The Acoustic-Electric That Goes Wherever You Do
If you've ever wanted to plug an acoustic guitar straight into a PA and just play — no feedback wrestling, no mic placement headaches, no sound-check drama — the Yamaha APX600 was essentially built for that moment. Yamaha has been refining the APX formula since 1987, and the APX600 represents the current evolution of that original idea: a thinline cutaway acoustic-electric that works as well on a stage as it does in your living room.
The glossy black finish gives it a clean, stage-ready look that stands out under the lights without being flashy about it. The thinline body sits closer to your body than a full-depth acoustic, which makes long sets feel much more manageable. And that single cutaway means the upper frets are fully accessible — no awkward reaching required.
Whether you're gigging at a coffeehouse, rehearsing with a band, or just noodling at home with the amp off, the APX600 is designed to handle all of it without complaint.
A Body Built for Comfort and Stage Performance
The APX600's thinline cutaway body is Yamaha's answer to a very real problem: full-depth acoustics can be tiring to hold for extended sets, and they're notorious for feeding back when pushed through a PA. The slimmer body depth addresses both issues at once — it's comfortable to hold for hours, and the reduced air volume makes it much more cooperative when amplified.
Under the hood, Yamaha uses a non-scalloped X-type bracing pattern designed to maximize body resonance for a full, natural acoustic tone despite the thinner profile. The oval soundhole (a distinctive APX feature) is tuned to thicken the lower-mid response and add a more open, strident low end — giving the guitar a bit more presence unplugged than you might expect from a thinline design.
The body is constructed with a spruce top and nato back and sides, with locally sourced tonewoods used for the neck — part of Yamaha's effort to support sustainable wood harvesting. The result is a well-balanced acoustic character that translates cleanly when amplified.
Electronics Built for the Real World
The APX600 uses Yamaha's System 65A pickup system — an undersaddle piezo design with individual elements for each string. That per-string approach gives it a wider bandwidth and better dynamic response than a single-element bar pickup, which means your playing translates more naturally through a PA or amp. The SRT transducer technology traces its lineage to Yamaha's higher-end A Series guitars, so you're getting a genuinely thoughtful pickup implementation here, not a budget afterthought.
The onboard preamp includes a 3-band EQ, a built-in chromatic tuner, and a volume control — all accessible from the guitar's side. You can dial in your tone at the instrument without touching the house board, and the built-in tuner means you're never scrambling for a clip-on before you go on. The System 65A is also noted for its feedback rejection, which is a real practical advantage in live settings where monitor levels can get loud.
Neck and Playability
The APX600 has a 25" scale length and a nut width of 1 11/16" (43mm) with narrower string spacing — specs that make chord transitions smooth and reduce hand fatigue over long playing sessions. Players who come from electric guitar backgrounds often find the APX600 to be a very easy acoustic to pick up, thanks in part to the familiar feel of the slim neck profile.
The rosewood fingerboard and bridge add warmth and sustain to the tone, and the die-cast chrome tuners are reliable enough to hold pitch through a full set. The neck and body finish on the Black version is gloss throughout, giving the guitar a polished, stage-ready appearance that matches its no-nonsense performance credentials.
Product Features:
- Body: Thinline cutaway with spruce top and nato back and sides
- Bracing: Non-scalloped X-type for increased body resonance and bass response
- Scale Length: 25" (634mm) with 1 11/16" (43mm) nut width and narrower string spacing
- Fingerboard and Bridge: Rosewood
- Electronics: System 65A undersaddle piezo pickup with SRT transducer technology
- Preamp: 3-band EQ, volume control, and built-in chromatic tuner
- Tuners: Die-cast chrome
- Soundhole: Oval APX shape with abalone rosette
- Finish: Gloss Black body; gloss neck
- Compatible with Yamaha's free Player Port app (iOS and Android) for lessons, tips, and built-in tuner
Brand: Yamaha
Model: APX600
SKU: APX600BL
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.
