Introduction to the Yamaha A-Series AC3R
Yamaha’s premium A-Series line showcases the company’s expert craftsmanship and use of high-end tonewoods. Handmade in Japan using traditional techniques, these acoustic guitars deliver exceptional sound quality and playability. The A-Series concert-style AC3R stands out with its solid Sitka spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides. The concert body shape provides comfort and accessibility, while the cutaway design allows easy access to upper frets. This makes the AC3R an incredibly versatile acoustic-electric suitable for diverse playing styles and situations. Its premium appointments provide incredible value in this price range.
Yamaha AC3R Body & Neck Construction
The Yamaha AC3R features a solid Sitka spruce top, which produces a clear, bright, and balanced tone. The top is treated with Yamaha’s proprietary A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) torrefaction process, which ages the wood to give it the tonal richness of an older instrument right out of the box.
The back and sides are made of solid rosewood, which adds warmth, resonance, and complexity to the AC3R’s overall voice. Rosewood is prized for its rich overtones and sustain. The all-solid wood body construction allows the top to vibrate freely, resulting in excellent projection and dynamic range.
The AC3R has a comfortable 25.6" scale length neck with a standard width nut. The neck has a smooth satin finish for fast, slick playability. The slim taper neck profile is extremely comfortable and makes it easy to play chords and single notes up and down the fretboard. The action is set low and buzz-free from the factory, optimized for playing comfort.
Tonewoods & Sound Quality
The AC3R’s solid Sitka spruce top contributes a lot to its excellent acoustic tone. Sitka spruce is prized for its clarity, headroom, and dynamic range. It’s very responsive to the player’s attack, allowing you to easily control the guitar’s volume and projection based on your picking or strumming intensity. The solid spruce top gives the AC3R a bright yet balanced sound with crystalline highs and tight, focused bass.
The rosewood back and sides also have a significant impact on the AC3R’s unplugged sound. Rosewood adds warmth, resonance and complexity to the tone. It enhances the guitar’s natural sustain and bloom, allowing notes to really ring out. The rosewood deepens and enriches the midrange, while adding vintage-like woodiness to the sound. All together the spruce and rosewood create a bold, well-rounded acoustic voice that excels at both fingerpicking and strumming applications.
When played unplugged, the AC3R projects very well for its size. It has no trouble filling a room with lush, immersive acoustic sound. The notes are very even across the tonal spectrum, from the tight low end all the way up through the crystalline highs. Whether gently picked or aggressively strummed, the AC3R remains balanced, nuanced and pleasing to the ear. The dynamic range allows for a lot of tonal variety based on playing technique. Overall, the AC3R sounds like a much more expensive acoustic when played unplugged.
Yamaha AC3R Electronics & Plugged-In Performance
The Yamaha AC3R comes equipped with Yamaha’s proprietary SRT2 pickup and preamp system, designed to accurately reproduce the guitar’s rich acoustic tone when plugged in.
The SRT2 system utilizes a unique 3-band piezo pickup configuration to capture a full range of tones from bass to treble. There are also discrete mic preamp models for ‘studio’, ‘live’, and ‘solo’ settings that shape the EQ curve and dynamics. This gives you tonal options suited for different playing scenarios.
For live playing, the ‘live’ mode adds brilliance and presence to cut through a mix. The ‘solo’ setting has a smoother midrange for more refined tones. The ‘studio’ model has a balanced EQ for recording applications. Between the pickup and preamp options, the AC3R provides exceptional amplified versatility.
Another great feature of the SRT2 system is the feedback control circuitry. This allows you to limit problematic feedback even at higher volumes, letting you confidently use the AC3R in louder live settings. Additional onboard controls like a chromatic tuner and phase switch optimize the guitar for amplified playing.
Overall, the AC3R’s electronics package gives you pro-level plugged-in sound in a variety of situations. The SRT2 preamp has all the tone shaping and utility you need, while still retaining the rich acoustic character that makes the AC3R so special.
Comparing the AC3R to Other Yamaha Guitars
The Yamaha AC3R stands out among other guitars in Yamaha’s acclaimed A-Series line. As a concert-sized acoustic-electric, the AC3R is most closely comparable to the AC5R and AC3M models.
The AC5R features a slightly larger body than the AC3R, with a grand concert shape and cutaway. It has a solid Engelmann spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck. The tone of the AC5R tends to emphasize warmth and low-midrange frequencies thanks to the all-mahogany construction. It’s a versatile guitar well-suited to many playing styles.
The AC3M is the most affordable model in the A-Series line. It has a similar concert-style cutaway shape but utilizes laminate back and sides instead of solid rosewood. The laminate construction makes the AC3M’s tone brighter and less complex compared to the rich resonance of the AC3R’s solid rosewood. The AC3M is ideal for players on a budget seeking great playability.
Compared to these other A-Series models, the AC3R stands apart with its solid Sitka spruce and rosewood tonewood combination. This provides a balanced and responsive acoustic voice, along with the slick playability that defines the A-Series. The AC3R sits in the middle of the line in terms of price, making it a great value for gigging musicians who want an exceptional all-around acoustic-electric.
Aesthetics & Finishes
The Yamaha AC3R comes in two gorgeous finish options that allow the guitar’s tonewoods to shine. There’s a warm and inviting vintage natural gloss finish that showcases the beautiful grain patterns of the solid Sitka spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides. For players who want a more traditional look, Yamaha also offers the AC3R in an elegant tobacco sunburst finish.
The AC3R has several high-end aesthetic appointments that give it a refined and luxurious appearance. The guitar has attractive tortoise binding along the body and fretboard, which provides an extra layer of protection and visual interest. The fretboard binding is complemented by delicate mother-of-pearl dot inlays, while the headstock features an intricate mother-of-pearl logo inlay.
A fancy mother-of-pearl rosette surrounds the soundhole, adding a touch of ornate decoration. Overall, the AC3R exemplifies Yamaha’s attention to detail with its choice of premium finish options and ornamental appointments. These aesthetics let the AC3R make nearly as bold of a visual statement as it does an acoustic one.
Who the Yamaha AC3R is Best For
The Yamaha AC3R is a versatile acoustic-electric guitar that will appeal to players across multiple genres and experience levels. Here’s a look at who can benefit most from the AC3R’s premium features:
Ideal Playing Styles and Genres
With its balanced tone, comfortable body size, and versatile electronics, the AC3R is a great fit for fingerstyle playing, light to moderate strumming, and other delicate techniques. It’s an excellent choice for folk, pop, rock, country, blues, jazz, and other mellow genres where warm, balanced tone is desirable. The AC3R isn’t ideal for aggressive strumming or hard rock/metal, but it handles many styles with aplomb.
Gigging and Recording Applications
The AC3R’s premium electronics allow it to shine in both live and studio settings. It’s a reliable gigging companion thanks to the clear amplified tone and onboard tuner. Feedback control makes it stage-friendly. In the studio, the AC3R captures rich acoustic detail through its pickup/preamp system. The various mic voicings let you customize your recorded tone.
Pros and Cons for Players
Beginners may find the AC3R a bit advanced, though the smooth neck, comfortable body size, and quality electronics make it playable for intermediate players on up. The solid wood construction makes it a good long-term investment. Advanced players will appreciate the AC3R’s acoustic refinement and amplified versatility. The premium price tag makes it most suitable for serious hobbyists and gigging musicians.
Yamaha AC3R Price & Value
The Yamaha AC3R typically sells for $1,299-$1,499 at most musical instrument retailers. This positions it as a premium acoustic-electric in the upper-mid price range.
What’s included with the AC3R is part of what makes it a good value:
- High quality hardshell case
- Custom fit humidifier
- Polishing cloth
- User manuals
So you’re not just getting the guitar, but some useful accessories to protect it and keep it sounding its best.
Overall, the AC3R offers fantastic value for serious players looking for rich acoustic tone and quality amplified performance. The use of solid tonewoods, hand-crafted construction, and Yamaha’s excellent electronics justify the price tag. While not cheap, the AC3R delivers outstanding quality you can hear, feel, and see in every aspect of the instrument. For discerning musicians, it’s an investment that pays off in inspired playing and years of enjoyment.
Yamaha AC3R vs The Competition
The Yamaha AC3R holds its own against other acoustic-electrics in the $1,000 to $1,500 price range. Models like the Martin Road Series DRS2 and Taylor 214ce are comparable, but the AC3R has some unique advantages.
Yamaha’s A.R.E. wood torrefaction treatment on the AC3R’s spruce top results in a guitar that opens up faster and sounds more mature than brand new models from other brands. The AC3R’s solid rosewood back and sides also give it a richness that can surpass mahogany and layered wood alternatives.
The SRT2 pickup system gives the AC3R excellent amplified tone shaping ability, with more flexibility than the ES2 system on the Martin Road Series. The AC3R also provides better feedback control than the Taylor Expression System 2 on the 214ce model.
While the playability and build quality is excellent on the Martin and Taylor models, the AC3R exemplifies Yamaha’s reputation for consistency and attention to detail. The vintage gloss finishes are also more refined on the AC3R.
Overall, the Yamaha AC3R punches above its weight class, competing with more expensive models thanks to the mature, balanced tone of its A.R.E.-treated spruce top and the versatile plugged-in performance of the SRT2 electronics. For discerning players, it’s an excellent alternative to consider in the $1,000 to $1,500 acoustic-electric market.
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
The Yamaha AC3R is an excellent option for any guitarist looking for a premium acoustic-electric with top-notch sound, playability, and versatile performance capabilities. Its solid Sitka spruce top and rosewood back/sides provide rich, complex acoustic tone that projects with clarity and dynamic range. The SRT2 pickup system gives players studio-quality amplified sound with microphone modeling and anti-feedback features ideal for gigging.
With its concert-style cutaway body and comfortable neck profile, the AC3R excels for fingerstyle playing and lighter strumming. From the immaculate appointments to the hand-crafted details, Yamaha’s reputation for quality is on full display. While not the most affordable in its class, the AC3R offers professional features, tonewoods and electronics that make it well worth the investment for serious players. For recording, performing, or simply enjoying top-tier acoustic sound, the AC3R comes highly recommended. Its blend of playability, versatility and premium build make it a benchmark acoustic-electric worthy of consideration.