Having wrestled both, my hands favoured the played-in feel of the hand rolled edges of the A Series fingerboard, away from the more modern, offset feel of its American rival.
It was a lot of work but I am glad so many people are being helped in their decision about this guitar, whether they decide to purchase it or not! I have tested the A3M in a music store and was recently leaning towards a Tanglewood TW59 (a UK company) as it was somewhat cheaper. Aaron, you're the man! I got the AC3M because I already have two rosewood in my house. Solid wood construction with a Sitka spruce top and your choice of mahogany or rosewood back and sides. The SRT2 system features a proprietary piezoelectric pickup with a clear, wide response and an integrated preamp that allows you to dial in the perfect sound for your playing style. One thing I have noticed is no mention of the Neck setup or truss rod. Now through your review I have learned that the new SRT system is actually mic simulation and not an actual mic in conjunction with the piezo pickup. The Yamaha AC3M Concert features a solid Sitka top treated at high heat to remove moisture and volatiles (the A.R.E. Fortunately, both guitars have adjustable truss rods and you can sand the saddle if desired. I have an A3R and get a bit of fret buzz from strings 5 and 6. I also cannot find the information on any Yamaha Site as to whether it is concave or flat. Wow, what a great review.
. The electronics are fantastic, and the all wood construction gives it a great sound. The Yamaha AC3R would be similar in feel to the APX1000 except for the tonality differences listed above between Maple and Rosewood. Besides living in Canada it is hard for me to justify the cost of a solid wood Taylor. Yamaha A5 model guitars contain all the premium features the A-Series is known for, including: Yamaha manufactures all A5 acoustic guitars in its Japanese factory. I really love this guitar. 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. Happy for the price but wish the neck was slightly wider.
The Yamaha FG720 SL (which is a cheaper version without pickup as well) . Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales.
The Yamaha LJ-style headstock design is another new feature for the AC3R and the tuners are die-cast chrome.
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The solid rosewood will help to produce a noticeably different tone than the Mahogany back and sides. In Europa I can find onley made in China and I`m not belive in Quality of China guitars. Laminated just simply cannot compete in this sound quality category. As you can probably guess, the A3R is essentially the same as the A3M except for one difference, the back and sides are Solid Rosewood. It will be hard to find an equal match to this kind of microphone and piezo pickup quality on any acoustic electric guitar, even on guitars costing several thousands of dollars. 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. 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. Hi Aaron, where can I buy Yamaha A3R made in USA? Gotta take the AC3R for a swing now. For only $100 more than their A1 counterparts, you get solid back and sides and improved electronics. Kevin Garner, NC, Kevin- that's great to hear. The On-Board Microphone and Piezo Blender allows you to hone in on the perfect amount of microphone and piezo gain you want for the perfectly blended acoustic or electric sound depending on your project, sound, playing style or performance needs. R = Rosewood back and sides (in this case solid).
I usually keep comments turned off for most reviews because of the amount of spam I deal with, but your simple note of gratitude deserves a post.
Even though the sound from Rosewood back and sides isn’t necessarily “better” rosewood is a more expensive wood and that makes the price higher. Thanks again for your comment. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
If the sound and feel of the concert size is what you are after (and you want the Mahogany back and sides) then this is the model to go for. 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. Despite my criticism I still believe I received excellent value for this purchase. I read both parts of your article on "How to choose a guitar amp".
They sound nice but I’ll likely get some medium gauge when these get tired. would this guitar work for me? It does, however, mean a smaller, "Concert" model which may be a bit easier to hold and play for mid to small size players. If you have ever been in the middle of a performance and began to lose tuning of a string or two, you may have had the annoying or even embarassing realization that your music was beginning to go sour beyond your ability to quickly fix it. processing found on the A3 and A5. Don that's awesome and I'm excited for you! The idea for this reviews site actually came out of. When I plugged it in I was amazed again. 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.
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. I have also asked them if they could provide me with Yamaha Japan head office email address as I want to write to them but was told that they do not have any. It's brighter than my Martin 17M (but not as bright as a Taylor), and more condusive to singing along with (because I understand that it's not competing with your voice at the same frequencies). The sound is immediate, authoritative, and organic like a sunny spring morning.
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. it's that good!
Natural, dynamic plugged-in tone from the SRT2 pickup system perfectly suit your performance on the stage. Let's look at each sub-series one by one. The SRT 2 does not appear to have an onboard digital tuner available- the SRT original does. the saddle in my AC3R is slightly concave. All three members of this holy trinity come equipped with Yamaha’s patented SRT pick-up technology. Simply put, the sound you expect to emanate from beneath your fingers is clearer and more forthright, as if you were sat a foot closer to the troubadour wooing you. A regular "piezo-only" pickup cannot capture the true acoustic guitar sound like this SRT. As for the Yamaha Silent, I actually did already write up a review, but it is on the same page as 4 other travel guitar reviews that I did a while back.
Rick - great question! I absolutely loved your informative and educational review.
. It retains the solid Sitka top of its more expensive cousins but features laminate back and sides and a rosewood fingerboard. We've certainly had our ups and downs in our family. Ebony is a bit more expensive than Rosewood as well. it is fun and easy to play…. If you do decide to buy the Yamaha AC3R (concert size) you will not be disappointed. Aesthetically, this guitar looks good but is very basic. Hi Brian, Thanks for sharing your question. Once again thanks, Thanks for taking the time to share this much detail! I had every intention of buying an A3R around this time last year. I would agree that occasionally, one could pick up a guitar from a manufacturer and have some minor glue issues or a little sloppiness on a spot in the binding or the internal bracings, as not all guitars even from the same manufacturer are created equally. There is no mic in it. 587 Jones Avenue, I currently play Babicz & Breedlove A/E's ...... which come equipped with very nice Fishman and L.R.
This is a very dynamic guitar. 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.
Possibly. Hmmm. If the string action is too high for you, it can be adjusted slightly and in increments until you are comfortable.