Yamaha A3M / A3R series

What's Hot
TimmyOTimmyO Frets: 7350
I played a Yamaha A3M ARE at the guitar show - it felt lovely and played really well (to my clumsy hands) and from what I could make out (even in their acoustic cubby hole during the quiet period) it sounded ok acoustically. 

The thing that I was also interested in was the electrickery where you can blend between the undersaddle piezo and one of 2 mic models/IRs 

I didn't get to try that out - wondering if anyone here has? 

I understand that the ones at the show were the version II of the range with an updated pickup and control system.

I also can't remember if it was the dread or concert version I tried - I suspect it was the concert size as it felt very manageable 
Red ones are better. 
0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom

Comments

  • TimmyOTimmyO Frets: 7350
    I swung by Yamaha Music London today to check these out - I tried the AC3M and the AC3R (the concert-sized solid Mahogany and Rosewood versions.

    I'd liked how the one at the show played and I think it was the M
    Trying them both today I much preferred the Rosewood one - more top end  and separation/definition 

    I plugged it into a little THR5A acoustic amp and tried the pickup/mic-sim blend - it's only a small speaker but you could tell that there is a big range sound available - at full "mic" it actually sounded a bit woofy - that may be how it is or may be the little Yammy amp - but the centre third of the control seemed to be where the gravy is. 

    Certainly as soon as you move away from pure-piezo it improves so it's a good feature for a simple way to improve on the typical brittle under-saddle sound.

    Red ones are better. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • rossyamaharossyamaha Frets: 2439
    Ffs. It doesn’t matter how many times I tell them not to demo a guitar through the thr they just don’t listen. It’s a great amp but in a room that size it’s pointless. They have about 20k watts of pa 5 steps from there. If you can get over again ask to go through that. rant over. 

    Yes the SRT system is fantastic. Really gives you the true acoustic dynamics. 

    I play guitar and take photos of stuff. I also like beans on toast.

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • dindudedindude Frets: 8534
    The Yamaha London store is great apart from the THR issue. I tried out an SA2200 and was plugged into a THR10 which just didn’t show off the guitar at all.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • rossyamaharossyamaha Frets: 2439
    I love my THR. I play that more than anything. But in a store that size you just can’t get much out of it. I’ll speak to them again and tell them to stop being fuckwits. 

    I play guitar and take photos of stuff. I also like beans on toast.

    2reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • koss59koss59 Frets: 845
    In my opinion these guitars are a bargain, I was interested in one purely for the decent pre amp but what ever they’ve done to the bracing and aged top has made them as complex sounding as easily a 2.5 grand american built guitar.
    Only downside is rough frets.
    Facebook.com/nashvillesounduk/
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • TimmyOTimmyO Frets: 7350
    edited March 2018
    I don't think I'd go that far - but I do think they are very playable, very well made, sound decent and that the electronics are great 
    Red ones are better. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • TeetonetalTeetonetal Frets: 7801
    I was really close to buying one, I played both through a AER acoustic amp and they sounded gorgeous, way more natural than from a piezo. They were playable and well setup, I also preferred the rosewood, I'm not keen on Mahogany for acoustics.

    Eventually I didn't buy one as a student of mine sold me his Takamine P3 for about half the price of the A3 - but I was impressed.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • koss59koss59 Frets: 845
    Mine easily has more harmonic overtones than my Taylor 814 had, much more sweet to listen to. My other acoustic is a Collings dread and the Yammy doesnt sound stupid next to it at all.
    Facebook.com/nashvillesounduk/
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • TimmyOTimmyO Frets: 7350
    koss59 said:
    Mine easily has more harmonic overtones than my Taylor 814 had, much more sweet to listen to. My other acoustic is a Collings dread and the Yammy doesnt sound stupid next to it at all.
    That sounds promising.

    Anyone played the "5" versions of any of them? 
    Red ones are better. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
Sign In or Register to comment.