The Yamaha FGC-TA BL TransAcoustic Guitar is part of Yamaha's innovative TransAcoustic series of acoustic-electric guitars. TransAcoustic guitars utilize Yamaha's advanced ACT (AcousticResonance Enhancement Technology) electronics to provide incredible acoustic tone and rich reverb/chorus effects without needing any external amplification or effects.

The FGC-TA BL is a dreadnought style acoustic-electric guitar with Yamaha's familiar rounded fretboard edges and comfortable neck profile. The solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides deliver Yamaha's acclaimed acoustic resonance and articulation. The guitar has a stylish gloss finish in blue burst.

Overall, the FGC-TA BL combines Yamaha's excellent acoustic guitar building tradition with cutting-edge ACT electronics. The TransAcoustic design allows players to enjoy studio-quality reverb/chorus effects without needing any external gear. It's an ideal guitar for practice, performing, or recording acoustic guitar.

Construction

The Yamaha FGC-TA BL dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a nato neck. The solid spruce top provides a nice balanced tone with good projection and volume. Spruce is a popular choice for tops due to its strength and resonance. The mid-range focused mahogany back and sides add warmth and emphasise the fundamental notes. Mahogany is appreciated for its beauty and rich sound. Overall, the combination of spruce and mahogany produces a well-rounded tone.

The neck is made from nato, also known as Eastern mahogany. Nato has a similar density and tonal qualities as mahogany, providing a strong and stable neck. The fretboard and bridge are rosewood, which adds sustain and brightness. The body binding features multi-ply purfling, giving it an elegant look. The Yamaha FGC-TA BL is a quality acoustic-electric guitar with a traditional dreadnought body shape that produces a balanced and rich tone. It's an excellent choice for both performing live and recording in the studio. Many musicians appreciate the FGC-TA BL for its comfortable feel, great projection, and versatile electronics. The preamp and pickup system allows you to plug into an amplifier or PA system while retaining the guitar's natural acoustic sound. If you're looking for a high quality, professional level acoustic-electric guitar, the Yamaha FGC-TA BL is worth serious consideration. Be sure to also check out the Ovation CS24P-NBM, another fantastic option in this price range.

Electronics

The Yamaha FGC-TA BL features several notable electronic components that contribute to its unique sound. At the heart of the system is the ACT-C (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement Control) preamp. This preamp allows you to blend between the unmodified acoustic tone and the electronically enhanced tone produced by Yamaha's A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) modeling technology.

The A.R.E. system uses advanced modeling techniques to analyze the guitar's organic resonance properties. It then applies proprietary digital effects to augment and enhance the resonance in real time. This allows you to dial in just the right amount of tonal enhancement while preserving the inherent acoustic character of the guitar.

The result is an enriched sound with added bass response, ambience, and natural compression. The integrated preamp gives you control over the A.R.E. effect level as well as volume, bass, and treble EQ adjustments, providing a lot of tonal flexibility. Overall, the FGC-TA BL's electronics offer a new way to shape your acoustic tone, blending organic and enhanced resonance to suit your playing needs.

When shopping for an acoustic guitar, it's important to consider the electronics and preamp components. A good preamp can provide tone shaping options and effects to augment the natural acoustic sound. One acoustic guitar to check out is the Ortega Guitars R131L. This model features Ortega's own preamp system with a built-in tuner, EQ controls, and digital reverb effect.

The Ortega R131L preamp gives you the ability to shape your tone with bass, midrange, and treble controls. It also has a phase switch to help eliminate feedback at higher volumes. The tuner makes it easy to keep the guitar in tune, even on stage. And the reverb effect provides a touch of ambience to liven up the acoustic tone.

In addition to the helpful preamp, the Ortega R131L has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. This tonewood combination produces a balanced and articulate voice. The slim neck and low action make it comfortable for both strumming and fingerpicking. Overall, it's a versatile acoustic-electric guitar with electronics designed to offer tonal flexibility.

When evaluating acoustic-electric guitars like the Yamaha FGC-TA BL, pay close attention to the preamp features and how they can help shape your sound. And check out options like the Ortega R131L for quality electronics and acoustic tone in an affordable package. The right electronics can take your acoustic tone to the next level.

Sound

The Yamaha FGC-TA BL delivers rich, full-bodied acoustic tones thanks to its solid spruce top, nato back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard and bridge. It produces vibrant, balanced sound across the tonal spectrum, with crisp highs, warm lows, and a pronounced midrange.

What really sets this guitar apart is the built-in TransAcoustic reverb and chorus effects. At the push of a button near the soundhole, you can add lush, immersive reverb that makes it sound like you're playing in a cathedral. There are two reverb types to choose from: standard reverb and a spacious 'hall' reverb. The chorus effect provides gentle, shimmering modulation that thickens up the guitar's sound in a very musical way. Both the reverb and chorus complement the FGC-TA BL's inherent acoustic voice beautifully.

Whether using the straight acoustic tone or engaging the TransAcoustic effects, the FGC-TA BL delivers detailed, inspiring sound. From fingerstyle playing to strumming chords, it excellently showcases the nuances in your technique.

Playability

The Yamaha FGC-TA BL Acoustic Guitar features a thin and rounded Nato neck that is comfortable to hold and smoothly glides along the palm. Many users note how playable the FGC-TA is right out of the box, with very good action and string height. The action along the fretboard is relatively low, making chords and lead lines quite easy to fret. There is no buzzing or rattling of the strings against the frets. The neck feels fast yet stable, allowing for both rhythm and lead playing. Overall, the playability makes this a great choice for beginners looking for an acoustic guitar that is comfortable and easy to play, while still providing the feel of a quality instrument.

Hardware

The Yamaha FGC-TA BL features high-quality hardware that enhances its playability and functionality. It has die-cast chrome tuners that hold the strings in tune extremely well, even during aggressive strumming or bending. The nut and saddle are both made from Tusq, an artificial ivory material known for its durability, bright tone, and minimal friction on the strings.

The Tusq nut promotes accurate intonation, while the Tusq saddle provides a smooth surface for the strings to glide over. Both help transfer vibrations efficiently from the strings to the top and back of the guitar. Overall, the chrome tuners combined with the Tusq nut and saddle result in a guitar that stays in tune while also having clear, balanced tones across all six strings.

Pros

One of the biggest pros of the Yamaha FGC-TA BL TransAcoustic acoustic guitar is its innovative electronics. Yamaha's TransAcoustic technology utilizes resonant actuators installed inside the guitar to recreate reverb and chorus effects without needing any external amps or effects. This allows you to get rich, spacious tones directly from the guitar itself.

In addition to the TransAcoustic electronics, the FGC-TA BL delivers excellent inherent acoustic tone. Its solid Engelmann spruce top and rosewood back and sides produce clear, balanced sound across the tonal spectrum. Many reviewers have praised the projecting midrange, sparkling highs, and robust low end that make this guitar very responsive and dynamic when played unplugged.

The combination of great acoustic properties and Yamaha's clever TransAcoustic system means you get a versatile instrument capable of studio-quality amplified tones as well as resonate unamplified sound. This twin prowess is a major advantage of the FGC-TA BL.

Cons

The Yamaha TransAcoustic FGC-TA BL dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar does have some downsides to consider.

• The onboard electronics and TransAcoustic technology can color the natural acoustic tone in subtle ways. While many players find the tonal shaping options musically useful, purists may prefer an entirely traditional acoustic guitar.

• As a premium, feature-packed instrument, the FGC-TA BL sits at the higher end of the price spectrum for an acoustic guitar. Players with more limited budgets may find more affordable options from Yamaha or other brands.

• The complex electronics mean there are more potential points of failure compared to a simple acoustic. The preamp, FX, and TransAcoustic system introduce the possibility of electronic issues down the road.

• The FGC-TA BL may be overkill for some players who want a basic, great-sounding dreadnought without special acoustic processing effects. Beginners or casual players may not utilize all the unique features this model offers.

• As with any acoustic-electric, amplified tone and feedback resistance depends greatly on external amplification and EQ. Poor equipment or improper gain staging can undermine the FGC-TA BL's acoustic excellence.

Alternatives

The Yamaha FGC-TA BL has some good competitors in the acoustic-electric dreadnought market at a similar price point. Here are some alternatives to consider:

Martin D-18E

Martin's D-18E is a high quality all solid wood dreadnought with Fishman electronics. It produces a balanced and resonant tone from its combination of solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The electronics allow for stage-ready amplified tones while retaining the Martin dreadnought sound. The D-18E sells for around the same price as the FGC-TA BL.

Taylor 314ce

Taylor's 300 series offers all solid wood construction at a reasonable price point. The 314ce brings Taylor's signature bright and balanced tone with the added flexibility of onboard electronics. The Grand Auditorium body shape is slightly smaller than a dreadnought but still offers a full sound. The 314ce provides an excellent alternative to the FGC-TA BL if you prefer Taylor's sound and feel.

Yamaha FG-TA

The Yamaha FG-TA is an all solid wood transacoustic guitar without electronics. It provides great plugged-in and unplugged tones utilizing Yamaha's transacoustic technology. As an all-solid instrument, it competes closely with the FGC-TA BL in terms of quality and price. The non-elecronic FG-TA may suit players who don't require amplified performance capabilities.

Conclusion

Overall, the Yamaha FGC-TA BL seems like an excellent acoustic guitar with a unique and modern sound. The TransAcoustic electronics allow it to produce rich reverb and chorus effects without needing any external amplification or effects. This gives it a very full, ambient tone that would suit a wide variety of musical styles.

The solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides provide a great foundation for both acoustic and amplified playing. It feels very resonant and responsive unplugged, while the piezo pickup and preamp translate that nicely when plugged in. The playability is also superb, with a comfortable neck profile and smooth satin finish.

Some guitarists may not love the modern, processed sound from the TransAcoustic system, preferring a more organic acoustic tone. The lack of a built-in tuner is also a minor downside. However, for those seeking an acoustic-electric with lush, immersive effects and great playability across both domains, the Yamaha FGC-TA BL is an excellent choice worthy of consideration.