Yamaha APX Series of Acoustic Guitars Overview

There aren’t a large number of options in the Yamaha APX series of guitars.

But when you have one of the best selling acoustic-electric guitars in the line-up, there isn’t much need for variety – or perhaps this is what Yamaha is thinking.

This overview will cover the 6 models now in this series.

• APX500III
• APX700II
• APX700IIL
• APX700II-12
• APXTII 3/4

There have also been a couple of other models in the past like the:

• APX500II
• APX500IIEW (2013)
• APX1000 (discontinued)
• APX1200 (discontinued)

These models are still available in some places.

O.K. Let’s get started and take a look at each guitar individually.

Yamaha APX500III – MSRP $465

This is claimed to be the best selling acoustic-electric guitar worldwide. So they must be doing something right if that’s an accurate statement.

The APX500III features:

• Body Shape/Size: Other – slim body depth concert-esque shape/size
• Laminate Spruce Top
• Laminate Nato Back and Sides
• Non-scalloped X Bracing
• Nato Neck
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• 25 9/16” (650mm) scale length
• 1 11/16” (43mm) nut width
• Urea Plastic Nut
• Rosewood Bridge with Urea Plastic Saddle
• Cutaway: Yes
• Electronics: System 66
• Body length: 19 5/16” (490mm)
• Total Length: 40 9/16” (1031mm)
• Lower Bout Width: 15 1/8” (384mm)
• Body Depth: 3 9/16” (90mm)

There are a couple of unique features with this guitar.

The first is the shallow depth of the body of the guitar (3 9/16″ at the deepest point). This is significantly shallower than a lot of acoustic guitars. This can make it nice to play – particularly standing up when performing.

The sound won’t be as loud as a larger bodied guitar – but this guitar actually packs a punch for the size -more than I expected. And since this guitar is designed to be plugged in, you won’t notice it if you play it plugged in most of the time.

The other thing is the oval soundhole – where most guitars have a circular soundhole. According to Yamaha this increases lower-mid response and gives a more open low end characteristic.

The electronics on this model and the other models features an under saddle piezo pickup, 3 band equalizer, frequency control and a chromatic tuner.

>>See My Full Review of the Yamaha APX500II

Yamaha APX700II – MSRP $855

This guitar is similar to the APX500III except for a couple of upgrades. The main differences being:

1. Solid Spruce top instead of the Laminate spruce on the APX500III
2. Laminate Mahogany back and sides instead of the Laminate Nato back/sides on the APX500III
3. Hi gloss finish
4. System 64 ART electronics vs the System 66 on the APX500III – this is step up from the System 66

So, essentially it is an upgraded version of the APX500III

Yamaha APX700IIL – MSRP $855

As you might have guessed, this is the left-handed version of the APX700II. Apart from that it is identical to the APX700II.

Yamaha APX700II-12 – MSRP $855

You might have guessed this one too!

Yes, it’s the 12 string version of the APX700II. There are a couple of other differences that this brings.

• A 1 13/16″ (46mm) nut width – necessarily wider to house the extra strings
• A 25” (634mm) scale length

Yamaha APXT2 3/4 – MSRP $317

This is the ¾ version of the APX500III.

The main difference between this and the APX500 is the size.

With just a 2 7/8” (75mm) body depth at the widest point, a body length of only 15 ¼”, a lower bout width of just 11 ¾” and a reduced scale length to (580mm), this a seriously small guitar.

A great option for anyone looking for a guitar for a child or to use as a travel guitar.

Final Thoughts

Thanks for reading and I hope this has given you a quick overview of Yamaha’s APX series and the different guitars offered within the series.