A Guitar That Looks as Good Hanging on the Wall as It Sounds in Your Hands
Some guitars exist purely to be played. The Yamaha Storia III exists to be played, admired, and yes — talked about. That chocolate-brown gloss top with a wine-red stained interior is a genuine head-turner, and Yamaha didn't stumble into that combination by accident. The Storia series was built with the idea that your guitar is part of your living space, not just gear you stash in a closet between sessions.
But here's the thing: the Storia III isn't all looks. That solid mahogany top paired with mahogany back and sides gives you a warm, balanced tone that's surprisingly full for a concert-size body. Players who find a dreadnought awkward to sit with tend to really connect with this format — it's comfortable, manageable, and sounds great in close-proximity settings like living rooms, campfires, and quiet rehearsals.
The built-in passive undersaddle pickup means you can plug in whenever you need to without any complicated onboard preamp to manage. If you've been thinking about getting your first acoustic-electric — or you want something that'll genuinely inspire you to pick it up more often — the Storia III is worth a serious look.
Solid Mahogany Where It Counts
The solid mahogany top is the standout spec here. On a guitar in this price range, a solid top makes a real difference — mahogany in particular is known for producing a warm, focused midrange with a woody character that only deepens over time as the top opens up with play. It's less bright and sparkly than spruce, which makes it a great match for fingerpicking, folk, and anything that benefits from a rounder, warmer tone.
The mahogany back and sides complement the top without fighting it, keeping the overall sound cohesive and balanced. The concert body shape contributes to that balance too — it's compact enough to be comfortable sitting down but still produces enough volume to fill a room during a casual session.
A Neck Built for Comfort
The walnut neck on the Storia III is slimmer than what you'd find on many acoustic guitars in this category. Walnut is a naturally smooth wood, and the hand-rolled fingerboard edges are a nice touch — they eliminate that sharp edge-of-the-fretboard feeling that some players notice on less carefully finished instruments. The 43mm (1.69") nut width sits right in the sweet spot for most players: wide enough for clean open chords, narrow enough that bar chords don't feel like a workout.
The fretboard is also walnut, which is consistent with the guitar's overall aesthetic — everything from the bridge to the fingerboard ties together visually. The 20-fret setup and comfortable string height keep things approachable and playable right out of the box.
Details That Make It Stand Out
Yamaha put genuine thought into what makes the Storia III look the way it does. The black, wine-red, and ivory rosette inlay around the soundhole picks up the wine-red interior stain, tying the whole instrument together. The champagne-gold open-gear tuners add a warm metallic accent that plays off the chocolate-brown finish without clashing. It's a considered, cohesive design — not just a guitar with a funky paint job.
The Yamaha passive undersaddle pickup handles amplification duties cleanly and discreetly. There are no onboard controls — the pickup runs straight to the output jack — which keeps the guitar's acoustic look intact and means one less thing to fiddle with. You'll want a preamp or a mixer with a preamp channel to get the best amplified tone, but for home-to-open-mic situations, it works.
Product Features:
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Body Shape: Concert, a comfortable and balanced size well-suited to a range of playing styles
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Top Wood: Solid mahogany — delivers warm, focused midrange tone with a woody character
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Back & Sides: Mahogany — complements the top for a cohesive, balanced sound
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Neck: Nato with slim walnut fretboard and hand-rolled fingerboard edges for playing comfort
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Nut Width: 43mm (1.69") — well-suited to most players' hands
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Frets: 20 frets with a urea nut and walnut bridge
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Electronics: Yamaha passive undersaddle pickup with line-out connection
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Finish: Gloss body — Chocolate Brown top with Wine Red interior stain
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Hardware: Champagne-gold open-gear tuners with brass bridge pins
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Rosette: Black, wine-red, and ivory inlay
Brand: Yamaha
Model: Storia III
SKU: STORIAIII
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.
