Sam Ash Acoustic Electric Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

First of all, this is a gorgeous guitar. It looks just great. It has a big, rich sound even moreso than other larger bodied guitars I've seen. The tuner works great. I love playing it. A few minor issues. First, I find the action high, & the bridge is not adjustable. 2nd, the complaints others have offered about the fret edges being VERY rough are entirely true: you can practically leave your hand bloody, I'm sure, if you play long enough, just from being roughed up by the fret edges. I'll try filing them down & refinishing them, as some have suggested. Finally, you'll want to get rid of the strings & go with a lighter gauge, partly to alleviate the high action issue. I'd get this guitar again. I think it is a $500 – $600 guitar lurking for only a little more than half that price. But before recommending it to a friend, I'd point out these couple issues.DET

Poor quality control! Neck is a mess with all of the fret ends protruding and sharp. One fret is noticeably higher causing all kinds of issues. Inside edge of the sound hole is poorly finished and some of the ribs look rough, like they weren't sanded smooth. This one's going back!Bill

A lot of value, especially at the discounted sale price. Handsome design. But… Where is the quality control? Sharp fret ends, action set waayyy to low. major fret buzzing. several of the tuners were sticking. Rough edges on wooden bridge, strings are "rough" and lifeless. Pre-amp works well, but the tuner is inconsistent. Fretboard wood was really dry… did they store it dry storage? If you are willing to invest some time and effort like I did, filing the fret ends, raising the bridge, conditioning the wood, etc. it can serve as a first beginner guitar or a beater that I wanted. I'm no expert, but one can't expect a novice to take care of these issues. Getting a luthier to fix things properly, and you've doubled the price of the guitar. I've been spoiled. My other 4 guitars are medium to entry-level Yamahas, and none had these type of issues. BTW. the finish is not black, it is a charcoal grey and is distinctive. The neck is easy to play, but the sound and resonance is typical for a thin-bodied guitar. But, with a built-in tuner pre-amp, it's a decent value.Lawrence

Sounds good so far. First impressions: the "metallic black" is more metallic than black. It's really more of a shimmery dark grey than black; the pick guard which IS basically black contrasts more than product images suggest. Frets are a bit sharp at the ends, but otherwise, no major complaints.Jeff

The electronics didn't work well at all. I was able to sporadically interface with my Tonewood Amp, but it was hit-or-miss. I know it wasn't my TWA or cable that was the problem. I liked the sound of this guitar, and it was comfortable for my frame. The action was perfect for me out of the box…about as low as you can get without fret buzzing. However, all of the fret ends we're sticking out and would have needed filing. The fretboard and bridge wood seemed soft and rough. I suspect neither would wear well. There was a spot near the sound hole where it looked like glue had been smeared when the pick guard was placed on. That would not rub off. Gooey streaks elsewhere did clean off. There were some ripples in the finish around the sound hole. The color was more grey/gunmetal than black, and spray marks were visible in the paint. I got this guitar on sale at 40% off: $127.19, delivered. For that price I probably would have kept it had the electronics worked properly. I returned it.Regina

Look, just wanted to reply to some reviews that say this guitar sounds well…..thin. Duh, yes its not a jumbo acoustic or even a regular body acoustic. Its a thinline acoustic so it sounds just like what it is. Ive played several thinline guitars and they all sound…well…thin. That doesnt mean its cheaply made or a bad sounding guitar. It has its own sound. If you want a deep bass, then buy a jumbo or regular acoustic. I like the easy neck movement. The chords sound fine and this guitar doesnt require anymore tuning than any other in this price range. I tried ten guitars at guitar center including more expensive brands like fender, mitchell, yamaha and others and this was the only one under 400 dollars that stayed in tune from an E chord to a C chord. I bought it because Ive owned Ibanez before and never regretted it. To each his own but keep in mind a thinline guitar is not going to have a deep rich sound, but, I record my bass along with it so it sounds fine. It is what it is…a nice thinline acoustic-electric guitar.Kjmmusician

I had been playing a very old and very nice acoustic at church for night service, and didn't want to subject it to the rigors of live playing on a regular basis. After some research, it came down to purchasing a Talman or a Stratacoustic. I went with the Talman due to the price, and Ibanez's reputation. When the guitar arrived, I was a little apprehensive as the neck felt awesome, but the setup was awful. The strings were heavy gauge, and were set way too high. After some work shaving down the bridge, changing to light strings, and adjusting the truss rod, this baby plays great! I love that the electronics are really easy to use, and it was made to plug in. The sound when you are practicing unplugged isn't as full or rich as you get with a full sized acoustic, but this guitar wasn't made for that – it was made to be plugged in. I was able to eliminate having to use pedals to get the proper volume and EQ, which makes the live rig way easier to set up and tear down. I play it through a Line 6 spider II 75 watt head running through a Marshall 4×12 cabinet. The spider's clean channel is great for acoustic as it does not color the tone, and the Marshall is plenty loud for a church sanctuary. Overall, I am quite happy with the Talman, even though I had to put in some extra work to get it the way I like my guitars. It is a steal at the price if you have the skills and are willing to play with the setup.Stratbuilder

There are hundreds of reviews on this guitar, of course some good and some bad. The good reviews (4-5 stars) far out number the rest. Although I’ve read some really, really bad ones. I suppose every guitar maker churns out a turd on occasion when mass producing affordable beginner (read inexpensive) guitars.
I can only tell you about my particular guitar.
It is fantastic, it’s beautiful, sounds amazing (plugged in and acoustic), plays amazingly well, stays in tune, the tuners are smooth and work as you would expect on a much more expensive guitar. The neck is perfect, the action is great (Martin MA540 Authentic Acoustic Light strings 0.054-0.012). I haven’t a single complaint I can’t say whether the quality has gone up or down in the last few years. Mine is an earlier production model about 10 years old. They’re relatively common , You can find a nice used one locally in most cities for under $150. That way you can play and give it a thorough inspection before you buy it. Check your local Guitar Center, try it, return it if you don’t like it, my bet is you will love it.Larry Daniels

I usually don't leave negative reviews. This guitar is beautiful, it sounds amazing. However, I just can't believe that guitar center would let this be shipped. The neck seems fine but every fret divider is razor sharp. It's so uncomfortable that I have quit playing it. Living in a small town it's very expensive to return stuff, so I guess it will just sit for now. To guitar centers credit, I have shopped there for many years and never been disappointed. But gee guys, why wouldn't you be checking this stuff? If I picked it off your wall I would never buy it unless you fixed it for me. Sorry but this sucksJohn

Tried out two of these at the local store looking for a first guitar for my son. Both sounded pretty good for the price point, but both had problems with the neck and really terrible frets. Terrible like not safe for children or unsuspecting adults – they both had sharp edges sticking out the whole length of the neck. Between that, some minor string buzz, a crazy high 9th fret on one, and iffy intonation on the other, it just didn't seem worth getting either of them. What's the point of getting a low priced guitar if you have to spend $100+ getting it worked over to make it playable? I suspect that the neck binding makes it difficult for the factory to really get the frets properly dressed and still pass cosmetic inspection. It may be I just had the bad luck to find the two worst examples of this model in the same store, but I suggest you move up notch in price range and you will be happier with what you get.triple.ratrider

The CC 60sce has a more cheery upper range, great for folk or country songs. The tuner is accurate and easy to read. The colors of the guitar really shine in good lighting. I'm not sure if it's the strings being new or if it's just the guitar but they seem to need some frequent tuning. Other than that, this is a great guitar for beginners hoping to play for a small audience or jamming with friends at home. Finally, I noticed it has good response vibrations in the body when you strum a full chord. It reacts nicely against your body. Would buy it again.Kai

Great feel and sound. But the little $1.99 door that holds the battery for the Fishman electronics is or will break, and it's a non-repairable part. You have to return the guitar to repair it. Disregarding the battery, the guitar is great. And I would buy it again. It's not a top of the line $1000 guitar, but it is a top of the line $200 guitar (with an extra $150 added on for broken electronics). The overall size is good, and the neck and frets are a good size for my 12 year old daughter. The action feels good with little fret buzz and it seems to stay in tune all day. I've had 2 of these now. My first one had a broken batt door when opening the box. Per Fender's rules, I returned the whole guitar for a replacement. Great! Except on the 2nd one the little door is too wimpy to stay clipped shut. So the battery just falls out. Maybe I'll have to resort to a big strip of duct tape to hold the door shut. Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. Or just rely on the clip-on tuner I already have and use a Mic to amplify it.Ben (again)

Great guitar for a beginner like me. Shame that the plastic battery cover didn't fit properly and I broke it trying to install the battery on the first day. That said, this is a really nice guitar for any level player. Good quality guitar but Fender should spend a few more pennies on that battery cover. Brilliant delivery from PMT ordered late afternoon arrived first thing the next day.Stephen D.

I bought this guitar off the wall at GC after playing it and a few others in the < 500 price range. To me, it was the strongest contender in store based on tone, even with well aged strings, and feel. I've made no adjustments to mine other than restringing with D'addario EJ11, and have played it probably a cumulative 4 hours in the week I've had it. It has opened up a little more at this point and the tone is quite satisfying. This is my first exposure to a mahogany top and while I'm sure the effect of that varies from model to model, this one has dispelled my general concern of a lack of clarity and volume that I had based on many demos and reviews characterizing mahogany as being "warm" and "mellow". The size of this guitar makes it well suited for the couch which is where I've played it about half the time so far. I haven't plugged it in so no comment on the electronics. I already hold this Mitchell in equal regard to my mid level Martin, Taylor and Yamaha. It does a different thing and confidently ends my search for a small (ish) guitar to round out the group.Kenny

Good design and production. Requires set up/ adjustment due to mass production, shipping and warehousing from Indonesia. It's a GC brand, so their luthier did it for free, including replacing a blown string. Can't afford a Taylor (made here in San Diego). However, I like this guitar and the thousands saved.Darrell

Went into my sort-of local Guitar Center store with a modest budget to add a new acoustic to my collection, and it was a quiet day, so I was able to 'test drive' a number of guitars in the designated price range (and slightly above if there was a noticeable quality jump worth the investment). After sampling about a dozen or so, I was surprised that this Mitchell model remained constantly in the running sound-wise, competing with and surpassing brands and models that I would have preemptively assumed to be front-front-runners for my hard earned dollars. In the end, the sound, the materials/construction of the instrument, and the increasingly important-to-me neck/fret board dimensions that my arthritic hands could navigate more comfortably than my other acoustics won the day. It being an acoustic-electric did not have a huge bearing on my choice, but I have found that those enhancements have won me over after spending some time at home plugged into an amp. A great guitar, in my opinion, and I look forward to many years of enjoyment from it.Brian the acoustic dabbler

. Now let me set the scene… I am a guitar lover (I can even play a little too) and a quality professional so My expectations are somewhat higher than most looking at this product. An absolutely beautiful instrument, this is my second SA360 and although they are no longer. Made in Japan, be assured they have not lost any of the build quality or attention to detail. The guitar was really well set up, is great to play, feels good in the hand and sounds the bee’s knee’s. If you are looking to start out in guitar playing get yourself an Ibanez Gio to start as a first upgrade from that, then the SA series is where you want to be at.Timbo

After trying to use a no-drilling-required pickup on my dreadnought and getting obnoxious buzzing noises, I saw one of these on the wall at my local Guitar Center. I liked the feel, and was really surprised at the sound when I tried it through a PA. I saw one in their Used section online and got it for a giveaway price. Like another reviewer said, this thing plays like an electric; a soft-V neck with great action. Big secret: Whether you pay $250 or $3,000, acoustic-electric guitars all sound about the same through a PA. So why bankrupt yourself? I'm going to open mics and playing next to people with very high-dollar guitars and sound just as good! Yamaha is also far and away my favorite brand of acoustic; I have five. Now, this thing DOES have a few finish flaws you don't see on my Yamaha FG730s guitars, like one speck under the finish and a drip on the upper bout. However this is their absolute entry-level electric acoustic so I guess they train new guys on this line, and for how well it plays and sounds, and the price I paid, I have no complaints. Thank you, sir, may I have another!Art's Tunes

Bad – This guitar came without the usual Yamaha Factory Box and Accessories (truss rod, inspection tag, instructions). It looked like it was 'reboxed' by Guitar Center to fulfill Musician's Friend's order. And it shipped from a Guitar Center store rather than a warehouse. This happens way too often with Musician's friend, and they never seem to label the guitar as 'open box' or 'used.' Although the guitar was re-packed with lots of bubble wrap, the guitar was obviously damaged at the store. There were cracks on the top and side of the guitar. That probably explains why Guitar Center repackaged the guitar-the original shipping box from Yamaha would have been an obvious clue to the damaged guitar. Good-All Yamaha guitars go through a quality control process. And when I purchase them from other retailers, they all come with the proper accessories and inspection tags and are factory-packaged in the sealed Yamaha boxes. So, just make sure you are getting a new product, not a showroom or return-recycle when you order a Yamaha product from Musician's friend. Ugly-This guitar has a laminate top and the tonal balance of the guitar isn't top notch. Plugged in for performance or recording *and* when just played unplugged you can hear the difference between a Yamaha laminate vs solid top acoustic. I would recommend going for the solid top. I'm not sure if the Musician's friend website clearly specifies this is a laminate top guitar. Okay, if you get a new one with the inspection tags and truss rod tool, it's good for learning guitar or campfire use, where you might get caught in a rainstorm or you might be gifting a guitar and aren't sure how it will be taken care of. Moving up to the Yamaha solid top guitars, you are going to be happier in the long run, if you are a serious guitarist. I recommend trying this guitar out in a retail store, to make sure you get one fresh from the factory with the inspection tags and barcode on the factory box to prove it.Seasoned Musician

Exceptional guitar for the money. I went into to guitar center for the fgx800c but it wasn't in stock. Came across this one and was satisfied with the sound. It plays well, sounds great, and won't break the bank. I do wish it had an onboard tuner though. Highly recommend!Richard

I played this compared to the Fender FA-135CE, the Yamaha FGX800C, and the Ibenez Talman before making a decision. This guitar has a deeper, more bass filled sound compared to those three instruments. It was very playable and setup well from the factory, and the electronics sound great. The only downside is that in the time I've had this guitar is seems fairly easy to dent, I've knocked it against a few things on accident and now I can feel bumps on the neck and on the body of the guitar. I don't know if other acoustics are more or less durable though. Overall, if you can be gentle with your instruments or keep them in a gig bag, case, or on a stand, I highly recommend this guitar. Great playability, great sound. good looks.Aron

Plugged in it sounds really nice, unplugged it has a lighter tone, definitely accentuates each note very well. Comes with nice strings on it, the preamp works as it should, looks great, fretboard feels real nice. On sale I definitely recommend this guitar for anyone in that beginner to intermediate stage. You will have to adjust the action using the included truss rod if you're someone who does more than just chords though. Overall a really solid guitar.Zack

The guitar looks and feels great, but after a few months of owning it the top started to warp around the bridge causing a buzz on the low e string. If you want to buy this I recommend also buying a guitar humidifier to prevent this issue. I have seen the same issue on other Mitchell guitars while going to guitar center.Thomas Y

The flamed maple back and sides are really nice looking. The spruce top isn't the most select grade visually, but the sound quality is still excellent and the sunburst finish still looks good. It feels solid and well made with good tuners. It is a really big guitar, that along with the maple body and arched back provides lots of volume. Just needs a case.Okie Picker

This is a very beautiful guitar, it sounds amazing and so easy to play! This is a LOT of guitar for the money! Highly recomended!Raymond

For the money, I couldn't find a better acoustic guitar (A new one anyways). I've owned many high end Martins, but I wanted something that was easy to travel with and I wouldn't worry about if it got scratched/dented. Out of the box the action and intonation were very close to perfect. I adjusted the truss rod myself to fit my playing preference, and the intonation was so close I doubt anyone will notice when playing further up the neck. The building materials are not great, but once again, "for the money"… My only con is they don't have a hard shell case for this particular model. The included soft shell case is still convenient, but I kind of wish they'd make a HSC like they did for the dreadnaught model.Garrett G.

This guitar is good for the money. Neck straight. All workmanship is precise. Light and not overly heavy from clear coat gunk. Neck is short but wide. Strings that came on it went in trash in 5 min. Use Lixrs on these small guitars. Nuff said…Not too small like Martin mini where you fight it not to be a uke and it really is. Quality is near perfect. Case is the good one like the minis. Doesnt feel like a GS mini which feels too small. This guitar feels good but smaller that normal. Set up fine out of box (which is more than I can say for the USA models). Ready to play. I will prob change out stock pickup for DTar syemour duncan wavelength solo later. Not that the stock pickup is bad; just like seymour better for acoustic under saddle "non-quack" pickup. If you know how to use an eq then dnot need that extra tone button anyway, plus fihsman is kind of not great stuff. After about 10yrs needed something better. Buy one before Martin decides not to make them anymore…Kokbloock

This guitar is amazing for under the price. I've been playing for almost 15 years so I always hesitate with instruments in this price range (I know, I'm spoiled) I played its cousin guitar, the thinner-bodied model, at a store but they only had that one. So I went online for the bulkier version. This thing sounds great unplugged, which is saying something for the ovation line, generally having a reputation as good plugged-in guitars. The construction is what one would expect for the price but this thing walks and talks like a much more expensive rig. I'm thoroughly impressed. Do yourself a favor and grab one of these even if you don't have that much experience, I can already see this one standing strong with several of my guitars that are worth tons more.Ricky

I am very impressed by the quality of construction and materials. A tweak of the truss rod, removal of the bridge shims, and a new set of strings, and this is very playable, good sounding, and attractive instrument.Grand Stickist

I played this instrument at a jam session once and thought that i really liked it and the round back was comfortable. So I got one. when it came it did look great but the action was pretty high (even after rmoving the factory shims). Unplugged it just doesn't have a great sound. while it is super comfortable sitting down i found that when you wear it straped on while standing it becomes awkward as it tends to tip over a bit totally unlike a standard shape acoustic. So, i sent it back. For just another 50 you can get an Ibanez artwood series acoustic electric that has much superior sound. that's what i did and I'm very happy with that.h2oboy

This has been a great entry level (or more?) guitar. Been using it with youtube videos and Rocksmith and everything works as advertised!ROBERT

Bought the F-250E to play small gigs. It is beautiful and booms! I also bought Gator's inexpensive jumbo case which is for sale with most major online vendors – it fits like a custom build. It is gig-able right out of the delivery truck. I am 6 foot and of average frame and ergonomically it is quite comfortable despite its size. You will catch yourself staring at the finish, it could have fallen out of a time machine from 1956. I highly recommend the F-250E.Thomas

Extremely happy with the Jumbo! Very pleasing warm tone. very loud if you get into it. Depending on the setting, play Rythm you may not need an amp. The finish is impeccable. The sunburst is a beauty to behold. The setup and action very good right out of the box. always wanted a Jumbo, the Guild F250E was the right choice for me. I get a lot of compliments on the tone and beauty of it. Thanks Guild and MF!Johnie

Overall: I purchased this guitar in February and it arrived unplayable. I was unable to review for this reason. Due to living in a remote location and being disabled it was to dificult to exchange, however, zZounds was very prompt at trying to help me return it. Unfortunately my caregiver had to throw away all the packaging. So my fault I couldn't return. I have purchased many ibanez guitars and this was the first time I had a problem. However, it's pretty obvious ibanez knew about this when sending the guitar to zZounds. So a little disappointed. So I'm unable to try this guitar, however, zZounds was very prompt and the customer service was great. I just can't return it and that's my fault. I would still recommend this guitar and zZounds.Kenneth

Looked good online but like someone else said it's like a toy I should have listened. I was told since I didn't like it I would have to pay return shipping and ups quoted me eighty five so I called guitar center and they said I could return it there. I did and they were very nice and it went back on my cardDavy E

I use this product at small venue gigs and playing 3 Masses each week. There are too many great things to mention here, BUT, I will try. Washburn makes a great satin finish on the neck of their guitars. This is great on hot and sweaty days. This guitar boasts a satin finish on the whole guitar which allows your right hand to stay less slippery as well. The pickup on the inside of the sound hole is just the best. This picks the sound up from the inside of the guitar instead of the usual bridge style pickup that picks up the string vibrations. Much warmer sound. Solid Sitka Spruce top and solid mahogany back are a perfect compliment to each other. It sounded great out of the box, but sounds richer every time i play it. Put some good playing hours on this baby and it will sing for you. There is cathedral bracing inside the guitar that allows sound to flow and swirl around in there and is unobstructed by sharp edges on normal bracing. Lets not forget that this is part of the comfort series and has a smooth edge where your arm hangs over to pluck the strings. This is helpful more than you think it would be.Must be played to appreciate. Moreover, this guitar is a pleasure to play. I loved my other Washburn gig rat that i have played for years and still pick it up a couple of times a week out of guilt (it knows I love my to guitar better). Don't think about this…..JUST MAKE IT HAPPEN TODAY!! You will be happy you did. KeeganKeegan

You never know what to expect when you purchase a B stock item. This guitar was perfect from top to bottom, except for a few little spots of black on the comfort round over. Im extremely happy with my purchase!!! Always good service from proaudio starlowergrooveguitars

Am strictly a fingerstyle player so can't really speak to the pros and cons of this guitar for flat picking. It has a really nice clear tone and sustain, I use it primarily for playing stuff in open G and DADGAD tunings. It has a 1 3/4 nut which is good for fingerstyle and a relatively thick neck which I also like. Of course, depending on the player, both of these things might not be to your liking. But overall, a very nice guitar at a very attractive price point. Oh, and the electronics are excellent.Greg

Great Guitar, Jazz/Blues sound acoustic, vintage feel. Good action setup, very playable out off the box. Minor finish blemishes under the floating neck, definitely not a deal breaker. Ebony fingerboard and 5 ply neck are excellent. This machine fits my hand and is very, very hard to put down.David B.

Best acoustic archtop I have played for the money. Other guitars I have tried: Godin, The Loar, Eastman. This is the classic Eddie Lang, Alan Reuss sound, and the electronics just amplify the same sound. Not a piezo sound at all. Nice thicker neck, which is appropriate for a 1930s era instrument. At $600, which was the discounted price, the craftsmaship and sound beat anything I have seen.nmcdap.28owiuz

I’m a 54 yr old,pro player & guitar instructor, I’m always interested in budget guitars to suggest to students. I’ve found some feel cheap,or play horribly. This brand is quite the opposite, it has a solid feel, low action, rich bass and sparkling tone. I know those terms are tossed around a lot,listen to the demos on YT, this guitar sparkles like a nice acoustic should. The finish feels wonderful,it came with everything,a tuner, strap, extra strings,and a gig bag. The kit even came with a battery and a wrench to adjust the height of the action. The wrench works well, Ashthorpe has videos showing how to use it, The ELECTRONICS are what makes this instrument much better than the other budget acoustics on Amazon, It has a strong, rich equalizer onboard,u can do or subtract treble, or bass..or midrange..or the super high frequency string noises can be lowered or raised w the presence control. It has a volume control and a battery tester with LED right onboard. This electronics and preamp package is what you’d expect on guitars $300 or higher..It’s not Fishman or a famous brand, but it may as well be, it feels the same. I’ve owned over a hundred guitars, probably closer to 200 and I’ve never seen an acoustic electric with this kind of tone, feel and quality electronics in this price range..ever, if this guitar had no electronics,and was not electric-acoustic at all..it would still sell like crazy at this price. It’s almost hard to believe you get SO much for your hundred bucks. I have had acoustics where the case alone cost more than this guitar. Buy this model if you are considering a few different ones.. the thinline Ashthorpe makes is a smaller body, good for small hands, petite ladies or teens.. but the full size dreadnaught has the rich,thick bass u can feel in your body. The tone is better than the thinline,but a dread body can be big for some smaller people. The thinline was small and comfy,little more sparkly and less bass, but this model has the tone. And the way they laser etched the logo on the navy blue headstock is classy,it gives the whole guitar the expensive,modern vibe I go through guitars fast, I buy, sell, trade.and give some away to students…and I only wind up w the ones I LOVE. And I still have my Ashthorpe Dreadnaught Blue burst,it was a gift from my parents,.and has special meaning to me, Just buy this one,thank me later! forget the budget brands u see on Amazon..Ashthorpe users all leave great reviews, and for good reason.. the customer service is top notch too, a nice lady named Jennifer took great care of me when I had inquiries,and replied to my emails the same day, super quickly.Kevin G.(.I.

I purchased the guitar to play bottle neck slide on . Right out of the box it was easy to set up . Tuned up no issues. Nice action height , and really good sound . I would highly recommend the guitar . A real bargain for the money .Kevin

I bought this guitar to check out a budget friendly offering from Yamaha. I have to say I was not disappointed! Excellent tone and volume, the top really resonates. The guitar was really well setup right out of the box. It needed about 3/4 of a clockwise truss rod adjustment, no prob. Other than that it didn't need any fret dressing whatsoever. That's really impressive for a Chinese guitar. Heck even one of my Mexican Martins needed fret dressing out of the box! Also intonation was spot on and this also is important in your guitar. Very impressed with this guitar, intermediate/advanced feel but priced at a beginner budget. You won't regret picking one up, I assure you!Big Bone Murphy

There is a point of quality when an instrument reaches when it stops being seen as "better or worse" but rather just a different flavor. This Yamaha has reached that point. You can play it alongside a guitar costing 5x more and it stands up well. Yamaha is also one of those rare companies with a long history of top quality across all kinds of products, and guitars are an area Yamaha knows well. This is just a beautiful guitar through and throughout. You can get beautiful uncompromisingly great studio recordings with this guitar. Hitting the low strings hard with strumming gives a nice deep and rich tone. Also, the hardware / tuners are nice.Scott

I've owned many acoustics over the years, MANY, and this Yamaha is one of the best sounding I've ever owned. Went to GC just to check out a few lower end acoustics to pick up for jamming on, and tried almost every one in the room. Picked this one up last just before I was ready to leave, and immediately was blown away by the sound and playability, brought a couple friends to listen and tell me which one they thought sounded the best, and hands down this won over all of them. It has the tone and warmth of a Martin D34, which I have owned a few, and it plays like a dream. The neck is so sliky smooth, easy to fly up and down with no effort. It has amazing sustain and beautiful tone, I fell in love with it and just couldn't put it down. I didn't expect a guitar of this price range to sound as good as it does, got it home and I couldn't put it down. Played for 4 hours straight, and even after trying to put it down to go to bed at 1am I found myself playing a for a few more minutes before I could actually go to sleep. Love this Yamaha more than any guitar I've bought in the last decade. The best thing about it is, It gave me the desire to pick up playing guitar again, after hardly touching any of my other guitars for almost a year it's the one I want to play more than all of them. Great guitar, wouldn't hesitate to buy another in a different color, if you want something that you won't be able to put down this baby has the sound and feel your looking for.Johnny D