Yamaha Silent Guitar - Nylon - 6th month review
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- Опубліковано 10 бер 2023
- A straight forward, no frills review of the Yamaha Silent Guitar (nylon). I have been playing on this for 6th months - about 60 gigs......and this is what I have found out about it.
I hope it helps.
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Thx! Most gear reviews are actually first-response reviews (unboxing, first impressions, etc..). But a 6-month review by a working musician is much more valuable. Thanks again, I've been eyeing this guitar up for a while.
You are Very Welcome! I am almost at a year on this guitar and all I can say is I love it. I play on it all the time and one bonus that I did not even talk about in this video or my other video about distortion pedals and the silent guitar, is that I can stand in front of house and play without feeding back to check sound for full group I am mixing and playing for. Best, Josh
totaly agree.
Thanks for sharing! This is really helpful as I was actually wondering about the dry vs reverb
You are welcome! Thanks for watching.
Thank you very much for your generosity in doing this review. It has helped me a lot.
Great! Glad it helped! Thanks for watching!
Awesome review Josh.
Thanks Richard!!
Thanks for the update. Im looking into these as my only non-electric.
It is a great guitar! Thanks for watching, Josh
Thats an awesome and a very practical review!! Thanks a ton!!
You are welcome! Thank You for watching! Josh
Great review! Thanks for your insight.
Thanks for watching and commenting! I am glad it was helpful!
Gap between bridge and pickup under high e string is common for that type of pickup. Next time you change strings pull bridge out and put a scrap of typing paper on the pickup in that area. Could make another better shaped bridge, but paper is a reliable fix. Use layers cigarette paper for "perfect fit". Cheers.
Thanks for the tip! Thanks for watching and commenting I am sure this advice will help more than just me!
Wow another no BS review. Awesome. Thanks for your thoughts. A great help for sure. Rock on Bro.
You are welcome! Glad it helps. Josh
Very helpful review, thanks for taking the time! About the Sageworks magnets--blocks mounted to the back of the 'rib', magnet mounted on that combined full-thickness surface, maybe a layer of wood over the magnets so they're not super-powerful, and Bob's yer uncle. Another thought that occurs to me is I can think of a mounting gizmo the magnet could be attached to in the normal way, which extends beyond the magnet and bends so that it ends up flush to the 'rib' and can be screwed to the 'rib'. Maybe 3D printed or made partly from metal.
Yeah - probably lots of mods I could do but I was just hoping it would just work. I like the Sageworks stuff but it is not a deal breaker for me if I can't use them with this guitar. Thanks, Josh
THX a lot. Good luck! 🍷
Thanks for Watching!
Thanks Josh for this nice review. I play this guitar for 5 years now every day. I modified the armrest to make it more convenient to play. I also like it for classical stuff or or love songs and simple flamenco. As I am electronic engineer, I wanted to design an attachable MEMS loudspeaker to it, so I could play to friends like with a normal classical guitar without the need of an amplifier. But I have discarded the project as my friends from Maxim and Yamaha where not convincing enough for me as a partner. But otherwise, there is room for improvements, but it is very nice 🤭
Thanks for watching!! Glad it has been working for you for so long! Josh
Thanks for this review, I’ve been thinking about buying one of these. I’m a guitar tech, and The volume discrepancy between bass and treble strings is something I see with piezo-equipped nylon strings guitars a lot. I’ve found that placing a piece of copper shielding tape on the bottom of the saddle underneath the treble strings helps quite a bit with the contact issue.
Thanks for watching and commenting! That’s pretty helpful information. I’ll keep that fixed in mind if it becomes a significant issue. Thanks, Josh
Feedback? Congrats on an insightful and accurate review of this lovely instrument which I also own and enjoy for similar qualities including lack of feedback and the "classical" character of the hybrid nylon string Yamaha. You picked up on modest negatives accurately. Overall, I love the instrument. I, too, would prefer to play without the strap, but the guitar also does not have the balance of a normal classical. Excellent review. I play through just a Bose S1 currently, though thinking of adding a Yamaha mixer to enhance tone.
Thank You for watching and your feedback! Most of the time I am just going through the Bose S1 as well. You can definitely run the guitar through any effects system - I did a video where I share guitar going through my Boss GT-1 and my Marshall 410h - ua-cam.com/video/DRR4RaqT8js/v-deo.html.
I have used it in rock band gigs and it is pretty amazing how versatile a nylon stringed instrument can be. Thanks! Josh
Hey there. I've got one too. A little bit of plumber's tape works for the strap nuts. I keep it together all the time and carry it in an electric guitar soft case. Less of a hassle than squeezing it into the original case. The boomy bass problem can be alleviated a bit if you play the guitar with its volume up full. Thanks for the review.
Cool- glad you found a work-around that works for you! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Agree all first 3 points, the 4 point about the A frame, I didn't now such a thing existed, I've always used a foot stool. But great guitar it's that reliable sound you want every time.
A-frame supports are great for keeping your back straight and hips level - I found it reduced fatigue and back pain compared to using a footstool. Thanks for watching, Josh
A touring guitar tech once told me that sometimes the saddle needs to be sanded flat on that type of pickup. Happens on all guitars with that kind of pickup.
It doesn’t happen enough for me to want to take it to a luthier - but it is good to know it is common! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the excellent review.
Guitarlift make a support for the Yamaha silent range although you may find it a little too bulky for travelling. As far as supports for classical guitars go however I can’t praise guitarlift enough, they are just incredibly stable and reliable.
Best Wishes.
Thanks! I have seen the Guitarlift - as you say it is a little too bulky for travel - but I consider it as a possibility. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for your honest review. I hesitate between this guitar and a real classical guitar. I think I'll choose a classical guitar (probably an Hanika 54 PF or Natural PF) because I'd like to keep it for a long time. Regards
If you are playing recitals and concerts of classical guitar music, then absolutely buy a concert grade classical guitar - I play an Alan Harold Chapman for live, unamplified recitals/concerts/gigs. But carrying a $3,000-$6,000+ guitar up mountains, playing outside in all kinds of weather, and regularly amplifying is why I bought the Silent Guitar ($750). And if I am traveling by plane - I have a very inexpensive Yamaha Classical C40II ($150) that I picked up because it is a gem (the flight case costed more!) - if it gets lost or stolen I am not out that much - but it sounds good enough for the kinds of playing situations I am traveling for. Good Luck!! Thanks for watching, Josh
You could try to mount the rest ( the wooden part attached to the frame) upside down. Just 7 screws and its fixed. Works fine on me.
Interesting! I do not really want to do anything permanent. What I love about the Sageworks support is that it is magnetic - so I can easily take it off if I do not want it and there are lots of times I do not want it.
Thanks Josh. As practical as it may be, the sound is too electric for my taste, however I realize how difficult it is to maintain that natural acoustic sound in a live setting.
I hear you. From my perspective - as soon as you put a microphone with a PA system on an acoustic instrument, you are electrifying it. The Yamaha eliminates the feedback problem and sounds so close that most people do not even realize it is different until they look. Thanks for watching, Josh
Great intelligent review. Many thanks. 🇬🇧
You are very welcome! I am still playing on it all time. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great review, very detailed and fair. As I am a total beginner, do you think this would be a good first guitar? I like the idea it can be played quietly while my wife sleeps and such, and that it is light and portable. My budget for just the guitar is about $700 Max and I’ve been looking at mostly this, the Cordoba Stage, and Ibanez FHR10/TOD10. Thanks again!
Excellent question - I have never played the Cordoba or the Ibanez models, so I can't speak to how they feel, react to pedals, or loud amplification. Since you are a beginner, any of these models will be long term guitars for you. I think the only draw back to these instruments is you need amplification (except for the headphone jack on the Yamaha!) - good acoustic guitar amplification for classical guitar is harder to get - I guess 15watt Fender Acoustisonic might be an inexpensive way to go but I don't like the sound of Acoustic guitar amplifiers which is why I use the Bose S1 Pro. Before the Bose - I used a mixer and self-powered studio monitors!!! Good Luck!
Invaluable studio tool for me, when the furnace runs 8 months a year. Mic’d acoustic is a no go.. Unless I build an acoustic room, and I dont play enough acoustic for that. So plug right into the interface, turn it all the way to mic, because piezo pickups sound like shit. And its perfectly mic’d acoustic. I just add a virtual room, in the DAW.. Its also great in the duo I play in with a Maschine Kontrol complete DJ style player. We do it all in the box. Stage volume is silent. Just a couple SM58’s take out the in ears and all you hear is voice and tip tap on buttons and my stings. Its zero stage noise zero mic bleed, which makes our mics track better in our VE500 vocal pedals. Its really invaluable but UGLY! Its time for a new update version, these have been out for so long. And weve had amazing advancements in tech since.
100%
Also works welll with some impulse responses. Can send you details and settings if you want.
Thank You! I rarely use anything between the guitar and my Bose so IR settings are not really necessary for me but hopefully others visiting this video will see your comment and ask you for them. Thanks again!
I've just got mine a couple of days ago and I love it. Best guitar I've ever held in my arms. Just curious, can you connect it to an electric guitar amp and add some heavy metal distortion? Just for fun, like hitting some Iron Maiden licks on a nylon string. Would love to try it, but wouldn't want to damage my new guitar.
Thanks for watching! I run my Yamaha Silent Guitar through distortion and amps in this video ua-cam.com/video/DRR4RaqT8js/v-deo.htmlsi=xLR-obzclizwktlU. It works great and DOESN'T FEEDBACK!! check it out. Best, Josh
Use it with guitarlift ® but extract bottom part of yamaha silent ( dont use bottom accesesuar ) and see how comfortable
I have checked out the Guitarlift, it isn't terribly portable (meaning it doesn't fit in my case), so for gigs I use the strap.
You can use loctite on the screws.
Cool - thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the info. I just ordered the same guitar. You mentioned you use a Bose. I have a l1pro16. Any suggestions for setting on the bose(tonematch) etc...?
Great question!! I don’t use a the Bose Tonematch mixer, I just roll some of the bass off on the guitar. I like the piezo/mic mix at about 2 o’clock . If there is a classical guitar setting on the Tonemix, I’d start there and adjust to taste. Good luck!
Your bridge needs to be adjusted. Piezoelectric transducers require full contact with zero tolerance for any space for the transducer to work across the entire sonic spectrum.
Have a competent luthier, who is experienced with installing Piezoelectric transducers look at it and make the adjustments. If it sounds better when you palm the bridge, it won't take much.
Thank You - perhaps it is something I will do. It doesn't happen regularly that the high E string has a slight muffled sound - usually it happens if I am being really aggressive in my strumming which isn't often in most of the playing I do - a simple press on that side of the tail nut fixes it immediately and it doesn't come back. If it was often I would have returned the instrument to Sweetwater. Thanks Josh
Great video. DOES this guitar have an adjustable truss rod? How is the action and neck on this? Thank you so much!
The guitar does have a truss rod. I have never felt that it needed adjustment, although there are others who have commented or contacted me that have adjusted their YSG. I think the action is great and easy to play - of course all guitars are different, so if it needs adjusting....thanks for watching, Josh
I agree the bass is overpowering and the reverb is always on and muddy
Yeah - I definitely roll the bass off and depending on the piece I am playing, I will opt for no reverb from the guitar just from my Bose S1. Definitely not a deal breaker for me though, just have to EQ it. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I sold my slg200N and went for an acoustic with KNG pickup virtual no feedback
@@paulwir I thought about going that route with my Classical before getting the Silent Guitar - glad it works for you! Definitely cheaper to get the KNA-NG1 than to buy another instrument.
🙏🏼
Thanks for watching and commenting! Looks like it was helpful!!
Thanks for review, but I got a question. Previously I already had SLG 200s, but I sold it after I moved to a good isolated flat and lived alone. Now live with my girlfriend and I think to buy it again. The issue is that my flat has 2 rooms separated by WC/Bad (Room 1 - WC/Bad - Room 2), but there are no doors at all. Kitched on the second floor also without any door between. If I remember SLG 200s was pretty silent, but metal strings are not silent. It would 100% help with closed door, but I think it will be still noticable in my situation in case I'm in room 1 and my girlfriend sleeping in room 2.
This is why I'm taking a look on a Nylon version and I wanted classical guitar anyways :) Questio is, do you think that slg 200 N version will help in my case in comparison with slg 200 S? Probably if I will hard strumming, no, but if soft fingerstyle playing? Just learning something like tremolo or training songs like game of thrones, last of us etc...? Thanks for any info! :)
p.s. its less important, but interesting point aswell - Do you know if this guitar exist with max 46mm neck? Normally I play steel strings and 45mm neck. So 52mm would be probably overkill and dont know if I will adapt to such differences here and there all the time. I'm not that professional, learning guitar only around 8 months.
I think the Nylon Silent Guitar is about as loud as a solid body electric guitar unplugged, not loud at all. If someone is watching tv or listening to music, they wont hear you at all. If it is really quiet, sure they will hear your practice but it isn't intrusive, not like an acoustic instrument. Hope this helps, thanks for watching and commenting!
Due to my location I'm not able to try out guitars such as this . I'm highly considering purchasing either this guitar or the cordoba stage. Have you played the cordoba? If so how do you think they compare? Thanks for your time.
I have not played the Cordoba - I have played some their regular classical guitars - I bet it plays nicely, but it looks "chambered" and my experience with "hollow body" guitars is feedback. It looks like it has piezo and a "body mic", that means feedback to me. If all things are equal and one guitar feeds back and the other doesn't, then for my purposes, I will choose the "no feedback guitar" every time. I had a Yamaha NTX1 for a week and returned it due to feedback issues. So even though I really like the Silent Guitar, if it didn't solve the Feedback issue, I wouldn't be playing it. I hope this helps!
🎸🔥🔥🔥🔈
Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Can you tell me what guitar lap support you use..looks pretty good, Rob
Rob, I use Sageworks : here’s a link www.stringsbymail.com/sagework-umbra-adjustable-magnetic-barnett-guitar-support-standard-15471.html.
At one point I was seriously considering this guitar. I wish I would have seen your excellent review. I ended up with a thin body Cordoba . I use it with an IR pedal and am very pleased with the sound of it. I hate the sound of piezzo pickups and the pedal really helps. I made a video comparison between the mic'd version and the piezzo vs piezzo with the IR pedal. Thanks so much for your review. I would consider it in the future.
@@FrumPilot Thanks for watching! I like the mic/piezo blend feature on the Yamaha and usually just run it straight into my Bose S1 Pro. Really basic set up but it sounds great and clean. I spent some time dialing in sounds specifically to use with the Yamaha with my Boss GT1 which is also really basic, but has more sounds than I really could ever want. I am glad that you found something that works for you because in the end that is really all that matters. Best. Josh
I'd love to hear it on overdrive
Check out this video I made -I run it through all kinds of distortion and other effects. ua-cam.com/video/DRR4RaqT8js/v-deo.html
Nice review. I also bought one about six months ago, but to learn on and not disturb my family with endless (crappy) repetition. Did you adjust the action on yours at all, and what strings are you using now? I made a custom set 24 - 43, but I think I’ve gone too floppy. Thanks again!
You are welcome! I didn't adjust it at all. I thought it was great right out of the case.
I use GSP Super Nylons (medium tension) gspguitar.com/super-nylons.html
D'Addario Pro-Arté (normal tension) www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EJ45--daddario-pro-arte-classical-guitar-strings-normal-tension .
Nothing fancy, I have found that I pretty much sound like me regardless of the strings and these sets are really consistent and reasonably priced.
Hi, may I ask, what's the difference between slg200n and slg200nw? I'm planning to get one, thought that they will release a new version (waited for a couple years already), but also need a headset, any recommendations? :)
So the difference between 200n and 200wn is the size of the nut (width of the neck) I use the regular nut and it feels just like my classical guitar so I am not sure I would want the wide nut version. The guitar comes with Yamaha ear buds - they are good enough to get you rolling. I almost never play this with headphones on, just isn't how I am using it. Hope this helps, thanks for watching and commenting!
@@ShavasanaKitty thank you for the reply! I wonder how this nw variant feels like, I used to play on classical when I was a kid, but it's been a 20 years since then.. I want to go back into classical music..
@@warden8288 My experience with the silent guitar 200n is that it is very similar to my Alan Harold Chapman classical guitar. I play that guitar here ua-cam.com/video/o8WAfBH7xPU/v-deo.html .. If you can play a wide nut version and a regular nut version side by side. I am not one for guitar "specs" as a way to determine whether or not I will like an instrument, it is all feel for me, so maybe it will be a good fit for you, maybe not. Hope this helps!
@@ShavasanaKitty thank you!
Hi can i use yamaha slg 110s as classical guitar?thank u
Great question! I think to find out, all you need to do is put a set of normal tension nylon strings on it. People might look at you funny but I've certainly strung nylon strings on a steel string acoustic. Since this works with Piezo pickups - it "should" work but if it doesn't you didn't have to invest much to find out. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!
It digs into my forearm.....
Of your finger-picking arm? I hear you there! My regular classical guitar does as well after a fashion so I guess I didn't notice it. Some folks might wear a sleeve of some sort to protect the arm, but yes, the design could have some more ergonomic improvements! Thanks for watching and commenting.
What headphones are you using? Do you like them?
The headphones are Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Closed Back. I have been using them for tracking work for about ten years. I like them. They are pretty honest. Thanks for watching! Josh www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HD280Pro--sennheiser-hd-280-pro-closed-back-studio-and-live-monitoring-headphones
Has anyone ever taken one of these on a plane? That is a big consideration for me.
Great question! I recently flew from Montreal, Canada to Catania, Sicily with a classical guitar and a travel Harmonium. I check the classical guitar - I use this flight case www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GTSAGTRClass--gator-ata-molded-guitar-case-with-tsa-latches-for-classical-guitars . We were able to store the harmonium in the overhead compartments of all the planes we flew on. That was easy! The Silent Guitar case is small enough to fit in an Overhead compartment, however, unless you pay for priority seating, extra seat, or the airline is willing to store it in the cabin area, it may not fit or get jostled around by others who are not going to be as careful with your instrument as you are. It takes up more space than typical carry on luggage because of it's length. Each airline is going to interpret musician rules differently. It is a soft case with good padding but I wouldn't trust it in a checked luggage situation, and that may be what happens. I know some folks have lost instruments or luggage but I haven't had that experience in all the times I have flown, even with Mt. Etna is erupting and causing flight plans to become totally derailed. Sometimes luggage is delayed but never completely lost. Hope this helps.
Can I ask - is this the 100 or 200 version?
This is the Yamaha SLG200N. Thanks for watching!!
@shavasanakitty
Guitarlift has a support that is especially made for the SLG 🥳
Yes they do! I have seen it. The reason I do not have one is because it doesn't fold up nicely to fit in the case like my sageworks stuff does. It is a good idea but not quite what I am looking for in terms of traveling/gigging equipment. Thanks for watching and commenting!
The issue with the bridge needing pressed down sounds like the unit needs returned to the manufacturer.
Thanks for your input. Certainly, if I felt that the guitar was somehow defective, I would have returned it. If you do not follow Yamaha's directions in changing the strings, if you pack the guitar in the case and the saddle gets pressed hard on one side vs the other than you may experience the contact issues with the piezo plate. Since this review, I very rarely have this issue rear it's head. Hopefully, know this helps others. Thanks for watching. Josh
Fair enough, sounds like the issue may have eventually resolved itself in some way. Great video. Your playing sounds great (Y)
@@gavinhislop Thanks! Best, Josh
Is this slim nut model ?
Thanks
This is the standard classical nut size - not the wide nut size. It is basically the same neck feel as my classical. www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SLG200NCRB--yamaha-slg200n-silent-guitar-crimson-red-burst. Thank You for watching! Josh
@@ShavasanaKitty Thanks. Is there version with slimmer than classical neck ?
I don’t think so, unless the steel string version is slimmer. But it does play very nicely
My version is the SLG 200N which the "hybrid" narrower neck version. Then, there is the "classical" flat neck version at a different price point.
Couldnt you attach another strap button?
I suppose you could if you wanted to drill the hole in the instrument. Wouldn't be a big deal at all and might be just the fix someone would need. Thanks for watching!! Josh
@@ShavasanaKitty it's John, but I may try Josh for the New Year!😂😂Happy New Year!🥳🥳
@@Elvis-guy1973 Yes Happy New Year!!!
There are a couple of things in almost every guitar. There is no perfect guitar as its all subjective.
Absolutely agree!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Wow, I wanted to hear that guitar' sound. Just heard you talking.
Sorry to disappoint. This is a review not a demo. There are lots of videos where folks just play it. Thanks.
Disapoited with mine, pickup death and none existent or very expensive, and Yamaha just ignores or they can sell you a new one by the price of the guitar itself,,,
Sorry but don't like Yamaha
Sounds like you had a negative experience and that can happen with any instrument brand. I hope you found something that works for you! Thanks for watching.