If you read/watched our interview with Yamaha at NAMM you would know that every year the brand has interesting and innovative instruments for players of all levels. This year is no different as today we are reviewing the Silent Series nylon string guitar.
To begin with a striking detail about this instrument is that it is really about half the size of the full sized guitar boxes we are all used to finding on our doorsteps. Packed in a simple but very durable gig bag it looks and feels more like carrying around a Keytar rather than a classical style acoustic.
Truth be told it wasn't long before someone asked if we had a Keytar due to the shape of the bag. Everyone was not only a little surprised by the fact that it was a guitar, but they were very interested in the instrument itself once they got a glimpse of it.
The guitar itself is made from Mahogany and Maple with a Rosewood fingerboard. Right off the bat we have quality and fan favorite woods going into the instrument which goes along with what Yamaha tells us year after year, you get more for a price that won't break the bank.
Yamaha delivers a stunning body in a guitar that actually, barely has a body. To explain further, the center piece of wood or core, isn't simple or satin finished, but gloss.
This stands out because the guitar comes in a few different color options such as Natural, Trans Black, Crimson Red Burst, and Tobacco Burst, so with a gloss finish, the small portion of "body" that this instrument has just pops.
Another eye catching point on the guitar are the open tuning machines. A small part that most people overlook, but these have a wonderful coloring to them that can't help but grab your attention for a few seconds.
The neck and fingerboard feel exactly like a classical nylon string guitar should. The neck itself is beefy but shallow so you can get a good grip on it and the fretboard itself is perfectly flat giving you plenty of room to work if you have shorter fingers.
A huge perk to this guitar is the detachable body. To simplify it, the half of the body that you drape your picking hand over detaches with a simple twist of your strap buttons.
Why should this matter? Well, anyone who has ever traveled on a plane can tell you that temping as it is to take a guitar with you, it is often not done due to size restrictions and the fear of checking it as luggage.
There's always the fear of it getting lost or damaged should there not be any room in the cabin of the plane. For a long time your only other options were to buy a seat for your guitar, or take something smaller like a Ukulele or Baritone Ukulele.
Yamaha has created a new option with this surprisingly simple feature. Once removed, half of the body tucks in neatly to a separate compartment in the gig bag, making the guitar slimmer.
Combined with the fact that being an acoustic/electric guitar with a very slim body, the gig bag can be compared to traveling with a short hockey stick. It should go without saying that putting this guitar into the overhead luggage compartments is something that can be done easily.
Other features include built in Aux and headphone inputs as well as a tuner and Chorus/Reverb effects. In addition you do get a blend option so you can really sculpt your tone through an amp or PA.
Coming in at a price tag of $649.99, Yamaha gives the customer a wide array of options for a price that everyone can live with. If nylon strings are not your thing, the guitar also comes in a steel string version at the same price point.
Were there any drawbacks? Well, we do have to admit, upon first playing the guitar, the lack of surface body takes some getting used to.
I think for most people not having the guitar top to rest your palm on is not something we are used to. At first you feel as if you have to have your hand away from the guitar, but the truth is, with a simple change in hand position your right hand will adjust with some ease.
How will that effect they way you play? We noticed little to no difference in playability at all.
The Yamaha Silent Guitar is one that we do recommend everyone give a try should they be looking for options in an acoustic/electric or for a travel guitar in general. With this line of guitars you can get the portability without sacrificing too much size.
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