A Stage-Ready Acoustic That Thinks Like an Electric
If you've ever grabbed an acoustic for an open mic or a gig and spent the whole soundcheck wrestling with feedback, the Yamaha APX600 was basically designed with you in mind. The APX series has been Yamaha's answer to the "plug in and play" acoustic-electric problem since 1987 — and the APX600 is the current-generation refinement of that idea, building on what made the APX500 one of the world's best-selling acoustic-electrics.
The thinline cutaway body sits closer to your body than a full-depth dreadnought, which means it feels natural whether you're coming from an electric or just want something easier to wrangle on stage. The 25" scale length — shortened from the 500-series' 25 9/16" — combined with narrower string spacing makes chord stretches less demanding without sacrificing playability up the neck. And that cutaway? It actually means something here: 22 frets are fully accessible.
The Old Violin Sunburst finish gives this one a warm, vintage-amber look that stands out from the standard black or natural options. If you want something that looks a little more classic on stage, this is a good pick.
Built for the Stage: Body, Bracing, and Tone
The APX600 uses a spruce top over nato back and sides — a tonewood combination that keeps the sound bright and articulate without the weight or price of higher-end tonewoods. Nato is closely related to mahogany in density and tonal character, offering warm mids and good sustain at a practical price point.
Underneath the top, Yamaha uses a non-scalloped X-type bracing pattern specifically designed to maximize resonance from the APX's unique thinline body shape. The oval soundhole — one of the APX's most recognizable design details — is tuned to thicken the lower-mid response and open up the low end, giving this slim-bodied guitar more acoustic presence than its dimensions might suggest. The abalone soundhole rosette is a genuinely nice cosmetic touch at this price point.
The body binding is ivory with black accents, and the gloss finish on the body gives it a clean, stage-ready look. The neck gets a matte finish, which players often prefer for its smoother feel under the hand during longer sets.
The Electronics: SYSTEM65 + SRT Piezo
The APX600's pickup system is one of its strongest selling points. It features Yamaha's SRT (Studio Response Technology) piezo pickup — the same transducer system found in Yamaha's higher-end A Series guitars — paired with the SYSTEM65 preamp. This under-saddle piezo is designed to capture each string's individual response for a clear, wide-bandwidth signal with better dynamic range than a standard slab piezo.
The onboard preamp gives you volume control, a 3-band EQ with adjustable midrange frequency, and a built-in chromatic tuner. That's a complete, practical toolset for live use: you can dial in your tone for the room, mute and tune without an external tuner, and hit the stage without fuss. The SYSTEM65 runs on two AA batteries, and the controls are discreetly mounted on the upper bout so they stay out of your way while you play.
The Neck: Built for Comfortable Playing
The neck is built from locally sourced tonewood — Yamaha's sustainable-sourcing approach means the exact species can vary, though nato is common — with a rosewood fingerboard and rosewood bridge. The fingerboard radius is 23.625" (R400mm), which is notably flat compared to many acoustic guitars. That flatter radius makes it easier to play cleanly across the full width of the fretboard, especially for players used to electric guitar necks.
The nut width is 43mm (1-11/16"), which is on the narrower end for an acoustic and keeps string-to-string spacing tight — great for players transitioning from electric. Die-cast chrome tuners keep things in tune reliably without adding excessive weight to the headstock.
Product Features:
- Body: APX thinline cutaway shape, gloss finish, ivory + black binding
- Top: Spruce with non-scalloped X-type bracing for improved bass response
- Back and sides: Nato
- Neck: Locally sourced tonewood with matte finish; rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Scale length: 25" (634mm) with narrower string spacing for comfortable playability
- Nut width: 43mm (1-11/16"); urea nut and saddle
- Fingerboard radius: 23.625" (R400mm); 22 frets
- Electronics: Yamaha SRT piezo pickup + SYSTEM65 preamp with volume, 3-band EQ, adjustable mid frequency, and built-in chromatic tuner
- Tuners: Die-cast chrome (TM29T)
- Finish: Old Violin Sunburst (gloss body, matte neck)
Brand: Yamaha
Model: APX600
SKU: APX600OVS
Condition: New
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