Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been playing the guitar for years, shopping for a new instrument can be both fun and exhausting. After spending several years playing with various types of guitars, I should be able to help you out here and provide you some useful information about a guitar that may suit your needs.
There are so many styles, features, and prices to consider, it’s hard to know where to start. And if you’re on a budget, it can be difficult to find high-quality acoustic guitars under $1,000.
You love the sound of acoustic guitars but need to be able to play through speakers without a microphone. This realization has you looking at acoustic-electric guitars, but even there you’re having trouble deciding. There are still so many features and systems to consider, and some of the prices you’re seeing have your budget crying for help.
I know how you feel. You want to find just the right guitar, something that will last. But you don’t want to break the bank getting one.
Just read on…
Yamaha A3M Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- Solid Sitka Spruce top with scalloped bracing for a louder, richer acoustic sound
- Yamaha's new SRT2 system allows you to blend between microphone models and the piezo pickup to find your perfect tone
- High comfort satin mahogany neck with a slim taper profile
- Dreadnought cutaway body with solid back and sides
- Soft case included
What is it?
The Yamaha A3M Guitar is an acoustic-electric fitted with Yamaha’s own Studio Response Technology (S.R.T.), a system that brings you both microphone and piezo pickup.
The dreadnought cutaway body is made from your choice of mahogany or rosewood and topped with solid Sitka spruce. The solid mahogany neck is straighter than other guitars and features hand-rolled fingerboard edges.
Who made it?
The A3M was made by the Yamaha Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of musical instruments. Since Torakusu Yamaha, the company’s founder, first repaired a reed organ in 1887, the Yamaha Corporation has developed a full line of instruments including pianos, keyboards, guitars, and so much more.
The A Series of guitars, of which the A3M is a member of, was designed to be the first choice in performance acoustic guitars. Every guitar in the A series is perfectly suited for life on the road, and the A3M is no exception.
Simple Design
While the A3M may not win any awards for style, its simple and elegant design is very attractive. The traditional western dreadnought cut gives players a full-body resonance they won’t find anywhere else. This guitar also features a distinctive pickguard, originally used in 1975 on the N1000 guitar.
Along with the simple design, Yamaha added to the A3M a louder and stronger low-mid range sound using cutting edge acoustic technology developed only for the A series. Included in this is the A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement), an exclusive process applied to the top of the guitar. This adds a rich, vintage quality tone. When you first play this guitar, it will sound like you’ve been playing it for years.
SRT2 Electronics
The SRT2 pickup system was designed by Yamaha, optimizing the A3M guitar for stage performance. It offers a perfect blend of piezo and pure acoustic sound like you would get when recorded using a vintage microphone in the studio. As a result, it allows you to produce a sound that’s only meant for the stage.
Elixir Strings
All A-series guitars are fitted with Elixir NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze Light strings, delivering a lively and extended tone life, far beyond that of other strings.
Incredible Value for a Quality Guitar
For such a quality made and unique sounding guitar, it’s amazing that it comes at such a low price. Most high-quality guitars will run in you the thousands, while this one will be much easier on your wallet.
For an extremely low price, you get a performance-ready guitar that delivers an incredibly rich and unique sound you won’t find in other budget guitars.
What Can You Get from The Yamaha A3M Guitar?
I’ve told you about the guitar’s simple, yet elegant design, its hand-rolled fingerboard edges, the SRT2 pickup system, the elixir strings, and the incredible value. But what does that all mean for you?
When you pull this out of the box, you’ll have a guitar that already feels broken in. And the sound is so full and rich, you’ll feel like you’re playing an expensive guitar. Whether you plug it into an amp or play unplugged with a microphone, this guitar is ready for all your performance needs.
Pros:
- Inexpensive given the quality
- Comes performance-ready
- Full, rich sound
- Broken-in feel out of the box
Cons:
- Warranty only available through Yamaha Authorized Dealers.
What are Customers Saying?
What do the customer reviews say? I have spent hours reading almost all the reviews on various retailers’ sites. Yes, that’s my passion and that’s what I do to provide meaningful reviews for this site, but I digress.
With high ratings on Amazon and other online retailers’ sites, most of the reviews so far are very positive. Nearly everyone that has bought it raves about the quality of sound the guitar delivers, and how amazing the price was considering how well the guitar plays.
Out of the few negative reviews, it’s clear to me that the consumers rated based on the condition the shipping box arrived in (which was either the fault of the courier, not Amazon or Yamaha) and how it affected the quality of the guitar.
- Solid Sitka Spruce top with scalloped bracing for a louder, richer acoustic sound
- Yamaha's new SRT2 system allows you to blend between microphone models and the piezo pickup to find your perfect tone
- High comfort satin mahogany neck with a slim taper profile
- Dreadnought cutaway body with solid back and sides
- Soft case included
Conclusion
If you’re a performer on a budget looking for a guitar that delivers incredible sound and comes fitted with top-notch electronics, you don’t need to look any further than the Yamaha A3M Acoustic-Electric Guitar.
For under $1,000, this guitar comes ready to suit all your performance needs. It’s very easy to use and understand for new gigging artists. This would be a great starting guitar for any beginner performer, but equally great for any veteran guitarist on a budget.
If you’re looking for something simpler without the electronics, or you need a wider fretboard, this guitar may not be for you.
That said, I think this is a great guitar for what it costs. Based on the reviews I’ve read the Yamaha A3M far exceeds even other guitars by the same company, considering how cheap it is and how much it offers in the quality of sound for the price.