Yamaha SLG200NW Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha SLG200NW is a nylon-string silent guitar that allows players to enjoy the warm classical guitar tone without making any audible sound. This innovative instrument uses Yamaha's SRT Powered system to capture each note played and route it through headphones or an amplifier, delivering excellent acoustic tone at a quiet volume.

With its solid spruce top, rosewood fretboard, and iconic classical body shape, the SLG200NW maintains the look, feel and playing experience of a traditional nylon-string while enabling silent practice and stage performance. The lightweight build and included gig bag also make this an ideal travel guitar.

While it doesn't produce natural acoustic sound, the SLG200NW aims to provide players with authentic nylon-string tone and playing feel in a silent package. For classical guitarists wanting to practice quietly at home or plug in on stage, the Yamaha SLG200NW offers an innovative solution.

Construction and Design

The Yamaha SLG200NW features a slim, lightweight nato wood body with a sleek finish available in natural, tobacco sunburst, or black colors. Despite its compact size, it produces a rich, full-bodied acoustic tone thanks to the carefully constructed fan bracing inside the body.

Measuring just 38.6 x 6.3 x 11.8 inches and weighing only 2.2 lbs, the SLG200NW has an exceptionally portable, travel-friendly design. The slender body and smooth rounded edges make it very comfortable to play while sitting down. The neck is made from nato wood with a rosewood fretboard containing 24 frets.

The headstock features sealed nickel tuners designed to keep the strings in tune even during transport or temperature and humidity changes. The matte finish resists fingerprints and scratches, maintaining the guitar's elegant look over years of playing. Overall, the SLG200NW achieves an impressive blend of portability, acoustic resonance, playability and durability through its meticulously engineered construction.

In addition to its acoustic qualities, the SLG200NW also delivers realistic electric guitar sounds when connected to an amp or PA system. The built-in SRT piezo pickup system accurately reproduces the tonal character of electric guitars. For even more versatility, check out the Yamaha CG182C - an incredible electric guitar equipped with powerful humbucking pickups and a comfortable, contoured body design. With its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the CG182C generates a dynamic range of electric tones perfect for any playing style.

The SLG200NW's compact but resonant acoustic performance combined with its realistic electric voices make it an extremely adaptable guitar suitable for gigs, practice, travel and more. Electric players can appreciate the authentic feel and flexible plugged-in potential while acoustic aficionados will love the portability without sacrificing a rich unplugged sound. Explore the complete selection of Yamaha acoustic and electric guitars to find your perfect match.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha SLG200NW produces a surprisingly acoustic-like tone from its nylon strings and piezo pickup system. The sound is very balanced across the tonal spectrum with clear highs, a nice midrange, and full low end. Even when played unplugged, the SLG200NW has impressive volume and resonance for a compact silent guitar.

When amplified, the tone remains balanced and natural. The piezo pickup and preamp deliver a clean signal with Yamaha's SRT Powered system for shaping your amplified tone. There's enough warmth in the lows and mids, with crisp and clear highs from the nylon strings. The guitar reproduces the nuances of your playing dynamics. From soft fingerpicking to aggressive strumming, the volume and tone respond nicely.

The hexaphonic pickup allows each string to be individually amplified. This preserves the interactions between the strings for a realistic acoustic tone. There is no excessive quackiness or unevenness across the strings. The pickup blends them together into a cohesive nylon string tone.

Overall, players looking for an acoustic-like nylon string tone in a silent package will be very impressed with the SLG200NW. It authentically captures the warmth and resonance of a full-size classical guitar.

The Yamaha SLG200NW silent nylon string guitar provides an impressively natural and balanced acoustic tone thanks to its specialized pickup system and hexaphonic piezo design. The individual string amplification preserves string resonance interactions for a realistic classical guitar sound. Fingerpickers will appreciate the dynamic responsiveness, allowing delicate playing nuances to come through. The SLG200NW is a great option for nylon string players who need a convenient silent practice guitar. It authentically delivers that rich nylon string tone without disturbing others.

For electric guitarists needing a silent practice option, check out the Ibanez GRX20ZBKN. This affordable Ibanez features a full 22-fret neck and two Humbucker pickups for versatile rock and metal tones. The GRX20ZBKN has a basswood body with a slick black night burst finish. It's designed for fast playability with a thin, comfortable neck and sleek body shape. The Ibanez GRX20ZBKN allows electric guitarists to rock out in silence and features versatile pickups for everything from crisp cleans to high gain distortion.

Playability

The Yamaha SLG200NW has excellent playability thanks to its high quality components and design. The neck is made of nato wood which provides stability and durability while remaining lightweight. It has a standard classical guitar width at the nut of 52mm, making it comfortable for most hands.

The rosewood fretboard is nicely finished providing a smooth surface for fast playing. The fretwork from the factory is very good with no sharp edges. It has a 650mm radius which creates a very playable neck.

The action on the SLG200NW is set low and buzz-free from the factory. There is enough adjustment in the rod truss and saddle to fine tune the action to your playing style. The guitar stays in tune very well even during aggressive playing thanks to the compensated saddle and quality tuning machines.

Overall the playability of the Yamaha SLG200NW is outstanding. The comfortable neck, smooth fretboard, low action and rock solid tuning stability make this a very playable instrument.

Features

The Yamaha SLG200NW Silent Guitar comes loaded with useful features for practice, recording, and live performance.

One of the most notable features is the built-in reverb and chorus effects. The reverb simulates the natural resonance of different acoustic environments like a concert hall or cathedral. The chorus effect thickens and widens the guitar's tone. There are several different reverb and chorus types to choose from to customize your sound.

Another great feature is the auxiliary input jack. This allows you to connect an external audio source like a smartphone, MP3 player, or tablet directly to the SLG200NW. You can then play along to backing tracks or music playlists through the guitar's onboard speakers and effects.

The headphone jack is also very convenient. By plugging in headphones, you can play completely silently without disturbing others. The headphone jack defeats the internal speakers so you'll still hear the effects and backing tracks. This makes the SLG200NW great for late night practice sessions or any other time you need to keep the volume low.

Portability

The Yamaha SLG200NW is designed with portability in mind for the traveling guitarist. Weighing only 2.2 lbs without batteries, it's incredibly lightweight compared to a traditional acoustic guitar. Even with the included case, it clocks in under 5 lbs total.

The compact size is perfect for tossing in overhead bins when flying or fitting into tight spaces. Measuring only 40 x 6 x 10 inches, the SLG200NW has a streamlined silhouette free of bulky protrusions. The slim body and narrow neck make this guitar easy to maneuver around and transport.

The included gig bag is thickly padded yet remains lightweight. It provides ample protection when checking the SLG200NW for flights or tossing it in the backseat. The bag's backpack straps allow you to securely carry the guitar hands-free when navigating crowded airports or walking to gigs.

Between the feathery weight and included padded gig bag, the Yamaha SLG200NW is an ideal travel companion for guitarists needing portability. Its compact footprint and slim profile allow it to fit nicely into tight spaces, making it easy to take this guitar anywhere.

Price and Value

The Yamaha SLG200NW typically retails for around $300, which positions it solidly in the mid-range of nylon-string silent guitars. This price tag makes it accessible for beginners and hobbyists who want a functional instrument without a huge upfront investment.

At this price point, the SLG200NW delivers noticeable value for money. It has a well-constructed solid wood top and laminate back and sides. The built-in pickup and tuner add functionality not always found on comparably priced models. While not as fancy looking as some other options, the no-frills design focuses spending on core needs.

The main compromises at this price are the laminate construction for most of the body and the lack of high-end appointments. However, the guitar still looks attractive with its spruce top and mahogany-like finish. Considering the useful features and Yamaha's reputation for quality, the SLG200NW gives you a lot of guitar for the money.

Overall, the Yamaha SLG200NW punches above its weight class in terms of value. While not exactly cheap, it's priced low enough for serious student guitars. You get useful practice features in a presentable package without breaking the bank.

Alternatives

There are a few other notable silent electric guitars that could be considered as alternatives to the Yamaha SLG200NW.

The Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric Travel Guitar is another lightweight and portable silent electric guitar option. It has a full 24-fret scale and comes in around 5 pounds. The downside is it only has one single coil pickup compared to the Yamaha's two humbuckers, so it may not sound as full or versatile. However, the Traveler Guitar is more affordable, usually between $200-300.

For those looking for a more traditional solid-body silent guitar, the Vox amPlug 2 AC30 Guitar Headphone Amp is a top choice. It's designed to plug directly into your electric guitar, simulating an amp sound through headphones. It produces good tone and features several effects like chorus, delay, and reverb. The Vox amPlug 2 costs around $40-50.

The Yamaha SLG200S is essentially the same as the SLG200NW but without the wireless transmitter. So it's a bit cheaper but you'll be attached to your amp via a cable. It still provides the excellent Yamaha silent guitar experience. The SLG200S sells for approximately $350-400.

Overall, the Yamaha SLG200NW compares well and holds its own against competitors. The wireless functionality combined with Yamaha's quality and playability make it a standout in the silent electric guitar market. But the Traveler Guitar and Vox amPlug 2 can be worth considering based on budget and needs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight and portable design makes it easy to take anywhere
• Sounds very close to an unplugged acoustic guitar
• Built-in tuner, EQ and reverb allow for tone customization
• Nylon strings provide smooth playability and reduced finger fatigue
• Silent guitar can be played without an amp for quiet practice
• Comes with useful accessories like a gig bag, picks and an aux cable
• High-quality Yamaha craftsmanship and reputable brand name

Cons

• Lack of cutaway can make higher frets difficult to reach
• Only has 18 frets compared to 22 on most full-size guitars
• Smaller body may not provide as full and rich tones as a larger guitar
• Requires batteries or power adapter to utilize the built-in preamp
• Volume output may be low for playing with other musicians
• No option for steel strings limits the guitar's tonal versatility
• Higher price tag compared to other travel or mini guitars

Conclusion

The Yamaha SLG200NW is an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate players looking for a silent practice electric acoustic guitar. It offers solid construction with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, producing warm yet balanced tone through the passive piezo pickup system.

The slim, lightweight design makes the SLG200NW comfortable to play and easy to transport. The built-in tuner, audio output, and strap buttons add convenience. While it doesn't quite replicate the full experience of playing an acoustic guitar unplugged, the SLG200NW performs admirably as an acoustic-electric for quiet practice and stage use.

For those seeking an affordable, versatile silent guitar, the Yamaha SLG200NW hits all the right notes. It's well-made, sounds great plugged in, and gives players flexibility to jam anywhere without disturbing others. The electronics could be slightly improved, but overall this Yamaha offers excellent bang for your buck.