A Full-Featured Acoustic-Electric That Goes Where You Go
There's a guitar for the living room, and there's a guitar for everywhere else. The Yamaha APXT2 OVS is firmly in the second camp. At three-quarters the size of Yamaha's widely popular APX series, this thinline cutaway acoustic-electric slips into an overhead bin, rides shotgun on a road trip, and sits comfortably on the couch — without feeling like a compromise instrument. The Old Violin Sunburst finish gives it a warm, vintage-tinged look that's a step above most guitars in this size class.
The APXT2 is built around a spruce top with meranti back and sides, a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and a 22 13/16" scale length that keeps string tension light and comfortable. The thinline cutaway body keeps it easy to hold whether you're sitting or standing, and the single cutaway gives you clean access to the upper frets when you need it.
What really sets the APXT2 apart in the travel-guitar category is its electronics package. Yamaha's System 68 preamp pairs an A.R.T. (Acoustic Resonance Transducer) contact pickup with a one-way active preamp, mid-boost EQ, and a built-in precision chromatic tuner — so you can plug in and play a gig, dial in your tone, and stay in tune without any extra gear. For a 3/4-scale guitar, that's a serious feature set.
Spruce Top, Compact Body — More Resonance Than You Might Expect
The top is spruce — the same species used across countless full-size acoustic-electrics — paired with meranti back and sides. Yamaha's APXT body shape is a shrunken version of their APX thinline silhouette: narrow body depth (65–75 mm), a compact 11 13/16" width, and a total length of just 34 1/8". It's noticeably smaller than a parlor guitar, but the thinline depth keeps it feeling balanced rather than boxy.
The rosewood fingerboard and rosewood bridge are solid choices at this price point, offering smooth playability and good sustain transfer. The 15 3/4" (R400 mm) fingerboard radius is fairly flat, which players often find comfortable for both chord work and single-note runs.
System 68 Electronics: Built for Real-World Use
Yamaha's System 68 is the reason this guitar earns its place on a stage, not just a couch. The A.R.T. contact pickup mounts to the top under the bridge, capturing the natural resonance of the soundboard rather than just string vibration. The result is a plugged-in tone that tends to sound more acoustic and less piezo-quack than many competitors in this category. The active preamp adds volume and tone controls plus mid-boost EQ for shaping your sound on the fly.
The built-in chromatic tuner is genuinely useful — it means one less item in your bag, and it works without needing to plug into anything external. Controls are mounted on the upper bout for easy access while playing. The preamp runs on 2 AA batteries.
The Numbers: Scale, Nut, and Feel
The 22 13/16" (580 mm) scale length is noticeably shorter than a standard acoustic, which reduces string tension and makes the guitar physically easier to play — particularly for chord work and barre chords. The nut width is 1 11/16" (43 mm), which is generous for a 3/4-size instrument and gives your fretting hand comfortable spacing. String spacing at the bridge is 10 mm.
The body finish is gloss; the neck carries a matte finish that keeps your hand moving freely up and down the neck. Tuners are covered chrome. Body binding is cream and black.
Product Features:
-
Body: 3/4-size thinline cutaway, Yamaha APX-derived small shape
-
Top: Spruce (laminate)
-
Back & Sides: Meranti
-
Fingerboard & Bridge: Rosewood
-
Scale Length: 22 13/16" (580 mm)
-
Nut Width: 1 11/16" (43 mm)
-
Fingerboard Radius: 15 3/4" (R400 mm)
-
Electronics: System 68 with A.R.T. contact pickup, one-way active preamp, mid-boost EQ
-
Onboard Tuner: Precision chromatic tuner built into preamp
-
Finish: Gloss body, matte neck — Old Violin Sunburst
-
Tuners: Covered chrome
-
Neck material: Per Yamaha, locally sourced tonewood (listed as mahogany/hardwood on various sources — see notes)
Brand: Yamaha
Model: APXT2 OVS
SKU: APXT2OVS
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
