Yamaha APX600M Smokey Black Acoustic Electric Guitar

Back in the 1980s, electric guitarists faced a nightmare when they needed to switch to acoustic on stage - until Yamaha revolutionised live performance with the APX series in 1987. This groundbreaking acoustic-electric guitar eliminated the common problems of howling feedback, misplaced microphones, and lengthy sound checks that plagued performers. The APX series became one of the world's best-selling acoustic-electric instruments by focusing on every detail that mattered to electric players, from its sleek finishes and cutaway body to the slim, familiar neck profile.

The APX600M continues this legacy with its comfortable thinline body design that provides exceptional upper fret access and superb playability for live performance. At the heart of any quality electro-acoustic lies the crucial combination of natural acoustic tone and pickup technology. The latest APX600 features the acclaimed SRT Piezo Pickup system - the same advanced pickup found in Yamaha's highly regarded A Series range, offering incredible dynamic range and the feedback rejection that performing guitarists demand.

While musical styles have shifted since 1987, the core philosophy of APX remains unchanged, though modern versions now feature a more natural aesthetic and a 5mm deeper body for enhanced bass response and greater volume. The specially designed non-scalloped X-type bracing maximises body resonance for full, natural tone, while the distinctive APX soundhole design thickens lower-mid response and provides a more open low end. Yamaha's legendary active preamp, built by their audio-visual division, ensures the sound quality meets the exacting standards you'd expect from the world's leading audio manufacturer.

The revolutionary SRT system uses advanced Digital Signal Processing to recreate studio-quality acoustic guitar tones that were previously only achievable by professional recording engineers using expensive vintage microphones in world-class acoustic spaces. This sophisticated pickup system uses individual elements for each string, providing ultra-clear, ultra-wide bandwidth signals with superior dynamic response and tonal accuracy compared to standard piezo pickups. SRT faithfully reproduces the subtle ambience and characteristic EQ voicing that makes up a truly great guitar sound, using your instrument's natural tone as the foundation for phenomenally realistic results.