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Yamaha NCX3C Acoustic/Electric Nylon String Guitar

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Cedar Top, Walnut Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fingerboard, and Atmosfeel Electronics - Natural
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Yamaha NCX3C Acoustic/Electric Nylon String Guitar
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Classically Styled Nylon-string Acoustic with Top-notch Electronics

The Yamaha NCX3 Acoustic-electric Guitar offers the best of both worlds when it comes to old-school feel and modern tone. Made with all-solid tonewoods, this guitar features a solid cedar top for warm, strong note projection. The back and sides are made from solid walnut to create a warm tone with a bell-like quality. The traditionally-carved mahogany neck is wide and flat in your hand. Meanwhile, the flat-radius ebony fingerboard has plenty of space between the strings — just how you like it. The onboard Atmosfeel electronics provide an open and airy plugged-in tone that pleases the ear. Yamaha's NCX3 combines top-notch tonewoods, traditional feel, and robust electronics. It's a great choice for accomplished nylon-string players who need great plugged-in tone.

Modern design meets classical feel

The NCX3 sports some decidedly classical features, including the traditional 2-1/16" nut width, flat-radius ebony fingerboard, and slotted headstock. These features work together to give you an undeniably classic feel with lots of room for your fingers to work up and down the frets. Don't let the classic look and feel fool you, this instrument has the full weight of Yamaha's forward-thinking design team behind it. The top bracing has been painstakingly refined to loosen up the top to optimize the bass response without compromising the structural integrity of the instrument. This guitar has an open and airy acoustic tone with a defined attack that you'll love.

All-solid tonewoods create tons of resonance

The Yamaha NCX3 was crafted with all-solid tonewoods. The most obvious reason for this design choice is to take advantage of the natural resonance of the wood. This instrument's cutaway body is made with a cedar top which showcases the a warm, assertive attack. Further, walnut back and sides add warm overtones with a pleasing low-end response. Built by master craftsmen with the best wood available, you can be assured that this Yamaha acoustic is every bit the purebred classical guitar it's billed to be.

Atmosfeel electronics ensure first-rate plugged-in tone

The Red Label NCX3 is equipped with Yamaha’s Atmosfeel pickup and preamp system. This innovative system lends a natural, three-dimensional sound to your guitar via a 3-way sensor setup. A piezo under-saddle sensor picks up sound where the strings meet the bridge, while an internal microphone captures the guitar’s internal resonance and a sheet sensor picks up vibrations from its soundboard. A Mic Blend knob enables you to blend the mic signal with the piezo. A treble EQ knob shapes the tone. You also get a Master Volume control.

Yamaha NCX3 Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • A professional quality acoustic built by one of the world's most popular manufacturers
  • Solid cedar top adds pleasing note definition
  • Solid walnut back and sides create a rich, warm tone
  • Atmosfeel electronics reproduce natural plugged-in tone
  • Tuned bracing pattern enhances bass response
  • Traditional neck profile and string spacing gives you plenty of room to fret chords and play lead lines
  • Flat fingerboard adds to the classical feel

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Nylon
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Body Shape: NX Classical
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Color: Natural
  • Finish: Gloss
  • Top Wood: Solid Western Red Cedar
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Walnut
  • Body Bracing: NX Bracing
  • Binding: Mahogany/Black/White
  • Neck Wood: African Mahogany
  • Neck Shape: Modern
  • Radius: Flat
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Number of Frets: 19
  • Scale Length: 25.5"
  • Tuning Machines: Gold with Matte Black Shafts
  • Bridge Material: Ebony/Walnut
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Urea/Urea
  • Nut Width: 2.06"
  • Electronics: Atmosfeel Electronics with Mic, Pickup and Contact Sensor
  • Strings: Yamaha S10 Mediums
  • Case Included: Softshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: NCX3C NT

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Cumple con lo esperado

Excelente instrumento, una guitarra con un sonido dulce y calido, un mastil comodo y suave, con acabados muy bien hechos. La guitarra trae en estuche muy bonito y seguro. Tambien trae una tapa de reductor de ruido para evitar feedbacks
Rated 5/5

Perfect for my needs...

I have several Yamaha products including an older keyboard with the best piano I've ever heard. My first classical guitar was a Yamaha Nippon G60. It remained hanging on an upstairs wall while my former home in New Orleans received 11 feet of water during Katrina. While it retained its intonation and straight arrow neck, the back suffered, pulling loose at the top due to dripping water from a damaged roof. Gotta give a tough guy a second chance so I patched up the back with wood glue and found that while it played in tune, the tone was significantly deadened, probably by the expansion and reduction of the internal ribs. Since I am basically a keyboard player that was okay for my casual playing. Musical instruments tend to become like pets to me so there was no getting rid of it.

After hearing some of the electric acoustics nylons like the Gidon Grand concert, I became interested in adding a new classical guitar to my collection. I decided against the Gidon and similar chambered guitars because I wanted an instrument I could feel and I am not a stage performer who needs to drastically alter my sound. If I want a synth sound I have a keyboard. I also wanted a guitar that was enjoyable with and without an amp. Since I play solely for pleasure, I also saw no reason to buy top of the line. After a few months of searching I kept coming back to this guitar. It was even available with the same red cedar top as my G60.

The guitar I received yesterday is everything I wanted. The description says it comes with a "soft case". My definition of soft case was another zip bag for my closet. The case is actually awesome. It doesn't have a plastic shell, but is very stiff, sturdy and well padded, holding the guitar snugly, with front and back padding.It has feet to stand the guitar both on its side and on end.

On to the guitar itself...Beautiful finish. I wanted the cedar because I love the same finish on my G60. You'll need your own batteries so have two AA's on hand but I found it very ready to play after their 55 point check. One feature I liked on the Gidon was that it had a mic. Reproducing the full sound and resonance of an acoustic requires more than string pickups. Since this guy has both and the mix can be controlled, the frequencies of all that beautiful wood I paid for isn't lost when I plug it into an amp. Beautiful tonal woods and all the electronics I need at a decent price.

My favorite thing about the guitar is the physical feel of its walnut back resonating into my body. It is one of the reasons I wanted another classical guitar and didn't care for chambered bodies. You are one with the music. I was also impressed with the way the sound filled a room (even without amp) and the clarity of the tones. I've only had it for a day and I'm totally in love with this guitar. I would also add a thanks to my salesman Keith for sending me the zip file with the baby pictures..ie professional photo shoot of the guitar before it arrived. Most of the folks my age have a million pictures of their kids and grand kids on their phone. I can now exact my revenge by a guitar show and tell!
Music background: Hobbyist
Rated 4/5

Reliable High Quality

I tend to buy mid-high priced instruments from known legacy makers. This gives me quality sound without the worry of taking a big hit financially if damaged or stolen.

I bought this guitar because Yamaha has reliably produced quality instruments at every price level. I have owned two Yamaha classical guitars over the years and found them excellent. This is my third, this time with the electronics to give me some flexibility in a live setting.

So far, I am very happy the playability and tone. And the wood inlays are attractive.
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