Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Acoustic Electric Guitar
To start with, we will give you a note on what is an Acoustic Electric Guitar. An electric acoustic guitar, which is also known as elecoustic guitar is by design an acoustic guitar that is fitted with pickups, a microphone or transducers. Note that, the term is not synonymous with that of a semi acoustic guitar which is conceptually an electric guitar but, with the addition of sound chambers within the guitar body. While we are on the elecoustic guitars, we thought, we would take a moment to review a guitar that has to be one of the best deals that is going around; Yamaha’s fantastic CG171SF Flamenco Acoustic Electric Guitar.
Design:
A Classic:
The Yamaha CG171SF Guitar is designed to meet the demands of today’s flamenco guitars with its amazing lower action, cut away and superb craftsmanship. The traditional round shouldered and small body guitar features a solid European Spruce top with Cypress back and sides with a subtle natural finishing. Both woods have a lovely golden hue that is far better in flesh than is suggested in the image. The soundhole has a highly decorated decal rosette, with decorative binding gracing the front and back of the instrument. In addition to this, a decorative band runs down the back from heel to base.
Construction:
With the construction, you will realise that it has drawn on the vast knowledge and techniques of Yamaha’s brains. The CG171SF Flamenco Acoustic Electric Guitar and some of the other CG series guitars have been designed with slightly thinner sides and back, and also a thinner neck in order to increase the playability. With a slightly lighter body which offers greater volume and control. This is a very beautiful little guitar nicely finished in a high-gloss.
Features:
Through extensive analysis, research and experimentation, Yamaha has succeeded in blending the best and most critical aspect of traditional Spanish guitar making techniques with modern guitar manufacturing processes. And, these processes include a comprehensive quality check system that ensures that each instrument is of the highest standards possible. The major features of the CG171SF Flamenco guitar include the Solid spruce top, cypress back and sides, nato neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, wood back and side inlays, transparent pickguard and a natural gloss finishing.
Bridge and Pickguard:
The Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar sports the traditional bridge that is a simple rectangle with a decorative block behind the saddle through which the nylon strings are threaded and tied off. The saddle itself is a straight blade of plastic with slight compensation at the third string. Coming to the pickguard, there are actually two of them and they are invisible. One is below the strings and above them, each made from a very thin transparent plastic. The playing style of flamenco leads to a lot of wear in both these areas, so these scratch plates will keep the Yamaha looking beautiful with minimal interference to the sound. There are no strap buttons because the flamenco style demands you hold your guitar without the assistance of a strap.
Tuners:
There are three in line gold coloured tuners that are mounted on the side edges of the headstock with their compass occupying the slots in the headstock. We found the knobs to be very decorative and the metal parts of the mounting are also decorated with engraved leaves and roses. These lovely traditional machine tuners worked in a very smooth and accurate way. The slotted headstock is faced with rosewood and also sports some sparse engrave decoration.
Headstock and Neck:
The slotted headstock is faced with rosewood and also sports some sparse engraved decoration. The nut plastic nut has been well finished and cut accurately. The Nato neck employed has a wide dimension that is traditionally associated with classical and flamenco playing and this also means that the instrument is only truly suited for certain styles of playing. It also has a beautiful honey brown colouring.
Frets:
The rosewood fretboard has an excellent flat profile which is technically an infinite radius. There are no fretmarkers on the face and only the 5th and 7th frets are marked on the side of the neck. And, all this means that you definitely need to know your stuff to play this guitar. The standard medium fretwire has been polished nicely and also offers a positive playing feel against the nylon strings.
Sound and Action:
The Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Acoustic Electric Guitar has a superb low action from the box and unfortunately, there is no option to adjust the action of the instrument. The honey-coloured finish of the body is matched by the honeyed tones of the nylon strings. It is a real pleasure to play percussive and staccato styles as each note dies quickly and cleanly leaving space for the next. The CG171SF produces the kind of warm and clear tone that you would expect from a much more expensive guitar, and it does it consistently, only sounding better as it ages. Of course, that assumes that you take care of your new guitar, and use a humidifier during the stressful seasons, particularly during the first few years. The guitar also holds its tuning exceptionally well for extended periods of time, certainly better than any electric guitar we have ever owned; and the nato neck is highly playable and just plain comfortable.
Warranty:
Yamaha offers the CG171SF Flamenco Acoustic Electric Guitar limited lifetime warranty.
Verdict:
The CG171SF makes us feel that Yamaha’s classical guitar craftsmen learned the fine art of guitar making directly from the masters. And yes, under the tutelage of Manuel Hernandez and Eduraro Ferrer, Yamaha guitar craftsmen have acquired the skills that have been handed down from master to apprentice for generations and these acquired skills have been used every day in the making of Yamaha’s classical guitars.
The quality of this instrument is obvious from the moment you lay eyes on it and the sound it delivers is a sweet version of the traditional tones you’d expect in this classical style of guitar. The final result is that, Yamaha has bought to you an instrument that delivers both outstanding quality and performance, that too at a cost that is hard to beat. The Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Acoustic Electric Guitar is currently the best classical guitar in the market. It is not an all-rounder, obviously, but if classical or flamenco playing is your bag the Yamaha CG171SF deserves your attention.
Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Yamaha |
| Series | CG Series |
| Model Number | CG171SF |
| Model Name | Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Acoustic Electric Guitar |
| Guitar Type | Acoustic Electric Guitar |
| Colour | Natural |
| Finish | Gloss |
| Top | Solid Spruce |
| Sides and Back | Cypress |
| Finger board | Rosewood |
| Bridge | Rosewood |
| Neck | Nato |
| Pickguard | Transparent pickguard |
| Inlay | Wood Back Center Inlay Wood Side Bottom Inlay |
| Body Depth | 3.7†- 3.94†|
| Nut Width | 2.05†|
| Scale | 25.6†|
| Tuners | Gold |
| Case | No |
| Soundhole | Highly decorated decal rosette |
| Additional feature | Yamaha 2-Way Preamp with Piezo Pickup and Condensor Microphone |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
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