Anyone here have a Yamaha APX? I’m considering buying an APX600.
I tried one in the music store and have seen some YouTube reviews on them. It did sound good plugged in and I found it easy to play and hold.
Unplugged it isn’t terribly loud but that’s ok. The only thing I found kind of weird was the neck. With the satin finish and the binding line on the edge it felt almost plastic. Weird. Still feels great to play. As I understand it these guitars were designed to feel more like an electric.
I have a Yamaha APX. Not an APX600, but an APX700II. Never tried an APX600, but apart from a few details (e.g. different pickup systems, slightly different scale length, solid spruce top vs spruce top), I guess the 600 and the 700 are very comparable.
I am very happy with my Yamaha, I love how the neck feels (the 700’s neck has a matt finish) I play my APX mainly unplugged and it’s easily loud enough for me unplugged as well.
When I bought my 700, I tested an APX1000 as well. The 1000’s neck had a glossy finish, apparently similar to the glossy finish of the 600. I did not like the glossy finish at all and I agree… it almost felt like plastic. According to this overview however, the APX600 also comes with a matt finish - maybe the music store can order a matt finish one for you? https://fi.yamaha.com/en/musical-instruments/guitars-basses-amps/products/acoustic-guitars/apx/specs.html
I have an 1988 APX 9-12 and I find it easy to play and comfortable. It’s a 12 string and being a thinline it doesn’t give you what you get form a larger bodied 12 string. The magic, IMO, of the 9-12 is in its stereo pickup system. It was built to be plugged in for recording or playing live.
Yes it seems a few colours in the 600 have the gloss finish and some have the the matte. That’s what I meant by “satin” it definitely makes it easier to move around on the neck.
I tried the natural colour one in the store and it had the matte neck… really like the flame maple tobacco burst for colour
I think it’s got a tan from the strolls around town you take your guitars on, Nicole!!!
Tod
P.S. I have a 25 year old Yamaha - a cheap Costco offering - that’s still going strong in spite of the years of abuse it’s endured!!! It was my 1st guitar, it was completely filled with water once when there was a roof leak in a major thunderstorm, my son used it at a school guitar class for a year where it was dented & scratched… still plays good!!!
I’ve had an APX 600 in blue burst for a few years now, and I love it. When I bought it I mainly played electric, which is one of the reasons I went for the 600 with it’s slimmer body. I find it very comfortable to play both seated and standing, and I really like the matt finish on the neck. I actually play it significantly more than my electric at the moment.
It also sounds great, better than I expected to be honest. I find it just as loud as my other acoustic which has a regular sized body, so I’m not sure why you felt volume was an issue in your test. Plugged in it sounds more than decent, though this Summer I finally bought a mic which has become my preferred way of recording now.
So yeah, I think it’s a great guitar for the price. Ticks all the boxes I had, and more.
Thanks to everyone who commented. I will definitely be trying it out in the store a couple more times. But I’m pretty much sold on the guitar as a purchase.
Will have to wait till my birthday, end of February. I feel like a little kid learning patience lol.
I always liked Yamaha because you get what you pay for and even the really cheap models are playable. However, if you are really into guitar the 700 model is a huge difference to the 600 but so is the price. The 700 has a solid top a gives a MUCH better sound and is ALSO more playable. I.e. with Yamaha you always get what you pay for which does not go for all manufacturers. Most cheap guitars ( < 6-700 EUR) need a total setup for 100 EUR to become playable. GO for 11 - 52 coated strings if you are a beginner ! NOT 13-56 !
I personally play Taylor nowadays after several cheaper guitars and find it is worth every penny. BUT the cheapest Taylor is a bit more expensive compared to a 700 and not worth that money ! Thoman.com is the best dealer in Europe or perhaps Andertons in the UK!
I have an APX500 in gloss green, bought it 5 years ago. I play it every day and am very happy with it. The body is a bit slimmer than standard that makes it very comfortable, but may mean it isn’t as loud as it might be, suits me though as I live in a flat.
