Introduction
Yamaha is one of the most respected names in acoustic guitars, with a proven track record for building high quality, great sounding instruments across a wide range of price points. The Yamaha AC1M is part of their affordable A-Series lineup, designed to deliver solid wood construction and Yamaha’s renowned playability at an accessible price.
The AC1M features a compact concert body size with a single cutaway for easy upper fret access. This makes it a versatile guitar well-suited to fingerstyle playing and recording. As an acoustic-electric model, it comes equipped with Yamaha’s SRT piezo pickup system to give amplified performance capabilities without sacrificing natural acoustic tone.
The AC1M sits towards the middle of the A-Series range, making it a great entry point into Yamaha’s acclaimed acoustic guitar family. Its combination of playability, solid Sitka spruce and mahogany tonewoods, and plugged-in convenience make it a compelling choice for developing and gigging guitarists alike.
Construction and Specs
The Yamaha AC1M has a compact concert body size measuring 15 inches across the lower bout. It features a solid Sitka spruce top which contributes to its loud and articulate voice. The back and sides are made from mahogany, adding warmth and richness to the tone.
The neck is also constructed from mahogany and has a slim profile that is comfortable for most hand sizes. It has a standard 25 inch scale length and a rosewood fingerboard with 20 frets. The nut width measures 1.69 inches, providing a good balance of space for fingerstyle playing while still playable for chord strumming.
The AC1M is equipped with Yamaha’s SRT Piezo pickup system, which aims to accurately capture the guitar’s natural acoustic sound when plugged in. It features an onboard tuner with a discreet display located on the side of the guitar. Volume and tone controls are also conveniently located on the upper bout.
Unplugged Sound
The AC1M delivers a balanced, articulate unplugged tone thanks to its solid wood construction. The solid Sitka spruce top provides a nice shimmer in the highs along with warm lows and mids from the mahogany back and sides. There’s an impressive volume and projection from the concert-sized body – it’s loud enough to accompany vocals or play with other acoustic instruments.
The note separation is excellent, allowing you to hear each individual string when fingerpicking melodies and arpeggios. There’s a clear distinction between bass notes, chords, and single-note runs. The notes have a pleasing resonance and sustain as well. The mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard further enhance the warmth and resonance.
When strumming, the response across all six strings is very even. It handles both gentle fingerpicking patterns and more aggressive strumming without sounding too boomy or getting overwhelmed. The smaller body size does mean slightly less low-end than a dreadnought, but the tonal balance remains strong and defined.
Plugged-In Sound
The Yamaha AC1M comes equipped with Yamaha’s SRT piezo pickup system, which utilizes an undersaddle transducer to capture the guitar’s natural acoustic resonance when amplified. Many players appreciate the SRT system for its ability to produce a dynamic, organic tone without the quackiness or sterile quality of some undersaddle pickups.
The onboard preamp provides volume control via a single knob located just inside the soundhole. While some guitars in this price range include EQ controls for tone shaping, the AC1M opts for simplicity – just plug in and dial in your volume. The lack of EQ adjustment may be a downside for those who really want to sculpt their amplified tone, but the SRT does a nice job capturing the guitar’s natural acoustic voice.
During testing, I found the plugged-in tone balanced and clear across all six strings. It avoids the thin, brittle quality of cheaper piezo systems and reproduces the guitar’s woody resonance. There’s enough crisp high-end to cut through a mix, along with round low mids to fill out the sound. It’s not as warm or bass-heavy as soundhole pickups, but provides a truer acoustic tone overall.
Playability
The Yamaha AC1M has a comfortable and very playable feel right out of the box. The slim mahogany neck has a smooth satin finish that allows your hand to easily glide up and down. Yamaha describes the neck profile as a "conventional" C shape, and it should suit most hand sizes.
The nut width measures around 1.69 inches, which is a good compromise between playability and string spacing. This allows for comfortable chording while still providing decent room between strings for fingerstyle playing. The string spacing at the bridge is 2 1/8 inches, which is typical for a guitar of this size.
The medium jumbo frets are nicely finished and polished for smooth transitions up and down the rosewood fingerboard. Overall the fretwork from the factory is very good, with level frets and no sharp edges. The action is set to a very playable medium-low height that makes chords and single note runs easy, even for beginners.
The compensated saddle provides excellent intonation right out of the box. No adjustments were needed after unboxing to get the AC1M playing in tune all the way up the neck. The guitar feels equally comfortable when playing seated or standing with a strap. Its compact concert body size makes it a pleasure to play for extended periods without fatigue.
Hardware
The Yamaha AC1M features quality hardware to ensure tuning stability, playability, and accurate intonation.
The guitar comes equipped with Yamaha’s die-cast chrome tuners. These sealed tuners do a great job of holding the strings in tune, even during aggressive strumming or heavy bends. The tuning pegs turn smoothly for quick and accurate tuning adjustments.
The nut and saddle are both made from compensated synthetic bone, which helps improve the guitar’s overall intonation. The nut is cut for ideal string spacing and break angle over the first fret, while the saddle is precision shaped to set the proper string height and compensation. Together they provide buzz-free action and chords that play in tune all the way up the neck.
The bridge utilizes a rosewood bridge plate with a synthetic bone saddle. The materials and construction allow the bridge to transfer string vibrations efficiently to the top of the guitar for full-bodied tone. The white saddle contrasts nicely against the darker rosewood bridge plate as well.
Overall the hardware is well-chosen to complement the tonewoods and electronics while providing tuning stability and playability right out of the box. Yamaha’s attention to detail with the tuners, nut, saddle, and bridge is evident.
Fit and Finish
The Yamaha AC1M impresses with its fit and finish, especially considering its affordable price point. The all-solid wood construction gives it a sturdy, resonant feel that belies its compact size.
The spruce top is nicely bookmatched with tight, straight grain. It has an even finish that allows the wood’s texture to shine through. The mahogany back and sides have an attractive semi-gloss layer that shows off the wood’s lively figure. The sides in particular exhibit some beautiful flame patterns.
The binding along the top and back is clean and consistent, with no gaps or rough spots. It provides a nice visual accent that complements the sunburst and natural finishes. The neck joint is also cleanly cut for a seamless transition from neck to body.
Upon close inspection, there are no noticeable flaws in the materials or workmanship. The fret ends are smoothly finished with no sharp edges. The bridge is fitted snugly with good alignment to the top.
Overall, the AC1M exhibits Yamaha’s renowned attention to detail and quality control. Especially at this price point, it’s impressive to find such consistent craftsmanship and care given to the construction. This guitar feels solidly put together and able to withstand the rigors of regular playing and travel.
Accessories
The Yamaha AC1M comes with a few useful accessories for gigging and practice. It includes a durable padded gig bag to protect the guitar during transport and storage. The bag features backpack straps, making it easy to carry the lightweight AC1M from place to place.
Inside the gig bag, Yamaha also includes a few helpful extras. You get a Yamaha leather strap, allowing you to safely play the AC1M while standing up. There’s also a pack of Yamaha-branded picks featuring a grippy, textured surface. Having a few picks included is always handy in case you lose one during a gig. No need to scramble to find a backup pick.
While it doesn’t come with a hard case, the included gig bag provides ample protection for a concert-sized acoustic like the AC1M. The guitar fits securely inside the bag, with minimal room for it to shift around. Some players may opt to upgrade to a hardshell case down the road for even more protection. But for most needs, the padded gig bag that comes with the guitar will get the job done.
Overall, while the included accessories with the AC1M are fairly minimal, Yamaha does provide the essentials like a strap and picks to get you playing right away. The gig bag is also thoughtfully designed and well-made.
Price and Value
The Yamaha AC1M has an MSRP of $899, though real-world pricing is typically lower from most major retailers. At the time of writing, the AC1M could be commonly found new for $699, representing a solid $200 discount from list price. This positions the AC1M as one of the most affordable all-solid wood concert-sized cutaway electro-acoustics on the market.
Compared to other concert-sized guitars with solid spruce tops, the AC1M punches above its weight class in value. Models from Martin, Taylor, and other premium brands with comparable specs can run $1000-1500. The AC1M offers an impressive balance of tonewoods, electronics, playability, and build quality at under $700. While the fit and finish may not be as refined as a pricier American-made guitar, the AC1M’s fundamentals deliver professional performance and sound at an entry-level price point.
For players looking for an affordable concert-sized electro-acoustic that doesn’t compromise on tone or playability, the Yamaha AC1M represents one of the best values currently available. The combination of solid woods, comfortable neck profile, SRT pickup system, and gig bag make the AC1M feel like a more premium guitar selling for hundreds more. While not the cheapest concert-sized acoustic-electric around, the AC1M justifies its very reasonable price with the complete package it provides.
Summary
The Yamaha AC1M is an excellent compact acoustic-electric guitar for fingerstyle players or those who prefer a smaller-body instrument. Its solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides deliver a balanced, articulate tone with good projection. The slim neck and cutaway design provide easy access to the upper frets, making this a great choice for soloing and melodic playing.
The onboard SRT piezo pickup captures the AC1M’s natural acoustic sound faithfully when plugged in. Controls are simple but effective, with just a volume knob and built-in tuner. The guitar feels very comfortable to play either seated or with a strap, with great playability right out of the box.
Overall build quality and attention to detail is impressive for the price. The AC1M punches above its weight, offering pro-level specs, tonewoods and playability. It’s an excellent value for those looking for a great all-around acoustic-electric in a compact size.
The Yamaha AC1M would be best suited for fingerstyle guitarists, singer-songwriters, or anyone wanting a quality electro-acoustic that’s easy to transport. The only limitation may be for aggressive strummers who need more low-end punch. For portable amplified tone and effortless playability, the AC1M is easy to recommend. We give it high marks for its versatility and value.