
( Brand: Yamaha ), ( Model: AE1200S ), ( Part Type: Acoustic Guitar ), ( Body Type: Archtop )
The Yamaha AE1200S is an exceptional acoustic-electric archtop jazz guitar, expertly crafted by Yamaha's skilled luthiers to embody the rich heritage of traditional jazz guitar designs with modern technological advancements. This model boasts a Lollar Imperial pickup, elevating its tonal capabilities to new heights.
The AE1200S boasts a beautifully crafted, solid Sitka spruce top that provides an attractive visual appeal, while delivering a lively and resonant tone. Its fine-grained, solid mahogany back and sides offer a robust and deep low-end response, making it an excellent choice for jazz and acoustic music. honouring the traditional archtop design, the guitar features a scalloped bracing pattern under the top, meticulously designed to ensure excellent resonance and even sound projection.
The Maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard on this instrument guarantees optimal playability and comfort.The fingerboard is adorned with flat, jumbo frets that cater to the intricate fingerwork often found in jazz music. The 16-inch radius and 1-11/16-inch nut width offer a comfortable playing experience and smooth transitions between frets for effortless technique.
One of the defining features of this Yamaha AE1200S is its installation of the Lollar Imperial pickup. Renowned for their premium USA-made pickups, Lollar has produced this model specifically for archtop guitars, offering a bright, unique tone with great clarity and articulation. It is wired with a volume control and a 3-way pickup selector switch to give players the flexibility to switch between the various pickup configurations. This feature allows for a wide range of tones, from a bold, powerful sound with the neck pickup engaged, to a bright, crisp tone with the bridge pickup, and a balanced blend when both are used simultaneously.
Adding to the vintage charm of the guitar is the binding on the body and fingerboard, along with the elegant plating on the open-gear tuning machines. The classical hoursglass body shape with a single cutaway also enhances the sleek look of the guitar, perfect for those who desire a traditional yet modern jazz guitar.
With a high-gloss finish that protects the body and contributes to the guitar's sonic characteristics, the Yamaha AE1200S is a definitive choice for jazz musicians who seek a versatile and resonant instrument with exceptional tone and performance.
The Yamaha AE1200S is an exceptional acoustic-electric archtop jazz guitar featuring Lollar Imperial pickups. This instrument is well-known for its distinctive sound and versatile tone, making it an excellent choice for jazz musicians. In this analysis, we'll examine the pros and cons of purchasing this Yamaha AE1200S guitar to help you make an informed decision.
Pros:1. Rich Tone: The Lollar Imperial pickups offer a full-bodied, warm, and balanced tone that is ideal for jazz music. The sound is rich, clear, and able to reproduce the nuances of the instrument's natural sound.
2. Versatile: The guitar can be used both acoustically and electrically, making it more versatile than traditional archtop jazz guitars. This attribute is essential for performing in various settings, from small jazz clubs to larger stages.
3. Build Quality: Yamaha's reputation for high-quality craftsmanship is evident in the AE1200S's solid spruce top, scalloped bracing, and rosewood back and sides. Their attention to detail results in a durable, aesthetically pleasing instrument.
4. Playability: The guitar features a 14-fret neck joint, which results in a more comfortable playing position for most players, and a slim neck profile for easy access to higher frets.
5. Price: The AE1200S is priced reasonably compared to other high-end acoustic-electric archtop jazz guitars with similar features, making it an affordable option for professionals or enthusiasts.
Cons:1. Scalloped Bracing: While scalloped bracing provides structural support, it may negatively impact the initial tone and feel slightly compared to traditional bracing methods.
2. Action Setup: Some customers reported that the guitar requires careful action setup to fully optimize its playability and tonal character. This may require additional costs for professional setup or the musician's time and effort to learn how to do it themselves.
3. Bridge Height: A few customers found that the bridge height needed to be adjusted upon receiving the guitar for optimal performance, which might require additional effort and potential expenses.
Conclusion:The Yamaha AE1200S is a superb choice for jazz guitar enthusiasts seeking an acoustic-electric archtop instrument with excellent tone, versatility, and affordability. Its Lollar Imperial pickups provide a rich, full-bodied sound that makes it stand out among its competitors. However, it's important to note that careful setup may be necessary to fully optimize its playability and tonal character. If you can invest the time and effort, the Yamaha AE1200S can deliver a generous reward for its affordable price.
Recommendation:If you're a jazz musician searching for an acoustic-electric archtop guitar with Lollar Imperial pickups and a reasonable budget, the Yamaha AE1200S is an excellent investment. Just be prepared for the potential requirement of adjusting the action and bridge height to fully revel its potential sound and playability.
Beautiful blonde natural Yamaha AE1200S archtop guitar with imperial lollar hamburger pickups hard case. Floating tune-o-mastic bridge on an ebony base. I've moved away from guitar playing so it goes.
Neck pickup is slightly loose and needs new strings. Tuners are original Yamaha japan. Thees model has desirable laminated spruce top over maple back and sides. Gibson l-5 guitar for a fraction of the cost.
Three piece maple neck topped with ebony, split block inlays, and volute at the bottom of where it meets body. The head stock is bound with abalone inlay and 'ae1200s' truss rod cover.