Introduction
The Yamaha A-Series A3M is an acoustic-electric guitar that offers solid wood construction, a dreadnought cutaway body style, and Yamaha’s A.R.E. wood torrefaction process – all at an affordable price point as part of the A-Series line. This guitar utilizes a solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides for a balanced and responsive acoustic tone. The dreadnought body shape provides the deep bass response that style is known for, while the cutaway grants easier access to the upper frets. Yamaha’s proprietary A.R.E. torrefaction treatment on the tonewoods enhances stability and resonance for improved sound over time. Overall, the A3M aims to deliver great playability, acoustic tone, and amplified performance in a reasonably-priced package.
Yamaha A-Series Overview
Yamaha first introduced the A-Series line in the early 2000s as a more affordable alternative to their high-end L-Series guitars, while still maintaining excellent quality and tone. The A-Series features all solid wood construction, combining traditional tonewoods like mahogany and spruce with Yamaha’s expert bracing and voicing techniques.
The A-Series aims to deliver professional grade instruments accessible to developing players and working musicians. Rather than cutting costs by using laminate woods or inferior materials, Yamaha focused on strategic sourcing of tonewoods along with streamlined production. The result is an impressive line of guitars priced under $1000, with the warmth and resonance of all solid wood construction.
Key technologies used across the A-Series include scalloped bracing patterns optimized for each body shape and size. Yamaha also employs modern advancements like their A.R.E. wood torrefaction process, which artificially ages the wood through heat treatment. This process enhances stability and improves the maturity of tone. Overall, the A-Series delivers an exceptional blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary build techniques.
A3M Specifications & Features
The Yamaha A3M features an all-solid wood construction, with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. This combination of tonewoods produces a balanced, well-rounded tone with nice articulation and resonance.
The spruce top offers crisp highs and detailed midrange, while the mahogany back and sides provide a smooth, warm low end. Together they create a versatile acoustic guitar tone suitable for various styles.
Yamaha utilizes their proprietary A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) wood torrefaction process on the A3M. This treatment ages and dries out the wood to make it more stable and resonant. The result is improved sustain, richer overtones, and more evenly balanced tone as the guitar ages.
The A3M has a traditional dreadnought body shape with a cutaway for easy upper fret access. The wider lower bout produces loud, booming bass, while the shoulder shape allows clear and balanced treble notes. The cutaway design retains the classic dreadnought tones while enabling solos and lead playing higher up the neck.
Yamaha also employs scalloped X-type bracing on the A3M rather than traditional straight bracing. By scalloping and thinning the bracing, it allows more top vibration for increased volume and sustain. The A3M thus projects very well unplugged while maintaining excellent resonance.
A3M Acoustic-Electric Electronics System
The Yamaha A3M comes equipped with Yamaha’s SRT2 acoustic guitar system for amplified playing. This system utilizes a built-in piezo pickup and preamp powered by a single AA battery.
The SRT2 preamp provides a very natural and balanced amplified tone without excessive EQ coloration. It’s designed to prevent feedback while retaining dynamics and limiting compression. The preamp allows for clear note articulation and response across the tonal spectrum.
For the pickup, Yamaha chose a piezo transducer specifically voiced for the dreadnought body shape. Piezo pickups are known for their heightened response and detail compared to magnetic pickups. The tradeoff is they can sometimes sound brittle or harsh in the high mids and highs. However, the preamp helps smooth out any harshness for a robust amplified tone.
For shaping your amplified sound, the A3M provides a built-in 3-band EQ and tuner accessible via the side-mounted control panel. The low, mid, and high sliders allow for +/- 10dB of boost/cut, while the tuner quickly gets you back in tune with the press of a button. The EQ provides a solid range of tonal adjustment to fit any amplified playing scenario.
A3M Playability
The Yamaha A3M features a comfortable, playable neck and quality fretboard that make it a joy to play. The neck has a slim taper profile that is neither too chunky nor too thin. It strikes a nice balance between feeling substantial yet easy to grip and navigate.
Yamaha does a great job with the factory setup on the A3M. Out of the box, the action is set to a very playable medium-low height that facilitates chord and single note playing without buzzing. The nut width measures 1 11/16 inches, which is a tad wider than some dreadnoughts. This additional fingerboard real estate enhances chord fingering comfort.
The fretboard itself is rosewood, a dense tropical hardwood known for stability and warm, round tone. The fret edges are smoothly finished for a seamless playing feel up and down the neck. The bridge utilizes a rosewood saddle and ebony pins with pearl inlays. Overall the hardware complements the solid wood construction nicely.
Unplugged Tone
The all solid wood construction of the Yamaha A3M contributes to its full and balanced unplugged acoustic tone. The solid Sitka spruce top produces clear, articulate highs with bell-like overtones. Sitka is a popular acoustic top wood due to its strength, lightness, and ability to convey dynamics. The solid mahogany back and sides fill out the midrange, providing warmth and sweetness. Mahogany is a very musical and responsive tonewood that enhances resonance and sustain.
The scalloped bracing also assists with resonance and projection. By carving away excess wood, the top is able to vibrate more freely. This allows the guitar to ring out with fuller volume and voice. The A3M projects confidently with good articulation and note separation. Chords ring out with clarity across the frequency spectrum.
The dreadnought body shape further enhances projection and low-end response. Its large size produces a loud, booming acoustic voice. The A3M conveys a balanced tonal profile. The sparkling highs, pronounced mids, and deep lows work together to deliver a dynamic unplugged acoustic sound. The guitar is voiced to handle various playing styles from aggressive strumming to fingerpicking.
A3M Plugged-In Tone
When plugged in, the Yamaha A3M produces a balanced amplified tone thanks to its SRT2 preamp system. The undersaddle piezo pickup accurately conveys the nuances of the guitar’s acoustic sound, while the 3-band EQ provides tone shaping control.
The SRT2 preamp delivers a clear signal with studio-quality sound. There’s enough gain on tap to give your tone some punch without excessive noise. The EQ section has bass, midrange, and treble controls with +/- 15dB of boost/cut, allowing for significant tonal changes.
For live playing, the bass and mid boosts let you cut through the mix. Scooping the mids can yield a pleasing chorus-like effect. If the amplified tone is too bright, try cutting some treble and boosting the low mids. The onboard tuner is handy for quick on-stage tuning adjustments.
Overall, the A3M’s amplified tone is versatile for handling different musical scenarios. The EQ provides the tone-shaping tools needed for dialing in your ideal amplified sound.
Yamaha A3M vs A3R Comparison
The Yamaha A3M and A3R are quite similar acoustic-electric guitars, but there are some key differences between the two models that may make one a better choice depending on your needs.
The most noticeable difference is the body style. The A3M has a traditional dreadnought body, while the A3R features Yamaha’s proprietary ARE body shape that is slightly smaller and more comfortable for some players. The A3R’s body style results in a more balanced and articulate tone that works well for fingerstyle playing.
The A3M has an all-solid wood construction with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. The A3R also has a solid spruce top, but features solid rosewood back and sides which contribute to its unique voicing. The rosewood produces clear trebles, warm bass, and an overall versatile tonal palette.
Both models have Yamaha’s SRT2 acoustic pickup system with 3-band EQ, but the A3R upgrades this with an SRT Zero Impact pickup that blends the piezo pickup with mic elements resulting in a more natural amplified tone.
The A3R also comes equipped with higher-end cosmetic appointments like abalone binding and rosette, a 5-ply neck, and gloss body finish. The A3M has a matte finish and plainer visual details.
In terms of playability, the A3R has a slightly wider nut width of 45mm compared to 43mm on the A3M. The A3R also has a tapered headstock design compared to the straighter headstock on the A3M.
Overall, the Yamaha A3R is the higher-end model with upgraded woods, electronics, and appointments. It’s the better choice if you want rosewood tone, fingerstyle playability, and more refined aesthetics. However, the A3M costs significantly less while still providing all-solid wood construction and quality electronics in a traditional dreadnought package. The A3M is ideal for strumming, flatpicking, and plugging in on a budget.
Yamaha A3M Price & Value
The Yamaha A3M acoustic-electric currently retails for around $599-$649 USD brand new from most major music gear retailers. This positions it as a mid-priced acoustic-electric guitar, landing in the range between cheaper entry-level models and premium professional instruments.
When looking at other guitars with similar features and specifications – namely solid wood construction, cutaway dreadnought body, and built-in electronics – the A3M represents a strong value in its price bracket. Models from Martin, Taylor, and other high-end brands easily retail for $1000+ when configured similarly.
The A3M provides players looking for the tone and playability of an all-solid wood acoustic, along with stage-ready amplified performance, at a price that is accessible for serious hobbyists and working musicians alike. Overall, the quality and features Yamaha has packed into the A3M make it an excellent value at this mid-tier pricing segment.
Reviews and Opinions
The Yamaha A3M has received largely positive reviews from users for its quality construction, rich acoustic tone, and excellent playability right out of the box. Many praise the A3M’s full-bodied and balanced acoustic sound, with nice resonance and sustain. The solid spruce top produces clear, bright highs while the mahogany back and sides provide warmth and depth. Users describe the A3M as having impressive projection and volume for its price point.
When plugged in, the A3M continues to impress with its amplified tone. The SRT2 preamp reproduces the natural acoustic sound faithfully and the 3-band EQ provides useful tone shaping. The onboard tuner is also a handy feature during live performances. However, some note the piezo pickup can sound a bit harsh at higher volumes.
In terms of playability, users find the A3M comfortable right away thanks to its slim neck profile, quality setup and action, and smooth fretwork. The 1 11/16" nut width provides a good balance of comfort and fingerpicking space. Many like the cutaway for easy upper fret access.
Some common criticisms of the A3M are that it may be too bass-heavy for some players’ tastes when unplugged. The midrange can also sound a bit subdued acoustically. Others report cosmetic imperfections like small dents or scratches out of the box. There are also those who find the pickup system adequate but not as nuanced as higher-end options.
Overall, most users agree the Yamaha A3M punches above its weight given its affordable price point. It offers impressive build quality, tone, and playability in its class, making it an excellent value for gigging musicians or developing players looking to upgrade.