Yamaha
Yamaha APX600 Electro-Acoustic Guitar
Thinline stage acoustic with an electric-style feel
- Thinline cutaway body only 80-90 mm deep for comfort and easy top-fret access
- Narrow 10.0 mm string spacing and 43 mm nut make chord stretches easier
- SYSTEM65 preamp with 3-band EQ, adjustable mid frequency and chromatic tuner
- Per-string piezo pickup elements for a clear, stage-ready plugged-in sound
- Gloss finish in Black, Natural, Old Violin Sunburst or Oriental Blueburst
Taxes included.
Yamaha APX600 Thinline Electro-Acoustic Guitar
The Yamaha APX600 is the core model of the APX series, the thinline cutaway electro-acoustic line Yamaha introduced in 1987 for players who needed an acoustic that could be plugged in and played at volume on stage. It pairs a spruce top and a slim 80-90 mm deep body with Yamaha's SYSTEM65 preamp, a built-in tuner and a piezo pickup with an individual element for each string.
It suits electric guitarists who need an acoustic for gigs, worship and cover-band players, and anyone who finds a full-depth acoustic awkward to hold. The full 634 mm scale, narrower string spacing and slim body make it easy to switch to from an electric, and simple to plug straight into an amp or PA.
Key Features
Thinline Cutaway Body on the APX600
The APX600 body is 384 mm wide and just 80-90 mm deep, so it sits close to you like an electric guitar rather than a full-depth acoustic. The cutaway opens up the upper frets for lead lines and higher chord voicings. Yamaha has also made the current APX body 5 mm deeper than earlier versions to improve bass response and volume.
Non-Scalloped X Bracing
Under the spruce top, Yamaha uses a newly designed non-scalloped X-type bracing pattern. It is intended to get the most resonance out of the thin body, giving fuller bass and a responsive, dynamic tone. Unscalloped braces also keep the sound clear and controlled when the guitar is amplified.
SYSTEM65 Preamp with Built-In Tuner
The side-mounted SYSTEM65 panel gives you volume, a 3-band EQ (low, mid, high) and an AMF control that moves the centre of the mid band anywhere from 80 Hz to 10 kHz. That makes it easy to find and cut a boxy or feedback-prone frequency without dulling the whole guitar. A chromatic tuner and a battery-check indicator are built into the same panel.
Piezo Pickup with Per-String Elements
The under-saddle piezo pickup uses a separate element for each string. Yamaha designed it to give a very clear, wide-bandwidth signal with better dynamic response and tonal accuracy than a conventional piezo. The result is a stage-focused plugged-in tone that cuts through a band mix.
Electric-Friendly Neck and 634 mm Scale
The APX600 uses a full 634 mm (25") scale with a 43 mm nut and a rosewood fingerboard with a 400 mm radius. String spacing at the bridge is a narrow 10.0 mm, which Yamaha specifies to make stretching for chords easier. Together with the slim body, it gives the neck a familiar feel for electric players.
Simple Power and Output
The preamp runs on two AA alkaline batteries, which Yamaha rates at roughly 180 hours of use with the tuner off. The output jack doubles as the end pin and power switch, so the preamp switches on automatically when you plug in a cable. A single line output connects to any acoustic amp, PA or DI box.
Locally Sourced Tonewoods
Yamaha lists the back, sides and neck as locally sourced tonewood. To reduce waste and support sustainable sourcing, different tonewood species are used depending on availability. The fingerboard and bridge are rosewood, with a urea nut and saddle.
APX600 Finishes and Appointments
YMS offers the APX600 in Black, Natural, Old Violin Sunburst and Oriental Blueburst, all with a gloss body finish. The neck has a matte finish, except on the Black version, which has a gloss neck. Ivory and black body binding, an ABS and abalone soundhole rosette and die-cast chrome TM29T tuners complete the look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the APX600 and the CPX600?
Both share the SYSTEM65 preamp, 634 mm scale, 43 mm nut, 10.0 mm string spacing, spruce top and locally sourced tonewood back, sides and neck. The APX600 has a thinline body 384 mm wide and 80-90 mm deep, while the CPX600 has a larger grand auditorium cutaway body 400 mm wide and 95-115 mm deep for a fuller, louder unplugged sound. Choose the APX600 for comfort and an electric-like feel, and the CPX600 if you also play unplugged a lot.
Does the APX600 have a solid top?
Yamaha's specifications list the top simply as spruce, not solid spruce. The back, sides and neck are listed as locally sourced tonewood.
What powers the electronics?
The SYSTEM65 preamp uses two AA alkaline batteries, with Yamaha quoting about 180 hours of use with the tuner switched off. The preamp turns on when a cable is plugged into the output jack, so unplug the cable when you finish playing to save battery life.
What comes with the APX600?
Yamaha supplies the APX600 with a hex wrench for neck adjustment. A case or gig bag is not included, so we recommend adding a gig bag if you will be carrying the guitar to rehearsals and gigs.
Is the APX600 suitable for beginners?
Yes. The slim body, cutaway and narrower string spacing make it comfortable to hold and fret, and the built-in tuner helps keep it in tune. It is especially well suited to players who already play electric or who plan to perform plugged in.
Why Buy from YMS?
- Authorised Yamaha Premium Retailer
- Genuine stock with full manufacturer warranty
- Demo units at our Bengaluru and Mangaluru stores
- Secure delivery across India
- Free domestic shipping on all orders
Specifications
Overview
| Model | Yamaha APX600 |
|---|---|
| Type | Thinline cutaway electro-acoustic guitar |
| Series | APX |
| Body Shape | APX (thinline cutaway) |
| Finishes at YMS | Black, Natural, Old Violin Sunburst, Oriental Blueburst |
Body
| Top | Spruce |
|---|---|
| Back | Locally sourced tonewood |
| Sides | Locally sourced tonewood |
| Bracing | Non-scalloped X-type |
| Body Length | 490 mm (19 5/16") |
| Body Width | 384 mm (15 1/8") |
| Body Depth | 80-90 mm (3 1/8" - 3 9/16") |
| Total Length | 1022 mm (40 1/4") |
| Body Binding | Ivory + Black |
| Soundhole Inlay | ABS + Abalone |
| Pickguard | None |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
Neck & Fingerboard
| Neck | Locally sourced tonewood |
|---|---|
| Neck Finish | Matte (gloss on Black and Vintage White) |
| Scale Length | 634 mm (25") |
| Nut Width | 43 mm (1 11/16") |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius | R400 mm (15 3/4") |
| Nut | Urea |
Electronics
| Preamp | Yamaha SYSTEM65 |
|---|---|
| Pickup | Under-saddle piezo with individual elements per string |
| Controls | Volume, 3-band EQ (Low, Mid, High), AMF (adjustable mid frequency, 80 Hz-10 kHz), Tuner |
| Tuner | Chromatic, A4 = 440 Hz |
| Connections | Line out (output jack with power switch function) |
| Batteries | 2 x AA alkaline (LR6) |
| Battery Life | Approx. 180 hours (alkaline, tuner off) |
Hardware
| Bridge | Rosewood |
|---|---|
| Saddle | Urea |
| Bridge Pins | Black ABS with white dot |
| Tuners | Die-cast chrome (TM29T) |
| String Spacing | 10.0 mm (bridge pin centre to centre) |
Strings & Accessories
| Strings | .012/.016/.024/.032/.042/.053 |
|---|---|
| Accessories | Hex wrench |
| Case | None |
Specifications from Yamaha India's APX specifications page and Yamaha's SYSTEM65 owner's manual; subject to change by Yamaha.
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