Yamaha APX600 BL Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha APX600 is an affordable mid-level acoustic-electric guitar that combines excellent playability with versatile sound options. As part of Yamaha's APX series, it's designed to deliver the rich tone of an acoustic guitar along with the plugged-in convenience of an electric.

With its thinline body and cutaway design, the APX600 sports a comfortable feel and easy upper fret access. And thanks to the APX's pickup system, you can plug into an amplifier or PA system for amplified sound ideal for live performances or recording.

Overall, the APX600 gives you an acoustic guitar built for playing live, recording in the studio, or just jamming out anywhere you want great tone that can be acoustic one moment and electric the next. This versatility, along with its accessible price point, make the APX600 a compelling choice for gigging musicians, songwriters, or anyone seeking an acoustic-electric with professional-grade looks, playability and tone.

Body & Neck

The Yamaha APX600 BL features a solid Spruce top paired with Meranti back and sides, resulting in a guitar that balances warmth and articulation. Spruce is a popular choice for acoustic guitar tops, providing a balanced tonal response and good projection. Meanwhile, Meranti back and sides add depth and richness to the tone.

The APX600 BL has a slim, comfortable neck profile that makes it very playable. The shorter 24.9" scale length reduces string tension, making it easier on the hands during longer practice or playing sessions. The rosewood fingerboard and bridge are common tonewoods prized for their crispness and note articulation. Overall, the APX600 BL's body and neck design make it feel very natural to hold and play.

The Yamaha APX600 BL is an excellent choice for players looking for a high-quality, affordable acoustic-electric guitar. It produces balanced, articulate tones and plays very comfortably thanks to its slim neck profile and short scale length. While not as fancy looking as some models, it provides fantastic value by focusing on great tonewoods and playability. This makes it a versatile pick for everything from practice and jamming with friends to live performance.

If you're looking for an acoustic-electric guitar with a slightly different design aesthetic, check out the Dean AXS AX E CAIDIE. This model features a sleek cutaway body shape with a glossy finish available in eye-catching colors like transparent black, blue burst, and red burst. It has a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides for balanced tone. The slim maple neck and shorter 24.75” scale length enhance playability. Overall, the AXE CAIDIE delivers clear, rich acoustic tones and electric versatility in an stylish, modern-looking package.

Electronics

The Yamaha APX600 BL features Yamaha's SRT pickup system, which accurately reproduces the natural sound of the acoustic guitar. The SRT pickup uses a trio of uniquely positioned internal sensors to capture the guitar's dynamic vibrations and nuances.

The SRT pickup system has a more natural and rich acoustic tone compared to piezo pickups. It delivers clear notes, a balanced EQ, and an open sound across all frequencies. Even subtle techniques come through beautifully with the SRT system.

There is also a flexible 3-band EQ and tuner onboard. This allows you to shape your amplified tone by boosting or cutting the lows, mids, and highs. The tuner makes it easy to keep the APX600 in tune before performances or recordings.

Overall, the SRT pickup system delivers excellent amplified acoustic tone that stays true to the guitar's natural voice. The EQ provides tonal flexibility, while the tuner ensures you are always in tune.

If you're looking for an affordable, quality acoustic-electric guitar, check out the YAMAHA FG800. This is an excellent entry-level acoustic-electric guitar from Yamaha's famous FG series. It features a solid spruce top, Nato back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard for great looks and balanced tone. The FG800's System55T pickup and 3-band EQ provide a natural amplified tone. Overall, the FG800 is a fantastic option for beginners looking for their first acoustic-electric or gigging musicians in need of an affordable, reliable acoustic guitar.

The Yamaha APX600 BL pairs well with the FG800 - they both use high quality Yamaha electronics to accurately capture the natural acoustic tone. While the APX600 has a more advanced SRT pickup system, the FG800's System55T still provides rich, balanced tone through an amp or PA. Both guitars allow shaping your amplified sound with 3-band EQs. So the Yamaha FG800 would make an excellent companion guitar for the APX600 BL. You could use the APX600 as your primary live performance acoustic-electric and the FG800 as a reliable backup. Or you could keep the FG800 as a practice and jamming acoustic-electric for home use while reserving the APX600 for gigs and recording. Either way, the Yamaha FG800 offers fantastic quality and value to pair with the APX600 BL.

Playability

The Yamaha APX600 BL acoustic-electric guitar features a comfortable neck and low action that make it very playable. The neck has a slim taper that allows for easy chord changes and fretting. It uses a rounded fretboard radius that contours smoothly to the player's hand, avoiding any sharp edges digging into the palm.

The action on the APX600 BL is set low from the factory, making it quite effortless to press down the strings. This allows for faster lead playing without having to exert excessive force. Lower action typically can cause fret buzz, but Yamaha has balanced it well so notes ring out clearly.

Overall the neck and low action setup create an acoustic-electric guitar that is enjoyable to play for long periods without hand fatigue. It handles both rhythm and lead playing well thanks to the comfortable feel of the neck and ability to fret notes cleanly without too much pressure. This makes the APX600 BL accessible for beginners but also appealing to more advanced players looking for an effortless playing experience.

Sound

The Yamaha APX600 BL produces a nicely balanced tone with good projection that works well for both fingerstyle and strumming. The solid spruce top contributes to the overall balanced sound, giving it clarity and articulation without being too bright. Mahogany back and sides add warmth and depth to the tone. There's enough low end to provide resonance without muddiness. The midrange comes through nicely without sounding thin. Highs have sparkle but not an excess of brittleness. Notes ring out clearly when playing chords. Individual notes can be heard distinctly when fingerpicking melodies and arpeggios.

The guitar projects well, so the sound carries nicely whether playing solo or jamming with others. Volume is decent for its size, so it can keep up with light-moderate accompaniment without the need for amplification. The balanced tone also records well through microphones or direct USB connections. Overall the APX600 BL delivers a versatile acousticelectric sound that adapts well to different playing styles and situations.

Versatility

The Yamaha APX600 BL is an extremely versatile acoustic-electric guitar that can handle a wide range of musical genres. Its slim neck and comfortable body shape make it a great choice for both fingerstyle playing and strumming chords.

The APX600 produces a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, with clear highs, warm mids, and tight bass response. This allows the guitar to sound great when playing mellow jazz chords, bright pop rhythms, or driving rock power chords.

Whether you need warm jazzy tones, shimmering cleans, or crunchy distorted sounds, the APX600 can deliver. It responds well to light playing dynamics for soft passages, and also handles aggressive strumming without muddiness or buzzing.

Overall, the Yamaha APX600 BL is flexible enough to complement various playing styles and musical genres. Its well-rounded sonic palette makes it easy to find inspiring tones for any song or performance setting.

Quality & Durability

The Yamaha APX600 BL is built to high standards and made to last. The top, back, and sides are constructed from solid ovangkol, an African hardwood that provides a warm yet balanced tone. Though it costs a bit more than a laminate body, the solid wood construction ensures the guitar will sound richer as it ages.

The ovangkol neck is also durable and stable, with a dual-action truss rod that helps keep it straight despite changes in humidity. The fingerboard and bridge are sturdy rosewood. The binding on the body and fretboard adds a classy touch and further enhances durability.

The hardware, including the die-cast tuners and chrome bridge pins, is made of quality components that hold tune well. Yamaha typically takes care in their construction and setup. The APX600 arrives with low, comfortable action and has good intonation up the neck right out of the box.

This guitar is solid enough for gigging or regular practice. With proper care and maintenance, it should provide many years of rich tone and buttery playability before any major servicing is required. The APX600 BL shows Yamaha's experience in crafting acoustic-electrics that provide professional features at an accessible price point.

Pros

The Yamaha APX600 delivers excellent playability and versatility for both performing and practice. The thin, comfortable neck and low action allow for easy fretting and fast riffs. The guitar feels great in your hands whether sitting or standing.

The APX600's System65 electronics offer clear, balanced amplification that accurately represents your playing dynamics and nuances. The onboard tuner, equalizer, and flexible controls give you tonal options for any occasion. The pickup and preamp keep your tone consistent from guitar to amp.

Acoustically, the APX600 produces full, rich tones that sing. The solid spruce top and mahogany back/sides provide warmth, resonance and projection. The APX600 delivers crisp highs, balanced mids and tight low end. Fingerpicking shines on this guitar. The sound projects well when playing live without amplification. Overall, an extremely versatile acoustic-electric in terms of playability and tone.

Cons: This Guitar Has a Few Shortcomings

While the Yamaha APX600 is a great option for beginner to intermediate players, it does have a few downsides to consider:

Heavy Weight

The solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides make this a fairly heavy guitar. At around 9 lbs, it's heavier than many comparable models. This extra weight could become tiring or uncomfortable for younger players or for extended playing sessions. Those with back issues may also want to look for a lighter instrument.

Lack of Cutaway

The APX600 doesn't have a cutaway, which limits access to higher notes on the fretboard. This isn't a major issue for beginners, but more advanced players often prefer the added upper fret access of a cutaway design. Without one, it can be tricky to play lead lines that go beyond the 14th fret or so.

Despite these limitations, the APX600 remains an excellent entry-level acoustic-electric for the price. The warm, balanced tone and easy playability make it a great choice for new guitarists or anyone looking for an affordable stage-ready acoustic. But the weight and lack of cutaway should be considered, especially by those who plan to play for extended periods or explore lead guitar techniques.

Conclusion

Overall, the Yamaha APX600 BL is a great choice for any beginner to intermediate level guitarist looking for an affordable, quality acoustic-electric guitar. It offers excellent playability with its slim neck and comfortable body size, making it ideal for players of all ages to learn on. The pickup and preamp system provides clear amplified tone, while the solid spruce top and nato back and sides deliver bright, balanced acoustic resonance.

Though it may lack some projection of more expensive models, the APX600 punches above its weight in sound, looks, and versatility for the price. It's a reliable workhorse that will grow along with you, from practice to performance. For an accessible guitar with Yamaha's consistent build quality, the APX600 BL is tough to beat. This makes it one of the best acoustic-electric options on the market for new players.