*PLEASE LIKE SO OTHERS CAN SEE:* Mahogany Mic Input 4:22 -- 7:54 Rosewood Mic Input 6:07 -- 8:44 Mahogany Line Input 5:17 -- 8:19 Rosewood Line Input 7:05 -- 9:09
For people shopping around, you can’t go wrong with either. I have the A3M. It’s so fun to play and I cannot put my guitar down. You’ll enjoy getting lost in the beautiful warm tones of the mahogany wood. If Yamaha put emphasis into aesthetics (such as fancy head stock, tuning pegs, rosette, fancy pearl fretboard in-lays) this guitar would easily cost $2,000. The engineers really put all emphasis into sound and playability. You will not be disappointed with the A3M!
I have the A3R ARE (tobacco burst) and I love the understated, toned down feel of the guitar. I haven't found it mentioned anywhere but the ebony FB is actually bound with rosewood. You would never even know this detail until you have a minute or 2 to look at the guitar. Where other guitars would make binding as ornate and stand outish as possible; this has beautiful binding that I can't find mentioned in any specs or reviews. Anyhow, RAMBLE over. Take care!
I own 2 Yamahas the LS-TA and a AC3R and they are both fantastic guitars. I think a lot of people over look Yamaha because they want one of the big 3 manufacturers, but in reality they are great guitars and have been making great instruments for 50+ years.
Bought the A3R a few weeks ago , and I love it ! the setup out of the box was perfect , as is the Finish .Beside the beauty of the wood is has a very rich pure sound , The neck feels just right !! intonation is spot on .Price wise 900.00 is a very good price on this instrument , I would compare it to to any $1500.00 to $2500.00 dollar guitar around and I have played Martin's Taylor's etc . Very satisfied customer here :) Also was a very nice soft/hard case included Thanks Yamaha !!
I own an AC1M and love it, and I just played an AC3R today. Great guitar. I think the AC3R sounded a bit brighter. I own a cedar/rosewood Bourgeois and I've owned Taylors. All great guitars, but I bought the AC1M after playing it head-to-head against similar Taylors that cost quite a bit more. Yamaha makes great instruments.
I have an M on order, due to arrive in the next few days. I do prefer the M sound on this demo but hoping the R’s arrive with the M’s so I can hear them live. As always, a wonderful review and super cool tunes. Thanks for your awesome reviews Chris!...
Welp.... I've had the A5R for about 2 years now and recently I've had a bug up my butt for a mahogany guitar. So, I ordered a A5M, intending to keep whichever I like best. Hopefully I won't decide I can't let either one go LOL.
This is my next guitar.(Except i prefer the concert shape to the dreadnought).You would pay $2000 more for a Taylor of this quality.Don't let the Made in China fool you,these are excellent.
Awesome. They both sound great and you can really tell the difference between the Rosewood and Mahogany. Dang it that means I gotta by two guitars. Lol. Add to the collection. 🤠
Solid guitars that seem to ‘punch above their weight’. Especially considering their performance relative to their price-point. The extended range, more even tonal balance, slightly cleaner & faster bass of the solid Rosewood back, as well as that rich Tobacco Sunburst finish, of the A5R does it for me. Be interested to know what song you started playing at 07:54?
Just bought the rosewood version today....thought about the mahogany ...have none in my collection.....but I just love rosewood and went with that....either way, great value for such a nice instrument....its something I will want to play...
I bought the A3R. Not disappointing at all. What is remarkable is that to me anyway, I prefer this to my Taylor 614CE. And you cannot find a better sound from the preamp. Plugged right in to a board it's much better sounding than any i've played. Even open air is very good and loud. Yea the Taylor is all bling and no swing. I would have liked to see some abalone on the A series but .. its trying to achieve a price point.
Yeah their electronics just can't be beat. I had one of their acoustic processors. And I loved the modeling. I pair this with the zoom acoustic processor and the sound is just ridiculous. And I now have only one pedal that I use beyond volume and tuner
I had the Gen 1 of the AC3R. I loved the electronics. It sounds great when plugged into a PA for live performances. BUT... I really prefer the 1 3/4" nut (and that is why I have a Taylor 416CE and 712CE). And I wasn't a huge fan of the "porous" neck. The neck is now improved, but we still have the narrower nut. Drats !! I would love to see the System 71 pickup system coupled with a Grand Concert body with the wider nut. Yamaha... PLEASE !!!
Both are great but I think the Mahogany actually has a better frequency signature, especially for live performance with a band! The rosewood has a large boost in the upper lower (400 to 600hz) range which can get very muddy when playing live and it causes the guitar to sound a bit muffled. It's not horrible but I think for $100 less you can get the better sounding A3M. I heard it in this video and went to a local guitar shop to compare. They only had the A1 series but the sound was similar when I compared the A1M and A1R.
Almost all guitars under 1500$ vary significantly from one guitar to another, I've seen that often. The same model in the same shop, one of them is great, the other one isn't. So the answer is- it depends :)
Great demo. Is the mahogany the natural color and the rosewood is the burst? Guess I missed which one is which. I like the sound of the natural so need to know before I order one. Unfortunately none at my local store
They both sound great but in the last passages where you are really strumming hard, they both sounded really bad. Not sure if you were over driving the signal or if was a guitar issue ?
This review is pretty good but doesn't get all the way to great. Your introduction says the internal system has a blend between the pickup and a modeled mic sound (Royer122 or...) Then the playing demo has a 3rd source -- another mic. So when the upper left text says "microphone" or "line", I have to assume we're hearing the external mic on stand or the internal pickup. Why not demo the blended internal pair? Would likely be a great sound. As is, the external mic is too weak in the midrange and the line is too weak in low tones and almost too strong in mids. (but evenly so) That said, I like that you played 3 different styles for each gtr--- a very useful demo. And to answer your question, I like the M (mahogany) model better. It's midrange is better represented.
I have the A5R (basically the same as the A3R with minor upgrades + made in Japan)... This and a few other videos made me order a A5M, hopefully I'll be able to pick one to keep or it'll be the start of a collection 😜
Part of me would hate to buy a Yamaha, I'm a bit of a snob like that, but they're really making it hard to maintain my snobbishness. Serious bang for the buck. Sort of like a 90s Camry.
Yes, familiar with different factories. I am curious if there is substantial quality differential because of this fact. I think the A5 is great, and hard to find in retail stores, and I am curious if purchasing it is a big improvement from the A3.
@@RendyWijaya No, A5 = TUSQ Nut and Saddle, A3 = different Nut and Saddle. A5 = Hardshell Case Included, A3 = Hard Bag Included. A3 = selected wood, A5 = selected wood from selected wood. A5 = built by 1 Master, A3 = built by a group of (qualified) factory workers.
I'm a bit confused. Does the A3M only come in a light color or can you get the A3M in that dark color? I'm looking in different stores online and it seems like can buy it in a dark color, but on RUclips all the A3M are the light color one. help!
There are many commercials before videos or in the middle of videos, and I do not mind them. I also understand the need for them. But there is one that is just way too annoying, as follows: "There is a terrible curse that plagues guitar players ...." If the commercial deleted that first intro, then it would be OK too. Nice-sounding guitars despite the annoying commercial.
How were the mic type and mic/pickup balance set during the line out recording? These guitars have a huge range of sound depending on how those are set.
Which is rosewood and which is mahogany? You kinda nod your head a couple times but never actually say which is which. Was the natural finish the Mahogany?
hand made I believe by a few select Luthiers, first choice in wood, no plastic on the nut and saddle and bridge pins, set up by the pros at the factory (you may still need to adjust everyone is different) A true hard case, instead pf a bag. You could of course get a hard case and pay a Luthier to install those upgrades or do them yourself for cheaper. But it is probably worth it to get it with all the upgrades straight from the handmade factory.
At around 37 seconds he looks at the vintage and says "A3M". I think sunburst is A3R. I prefer the A3M (vintage look, not sunburst) sound I think. Maybe people are confused which is which?
Huh? Those guitars are very different. The Yamaha has a 1 1/16-inch nut width and has solid rosewood back and sides. The Alvarez (I have a similar AD30) has a 1.75-inch nut width and laminated ... not solid ... mahogany back and sides not the solid rosewood in the Yamaha model. If you want a bright sound take a look at a Taylor.
Yamaha calls these the "western style", alamo calls them dreadnougts. Hmmm. I purchased the AC3R in 2014 before the Mohogany back Yam instruments were available. Had they been, I'd of gone with mohagany. Might still go with the A3M.
@@matteo31149 can’t go wrong with either, the rosewood version costs more(it did where I got it) cause rosewood is an endangered species and will have a darker tone and will look better. The mahogany has a warmer tone. Either one will sound great
@@AncientEL07 only about $400 US more for the 5 than the 3, but for that you get a hard case, a TUSQ nut/saddle, and hand made by your own personal luthier in Yamaha’s custom shop in Japan.
Nothing wrong with Chinese made...especially when you look at the work ethic and lack of pride in the American workforce now...not all, but many from the last generation or more of workers suck.
*PLEASE LIKE SO OTHERS CAN SEE:*
Mahogany Mic Input 4:22 -- 7:54
Rosewood Mic Input 6:07 -- 8:44
Mahogany Line Input 5:17 -- 8:19
Rosewood Line Input 7:05 -- 9:09
For people shopping around, you can’t go wrong with either. I have the A3M. It’s so fun to play and I cannot put my guitar down. You’ll enjoy getting lost in the beautiful warm tones of the mahogany wood. If Yamaha put emphasis into aesthetics (such as fancy head stock, tuning pegs, rosette, fancy pearl fretboard in-lays) this guitar would easily cost $2,000. The engineers really put all emphasis into sound and playability. You will not be disappointed with the A3M!
I have the A3R ARE (tobacco burst) and I love the understated, toned down feel of the guitar. I haven't found it mentioned anywhere but the ebony FB is actually bound with rosewood. You would never even know this detail until you have a minute or 2 to look at the guitar. Where other guitars would make binding as ornate and stand outish as possible; this has beautiful binding that I can't find mentioned in any specs or reviews. Anyhow, RAMBLE over. Take care!
@@XoxJasonReynoldsxoX Yamaha stepping up their game yet at an economic price point for us on a budget. I’m a huge Yamaha fan for that
would you recommend the A3M for someone with relatively small hands?
I have the AC3M A.R.E. Deluxe concert body. Best guitar I have ever owned. I love it!
@@virtuallyd3ad I think small hand should be able to play. You may want to use light gauge strings to start
I own 2 Yamahas the LS-TA and a AC3R and they are both fantastic guitars. I think a lot of people over look Yamaha because they want one of the big 3 manufacturers, but in reality they are great guitars and have been making great instruments for 50+ years.
which guitar sounds better, how do they sound in line through the pickup, do you also have a strong background?
Which is the best in your opinion to play unplugged and plugged?
I personally don't plug in very often.@@marcelofranca2464
Bought the A3R a few weeks ago , and I love it ! the setup out of the box was perfect , as is the Finish .Beside the beauty of the wood is has a very rich pure sound , The neck feels just right !! intonation is spot on .Price wise 900.00 is a very good price on this instrument , I would compare it to to any $1500.00 to $2500.00 dollar guitar around and I have played Martin's Taylor's etc . Very satisfied customer here :) Also was a very nice soft/hard case included Thanks Yamaha !!
How much buddy Australian dollar
I own an AC1M and love it, and I just played an AC3R today. Great guitar. I think the AC3R sounded a bit brighter. I own a cedar/rosewood Bourgeois and I've owned Taylors. All great guitars, but I bought the AC1M after playing it head-to-head against similar Taylors that cost quite a bit more. Yamaha makes great instruments.
3m is brighter
I have an M on order, due to arrive in the next few days. I do prefer the M sound on this demo but hoping the R’s arrive with the M’s so I can hear them live. As always, a wonderful review and super cool tunes. Thanks for your awesome reviews Chris!...
Ooh that mahogany model sounds deep and rich I love it. I want.
I love the sound of both Rosewood and Mahogany. People always talk about choosing one, but I can’t! Guess I’ll just have to get both!
Welp.... I've had the A5R for about 2 years now and recently I've had a bug up my butt for a mahogany guitar. So, I ordered a A5M, intending to keep whichever I like best. Hopefully I won't decide I can't let either one go LOL.
Funny thing is 2 of this beauty still cheaper than a mid range Taylor lol
@@phxrider950 which one did you keep
@@tarksahinoglu4585 Both.
This is my next guitar.(Except i prefer the concert shape to the dreadnought).You would pay $2000 more for a Taylor of this quality.Don't let the Made in China fool you,these are excellent.
Hell yeah
Ac3r
Yes,but i prefer A5 of this series,they are made in Japan only 300$ dollars more.
100% and I own them all !
@@maxlincycle3211 The 5 series are $600-$800 more depending on model. They are $1500-$1700. 3 series are only $900.
This is amazing plugged in.
I have an LL-TA and just got my A5M. Fantastic sound and incredible quality. Couldn't love either any more than I do!🎸❤️
Which is the best in your opinion to play unplugged and plugged?
7:54
8:44
8:19
9:09
Good review , but I would like to watch a video comparing the concert body style on each of these guitars.
Awesome. They both sound great and you can really tell the difference between the Rosewood and Mahogany. Dang it that means I gotta by two guitars. Lol. Add to the collection. 🤠
thanks for a great review. really nice playing, too.
Solid guitars that seem to ‘punch above their weight’. Especially considering their performance relative to their price-point. The extended range, more even tonal balance, slightly cleaner & faster bass of the solid Rosewood back, as well as that rich Tobacco Sunburst finish, of the A5R does it for me.
Be interested to know what song you started playing at 07:54?
That is an original by Chris! We get a lot of people asking about that one.
Recently bought a A3M as a second gig guitar. Shaved about 1.2mm off the saddle and it plays fantastic.
I can't decide, man. They're definitely different, I hear the difference, but which do I prefer... I can't say.
Wow! Love both of them.
I've got the A3R, and it's a stupendously good guitar. Buddy I play with actually prefers mine, both for tone and playability, to his Taylor koa 214.
Just bought the rosewood version today....thought about the mahogany ...have none in my collection.....but I just love rosewood and went with that....either way, great value for such a nice instrument....its something I will want to play...
Hy, I want to buy also the rosewood model. How is the width of the neck? I'm asking because I have long fingers. Thank you!
I bought the A3R. Not disappointing at all. What is remarkable is that to me anyway, I prefer this to my Taylor 614CE. And you cannot find a better sound from the preamp. Plugged right in to a board it's much better sounding than any i've played. Even open air is very good and loud. Yea the Taylor is all bling and no swing. I would have liked to see some abalone on the A series but .. its trying to achieve a price point.
Yeah their electronics just can't be beat. I had one of their acoustic processors. And I loved the modeling. I pair this with the zoom acoustic processor and the sound is just ridiculous. And I now have only one pedal that I use beyond volume and tuner
Both are excellent sound and playability. I find the A5M so beautifully captivating that i am buying one today.
I had the Gen 1 of the AC3R. I loved the electronics. It sounds great when plugged into a PA for live performances. BUT... I really prefer the 1 3/4" nut (and that is why I have a Taylor 416CE and 712CE). And I wasn't a huge fan of the "porous" neck. The neck is now improved, but we still have the narrower nut. Drats !! I would love to see the System 71 pickup system coupled with a Grand Concert body with the wider nut. Yamaha... PLEASE !!!
Beautiful playing!!! What is the first song you are playing? Where could I get the Tabs for it?
They both sound awesome, hard choice but i think the Rosewood is my pick.
i love my A3M.
Both guitars are great but for me A3R sounds a bit better.
Indeed a3r is better, warmer?.... you can hear the bass unlike with a3m, sound is like hiding, dnt know the right term.....thats why i bought a3r
I love the rosewood. A3R it is.
Well rosewood always favourite tonewood. But there are a lot of folk prefer Mahagony also
Both are great but I think the Mahogany actually has a better frequency signature, especially for live performance with a band! The rosewood has a large boost in the upper lower (400 to 600hz) range which can get very muddy when playing live and it causes the guitar to sound a bit muffled. It's not horrible but I think for $100 less you can get the better sounding A3M. I heard it in this video and went to a local guitar shop to compare. They only had the A1 series but the sound was similar when I compared the A1M and A1R.
Nice review, how are those compare with LL16?
Better than the LL16.
I have the LL16M and it is absolutely better than the A3R/A3N . It is richer, fuller and has way more bass to it.
Almost all guitars under 1500$ vary significantly from one guitar to another, I've seen that often.
The same model in the same shop, one of them is great, the other one isn't. So the answer is- it depends :)
Great demo. Is the mahogany the natural color and the rosewood is the burst? Guess I missed which one is which. I like the sound of the natural so need to know before I order one. Unfortunately none at my local store
This is the natural (:
Nice review as always. Can you please compare the A3 with the A5
Awesome. I love it!
They both sound great but in the last passages where you are really strumming hard, they both sounded really bad. Not sure if you were over driving the signal or if was a guitar issue ?
Mahogany Mic 9:37
Rosewood Mic 10:28
This review is pretty good but doesn't get all the way to great. Your introduction says the internal system has a blend between the pickup and a modeled mic sound (Royer122 or...) Then the playing demo has a 3rd source -- another mic. So when the upper left text says "microphone" or "line", I have to assume we're hearing the external mic on stand or the internal pickup. Why not demo the blended internal pair? Would likely be a great sound. As is, the external mic is too weak in the midrange and the line is too weak in low tones and almost too strong in mids. (but evenly so)
That said, I like that you played 3 different styles for each gtr--- a very useful demo.
And to answer your question, I like the M (mahogany) model better. It's midrange is better represented.
what you expect these are cheap guitars u want great Martin taylor gibson collings
8:00 is it a song? If yes, what's the name?
I wish they made the ll16 with a cutaway.
Like them both.
I have the A5R (basically the same as the A3R with minor upgrades + made in Japan)... This and a few other videos made me order a A5M, hopefully I'll be able to pick one to keep or it'll be the start of a collection 😜
So comparison?
I have A3r It’s sound amazing
Rosewood is higher treble for sure, but the mahogany has more bass from what I heard
Part of me would hate to buy a Yamaha, I'm a bit of a snob like that, but they're really making it hard to maintain my snobbishness. Serious bang for the buck. Sort of like a 90s Camry.
What's the finger style tune called?
I just got a AC3M DLX used. Fantastic guitar. I can't figure out how the DLX is the same price as the plainer AC3M.
Yes, still wondering why. If anyone get's a chance to try one, they just might wind up buying one.
How about comparing AC5R to AC3R?
AC5R made in japan / AC3R made in china ............ is true????
yes that's true
Yes, familiar with different factories. I am curious if there is substantial quality differential because of this fact. I think the A5 is great, and hard to find in retail stores, and I am curious if purchasing it is a big improvement from the A3.
James Larson i think the difference between 3 and 5 series is where they were made and how they were made , because the materials used is the same
@@RendyWijaya No, A5 = TUSQ Nut and Saddle, A3 = different Nut and Saddle. A5 = Hardshell Case Included, A3 = Hard Bag Included. A3 = selected wood, A5 = selected wood from selected wood. A5 = built by 1 Master, A3 = built by a group of (qualified) factory workers.
I'm a bit confused. Does the A3M only come in a light color or can you get the A3M in that dark color? I'm looking in different stores online and it seems like can buy it in a dark color, but on RUclips all the A3M are the light color one. help!
They come in Tobacco Brown Sunburst and Vintage Natural (:
@@AlamoMusic Thank you! :)
I typically root for rosewood but I personally like the mahogany on this one more... Did anyone else agree?
Clark Rumsey I agree! The mahogany sounds better to me. Richer, somehow.
I am all for the Rosewood dude !
I bought the A3M, it’s amazing!
There are many commercials before videos or in the middle of videos, and I do not mind them. I also understand the need for them. But there is one that is just way too annoying, as follows: "There is a terrible curse that plagues guitar players ...." If the commercial deleted that first intro, then it would be OK too. Nice-sounding guitars despite the annoying commercial.
i think the important thing is the top. Not back and sides too much
How were the mic type and mic/pickup balance set during the line out recording? These guitars have a huge range of sound depending on how those are set.
We all have preferences and favourites but you just can't go wrong with Yamaha.
Which is rosewood and which is mahogany? You kinda nod your head a couple times but never actually say which is which. Was the natural finish the Mahogany?
Joel H. I tried both....the A3R has more bass sound than A3M.... THAT why i bought A3R....
The natural top is the Mahogany one and the Sunburst is the Rosewood
Yes
One is rose, the other is mahog . Pretty obvious
Sunburst. #1 Rosewood
I thought about it it would be nice with a FGX3 vs A3R video. Also FGx800c vs A1 would be good, To hear the tona differences.
7:54 mahagony
8:44 rosewood
How does the A3 sound through a direct box straight into the PA?
Great guitars !!
For me A3M
Halo, please give a note which color is A3M and which is A3M ..thanks 🙂
Which is which???
JackB1 the burst is A3R
A3R deep sound warm and long sustain ,
For me : A3R
How superior is A5 to A3? Is the Japanese model made with better woods or other factors?
NO, small cosmetic differences and different tuners - cheaply up-gradable on A3
Thank you!
specs nut width etc
hand made I believe by a few select Luthiers, first choice in wood, no plastic on the nut and saddle and bridge pins, set up by the pros at the factory (you may still need to adjust everyone is different) A true hard case, instead pf a bag.
You could of course get a hard case and pay a Luthier to install those upgrades or do them yourself for cheaper.
But it is probably worth it to get it with all the upgrades straight from the handmade factory.
Rosewood is more full and warmer. They both sound great, but my ear is on the rosewood. Way more undertones
I like the mahogany better on this guitar.
The vintage is A3R.....sunburst is A3M?.... A3R has more bass
At around 37 seconds he looks at the vintage and says "A3M". I think sunburst is A3R. I prefer the A3M (vintage look, not sunburst) sound I think. Maybe people are confused which is which?
Just check the Thumbnail of the video 😂
I bought an apx 600 and it’s a wonderful 300 dollar guitar
I meant to add I like it better than my Gibson and Taylor
You need to switch from one guitar to the other much more frequently.
A3R ❤️
Yamaha A3R or Alvarez AD60CE. Bright sound is my first priority
Huh? Those guitars are very different. The Yamaha has a 1 1/16-inch nut width and has solid rosewood back and sides. The Alvarez (I have a similar AD30) has a 1.75-inch nut width and laminated ... not solid ... mahogany back and sides not the solid rosewood in the Yamaha model. If you want a bright sound take a look at a Taylor.
What are the string action measurements of the e strings?
Whatever you like to set them at.....
Yamaha calls these the "western style", alamo calls them dreadnougts. Hmmm. I purchased the AC3R in 2014 before the Mohogany back Yam instruments were available. Had they been, I'd of gone with mohagany. Might still go with the A3M.
These A series models sound a bit bland to me. Wonder why that is.
Because you dont hear well perhaps?
@@Wobbz9413 Did I hurt your feelings?
4:22
6:07
Both are so 🎵💕💕💗
I thought the A series were made in Japan
George Mercer the a5 is made in the japan, the a1 and a3 is made in China
@@charlieboyd2453 Ac5M or Ac5R??? which is better??? help me please
@@matteo31149 can’t go wrong with either, the rosewood version costs more(it did where I got it) cause rosewood is an endangered species and will have a darker tone and will look better. The mahogany has a warmer tone. Either one will sound great
A3M best ))
やっぱりA5 m音がいい｡made in japan is best. Gipson and martin is shit.
Buzzing buzzing buzzing
If you bought it on Amazon, I heard there’s buzzing issues
I said no when I saw the neck, if you own a nice vintage guitar, it's hard to accept the new standard.
Wots the cost I prefer the a3r
を
As soon as he said China I said never mind.
They have the A5 version which is japan
@@AncientEL07 only about $400 US more for the 5 than the 3, but for that you get a hard case, a TUSQ nut/saddle, and hand made by your own personal luthier in Yamaha’s custom shop in Japan.
Nothing wrong with Chinese made...especially when you look at the work ethic and lack of pride in the American workforce now...not all, but many from the last generation or more of workers suck.
Probably typed your comment from a made in China smartphone which costs more than these guitars.
you play the same lame tune every video