Yamaha CPX600 BL Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

to the Yamaha CPX600 Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The Yamaha CPX600 is an acoustic-electric guitar that offers solid build quality, balanced tone, and excellent playability. Part of Yamaha's CPX series, it's an affordable option for gigging musicians who want the convenience of plugging into an amplifier or PA system.

This concert-sized guitar has a cutaway that allows easy access to upper frets, making it a good choice for lead playing and soloing. The CPX600 features a solid spruce top for bright, articulate tone and mahogany back and sides that provide warmth and resonance. Yamaha's System65T preamp and pickup aims to accurately convey the nuances of the guitar's natural acoustic sound when amplified.

Overall, the CPX600 punches above its weight in terms of features and performance. While not the flashiest guitar, it's well-suited for on-stage use as well as practice and recording sessions. This review will take a closer look at the guitar's design, electronics, playability, sound, pros and cons.

Body & Neck

The Yamaha CPX600 features a solid Engelmann spruce top, which gives it a nicely balanced and articulate tone. The back and sides are made from nato wood, which provides a focused and clear sound.

The neck is mahogany, a popular choice known for stability and balanced tone. It has a standard 25 inch scale length and a slightly thinner profile that is easy and comfortable to play. The rosewood fingerboard has an elegant look and feel. Overall the CPX600 has a well-constructed neck that allows for smooth playability across the entire fretboard.

The body binding and rosette provide an attractive look that gives the CPX600 some visual flair you would expect in a higher-end acoustic-electric. It's a sharp yet understated aesthetic.

The Yamaha CPX600 has an appealing combination of sound, playability and visual appeal that makes it a versatile option for a wide range of players. Its Engelmann spruce and nato construction produce a balanced and focused acoustic tone. The mahogany neck promotes stability and smooth playability across the rosewood fingerboard. Visually, it has some nice binding and rosette details you'd expect on more expensive models. Overall, the CPX600 hits a sweet spot between price and performance.

For players looking for a stage-ready acoustic-electric with amplified sound capabilities, the CPX600 is worth a close look. Its SRT piezo pickup system provides a natural amplified tone if you need to plug into an PA system or acoustic amplifier like the Kremona Fiesta FC. The CPX600's preamp has a 3-band EQ and built-in tuner for dialing in your amplified sound. Between its acoustic construction and electronics, the CPX600 can cover both acoustic and plugged-in scenarios.

The CPX600's comfortable body size and slightly thinner neck profile make it accessible for newer players, while still offering the solid construction and quality materials that an advancing guitarist would appreciate as their skills progress. The spruce and nato tonewoods provide balanced and articulate acoustic resonance across the tonal spectrum. If you're looking for an affordable acoustic-electric that can grow with you over time, the CPX600 is an excellent choice.

Electronics

The Yamaha CPX600 BL features Yamaha's SRT pickup system and an onboard tuner for amplified performance. The SRT pickup utilizes a trio of uniquely positioned sensors to accurately capture the guitar's natural acoustic tone. There's one sensor directly under the saddle to pick up bass notes, and a sensor on each side of the neck joint to capture higher frequencies from the top wood. This allows the pickup to provide a balanced and natural amplified tone.

The onboard tuner is easily accessible with the press of a button, allowing for quick tuning adjustment right on the guitar. It detects the pitch very accurately to ensure you're perfectly in tune before plugging into an amp or PA system. Between the quality SRT pickup and built-in tuner, the CPX600 BL is ready to plug and play live shows or recording sessions with excellent amplified acoustic tone.

In addition to the useful electronics, the CPX600 BL has a cutaway dreadnought body shape with laminated spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and rosewood fretboard. The cutaway provides easy access to upper frets while retaining a full and balanced acoustic voice. The wood combination produces a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum - warm lows, pronounced mids, and clear articulated highs. The Fishman Presys Blend pickup and preamp system accurately conveys this balanced tone when plugged in.

For guitarists looking for stage-ready acoustic-electric performance, the Yamaha CPX600 BL is an excellent choice. It has high-quality electronics including the SRT pickup and onboard tuner, along with Yamaha's trusted build quality and acoustic design. The cutaway dreadnought body provides versatility for playing up the neck while still delivering rich acoustic tone. Players who need amplified acoustic tone with fast and accurate tuning adjustment will appreciate the CPX600 BL.

Yamaha isn't the only brand producing quality acoustic-electric guitars with useful electronics. Martin also makes stage-ready acoustic electrics, like the Martin 11D12E. This model has a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides for full and balanced Martin tone. It uses the Fishman MX electronics system with an under-saddle transducer pickup to accurately convey the guitar's natural acoustic voice through an amplifier or PA. The Martin 11D12E is an excellent amplified acoustic in Martin's Road Series, providing rich tone and quality amplification.

Playability

The Yamaha CPX600 BL has excellent playability thanks to its comfortable neck and low action. The neck has a slim taper that feels great in the hand, allowing easy access all along the fretboard. The neck is also finished in a smooth satin that enhances its comfort and playability.

The low action on the CPX600 BL makes it very easy to fret notes and chords without a lot of effort. You don't need to press the strings down hard to get clean tones, which helps reduce hand fatigue during long practice or gigging sessions. The low action also provides very even tones across the fretboard.

Overall, the combination of the slim, comfortable neck and low action makes the CPX600 BL a very playable and accessible guitar. It's great for players of all levels, from beginners to more advanced guitarists. The high level of playability allows you to concentrate on the music rather than struggling with the instrument.

Sound

The Yamaha CPX600 BL produces a balanced, warm tone with good projection and volume. The solid spruce top provides brightness and clarity in the high end, while the mahogany back and sides add depth and resonance in the low midrange.

This guitar has impressive dynamic range. It can produce rich bass tones when played softly, but won't get muddy or overwhelmed when played harder. The notes have a clear attack and sustain nicely.

Volume-wise, the CPX600 BL projects very well for both solo acoustic playing and performing with a band. It has no problem filling a room without amplification. The balanced EQ means it avoids the thin, brittle sound some all-solid-wood guitars can have unplugged.

Overall, the CPX600 BL delivers a smooth, balanced tone profile that works great for all styles of music. It has enough crispness for picking and strumming, but retains pleasing warmth too. The projection, sustain and dynamic range allow beginners and professionals alike to enjoy this instrument.

Pros

The Yamaha CPX600 BL offers numerous strengths that make it a great choice for an acoustic-electric guitar in its price range.

Quality Materials

The CPX600 BL features all solid wood construction with a solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, and Rosewood fingerboard. The use of quality tonewoods helps produce a full, balanced tone and good projection. The guitar's overall build quality feels solid and durable.

Great Electronics

The CPX600 BL comes equipped with Yamaha's System65 preamp and SRT Piezo pickup system. This produces a very natural amplified tone without excessive quackiness or feedback issues. The 3-band EQ provides good tonal shaping control.

Excellent Playability

With its slim neck profile, low action, and smooth fret ends, the CPX600 BL plays fast and smooth right out of the box. The wider nut width provides comfortable room for fingerpicking. Overall the CPX600 BL offers a very comfortable and inspiring playing experience.

Cons

The Yamaha CPX600 BL does have a few drawbacks to consider.

• Higher Price Point - This guitar sits at the higher end of Yamaha's CPX line, so it carries a higher price tag. Compared to entry-level models, the CPX600 BL costs significantly more, which may put it out of reach for some players on a tight budget.

• Electronics Could Be Better - While the CPX600 BL features Yamaha's System-66 preamp and pickup system, some guitarists may desire electronics with a bit more tonal control and EQ shaping abilities. The pickup and preamp deliver a balanced tone, but lack the flexibility to truly customize and shape the amplified sound.

Overall the CPX600 BL is still an excellent guitar, but the elevated price and just adequate electronics may make some players look for alternatives in this price range. Those seeking tons of acoustic tone tweaking from the electronics may want to explore other options.

Alternatives

Seagull, Breedlove, and Martin are three alternative brands to consider for acoustic-electric guitars in a similar price range and quality as the Yamaha CPX600.

Seagull acoustic-electrics are known for their handcrafted Canadian wilderness maple construction and bright, balanced tone. The Seagull Artist Mosaic acoustic-electric is comparable to the CPX600 with its solid cedar top and fleur-de-lis soundhole inlays. It produces a warm, rich sound with plenty of balanced tone across lows, mids, and highs.

Breedlove is an Oregon-based guitar maker specializing in unique tonewoods. The Breedlove Pursuit Concert acoustic-electric features a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides for a full, resonant voice. The built-in Breedlove Aura electronics accurately reproduce the guitar's natural tone when plugged in.

Martin is the legendary American guitar maker and their X Series GPCX1RAE is an affordable way to get Martin's acclaimed craftsmanship. This Grand Performance style acoustic-electric has a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The Fishman Sonitone electronics sound incredibly natural amplified.

All three brands offer comparable alternatives to the Yamaha CPX600 in terms of build quality, playability, electronics, and amplified sound. Which you choose comes down to individual playing style and tonal preference.

Summary

The Yamaha CPX600 BL is an excellent acoustic-electric guitar well-suited for playing live shows and gigs. It's a high-quality, durable instrument that produces great amplified tone and plays comfortably on stage.

The CPX600 BL has an acoustic-electric design that combines traditional acoustic construction with useful electronic features like a built-in tuner, pickup system, and EQ controls. Yamaha has decades of experience crafting professional acoustic guitars, so build quality and attention to detail are top-notch.

This guitar sounds fantastic both acoustically and when plugged in. The spruce top and mahogany back & sides produce full, balanced tone that projects well unplugged. The SRT Pickup System accurately captures the CPX600's natural acoustic dynamics and voice. There's enough volume output and EQ control to get superb amplified sound in any live scenario.

Overall, the Yamaha CPX600 BL is a reliable, gig-ready acoustic-electric. It's comfortable to play, sounds amazing plugged in or unplugged, and is durable enough to handle regular use at shows and practices. For guitarists needing a high-quality acoustic-electric, the CPX600 BL is an excellent choice.

Conclusion

The Yamaha CPX600 BL acoustic-electric guitar is a high quality instrument well-suited for intermediate to advanced players. Its solid spruce top and Nato back and sides produce a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, while the slim neck promotes comfortable playability. The built-in System66 electronics accurately capture the guitar's true acoustic tone.

While not as ornate as premium models, the CPX600 BL offers great value with its solid wood construction and reliable electronics. The guitar's versatile sound works well for fingerstyle playing, strumming chords, and anything in between. Though lacking some projection when played acoustically, the guitar shines when plugged in or amplified.

Overall, the CPX600 BL hits a sweet spot between price and performance. Recommended for intermediate to advanced players seeking an affordable workhorse acoustic-electric, it delivers an excellent playing experience backed by Yamaha's quality craftsmanship.