As a beginner, it can be difficult to find a great acoustic guitar. Many starter guitars aren’t worth playing, and it’s a struggle to find something suitable. Thankfully, Yamaha makes some excellent beginner acoustic guitars.
Quick Answer: Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
- 1. Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitar Overall: Yamaha FGX5
- 2. Best Cheap Yamaha Acoustic Guitars: Urban Guitar Pack
- 3. Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Under $1,000: Yamaha LS6 Concert
- 4. Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Under $500: Yamaha FG830
- 5. Best Storia Yamaha Acoustic Guitars: Yamaha Storia I
- 6. Best L and A Yamaha Acoustic Guitars: Yamaha A3R Dreadnought
- 7. Yamaha Gigmaker Pack
- 8. Yamaha APX 600 Acoustic Guitar
- 9. Yamaha Acoustic JR1 Acoustic Guitar 3/4
- 10. Yamaha LL-TA TransAcoustic Guitar
This best Yamaha acoustic guitars review looks at some of the models that you might want to buy. I’ve played the acoustic guitar for many years and have been impressed with Yamaha’s guitar quality.
This guide will help you whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced guitar player who’s looking for a quality Yamaha acoustic guitar. You’ll be glad you decided to go with Yamaha, as they have some great instruments.
About Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
Yamaha has been in business since 1887, when the founder Torakusu Yamaha repaired a reed organ. Since then, the company has been producing a wide range of products, including guitars.
These guitars are affordable and suitable for all budgets. They have an instrument for all playing styles and abilities, whether you’re a raw beginner or an advanced player. Let’s have a look at what the company offers you.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Yamaha Acoustic Guitar
Here are some points to keep in mind prior to ordering your new guitar. You want to have a good idea of what you want before buying, so keep these points in mind before picking up a guitar.
Size
Yamaha makes several sizes of guitars. They have full-sized guitars for adults and also produce 3/4 and 1/2 sized guitars that are geared towards younger children.
The Overall Tone & Sound
Yamaha guitars have great tone and playability. Lower-cost guitars will naturally not sound as good as an expensive instrument, but you’ll still get a decent tone suitable for learning how to play an instrument.
Price
Yamaha guitars are very affordable. You won’t have to shell out a ton of cash to own one of these instruments. Here are the basics of what you’re going to pay for a Yamaha guitar.
- Beginner: $150-$400
- Intermediate: $400-$700
- Advanced: $700+
Types of Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
Here’s a list of the various types of Yamaha acoustic guitars. You’ll find a Yamaha that’s right for you no matter what your playing level is.
They specialize in guitars for students and younger players, but also have pro guitars too.
Storia Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
Storia guitars are simple, smaller-sized acoustic guitars that are comfortable to play and hold for any beginner. They have shorter scale lengths, smaller bodies, and are easy on the hands. As a result, they’re an excellent choice.
Red Label Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
Red Label guitars are an excellent choice for any aspiring songwriter. These guitars are comfortable to play and have a built-in preamp system for easy recording or live performances.
L and A Series Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
These are professional-sounding Yamaha guitars with great looks and superior wood. They have acoustic resonance enhancement, or ARE, for broken-in tones right out of the box.
FG Series Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
The FG series are great beginner and intermediate guitars. There are many different models in this series to suit the individual player. These are easy to play and will inspire the player.
APX/CPX Series Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
These guitars feature nice cutaways for easy fret access and have a built-in preamp system. They’re low priced and an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate players who want to use an amp with their acoustic guitar.
See more: Best Yamaha Bass Guitars Buyer’s Guide
10 Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
Here’s a list of the 10 best Yamaha guitars that you might want to consider. These guitars are the right choice for all playing levels and abilities. Of course, any one of these guitars would be a solid choice.
1. Yamaha FGX5 Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, hardshell case
- Pickup: Atmosfeel
- Material & finish: Spruce, mahogany, ebony, gloss
- Best for: Songwriters
The Yamaha FG X5 is a fantastic guitar with a pickup system that gives you many sound options. The scalloped bracing gives the guitar extra tone and punch when you’re playing chords or picking notes.
The guitar has ARE, or Acoustic Resonance Enhancement, so it sounds broken-in right out of the box. This guitar also has the tone and playability you need for recording or live sessions. It’s a solid choice for any professional.
✅ Preamp system
✅ Solid construction
✅ Fast neck
✅ Bone nut/saddle
❌ Expensive
❌ No cutaway
Why I Recommend It
The Atmosfeel preamp system is what makes this guitar unique. It captures the natural sound of the guitar well, so it’s great for recording sessions or a coffee house jam session. It’s side-mounted via three knobs for simple access.
The spruce top gives the guitar a wonderful tone, which is further enhanced by the mahogany back and sides. I like the bone nut and saddle, which help to stabilize the tuning of the guitar. This is a great choice for a songwriter.
2. Urban Guitar Pack by Yamaha
- Type: Dreadnought cutaway
- What’s included: Guitar, lesson app, accessories
- Pickup: N/A
- Material & finish: Spruce, rosewood, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginners and Keith Urban fans
You’ll learn how to play guitar with the Yamaha Urban dreadnought cutaway. The guitar is easy to play and comes with a lesson app to learn Keith Urban songs and the basics of playing the acoustic guitar right at home.
The guitar is a nice cutaway, so you’ll have easy access to the higher frets. The guitar is all set for any beginner, and it’ll be a source of inspiration as you pick up the guitar for the first time.
✅ Lesson app
✅ Lower string tension
✅ Comfortable neck
✅ Nice look
❌ No case
❌ May need some setup
Why I Recommend It
I like this Keith Urban Pack by Yamaha because it’s accessible for the beginner. The app is a great addition and helps inspire today’s players. Also, the string tension is reduced on the model, so your hands won’t get as tired while you’re playing.
The neck is slim, so it fits your hands comfortably. Beginners won’t strain their fingers to play their first chords. The guitar looks nice and comes with a strap and a pick. My only complaint is that there’s no gig bag or case.
3. Yamaha LS6 Concert Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Concert dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickups: SRT Zero Impact
- Material & finish: Spruce, mahogany, rosewood, gloss polyurethane
- Best for: Intermediate players and songwriters
The Yamaha Ls6 Parlor Dreadnought provides a great tone in a smaller package. The smaller size makes the guitar easy to hold. It’s ideal for writing songs or for fingerpicking complex passages. The solid spruce top provides note clarity.
The ARE wood process ages the wood to match the sound of a guitar that has aged for years. You get a full and rich tone out of the guitar right out of the box, so it doesn’t have to be broken in with playing.
✅ ARE wood
✅ Pickup
✅ Good tone
✅ Easy to hold
❌ A bit expensive
❌ No case
Why I Recommend It
The Yamaha LS6 is a nice parlor acoustic guitar. It’s got an SRT Zero Impact pickup system, which provides superb tone out of your amplifier. The rosewood and mahogany neck is comfortable for both chords and single-note lines.
It’s got updated bracing that gives the guitar more note volume on the low end as you play. I like the concert body, as this is more comfortable than a full-sized acoustic, especially when fingerpicking or playing folk style music.
4. Yamaha FG830 Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickup: N/A
- Material & finish: Spruce, rosewood, nato, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginner/intermediate players
The Yamaha FG830 is a solid entry-level guitar. It’s got a nice tone and easy playability. The spruce top gives the guitar a good tone. It’s got enhanced scalloped bracing, which provides better sounds than similar guitars.
Players’ hands will feel comfortable whether they’re learning chords or playing single-notes on the mahogany neck. This guitar feels smooth up and down the fretboard at all positions.
✅ Solid tone
✅ Phone app
✅ Easy to play
✅ Low cost
❌ No case
❌ May need setup
Why I Recommend It
The Yamaha FG 830 is a great beginner guitar or a step up from the cheaper guitar packs. I like this guitar because it’s easy on the player’s hands and has a decent acoustic tone that inspires the player to learn.
I had a couple of students with this model and was impressed by how well it kept its tune. Yamaha has a great guitar here for under $500 for any beginner or intermediate player that wants a simple-to-play acoustic.
5. Yamaha Storia I Acoustic Guitar
- Size: Small dreadnought
- What’s included: What’s in the box?
- Pickups: Undersaddle
- Material & finish: Spruce mahogany, nato, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginners that want a smaller-sized guitar
The Yamaha Storia has a concert body, so it’s easy to hold as you play. It’s got a rich tone and will inspire new players as they learn. This guitar is perfect for younger kids, as they won’t struggle on this guitar.
This guitar is ready for recording or even playing live, as it’s got an undersaddle pickup. You get a great guitar for under $500 that’s all set to go for any beginner looking for an easy-to-play acoustic guitar.
✅ Concert body
✅ Solid wood
✅ Good tone
✅ Easy to play
❌ A bit expensive
❌ No pickguard
Why I Recommend It
Yamaha has a clear winner with the Storia lineup. This guitar looks great, and it’s easy on beginner hands thanks to the concert body and smaller scale length. This is one of the best beginner Yamaha acoustic guitars.
These guitars keep their tune well. I had a chance to jam with someone recently who used this instrument, and I was impressed by the even and smooth tone this guitar produced.
6. Yamaha A3R Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Dreadnought cutaway
- What’s included: Guitar, gig bag
- Pickup: SRT preamp
- Material & finish: Spruce, rosewood, mahogany, gloss finish
- Best for: Professionals
You’ll get great tone and playability with the Yamaha A3R Dreadnought cutaway. This guitar has a spruce top for note clarity along with a mahogany back and sides. The sound is further enhanced with scalloped bracing.
The guitar features an SRT pickup and preamp, so the guitar is ready for your amplifier or stage performance. You can access the higher frets thanks to the cutaway design. The instrument is an excellent choice for any professional player.
✅ Cutaway
✅ Solid wood
✅ Improved bracing
✅ Electronics
❌ A bit expensive
❌ Case could be better
Why I Recommend It
I like the preamp on this, as the control knobs are on the side of the guitar. Far too many models have these mounted in the soundhole, making it harder to access when playing. The SRT system produces good tones.
The fingerboard edges and taper neck give you a smooth playing experience at all fretboard positions. This is a great guitar, no matter what style of music you play. This is a nice cutaway dreadnought for today’s player.
7. Yamaha Gigmaker Pack
- Type: Dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, bag, accessories
- Pickup: N/A
- Material & finish: Spruce, meranti, nato, gloss finish
- Best for: First-time beginners
The Yamaha Gigmaker pack provides the player with a head start on their music. The guitar is a nice-playing dreadnought, and you get a tuner along with a gig bag and other accessories like a strap.
The instrument has a spruce top for a nice even tone as you play. The neck is smooth up and down the fretboard, and the chrome machine heads keep your strings in tune. This guitar has the beginner in mind and is the perfect starter guitar.
✅ Lots of accessories
✅ Nice guitar
✅ Gig bag
✅ Easy playing
❌ Gig bag could be better
❌ May need setup
Why I Recommend It
I like this Gigmaker Pack because it comes with a solid guitar for beginners. Many guitar packs aren’t worth buying because the instrument is too poorly constructed, but this one sounds good and is easy to play.
The guitar may need some action adjustment, as many beginner guitars do, but once that’s done, the guitar will be ready to go for the beginner. It’s easy on the hands and has a reasonable tone that beginners will love.
8. Yamaha APX 600 Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Dreadnought cutaway
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickup: ART pickup system
- Material & finish: Spruce, mahogany, rosewood, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginners and intermediate players
The Yamaha APX 600 is an amazing acoustic-electric guitar. You’ll get easy access to the higher frets thanks to the cutaway. The side of the body holds the preamp with easy-to-use buttons. You can change the preamp battery without hassles.
✅ Preamp system
✅ Thinner body
✅ Good tone
✅ Solid construction
❌ May need setup
❌ No case
Why I Recommend It
The preamp on its guitar is nice with low, middle, and high controls. In addition, there’s a built-in tuner and master volume knob. This system is easy to access on the side of the guitar. This model is a great intro acoustic/electric guitar.
I like the thinner body construction, so the guitar sits in your lap with ease. It’s got a smooth neck with a good response from the guitar as you play. Beginners will enjoy the tone and ease of playing chords and single notes.
9. Yamaha Acoustic JR1 Acoustic Guitar 3/4
- Type: Dreadnought 3/4
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickups: N/A
- Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, nato, spruce, gloss finish
- Best for: Young beginner students
The Yamaha JR1 is an acoustic guitar for younger players. This instrument is 3/4 sized, so it’s much easier for young students to hold and play. In addition, you get the same excellent dreadnought tone in a smaller package.
The solid wood construction means the guitar will last a long time and inspire the younger player. This guitar holds its tuning, and the smooth neck is comfortable on younger fingers.
✅ Easy to hold
✅ Good tone
✅ Low cost
✅ Solid wood
❌ Not for all players
❌ No case
Why I Recommend It
I like this smaller-sized steel string guitar for kids. Nylon string beginner guitars are often quite poor and don’t hold their tuning well. This steel-stringed instrument gives you a great tone in a nice small package for kids.
I like the spruce top on this guitar, which helps amplify the tone. The guitar will not be as loud as a regular dreadnought, but this model has a decent tone for the beginner, and it’s a low-cost investment.
10. Yamaha LL-TA TransAcoustic Guitar
- Type: Dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, gig bag
- Pickups: System 70 electronics
- Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, spruce, gloss finish
- Best for: Intermediate or pro players
The Yamaha LL-TA is a unique guitar because it has built-in chorus and reverb effects. The ARE wood gives the guitar a broken-in sound right out of the box. Your guitar sounds excellent the moment you get it home.
The instrument is made with solid wood, so you get rich and vibrant tones when you want them. The neck is smooth and easy on the fingers up and down the fretboard. This is a guitar built for today’s player.
✅ Built-in effects
✅ Good neck
✅ Solid tone
✅ Easy controls
❌ May confuse beginners
❌ Expensive
Why I Recommend It
I like this guitar for the built-in effects. This is a unique guitar by Yamaha. These effects make it easy to record or play live without hassling with an external amp or effects pedals to get your tones.
You can use these effects both acoustically or plugged into an amp. The system is easy to control via three dials on the side of the guitar. This instrument has excellent tone and easy playability thanks to the top-notch wood.
Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Aesthetics & Build
Here’s what you can expect when you purchase a Yamaha acoustic guitar. These are excellent instruments for beginners through to advanced players.
You’re sure to find a guitar that’s right for you when you shop with Yamaha.
Material
Here are the different wood choices that you can expect to find when you purchase a Yamaha acoustic guitar.
- Spruce: This is often used for guitar tops. It produces a nice, clean tone and resonance.
- Poplar/basswood: Often used on lower-cost guitars, it produces less tone than other wood.
- Mahogany: This wood is often used for the back and sides of a guitar, as it has an excellent overall tone.
- Maple: This hardwood is often used for the neck of a guitar, as it’s stable.
- Rosewood: The top choice for fingerboards, as it’s smooth on the fingers
- Laurel/nato: These woods are used on fretboards, as they have the same feel as rosewood.
Finish
Here’s a little bit about the finish that’s applied to acoustic guitars such as Yamaha acoustics.
- Lacquer: This is a hard finish and used to polish a guitar to a high gloss.
- Nitrocellulose lacquer: This is a tough finish with lasting shine.
- Polyester: A hard finish with a lot of shine and durability
- Polyurethane: A good, glossy finish used on a lot of instruments
Color
Most Yamaha guitars are natural wood, but there are a few different colors, such as tobacco burst or black. Natural wood tone is the primary color option for Yamaha acoustic guitars.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some frequently asked questions about Yamaha acoustic guitars that people are asking. You want to be informed before you purchase a new instrument.
Are Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Worth It?
Yamaha guitars are worth it because they’re well-designed, yet affordable. Yamaha caters mainly to the beginner, but they also offer some excellent high-end guitars for professionals too. You’re sure to find a great guitar with Yamaha.
How Much Do Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Cost?
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay when you purchase Yamaha acoustic guitars. These instruments are quite affordable compared to other brands, so they’re ideal for lower budgets and beginners.
- Beginner: $150-$400
- Intermediate: $400-$700
- Advanced: $700+
What Are the Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars?
Here are three of the best Yamaha acoustic guitars. I picked one for each playing level, so you’re sure to find a great guitar to match your individual needs.
Yamaha Gigmaker Pack: Best for Beginners
The Yamaha Gigmaker is an excellent beginner guitar package. You get a quality guitar, a gig bag, and other accessories you need to begin playing the guitar right away. This pack is affordable for all budgets.
Yamaha FG830 Acoustic Guitar: Best for Intermediate Players
The Yamaha FG830 is an excellent guitar for intermediate players or even beginners. It’s an easy-to-play acoustic with great tones. In addition, you get a phone app that you can use for tricks, lessons, and more.
Yamaha A3R Dreadnought: Best for Professionals
The Yamaha A3R Dreadnought guitar features a side-mounted preamp system that gives you easy access to the controls of your guitar. The cutaway makes it easy to hit all the higher frets during solos. The guitar has a great tone and playability.
Where Are Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Made?
Most Yamaha guitars are made in China currently. A few handcrafted models are made in Japan, but the main production plant is in China.
What Is the Best Sounding Yamaha Acoustic Guitars?
The Yamaha FG-TA TransAcoustic is the best sounding Yamaha. This guitar allows you to use effects both unplugged and amplified, which gives the guitar a unique tone. It’s a nice-sounding guitar for its price.
See more: Best Yamaha Electric Guitars Buyer’s Guide
Where to Buy Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
There are several places where you can pick up a Yamaha guitar. I’ve outlined the top choices below to make it easier for you to make a purchase.
Amazon
Amazon is a great retailer of musical instruments. They have a great selection, low prices, fast shipping, and excellent customer service. I like to read the product reviews before ordering.
Online Music Retailers
Guitar Center and Sweetwater are two other online retailers of musical instruments. Both stores have a great selection, fast shipping, and good customer service when you need it.
Your Local Music Store
You might want to check your local music store for Yamaha guitars. It can be a good idea to try a few models to see what works the best for your needs before you buy.
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Conclusion
Thank you for reading my best Yamaha acoustic guitars guide. You’re sure to find a great guitar for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players when you shop with Yamaha. They make top-quality guitars for today’s players.
Please comment, like, and share this article. What’s your favorite Yamaha guitar? Send me a message at any time. Have fun playing your new Yamaha.
