Best Overall – Yamaha FG-TA TransAcoustic
Summary
Pros:
-Immersive and natural effects without any external gear
-True-and-tested dreadnought design
-Classic, warm tones from the spruce-mahogany combo
-Narrow neck aids overall playability
Cons:
-The actuator module bumps up the cost quite a bit
-No onboard EQ provided
Who Is This For?
This is a unique instrument for unique needs. You need to hear it to truly appreciate its virtue!
If you want to take your creative potential to a new realm, and want to dial in inspiring effects without having to plug into anything, the Yamaha FG TransAcoustic is nothing less than a dream to own.
How Yamaha FG-TA TransAcoustic sounds:
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The Next Best:
Runner Up – Yamaha APX600 Acoustic-Electric Guitar
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Summary
Pros:
- Looks very sleek
- Excellent acoustic and plugged-in sound
- Very comfortable due to small-sized body and thin neck
- Built-in tuner and 3-band EQ
Cons:
- Factory setup might not be perfect
- A slight boxy sound may not suit some genres
- Not very good for big hands
Who Is This For?
If you need a gorgeous-looking guitar with premium electronics and a comfortable design, the APX600 is ideal for you.
Also, if the FG TransAcoustic is a little out-of-budget for you, then you can go with this one for jamming, recording or live performances.
Best Budget – Yamaha FG830 Dreadnought
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Summary
Pros:
- Terrific value for money.
- Gorgeous rosewood body.
- Solid Spruce top and scalloped bracing give it a really pronounced tone and great volume.
- The construction and finish is right on the money.
Cons:
- Nut, saddle, and bridge pins are all plastic.
- No cutaway on the acoustic-only variant.
Who Is This For?
The Yamaha FG830 is among the top choices for beginners on a budget.
But don’t be fooled by the humble price tag. The FG830 packs enough punch for even intermediate or advanced guitarists who need a cheap but reliable backup acoustic.
Best Premium – Yamaha AC5R ARE Concert Guitar
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Summary
Pros:
- Built strongly with quality woods and materials
- A.R.E technology creates a vintage-like tone
- Very loud for a concert acoustic electric guitar
- SRT2 pickup produces a rich and authentic sound
- Uses AA batteries
Cons:
- None
Who Is This For?
The AC5R a guitar that all guitarists will love, but it’s primarily designed for gigging musicians and singer-songwriters.
With its all-solid wood construction, high-quality hardware, smooth-playing neck, and premium electronics, it’s a worthy acoustic guitar if you need a deluxe acoustic without shelling out $3000 in cash.
Best Nylon-String/Classical Option – Yamaha NCX1
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Summary
Pros:
- Great sound quality and projection
- Electronics are excellent for a nylon-string acoustic guitar
- Reliable tuners
- Truss rod makes neck adjustment very convenient
Cons:
- No option without a cutaway
Who Is This For?
If you’re after a contemporary classical style but appreciate modern touches like cutaway, pickups, and a totally unique NX bracing system, you should get the Yamaha NCX1.
Compare The Key Specs
Compare The Tonewoods:
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Mahogany
Neck: Nato
Fretboard: Rosewood
The fretboard and neck don’t affect the tone much.
Top: Sitka Spruce (laminated)
Back & Sides: Tonewood (most likely a mix of woods)
Neck: Nato
Fretboard: Rosewood
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Rosewood
Neck: Nato
Fretboard: Rosewood
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce with A.R.E. treatment
Back & Sides: Solid Rosewood
Neck: African Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Select Hardwood (most likely a mix of woods)
Neck: Nato
Fretboard: Walnut
For more cool info about tonewoods, check this tonewoods article.
Our Reviews of The Top 5
3 Things To Keep In Mind When Buying A Yamaha Acoustic Guitar
Familiarize yourself with all the different shapes and series Yamaha offers, and then see which one suits your playing style and preferred musical genres.
Usually, you’ll find acoustic-electric variants of all the regular guitars (for ex.: FGX800C for the FG800), but these will cost quite a bit more. You’d need to evaluate whether the extra cost justifies your needs before making a decision.
If you ever plan to spend more than $1000 on a Yamaha, test them out before buying.
HOW WE CHOSE THESE Yamaha Guitars
- We decided which Yamahas to recommend by using our own experience, doing extensive research, buying 3 Yamaha acoustic guitars for testing, visiting music stores, and asking help from our musician friends
- After we had chosen the best guitars to recommend we looked for a good way to test the gear. This means either renting it, buying it, testing it in a music store, or visiting a friend who owns it. This time, our main testing methods were in-depth testing three Yamahas (FG830, FG800 & APX600) on our own use and testing acoustic guitars in music stores.
- Even after this, we’ll still do another round of extensive research to make sure that this specific product is in fact, a real cream-of-the-crop candidate.
- Then we wrote this in-depth but easily digestible review about these acoustic guitars. We kept in mind who will be playing them (most likely) such as bluegrass players, blues players, players who want to plug in, beginners, advanced players, etc.
Most acoustic guitars we recommend are run through tests like these:
- We go carefully through the finish and build quality of the guitar.
- We inspect the fretwork and edges of the fretboard to make sure there are no sharp edges.
- We play the acoustic guitar unplugged and plugged in.
- We use different playing techniques, such as fingerpicking, flatpicking, strumming, tapping, and even percussive playing.
- We measure and weight the guitar.
- We try licks and riffs from different genres.
Learn more about GND’s testing and reviewing processes here.
This article was originally published on November 6, 2024. It was revisited, refined, and republished on July 22, 2025.
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You wrote two seriously misleading pieces of information about the NCX1 guitar. It’s not true, it doesn’t have a truss rod, and it doesn’t have an atmosfeel preamp system!
Hi Janos! Ouch, sorry and thanks for the feedback! There was a mix between this NX series guitar and the more expensive NX model, that’s why the paragraph about Atmosfeel slipped in, it’s fixed now. And thanks again for pointing that out! But about your other point… Yamaha NCX1 does have a truss rod. You can for example check customer reviews on Sweetwater or Guitar Center…or this videos comment section: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVlM1RDBVoI
Thanks for commenting and have a great day Janos!
Yamaha neglect left handed players. desperate for an left handed trans acoustic
That’s true, hopefully they offer more lefty models in the future!
Why not just buy a right hand acoustic of your choice and turn it upside down – like a certain member of the Beatles. “Yesterday” was recorded on an upside/down Martin D28 (in two takes!).
Would love to know what other guitarists like about Yamahas compared to other similar brands!