Stage-Ready Comfort in a Slim, Approachable Package
If you've ever wanted a guitar that feels as natural plugged into a PA as it does sitting on the couch, the Yamaha APX600 is the one to grab. Its thinline cutaway body sits closer to your body than a full dreadnought, which means less fatigue on long sets and easier reach to the upper frets — something electric players in particular will immediately appreciate. Yamaha has been refining this design since 1987, and the APX600 represents the current evolution of one of the world's best-selling acoustic-electric lines.
The Natural finish lets the spruce top do the talking, with a clean, unfussy look that suits any stage or living room. Whether you're running it through a PA at an open mic or noodling unplugged on a Tuesday night, this guitar handles both without complaint. It's the kind of instrument that removes excuses and gets out of your way.
The APX600 was designed with real playing situations in mind — not just the recording studio. It's a practical, well-thought-out acoustic-electric that makes a strong case for itself at its price point, whether you're picking one up as your first acoustic-electric or adding a reliable stage guitar to a growing collection.
A Body Built for the Stage
The APX shape is a thinline cutaway — narrower in depth than a standard dreadnought — which helps it sit closer and more comfortably against your body. That slimmer profile also contributes to the guitar's natural feedback resistance on stage, a real advantage when you're in front of a PA. The distinctively oval soundhole is a signature APX feature, and Yamaha engineered it specifically to thicken up the lower-mid response and open up the low end, compensating for what a thinner body might otherwise sacrifice.
Internally, the APX600 uses a non-scalloped X-type bracing pattern that Yamaha says maximizes body resonance for a full, natural tone. The cutaway design gives you clean access to the upper frets — a feature electric players switching to acoustic will notice right away. The gloss finish on the body adds a polished look without hiding what's going on underneath.
With a 25" scale length and a 43mm (1-11/16") nut width, the APX600 feels closer to an electric than many acoustics. String spacing is intentionally narrower, which makes chord transitions and lead work feel more familiar, especially if you've been spending most of your time on a Strat or a Les Paul.
The SRT Pickup System: Yamaha's Stage Answer
The APX600's electronics are where it really earns its keep live. Yamaha's System 65A preamp pairs with their proprietary SRT undersaddle piezo pickup — the same transducer technology found in their higher-end A Series guitars. The SRT is designed to capture sound from both the guitar's top and the air inside the body, preserving natural resonance rather than just transmitting string vibration. The result is a more acoustic, less synthetic plugged-in tone compared to a basic under-saddle piezo.
The onboard controls include a volume knob, 3-band EQ (bass, mid, treble), an adjustable mid-frequency sweep, and a chromatic tuner — all on a side-mounted preamp panel. You can shape your sound for the room without bending down to a tuner pedal or guessing at EQ settings from the mixing board. The system runs on two AA batteries, and the chromatic tuner mutes the output while in use so you can tune silently between songs.
Players often find that the SRT pickup translates well to a PA or acoustic amp, sitting naturally in a mix without the harsh piezo quack that can plague cheaper systems. The feedback rejection built into the thinline design and the electronics gives you more headroom before things get squirrelly on a loud stage.
Materials and Construction
The top is spruce — a tonewood that responds well across a range of playing styles, from light fingerpicking to aggressive strumming. The back and sides are nato, a tonewood in the same family as eastern mahogany, offering a warm, balanced character. Yamaha uses locally sourced tonewoods for the neck and body as part of their sustainable sourcing practices, so the specific species may vary by production run. The rosewood fingerboard and bridge are standard across the APX600 line, and the 400mm (23-5/8") fingerboard radius is relatively flat — another nod to players coming from electric backgrounds.
Hardware is chrome throughout, with die-cast tuners (TM29T) that hold tune reliably. The nut and saddle are both urea, which is standard at this price point. Strings ship as Yamaha S10 (.012–.053) light gauge steel, which pair well with the 25" scale and keep the playing feel comfortable.
Product Features:
- Body: APX thinline cutaway with gloss finish and oval soundhole
- Top: Spruce
- Back & Sides: Nato
- Neck: Locally sourced tonewood with 25" (634mm) scale length
- Fingerboard: Rosewood, 400mm (23-5/8") radius, 43mm (1-11/16") nut width
- Bracing: Non-scalloped X-type for enhanced body resonance
- Pickup: Yamaha SRT undersaddle piezo via System 65A preamp
- Electronics: 3-band EQ with adjustable mid-frequency, onboard chromatic tuner, volume control
- Bridge & Nut: Rosewood bridge, urea nut and saddle
- Tuners: Die-cast chrome (TM29T)
Brand: Yamaha
Model: APX600
SKU: APX600NT
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.
