound. Choosing a guitar is a difficult process thanks to the wealth of quality options available on the market today. 2 - Which guitar actually feels better and sounds better to you while unplugged? Taylor K14ce … A lot of people have enjoyed this guitar and have purchased it after reading this review. John - Just purchased this guitar last week. The on-board microphone has 3 different professional microphone models with the 2 most commonly used studio mic settings for professional studio recording and live play realism. Does the bottom have a slight concave or not? Hope this helps. Thanks a lot for this detailed review. Unplugged, the Dreadnought size is more universal in sound, and the "C" models are better for people who need a slightly smaller guitar with a bit more favor for fingerstyle playing. The tonality differences between fingerboard woods is negligible, and often completely un-noticeable by even the most discerning and professional ear. Many people cannot hear the difference, but most guitar players with any experience can definitely hear the difference. Great question! The tonality is going to be very similar, but with the A3R you will pay less and get a great pickup as well. For what it's worth in my humble opinion the A3 series is the deal of the decade in flat top all solid wood guitars. Most Recent. It is an amazing deal for the investment. Hi Aaron, I, too own the A3R and am very happy with everything about the guitar. I don't pay people to write for this site because I am extremely picky when it comes to sharing the best acoustic guitar reviews and I want to share from personal experience. It's not really an issue for me as I don't play up there very often, but it definitely makes the guitar look like exactly what it is ...... a "mid-level" guitar. What I would recommend is ordering either one from Amazon.com and then testing your first choice. I committed to the purchase and picked it up on the way thru. Besides living in Canada it is hard for me to justify the cost of a solid wood Taylor. Free Standard Ground shipping (48 contiguous states, some overweight and Used/Vintage items excluded). That said, although I've played piano and keyboards for decades I'm newer to the guitar so "ease to play" is the second most important criteria. They did not have it at Guitar Center so I ordered one. I cannot decide between the AC5R and the CPX1500wa (guy down the road is selling). I honestly wish I had this kind of pickup system bundled with solid tonewoods for under $1,000 when I was purchasing my last guitar. Thanks for asking here, but this review is more or less to give people a great overview of the Yamaha A series so they have real confidence when laying down that much money. If you want a deeper, better projection unplugged, I would personally go with the Yamaha A3R (because of the Rosewood). Agreed that they Yamaha Silent guitars are pretty awesome too, but being that they are not true acoustic guitars, that might steer a few people away, those who want the sound and feel of real tonewoods. Can anyone enlighten me & steer me the right way? One thing I have also done in the past is take out the saddle and sanded the bottom side of the saddle down to adjust string height if I wanted the action a bit lower, but you have to be careful not to sand it too much for string buzz issues too. Thanks for taking the time to give us your thoughts on the Yamaha A3R series and other guitars. Epiphone Les Paul Special-II. Even if you have a great ear for tuninng, this feature is great for re-assurance or for quick and accurate re-tuning between gigs or songs to keep the playing going and sounding great. (ALSO in the original SRT pickup), Knob (B): Treble Control Level adjustments for the high frequency (treble) range. Baggs Electronics. These are a bit trick to find so I'll post what I found here: The body Depth (front to back) of all the full dreadnought models (without the "C") slope from 100 to 118 MM. That being said, let me also say that this is the best acoustic I have played for under $1000, and probably under $1500. I wondered are you or have you done any reviews of the Yamaha AXP1000? Fender Player Stratocaster. I'm not a very patient person. I put it through a great tryout. . The SRT starts with 3 world class studio microphones modeled in 1. . choice for a better guitar (want to upgrade)... it is beyond my reach!! Our round-up of the best acoustic guitars applies to beginner, intermediate and pro acoustic guitarists alike, and spans a range of budgets too. The Yamaha A3R won't let you down, I am sure! Wonderfully constructed guitar and very hard to beat for well under $1000. always buy from a reputable source like Amazon.com or another music store where the return policy is clear and in your favor. I think when it comes to this kind of fine comparison for finer technical playability and feel- measurements might give a clue to begin your comparison, but the only way to know would be to personally play and touch them side by side. This is a really special, limited edition guitar. I had a set of Elixirs installed before leaving the store so that might account for some difference in its sound. Thanks again for so much unbiased information! . I really prefer Rosewood because of it's wider EQ response than Mahogany which tends to project more in the id range, whereas Rosewood's natural resonance amplifies more bass sound, giving the guitar a richer, fuller sound. . All online marketplaces seem to project the same retail pricing for a new A3R acoustic electric guitar at about $899.00 USD. The A1 Series offers laminated sides and back whereas the A3 series offers solid tonewood sides and back, so the difference between "R" and "M" in this series will be more significant if you are looking to buy an A-3 Series. purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of YOU GUYS NEED TO PLAY THIS GUITAR (YAMAHA AC3M) SIMPLY AWESOME MORE INTIMATE AND JUST SOUNDS PERFECT!!! Whereas the Concert Models (with the "C") slope from 110 to 120 MM - so the difference is negligible at 2MM difference. The SRT 2 has these features below- taken directly from the Yamaha website. After considerable reviews of multiple acoustic guitars in the <$1,000 price range I couldn't agree with you more and have settled on purchasing an A series in mahogany. I doubt you will be disappointed in either one, but it appears from most sellers you will pay more for the LL16, when you are essentially getting the same craftsmanship, just a little different body size and EQ balance. Yamaha’s APXT2 is a hybrid guitar that can play acoustically but also plugged into an amp and given the full distortion and effect treatment if you desire. There will always be a few nay-sayers for just about any guitar, but 99% of people who play this and have purchased it are able to recognize what a great value it is as well. Yamaha NTX700 Review. . How would you compare the neck width and thickness compared to your Eastman? Keep the Faith, Spread the Peace, x-man. Ultimately, it will come down to whether you like Rosewood vs. Mahogany, and whether you can deal without having a digital tuner onboard. My mind is made up EXCEPT ONE SMALL ISSUE! Let us know what you decide if you get a chance to come back to the site. The Yamaha A-Series of guitars is the first "American Made" Yamaha series designed with the United States engineering team, and the collaboration between the Japanese and American teams has created a combination of the highest acoustic guitar craftsmanship with the un-matched S.R.T. The A-3 Series features ebony fingerboards which are dark black, distinct, and a bit more resilient to the wear and tear of fingering chords over the life of the guitar. In these models that would be mostly correct because the option switch for mic sounds of the pickup are studio samples (not a true mic of your performance - but pre-recorded and stored in the pickup). Aaron. It does, however, mean a smaller, "Concert" model which may be a bit easier to hold and play for mid to small size players. Perfect sound frequency makes perfect sounds and thus the player can feel the notes and it helps the player to differentiate among the seven notes of music. ET I think there must be a Yamaha case made specifically for the AC3R. Maple is a harder brighter wood in the Takamine and the Rosewood in the Yamaha A3R will certainly give you more bass response unplugged, and therefore a bigger sound as the EQ response from the tonewoods is "wider". There are many more satisfied Yamaha A3R players out there just like you that really appreciate this guitar both plugged in and unplugged. Rewards members also receive double- and triple-point offers, access to member-only deals, as well as a dedicated phone line to Gear Advisers and a $25 coupon on your birthday, all on us. You can easily adjust the action on the Yamaha A3R by taking out the saddle and sanding the bottom side down, or have it adjusted at a local guitar shop until you like the string set / height. I am planning to get one of them from the US for Christmas. I could not find that exact model - the Stagg GC3A - so I looked up a little more info and think it might be best to step up just above an economy case to protect your $800 Yamaha A3R with a little more ridgid / padded / durable case such as this Case actually made by Yamaha here for under $60- It's the Yamaha HC-AG Acoustic Guitar Hardshell Case found here and is made for their Dreadnought size so it should fit the A Series Perfectly. The model with the SRT with preamp or the SRT2? The guitar sounds amazing plugged, and un-plugged, it has a lot of middle range sound in my opinion, and little bass sound (cause in part by the thin body of the Apx), my question in your experience is, is there a lot of diference of sound between a roosewood solid back and sides and laminated flamed maple, specially in bass sounds? Every guitar or bass you Well done. Thanks Phil. Even Yamaha’s lower priced guitars tend to have reasonable tone – and the FG800 is no exception. Also would you ever consider making a review of left hand guitars? But having said that, this guitar "is what it is" .... which is a mid-level instrument. Hi Aaron, where can I buy Yamaha A3R made in USA? I see the occasional glue splatter on the binding. After all, these Yamaha A Series guitars get nearly 5 stars from hundreds of other reviews so they are bound to have a 1 to 2% margin for products that need slight adjustment. I went through some bad ones in college and wasted money on pickups that didn't hack it, before I knew anything about pickup technology. . is hand's down the best value A/E under $1000, Takamine EF341SC vs Yamaha A3R for ease of playability. Punchiness with flame maple and Mahogany are great when you are playing with a group acoustically because the sound is more compressed and brighter. The microphone also has different modeling capabilities for replicating a close microphone or wide microphone setup. No one I've talked to seems to know the model number of the case I should get for my guitar. So if you want the real deal, fork out the extra $200 or so and get an A1. Allowed HTML tags:

1. . Pretty sure of this although I've not opened it up. . If you like the mid-range sound you want to go with the AC3M - the M stands for Mahogany, and the AC3R for a deeper, richer sound - the R stands for Rosewood. Classical guitars have been dropped by pop and rock musicians in this era of all-digital devoid-of-life music. Please continue your great work. The nut width (width of the neck at the nut near the head) is within 0.5 of a mm of each other, so the width of the fretboard will feel virtually the same. Solid (non-laminated) Rosewood back and sides, Dreadnought Body Size (most universal, full size acousic body), Concert Body Size (not as large as the Dreadnought, but a full size guitar that can carry any gig as well), Hardshell case (comes standard with all of them). The "non-C" models will definitely give more of a bass response than the "C" models because of this "Dreadnought size and design. Unplugged, the Yamaha sounded at least as good if not better (just imagine the comparison plugged in). I am not currently familiar with the Yamaha models you suggested. Most internal pickups carry a 9V battery (called a PP3 systems=)which reduced voltage during play and over time. Please read through my 2 part article on "how to choose a guitar amp part 1" and "how to choose a guitar amp part 2". I have never played Yamaha's before, but I did like an Eastman SS dread that I tried a couple years ago. Between these two guitars which would you say would sound better unplugged? AGAIN THANKS !!!! The Rosewood versions (labeled with the letter "R" in the model number) have the Neumann U67 and the Royer R122 and not the Neumann KM56 as shown below. Let us know if you resolve it! Epiphone Masterbilt DR 500MCE and it is a solid guitar for the price, What I would recommend is buying one off of Amazon.com here, Yamaha A3R in the Limited Edition Translucent Black (Bundle), Thanks Actionman for the Yamaha A series feedback, Yamaha A-Series are ALL Venetian Cutaways, these Yamaha A Series guitars get nearly 5 stars from hundreds of other reviews, No mic- but professional studio mic modeling, Yamaha A-Series Guitars - Complete Comparisons and Reviews, Yamaha SRT2 preamp vs original Yamaha SRT, Five Jazz Guitarists to Watch Out for in 2018, Real-world insight into professional audio technology (from recording professionals and engineers), Real professional studio recording modeling techniques at the flip of a switch, Two mic positions that let you use professional recording studio techniques, A blender knob between the piezo and microphone, Complete control of body resonance sound for authentic, rich acoustic tonewood sound (reverb of tones and overtones), AFR - Automatic Feedback Reduction at the push of a button, 3-Band Equalizer (Eq) for projection any sound profile you need, On-board tuner for ease of string tuning, reliability and accuracy, The Neumann U67 - great for wide EQ and any playing style, giving the player a large diaphragm condenser studio mic sound. After playing many, many guitars at local music stores I played the A3R (after reading all of the reviews). The most complete report on the Yamaha A series guitar. I am not sure what you have available in Singapore, but there are a lot of great guitars in the $1,000 to $2500 range, and the purpose of this website is to focus more on guitars in the $200 to $1500 range, because once you get into the professional lines above $1500, you really get into some very fine preferences that mostly appeal to more accomplished players. That reduces your personal risk to virtually zero! However, condensers can also be processed and have modeling processed after the signal and before the output, but I am sure you are correct on the Yamaha A3R. 3. Cyber Week Doorbusters & Deals-Limited Time. Both the AC3R and the APX1000 have the concert style body with the slimmer waist which some people find easier to hold, especially when seated. Hi Miguel, Great question, and thanks for sharing your personal confidence and opinion on the SRT pickup system and the Yamaha A3R acoustic series! I thought the APX 1000 was discontinued but there is conflicting info on the Yamaha website.Anyways -there will be a big difference between Rosewood and Flame Maple to an experienced player, and anyone who has a decent ear. Thanks again for sharing your experience. I can tell the difference when I play those top-end guitars, but usually people who are purchasing in that range of cost are a bit more accomplished and kind of already know what they want. The SRT Technology, for the A-Series only appears in the A3 and AC3 models and not in the A1 or AC1 models, and this is a big deal if you plan on plugging your guitar into an amp or any system. I got the AC3M because I already have two rosewood in my house. Mike Stern's signature has been refreshed with Yamaha's exclusive wood treatment and finish. I too purchased this terrific instrument based on your incredibly detailed review. This A3R is also better (in my opinion) than any model that Taylor, Martin, Takamine, or any of the other leading guitar manufacturers are currently producing in the "Under $1000" line because the others are using lamintated tonewoods and inferior onboard electronics. (ALSO in the original SRT pickup). Thanks again for posting - Aaron. whether plugged in or unplugged, and for the price range around $800, it is really hard to beat. It is a hiscox case with yamaha written on it. BTW, although I do like the "look" of the Tak better, I would not hesitate to buy the A3R if the sound and playability (especially unplugged) has an edge. I no longer had any acoustics left so I started researching some Mid-Lines, ie, MIM Fenders, MIM Used Martins and Yamahas (of which I had absolutely no knowledge!) This is my review of the Yamaha Pacifica 112 Electric Guitar. Being patient on the purchase, especially of this size investment, pays off and though you wanted the sunburst which are apparently more rare, I would still expect to find some inconsistencies in guitars from different releases of the same model. Most orders are eligible for free shipping! This setting gives the player a fine-tuning on the perceived "distance" of the microphone settings between "focus" and "wide", opening up an endless fine-tuning capability of the perceived studio microphone set up. I purchased this guitar without even seeing it as the vintage sunburst AC3Rs are very scarce in Canada right now (apparently these models are currently back-ordered until May/Jun 2015). ( I found a similar complaint on another site). Essentially, Rosewood is a deeper, more bassy, richer sounding wood and they modeled the mics to match the wood's natural tone and overtones. Having the right pickup is everything in my opinion. Many acoustic guitar pickups are a simple piezo pickup, located under the saddle, picking up the vibrations of the strings and converting them to an electrical signal. Originally, I thought they were American crafted. Gibson are … Aaron. I am planning to purchase another acoustic electric guitar with good built-in preamp system and have narrowed down to Yamaha brand. Most acoustic electric guitars lose their acoustic beauty when plugged in, because they use only a transducer (piezo) technology or an inferior piezo / mic blender, but not the Yamaha A3 and AC3 -Series with S.R.T. Heowever, any time you have a pickup installed, it can affect the sound profile a bit, but as long as you do not have a pre-amp installed in the side of the guitar, but have them place a blender (microphone in the soundhole) with an under-the-saddle style piezo type pickup, then they usually have a dial (like the old Fishman blender) where you can adjust the gain blend from the 2 pickups to get your desired sound profile. It also sounds great plugged in! However, after more thorough review and also phone calls to Yamaha corporation, I believe the entire guitar was designed and engineered in the USA, but they teamed up with their manufacturing team in China to produce them. Sign in to see your saved items. (Studio Response Technology). Nevertheless, the electronics are pretty good, and the unplugged-sound of the guitar is much better than you would exspect for the price. So a week and 3 days. Thanks for clearing up the confusion; between salespeople, websites & You Tube all contradicting each other, I thought I was the crazy one. There is simply no comparison between the studio mic capabilities of the SRT pickup system and the inferior piezo only pickups installed in the A1 series. Let me say this, "I love this guitar!". Helped me a lot in choosing the AC3R over other brands. It help me a lot in my decision to buy this guitar. I wish they had this kind of SRT pickup technology back when I was recording and writing music in college. I also cannot find the information on any Yamaha Site as to whether it is concave or flat. There are 21 frets i… Hi Paul and Jerry- It looks like they are phasing the old SRT blender out in the Yamaha A3, and calling the new SRT in the Yamaha A1 series simply the SRT piezo. I purchased this model a couple weeks ago. They sound great, the price is excellent (many under $200) and they look awesome. If it does not meet your desire, I would return it for a refund and order the other one. Read more about the Yamaha A-Series here. I love the porous mahogany neck on the. which the SRT preamp system has. Thanks for sending this note to me Peter through the site contact form. I have updated the review above to show the complete details of the SRT original preamp with mic modeling and the SRT 2 system (4 knobs). Furthermore. You are correct. Thanks so much for the review! protection from manufacturer defects. I actually bought the Yamaha A3CR and love it! I got a case with mine that fits well ..... Stagg model GC3A. The Pacifica PAC12 Electric Guitar by Yamaha: Professional Quality at an Entry-Level Price The Pacifica PAC12 Guitar at a glance: Yamaha’s Pacifica PAC12 Electric Guitar. Happy for the price but wish the neck was slightly wider. I was also shown model LLX16 with the latest A.R.T. My FG730S has deft action not to mention its subtle balance between high and low end tones. Aaron, Thank you so much for all the helpful information. I do not review cases so much, but really got my education in the design and the tonewoods for acoustics, because I had so much trouble in the early days finding consistent quality between manufacturers, but the Yamaha A Series is one of the very best guitars for the buck! In other words, a quality studio condenser microphone will definitely pick up the differences when recording in a studio or using a mic live (through the air) versus the pickup, just like your ear would. The other difference is that this review covers the older Yamaha A3 series, whereas the SRT 2 systems are in the newer Yamaha A3 series, and the new Yamaha A5 series, which I have yet to review. Join for free and start earning 8% back on every purchase. After your awesome review of the Yamaha A3 series, I went on-line to Amazon and found the A3M on sale for $599.99...waiting for delivery. One salesman recommended I try a Yorkville arched top classical case, that it should work. Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear the latest deals. I wonder if its possible to buy The SRT System without the guitar and if there is a nylon guitar with the SRT pickup system. Thanks for the great detailed review of the Yamaha A series and thanks in advance for any recommendations you might have for an amp. The Yamaha LL Series which is a bit more pricey- but very high quality (no electronic pickup no SRT). 1. Guides, Artist A Simple Summary Table of all Yamaha A-Series acoustic electric guitars, Having reviews all of the SRT technologies and the 8 different model choices, our top 2 picks of all 8 Yamaha A-Series are, Some closing thoughts, summary and comparison to other leading brands. Their exact warranty language taken from their website is this: Some guitar retailers online offer a 1, 2 or 3 year warranty. Hi Dan, I have not heard about the saddle being concave. I have this narrowed down between the A3R and the Takamine ES341SC, which although normally more expensive than the Yamaha is on sale for the same price now. I have played the AC3M and loved it, but wanted to know more about the AC3R. *There are even some errors on the Official Yamaha guitar site that are cleared up (below) in this review. Will have to look more into this and to see if I can get a statement from Yamaha if possible because there is a little mixed information out there. It sounds great plugged into a PA and over time we'll see just how durable it is. Get a low price and free shipping on thousands of items. Also, there is no feedback-problem when using the microphone-simulation. Aaron! (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) treatment that gives new wood the characteristics of aged, vintage wood. Thanks for reading and your appreciation! The Takamine has a cedar top and maple sides and back, which will give you a unique combination of mellow, lush response from the cedar top with more projection in the mid to high EQ range for a guitar. I like the way it plays now. If you filed or sanded the saddle or nut, you might want to try getting a new one or putting a thin shim under the nut on the 5th and 6th string end (kind of tapered). With the accuracy of the on-board tuner, you can tune each string with ease and precision even in the middle of a performance. I'll get the other dimensions posted here once I hear back. Yamaha TRBX505 Review. I called them recently (above conversation) and inquired about more informatoin for left-handed models of the A series, and they could not tell me anything. What happens is if a person sands the saddle down too low, they cannot strum the strings as hard without string buzz, and therefore the strings cannot be strummed as hard. I've just purchased a AC3R and I'm touching the heaven.. it's simply perfect. I would not steer you away from a guitar that you have been really desiring and have now found affordable for your specific budget. This is a great feature for keeping the sound going in diverse playing environments without destroying or interrupting the natural acoustic amplified sound of the guitar. That's unrealistic especially when in my case I use 2 dreadnoughts, a 12 string and a Yamaha silent on stage. The nut width on all are 43 MM  |  The string length is 650 MM -. Additionally, if I were budgeting to buy a guitar in this price range, I would opt for the extra $200 and pick the A3R over the A1R because the SRT technology is worth far more than the $200 difference. Don. Most orders placed before noon ET ship same day (except weekends and holidays). There are currently 8 Yamaha A-Series acoustic models on the market as follows: *** Note *** The A-1 Series does not include the SRT pickup detailed above, but a simple piezo A66 Analog Pickup. One of the best electric guitar values for over a decade, Yamaha Pacifica guitars are well known for great tone and outstanding playability. What I would recommend is having a similar "blender" type pickup installed in a superior sounding acoustic guitar with the rich tonewoods you desire. The focus of this site (for me) is to really help people find sound, and quality guitars in different budget ranges. Neither my picking or singing is very good but I love doing it. I enquired with them as to whether Yamaha would be coming up with new models incorporating a good active preamp system like the System 63 SRT pickup and was told that they have no information from Yamaha head office. ***THIS PART OF THE REVIEW HAS BEEN UPDATED***: THE NEW SRT 2 Preamp vs. And, other leading blenders on the market, boasting a blend between on-board microphone and piezo pickups do not carry this kind of studio realism. Knob (C): Bass Control / AFR(Auto Feedback Reduction) (ALSO in the original SRT pickup) [PUSH] Level adjustments for the low frequency (bass) range. . This is the only review with detailed information that I have yet found. The A3 series will easily give more quality in craftsmanship as well as amplified technology than any of the other leading brands currently producing guitars in this "Under $1000" crowd. It is just very sharp modelling of the sound of a miked guitar using the piezo as a basis. That being said, the Takamine ES341SC is going to give more output on the pickup and amp, but it will not give a completely natural, acoustic tone with the ambience of the microphone blender found in the Yamaha A3R. However, if you mic these in a studio, you should pick up the same differences you would with your ear, or when the guitar is unplugged / acoustic. The Yamaha AC3R would be similar in feel to the APX1000 except for the tonality differences listed above between Maple and Rosewood. Thanks John F- I really do not know. Great info, thanks for clarifying the differences between the two, and I know that I can't really go wrong with either one. I decided to call a popular muisic store, in Milwaukee. This has been the most in-detail review on the latest Yamaha range and it helped me a great deal to make the right purchase decision. Looking for an acoustic electric cutaway that's perfect for stage and home? But these guitars, including the Yamaha AC3R, are simply not in the same league as a good quality Martin , Gibson or even Taylor. The. Most New Yamaha Electric Guitars are eligible for free shipping. His recommendation was the, I couldn't believe how much of a difference the solid wood made. I currently play a Taylor 422R that has a 1 3/4 nut width, and I guess I've gotten used to it, but I've always wanted a second instrument with a slightly more compressed neck to play some of the more crazy chord techniques that I experiment with. Yamaha LS16 - Detailed review of Yamaha LS16 ARE, Concert body style, Mid range, all solid wood, Acoustic Electric Guitar, belonging to L-series of Yamaha. It is no problem to sand it down and form it like it is meant to be by sanding it only in the middle region on the edge of a table for example. Yamaha LL16D ARE Review. 3-The Royer R-122 (AVAILABLE IN BOTH SRT and SRT2)- a ribbon style microphone is great for rounding out and smoothing the tones for Jazz and Blues playing - this microphone model gives a warmer, wider and smooth tone response for the more mellow acoustic sweetness. I have not but might do so in the future. Rig Rundown: Strike Anywhere . and do a lot of personal testing. The battery box started rattling. The profile is also fairly slim, and there’s a cutaway to offer easier access to the upper frets. The Les Paul Special-II from Epiphone makes for a … Knob (D): Blend control / mic type switch [PUSH] Controls the mix level of signals received from the pickup and the microphone sources. The differences unplugged will be mostly in the tonewoods. Anyway, just to clarify, the Yamaha A-Series are ALL Venetian Cutaways, as the "C" stands for Concert in the model naming system. You can read more technical aspects about the LR Baggs Antem-SL here or. Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear I was close to buying a Yamaha FGX Series when I accidently came across your article/Blog. It’s also built with a body that’s only 3/4ths the size of standard acoustics. Rick - great question! Actually, the rich sounding is the special feature of the guitar and that is the feature that makes it beginner-friendly. Although guitar dimensions won't mean as much to most players above actually holding, playing and experiencing the guitars to actually compare which one feels better for you, these specs will help the more advanced, discerning or picky players who know what they are looking for in terms of dimensions. The mahogany neck is fast and slippery, with a wonderful feel, but the neck joint on mine looks like the sanding process stopped a little short. Thanks and rock on! Hello Aaron...I have reviewed thehttp://amzn.to/1RR9jP4http://amzn.to/1RR9jP4 extensively and must say that your assessment is the most comprehensive that I have come across. The solid Sitka top was selected for both its look and tone. It's not a real high end case, but it wasn't expensive and it's a safe place for the guitar until I can source a real good gigging case. I have had my eye on this guitar for quite some time and recently purchased one. If Yamaha do have upcoming new acoustic electric guitar models, it is pointless for me to spend over S$1,000 buying an old or obsolete, As you are living in the US, I wonder whether Yamaha has introduced new models in the US which might not be available in Singapore yet and do you or dealers in the US who sells, HI Jeannie, great question and I answered that thoroughly above if you check this post here-. you wrote a good article on the a series a few years ago.....email me at (removed to protect user's email) if you can,,,my names is paul b...thanks. The magic of the SRT pickup system starts with the built in microphone blender. Hi Aaron, I´m Roberto, from Argentina, I really appreciate your detailed comments and descriptions of this guitar. Although I like the fullest sound of the LL16 ARE guitar, I don't like the SRT Zero Impact Passive Pickup. It happens more than you think. The Yamaha FG730S is great for beginner and intermediate and not so much set up for recording and performance, in my humble opinion, and costs around $300, but for the pickup system and the Rosewood sides and back, it's really hard to beat the performance and sound of the Yamaha A Series with just about any other brand or model out there. So if I were to purchase one from the Yamaha A-Series, it would be the Yamaha A3R model. Thanks for posting! Thanks for sharing your feedback. There really are not a lot of other guitars at this quality level for the price that sound beautiful both plugged in and unplugged! Rosewood is simply unmatched in its ability to project well in all 3 basic Eq registers (Bass, Mid and Treble) and this gives the guitar a wider Eq, more bass projection, better balance, and more overall volume and projection over it's Mahogany competitors. My Low e was to close to the edge and would slip off the fret board often. I doubt at my age that I'll ever have a Collection again but I am playing again. I have read your reviews on acoustic electric guitars and was impressed by your review on the. I have read from other websites where people who bought this LL series have also mentioned that if Yamaha could have incorporate an active preamp system into the "LL" series. I have a few questions concerning your purchase. Thanks for chiming in here- Aaron. I really love this guitar. Having fine tuned control of the bass, mid, and treble outputs of the guitar frequencies give the more advanced player the ability to emmulate different frequencies to suit any plying style or gig. Thanks for seeing the missing info, Rick! i purchased a yamaha a3r 2017 model...what do you think of the srt2 system in this version? Keen- thanks for the feedback. I can't wait to get my hands on it. This guitar, like most Yamaha acoustic-electric guitars, comes equipped with Yamaha's SRT under saddle piezo. Interviews & An all solid with wood bibding at this price? Enjoy the lowest prices and best selection of Yamaha Electric Guitars at Guitar Center. Hi Brian, playability will probably come with the action set a little lower on the Takamine EF341SC, but since I do not have them side-by-side, I do not know. (Studio Response Technology). If you are satisfied with the differences in the new SRT2 sleek designs and a few things they took out, the new A3 and A5 series will serve you very well! It sounded really nice and it never quacked, not even once. Beside rich sound quality, it has a warm tone. upper bout/waist/lower bout) between the two models? Your article was like mana from heaven. Sorry to hear about the financial crisis. I've tried a few Larrivees but they don't suit my hand. The rigidity of the maple and the hardness of it, as well as the "oval" shaped sound hole in the APX1000 series will definitely give a punchy mid-range tone, so you will not get as wide of an EQ response from the body as you would with a thicker body and from Rosewood because it does not have as much bass expression for a tonewood. One thing I have noticed is no mention of the Neck setup or truss rod. The differences between the SRT and SRT2 - Full Details: The biggest 3 differences between the SRT1 (original SRT preamp &pickup) and the SRT2 are: 1- There is 1 less microphone model option in the SRT 2 - the mic models depend on whether you choose Rosewood or Mahogany - detailed below. Transparancy Act, The shipping company will call you to schedule your delivery date and time, Someone will need to be home to receive the package, Be sure you have measured your entryway and have help available to carry the item in. So I am not sure if some of it is made in China and assembled in the USA or if it was simply engineered here, but he did make a statement about the US division of Yamaha working on the design and manufacturing. Aaron, you're the man! It all started years ago when a friend of mine was going to invest $1200 in an acoustic and he almost bought an poorly crafted guitar simply because it had the Gibson name on it. "Sounds that were only attainable by professional recording engineers using old-world vintage microphone set ups in world-class recording studios are now available with this built in SRT system, whether playing live or in your home studio.". While the microphone preserves the true tonewood quality captured only by studio microphones, the piezo can add more gain or volume without picking up feedback or muddling the sound. Im a yamaha fan anyway so my advice to anyone who Is thinking about getting one is gett off the forums and go and get it! My dealer is getting the A3R in tomorrow. Compressed meaning either less width or possibly flatter or tapered in thickness. John, very glad this helped! The warranty insurance providers must be the same or similar online because the pricing seems to be about the same at $130 extra for 3 years of coverage, but you have to be sure to purchase the extra coverage if you want it. The articulate and well-rounded sound with great projection is some of the qualities that make it one of the top acoustic guitars throughout the industry. Hi Steve - thanks for your comment. It’s nothing exciting or unique but it’s solid and balanced. You did a far better job than even the Yamaha website. It feels like Im stealing from Yamaha. . However I do have a few "concerns" about the quality of construction. In Europa I can find onley made in China and I`m not belive in Quality of China guitars. The A-1 Series features Rosewood fingerboards which is a bit lighter in color, a bit cheaper than ebony and a bit less resistant to wear and tear. Maybe you could do a review on the new series. This is what makes Yamaha one of the best low end guitar producers around. Thanks for an awesome review of this guitar to confirm my decision to buy the "Right" guitar. The sound is authentic and from some people's opinions, a bit lacking in the "gain" or loudness. Maybe I could sleep it away. Yamaha is trying to change the situation with the NTX700 electro acoustic guitar. The electronics are superb for recording (I use Apogee /Macbook Pro/Logic/Garageband) and the playability is way above it's pay scale. hi im from st louis and did demo the a3r and liked it how does it compare to the yamaha LL16 tonally cant find a LL16 anywhere in st louis to compare.also the a3r I like is the trans black usually dont care for colored guitar but it looked classy has anyone seen one in person any help would be appreciated. I just ordered a quality used A3R for my son based on this review. The sound quality of the Yamaha FGX800C Acoustic-Electric Guitar is amazing. Fortunately, both guitars have adjustable truss rods and you can sand the saddle if desired. Right from the first strum my A3R played like butter and sounded like it had been played in smokey clubs for years. When it is plugged, I assume that there´s no (or little) difference because the enterely sound is digitally procesed by the piezo pickup and it electronic proccesor that simulates the guitar ambient sound, Are you agree? Both the sound and the looks are terrific. I believe with 2 mic simulation options, you will still be able to get a complete range of dynamic tones and overtone combinations from either the SRT or the SRT2. The SRT 63 system with simulated microphone options sounds similar to the Fishman Aura system used in Zager guitars, do you know anything about Zager guitars? Yamaha APX600 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review The first thing that catches the eye about this amazing guitar is actually its design and shape. Years ago a friend of mine had a Larrivee that had a solid flame maple back and sides, and the biggest difference I could hear and feel when playing was how little bass projection comes from flame maple, and how much more warmth and boomy bass comes from a solid Rosewood guitar body. These 2 articles go into some depth on explaining different kinds of amp technology, cabinets, etc. His guitar was very vibrant and responsive, but definitely dominated in the mid range.My preference is Rosewood because, in my opinion, it is always easier to compress the natural sound from an acoustic guitar than it is to try to get more expression that is not there naturally from the tonewoods. Deep double cutaway bodies and fast necks are the hallmark of Yamaha's RGX series electric guitars. The Yamaha A Series can be reviewed further and purchased at Amazon.com without risk here. Yamaha today launched the NX Series of six nylon-string acoustic-electric guitars featuring contemporary body styles and proprietary preamp/pickup systems. The SRT 2 does not appear to have an onboard digital tuner available- the SRT original does. Also, the support specialist said that he does not know before the public if they plan to come out with a left-handed version of this guitar or any version for that matter, so I was unable to get any inside scoop on Yamaha's plans. I have been researching like crazy to zero on an electro acoustic guitar but to no avail. Yet I have the following observations about the construction of the guitar. One-piece Maple neck is oil-finished for better comfort. Aaron, Hi Aaron, I just found your fabulous assessment of best acoustic guitars under $1000. Thanks very much for taking the time to publish this. Thanks Howe Thomas, Yes- the Yamaha A3 Series series has a truss rod for adjusting the set of the neck & strings. Perfect for both rhythm and single note lead work, these Plaent Waves picks are triple "tumbled," creating a soft-touch texture that provides an incredibly smooth surface and a superb grip in any playing conditions. I think everyone at some point goes through one (or more) of those in their life if they live long enough. But, to my confusion, the review about the srt-system is wrong. I had every intention of buying an A3R around this time last year. I went to several Guitar Center stores in the Houston area to learn what I could before buying anything. The newer Yamaha world class SRT system gives you a built in studio in 1 control panel with: The SRT2 does not appear to have a "doubled" mic location option for picking up either a focused (single near mic) and wide setup (both single near mic and distant second mic), Best Electric Guitar - Fender Squier Stratocaster, Blueridge BR-341 Historic Series Parlor Guitar. I have played a Yamaha APX 1000 or very similar Yamaha thinline model years ago, but I am not sure if it was the APX1000.That being said, they are going to be similar in quality at a similar price point. . Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Rig Rundowns. (Personal choice). (Complete Comparison table of all A series models below - (A1R, The magic of the SRT pickup system starts with the built in microphone blender, buy the bundle which includes over $80 worth of guitar accessories, all of the extra accessories for an extra $1 is at Amazon.com here, looked at Amazon.com for this great model, The pickup system puts my Guild and my Eastman to shame, find more information on the Yamaha A3 Series here, Neck width and comparison to your Eastman, Yamaha HC-AG Acoustic Guitar Hardshell Case found here, Yamaha FG730S is great for beginner and intermediat, pros use LR Baggs Pickups for professional gigs, Latest Yamaha acoustic electric guitar with good active preamp, http://www.strumviews.com/comment/201#comment-201. Comments powered by Disqus. On its own, the guitar is impressive, but the built-in TransAcoustic technology offers an even more compelling reason to check it out. So few companies make more than one model that is fitted for a left hand person. As I performed and sing with my acoustic electric guitar on stage and in churches, I need a guitar with a good active preamp system so that I would be able to set the sound on the guitar. Made from Planet Waves Duralin, this ultra-durable material delivers strength, resilience, and resists abrasion while providing balanced tone with a bright attack. I read both parts of your article on "How to choose a guitar amp". I believe the Yamaha A3R would have a more well balanced tone because of the Dreadnought size, plus it is still in production. Recently My Wife and I started to recover financially. Of all the material that I have reviewed (including Yamaha's site) I could not find anything on the physical size difference between the dreadnought vs. concert. Hi! The idea for this reviews site actually came out of. Where the SRT original has these 3 microphone models available in every preamp, the SRT 2 has only 2 of the 3 mic models depending on whether you purchase the Rosewood or the Mahogany. Stores in Chicago Area don't have these in stock, hate buying sight and sound unseen, but I'll take your word for it! My action is a bit high on the saddle end and I want to sand the saddle down a bit but I have read that there is a problem with the string loudness if you sand the saddle flat, do you or anyone have the facts on this? If you prefer the reddish brown, lighter color, then the "M" or Mahogany might be for you. I have never played a Yamaha A6R but these are more in the $1500 range (MSRP around $2500 from Yamaha Co.) Yes- I find that the A3M (M is for Mahogany) is great for a punchy guitar sound with more emphasis in the mid-range where as having the A3R (R is for Rosewood) gives it a bigger sound because more bass resonates from the overtones of the Rosewood. Read more other reviews about the Yamaha A-Series Acoustic Electric Guitar here. If you have played both, how would you compare them in that regard? This was absolutely the most comprehensive review I have seen concerning the "A Series" Yamaha guitars. The actual average playing voltage of a 9V (PP3) system is around 7.5 V.  While playing with a slightly weakened 9V battery, one can experience distortion and interruption of the sound as the voltage begins to drop, well before the battery is dead. The sound you will get from an A-Series guitar plugged in will be authentic, acoustic tone, although it is modeled with different mic settings, and not an actual microphone sound coming from your guitar. The Professional SRT (Studio Response Technology) combines. When you play on a "piezo-only" system, you lose all of the "air and wood" quality of the tonewoods and body style of the acoustic guitar (100% lost), ending up with a disappointing, electric and tinny sound that barely resembles the beautiful tones and overtones one would desire when playing an acoustic guitar or amping with just a studio microphone. The top has received Yamaha’s proprietary A.R.E. Like I said the fit and finish was great. The Yamaha NTX models (NTX1, NTX3 and NTX5) were designed to make it easy for electric and steel-string acoustic guitar players to add the warmth and … (Listen to Josh Gooch play some Amazing blues riffs and a detailed description of the SRT system). Rosewood sounds more full and balanced in all ranges, offering the best eq response and projection (also being a favorite of many world class luthiers or guitar makers). The Royer R-122 - a ribbon style microphone is great for rounding out and smoothing the tones for Jazz and Blues playing - this microphone model gives a warmer, wider and smooth tone response for the more mellow acoustic sweetness, Mahogany sounds more punchy in the mid-range and treble or higher ranges, lacking a bit in the bass projection. On another note the A3R takes well to being tuned in other keys like open a and f. What I found most informative in your article was the in depth description of the SRT system. It's that good for the money. Namely, the size of this Yamaha guitar is approximately 3/4 of the full-size guitar which makes it pretty convenient for those who are not that familiar with the playing of the guitar. Since they are nowhere to be found on their site for bout and shoulder width- I will write or call Yamaha and post it here later. Part of my indecision is I can't get my hands on an AC5R to actually test out. I looked at Amazon.com for this great model and they have no reviews over there to help give people a more rounded view of the guitar from other perspectives. It has Yamaha’s typical nice even tone. Is it a set neck? Also- the aesthetics of the SRT2 are 4 simple, sleek knobs that are not as much of an eye-sore to some. Nylon strings were introduced after World War 2. However, the C models will not put forth as much of a "bass end" because of this size difference when the guitar is unplugged. The Yamaha A-Series Acoustic-Electric Guitars, Yamaha A3 and AC3 -Series with S.R.T. Hello, I am left handed . This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. I am glad this helped you. Thanks for the kind comment Mark. . They use a 2 pickup system, one that is an under-the-saddle piezo and one that is a layered vibration sensing pickup that is supposed to transfer the tonewood vibrations and replicate the acoustic sound from the wood. EN-10c stood for years. Thank you Steve for providing this information. There is no built-in microphone in the SRT-system. So, the Yamaha A3R has a more purely natural sound from the pickup when the condenser (mic) is engaged, but the gain on it's pre-amp signal is not as strong as the pickup on the Takamine. I encourage everyone to try this guitar, you will be impressed! Thanks for any info on ZAD's and the great review on Yamaha. .the main spokesperson in the release videos that Yamaha release stated it was one of the Yamaha engineered and made in the USA. Firstly I will discuss the materials of this guitar and how they will affect the tone of the instrument and also give my opinion as to what I thought of its tone.Body Type: The A1M is a dreadnought acoustic. Thanks very much! This will be all personal preference, and I doubt you will be disappointed with your Takamine purchase. I am glad this helped and believe me, it was a LOT of work to put this together. Aaron. This SRT technology is like having a professional microphone and studio built in. The new 2017 'A' series has the new upgraded SRT2 system. I spent all day reading other reviews of it and listening to youtube demos. Topped with a 3-Band EQ - for fine tuning. Body, Make Thank you Michi, After reviewing, I was aware of the modeling, but was sure there was a condenser.

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