A Parlor Guitar That Brings the Room With It
There's something about a parlor guitar that just invites you to pick it up. They're smaller, lighter, and easier to grab off the stand — which means you actually play more. The Yamaha CSF-TA takes that already-great concept and adds something genuinely clever: built-in reverb and chorus that project acoustically from inside the guitar itself. No amp, no pedalboard, no cables. Just the guitar sounding like it's in a bigger, more alive room than the one you're sitting in.
This is Yamaha's SYSTEM70 TransAcoustic technology at work. An actuator mounted inside the body vibrates in response to your strings, transferring processed reverb and chorus back into the guitar's own resonance. The effect blends naturally with your acoustic sound — not like a plugin, more like the room breathing around you. Three simple knobs on the side let you dial in how much chorus, how much reverb (room or hall, depending on knob position), and your line-out volume when you do plug in.
If you're after a compact, plug-anywhere guitar that doesn't force you to choose between acoustic simplicity and a fuller, more inspiring sound, the CSF-TA is worth a serious look.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed ROUGH CUT REAR HEEL BINDING, BACK EDGE OF BODY HAS ROUGH EDGES AND PAINT WEAR. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
Built for Sound, Not Just Size
Small-body guitars sometimes get written off for lacking volume and projection — Yamaha specifically redesigned the CSF series to address that. The top is solid Sitka spruce, paired with scalloped X-bracing and a forward-shifted bracing pattern that maximizes the top's resonance area. The result is a parlor guitar that sounds fuller than you'd expect from its footprint.
The back and sides are laminated mahogany, which is a practical choice for a guitar this size that's meant to travel and be handled regularly. Laminate is more dimensionally stable across temperature and humidity changes — useful for a grab-and-go instrument. The mahogany tonewood character still contributes warmth and a bit of midrange presence that balances well against the spruce top's clarity and brightness.
A Neck That Plays Easy
The CSF-TA uses a nato neck with a rosewood fingerboard and a 600mm (23.63") scale length — slightly shorter than standard, which eases string tension and can make playing for extended periods more comfortable. The nut width is 43mm (1.69"), giving you good string spacing without the neck feeling too wide or too cramped. The 16" fingerboard radius keeps things fairly flat, which players often find comfortable for both chord work and single-note runs.
The neck carries a matte finish while the body is gloss — a combination that's become popular because the matte feel keeps your fretting hand moving smoothly without any drag. Die-cast chrome tuners handle tuning stability, and the rosewood bridge and saddle round out a setup that feels like a working player's guitar rather than a showpiece.
The TransAcoustic System: How It Actually Works
Yamaha's TransAcoustic system is worth understanding because it's different from a standard acoustic-electric. The SYSTEM70 electronics include both the TransAcoustic actuator and an SRT piezo pickup. The actuator — mounted on the inner surface of the guitar back — receives the processed signal and physically vibrates the body, so the reverb and chorus are acoustically projected into the room, not just heard through a speaker. You can run it dry or with effects. You can play completely unplugged. Or you can plug into a amp or interface via the 1/4" line out and carry those same settings to the stage.
The control layout is simple: one knob for chorus depth, one for reverb (Room or Hall, selected by knob position), and one that doubles as a TA on/off switch and line-out volume when cabled up. The battery box is integrated into the endpin jack, which keeps the body intact with minimal acoustic compromise.
Product Features:
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Body Style: CSF parlor size — compact, lightweight, and genuinely portable
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Top: Solid Sitka spruce with scalloped X-bracing and forward-shifted construction
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Back & Sides: Laminated mahogany
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Neck: Nato with matte finish; rosewood fingerboard and bridge
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Scale Length: 600mm (23.63") with 43mm (1.69") nut width and 16" fingerboard radius
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Electronics: Yamaha SYSTEM70 TransAcoustic + SRT Piezo pickup with 1/4" line out
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Effects: Built-in Hall Reverb, Room Reverb, and Chorus — operable without any amp or external gear
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Controls: Three knobs — Chorus, Reverb (Room/Hall), and TA Switch/Line Out Volume
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Finish: Vintage Natural gloss body, matte neck
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Tuners: Die-cast chrome
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Binding: Black + white body binding; abalone + black soundhole inlay
Brand: Yamaha
Model: CSF-TA TransAcoustic Parlor Acoustic-Electric Guitar
SKU: CSF-TA VN-3RD|ILK081263
Condition: B-Stock
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.
