The article provides a comprehensive review of YAMAHA's Silent Guitar, detailing its features and addressing common questions. The Silent Guitar is designed for those who wish to practice in quiet environments like apartments or record at home. Key features include its quiet acoustic sound, headphone jack, SRT powered pickup system, suitability for recording and live performances, and portability. However, there are considerations like its power source and playability.
For those who:
● Want to practice acoustic guitar in an apartment
● Are looking for an easy-to-handle acoustic guitar for home recording
● Are looking for an acoustic-electric guitar that is hard to feedback because you want to use it in a band
● Want to know the pros and cons of silent guitars
This is a review of the silent guitar based on the experience of Yosh, an ex-musical instrument store clerk (@Yosh_Guitar).
Pros of Yamaha Silent Guitar
Quiet Acoustic Sound
According to the manufacturer’s announcement, compared to a general acoustic guitar, the SLG200 with steel strings has about 18% of the volume, and the SLG200N with nylon strings has about 10% of the volume. More specific details are provided in the frequently asked questions below.
Equipped with Headphone Jack
Silent guitars are quiet, but you can clearly hear what you’re playing acoustically. However, it lacks the power of a regular acoustic guitar. A great feature for those who want to enjoy a more realistic sound or focus deeply on their practice is the ability to connect headphones. Unlike electric guitars, you can directly connect headphones to the guitar body without needing any other equipment.
SRT Powered Pickup System
To enhance the sound you hear through the headphones, Yamaha’s unique SRT (Studio Response Technology) powered pickup system is adopted. This feature, not present in the first-generation silent guitar (SLG100), has significantly improved the sound heard through headphones. It’s like having a sound recorded with a microphone in YAMAHA’s recording studio built into the guitar. The output can blend the sound from the guitar’s piezo pickup with this microphone-recorded sound, reproducing the three-dimensional feel and airiness of a genuine acoustic guitar. It feels a bit exaggerated when listened to consciously, but it’s a much more pleasant sound than the line-like sound of just a piezo pickup.
Can be Used for Recording and Live Performances
Although I’ve been discussing using headphones, by connecting a cable, you can also play it through an amplifier. Unlike acoustic guitars, there’s no feedback caused by body resonance, making it easy to handle even in loud bands. Brian May, the guitarist for QUEEN, has also used it on stage (though not always, so it might not be his favorite…haha). Similarly, by connecting to a USB interface, you can record without setting up a microphone. Even decent acoustic-electric guitars can have a thin sound when recording with just a piezo pickup, but with the SRT system, you can output a robust sound, making recording easy. The quiet acoustic sound also makes it ideal for home recording. Additionally, the guitar body has a built-in tuner, which is a small but appreciated feature.
Convenient for Carrying Around
One side of the body frame (the bass string side) can be detached without tools. When placed in the included special case, it can be carried around more compactly than a regular guitar.
Cons/FAQ about Silent Guitar
Demerit: Power Source Can Be Cumbersome
Power is needed when listening with headphones, connecting to an amplifier, or using the tuner. The power source can be either an AC adapter or batteries. The AC adapter is not the common type used for guitar effects but is a center-plus 12V, with the genuine product PA-3C. The batteries are two AA batteries, with alkaline batteries lasting about 22 hours and rechargeable nickel-hydrogen batteries lasting about 18 hours.
FAQ 1: Is the Acoustic Sound Loud?
As explained at the beginning, the volume is about 10-20% of a regular guitar. Specifically, the SLG200 feels slightly louder than the acoustic sound of a solid electric guitar but slightly quieter than a semi-acoustic. In other words, it’s about the volume of everyday household noises, so using it in an apartment is not a problem. It’s nearly impossible to play a regular guitar loudly in an apartment, but it’s possible with this silent guitar. It’s quieter than using a regular guitar with soundproofing gear, and you don’t have to sacrifice playability or tone.
FAQ 2: Is It Hard to Play?
For example, the Martin Backpacker, designed primarily for portability, lacks both ends of the body, making it hard to play when placed on the thigh. Even with a strap, the position of the arm supporting the guitar is different, making it hard to play.
The silent guitar, with its three-dimensional frame, allows for traditional playing. If there’s any difference, it’s that the thickness is similar to an electric guitar, which feels a bit different from a regular acoustic guitar. However, some feel the neck is a bit thick compared to other Yamaha acoustic guitars. Those who prefer a thin neck shape might be slightly dissatisfied. Another downside, especially for the steel-string model, is that the nut and saddle are a bit high, making the string height feel high. If you want to practice acoustic guitar seriously, this might be good, but if you just want to casually strum at home, you can improve this by switching to custom light gauge strings.
FAQ 3: Can You Use Slamming Techniques?
Since there’s no body, you can’t produce the body hit sound equivalent to a bass drum. However, you can produce a percussive sound by muting and hitting the strings (like in EXTREME’s “More Than Words”). Unless you’re doing something extremely technical, it’s suitable for fingerstyle solo guitar.
FAQ 4: Can Guitar Beginners Use It?
For those who have never played a guitar and are concerned about the loudness of a guitar, the silent guitar is a good option. Moreover, it has a built-in tuner, which is convenient. If you’re not familiar with the differences between guitars, choosing the SLG200S is a safe bet.
Recommended Silent Guitar Models and How to Choose
| Specification | SLG200S | SLG200N | SLG200NW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Price | $749.99 | $749.99 | $819.99 |
| Strings | Steel Strings | Nylon Strings | Nylon Strings |
| Width | 356mm (14″) | 356mm (14″) | 356mm (14″) |
| Total Length | 978mm (38.5″) | 970mm (38.2″) | 970mm (38.2″) |
| Thickness | 85mm (3.35″) | 87mm (3.43″) | 87mm (3.43″) |
| Weight | 2.1kg (4.63lbs) | 2.1kg (4.63lbs) | 2.1kg (4.63lbs) |
| String Length | 634mm (25″) | 650mm (25.6″) | 650mm (25.6″) |
| Nut Width | 43mm (1.69″) | 50mm (1.97″) | 52mm (2.05″) |
| Color | NT (Natural), TBS (Tobacco Brown Sunburst), TBL (Translucent Black), CRB (Crimson Red Burst) | NT (Natural), TBS (Tobacco Brown Sunburst), TBL (Translucent Black), CRB (Crimson Red Burst) | NT (Natural) |
The current silent guitar models come in three types, but choosing is straightforward. If you want regular acoustic guitar strings (steel strings), go for SLG200S. For nylon strings, if you usually play electric or acoustic and want something easy to play, choose the SLG200N with a slightly narrower nut width (50mm). If you prefer the traditional classical guitar nut width (52mm), go for SLG200NW.
SLG200S
The SLG200S uses steel strings and is recommended for practicing acoustic guitar or for use as an acoustic-electric guitar in a band setting.
Notably, its scale is 634mm, equivalent to a 000-style(632mm). While it has a slightly relaxed tension, as mentioned earlier, some models have a higher string action. Therefore, you might want to request adjustments at a music store or consider changing the string gauge to a custom light or extra light to adjust it accordingly.
If you want to practice general acoustic guitar playing, such as singing and playing, the SLG200S is the clear choice. Choose the color based on your preference.
SLG200N
The SLG200N uses nylon strings. With a slightly narrower nut width, it’s easy to play even for those who usually play acoustic or electric guitars, allowing for a quick and effortless nylon string sound. It’s recommended for those who want an easy nylon sound for recording or for those who wish to play softly at home.
SLG200NW
The SLG200NW uses nylon strings, and the “W” stands for wide nut, which is the typical 52mm width found in classical guitars.
For those practicing classical guitar, the SLG200NW would be the better choice.
Conclusion
As of 2023, the only silent guitar that has reached this level of perfection is made by Yamaha.
The Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200 is recommended for those who:
- Want to play the acoustic guitar loudly at home.
- Want to practice the guitar without disturbing neighbors in apartment buildings or other family members living with them.
- Want to use a line recording that sounds like an acoustic guitar recorded with a microphone.
- Face feedback issues when using an acoustic-electric guitar in a band setting.
