Yamaha SLG200NW Silent Guitar, Wide Nylon-String - Natural Reviews

Best Christmas gift I have bought for myself. The Yamaha SLG200NW is absolutely fantastic. I have been playing classical guitars for about 62 years, started building guitars when I was 13 (I'm 75). The sound that this makes totally blew my mind. Out of the 9 guitars I own this is the one that I reach for. A big thank you to Keith and all the crew at Sweetwater for the outstanding service they provide. May you all have a wonderful Christmas!!

I play classical guitar studies on mine. It's perfect I can take it anywhere. The wide neck feels just like a standard classical guitar. The body feels like a Les Paul but super light. I also think it has a fast neck. The sound is amazing. You sound and feel like you're in the studio. Classical guitars have wide bodies so it's nice to get closer to reach higher frets. It is very comfortable and very easy to setup. Don't hesitate. I think you will be impressed too. I can't say enough about this instrument. Don't be fooled this is not a toy. I'm 61 and have been playing since 4th grade so believe me when I say this is a serious instrument. Hope my review helps you decide.

Chris was great, I got a photo shoot of MY guitar before it was shipped! I got it fast without hassles. The Sweetwater Team is awesome thank you guys.

I spent way too much time researching comments and reviews online, much of which was really not that helpful. None of the criticisms leveled at this fine instrument (peizo quack, high action, mid range weakness, booming base, loose knobs etc.) proved to be of much validity. The sound is great, and with the blending capability, varied and pleasant albeit not a 100% classical guitar sound. (I had tried the narrow neck nylon version before ordering). It arrived promptly. No additional setup needed. Batteries seem to last around 25 hours of playing. D sting unwound after 25 hours of play, hardly a negative.
Can be used with no amp or headphones as with a typical electric. This instrument can even be used to great effect as a performing guitar, superior to or on par with other amped classicals I have used (Godin, Ovation, Chet Atkins etc.) And I really don't like having to worry about feedback when performing live, so miked amp setups are hands down inferior. Definitely recommend this one.

I'm am so happy with my Yamaha SLG200NW Silent Guitar, Wide Nylon-String - Natural from Sweetwater. I have tried it with my Bose S1 Pros, EV Evolve 30m, QSCP8, Neve Preamp, Grace Designs Felix2 and it sounds fantastic on all of my live platforms as well as in the studio with my UA Apollo gear. Yamaha hit a home run with this guitar. It come's ready to play out of the box. If you need to lower the action it's as easy as adjusting the saddle. The tone and feel are fully resonate and respond to playing nuances/ technique. So easy to travel and gig with using the included gig bag. I have gig with the guitar last weekend and loved it. I have some very high end flamenco guitars like DeVoe, Culpepper, and others. I have wanted a practice guitar as well as a guitar to do local gigs with. This is that guitar. It's so well built and perfect for the traveling nylon string guitarist. It really produces a fantastic believable tone. The Preamp and mic blend/ EQ and reverb on the guitar are stellar I have tried a wireless with Sennheiser XSW that worked well but the x3 Evolution 3 seemed to have a few issues. The feel look and quality of the guitars build are top notch. I have not put it down since it arrived. I've had others say they are very impressed with the tone/sound sound of the guitar as well. The guitar is a keeper. I am working on getting a glopadore/ tap plate to work in conjunction with the Preamp. I like the medium tension DAddario EJ45 strings on the guitar. Sweetwater sent the guitar well packed and safe to me. They really do have the best customer service/support in the business and are hear to help musicians get the gear they need. Thanks Sweetwater & Yamaha.

After a long search - largely because I didn't know it's actual name - I discovered the Silent Guitar on Sweetwater's site. I inquired of one of their "sound engineers" and pretty much talked his ear off, explaining my history of playing classical and flamenco guitar most of my life - since age 14 (I am just shy of 70 years) and that I stopped playing due to a diagnosis of bone cancer 15 years ago. I was hopeful the narrow profile of the Silent Guitar might make it easier to recoup some of my skills. My new "friend" at Sweetwater listened very patiently and I became confident that this guitar might just be the magic I needed to bring music back into my life.
The instrument is physically gorgeous - a sculptural beauty. Impeccably finished. It handles quite differently from my vintage classical and flamenco guitars, most notably the action is a little higher that I am accustomed to. I opted for the 'wide' neck, which I would definitely recommend if you have been playing an acoustic classical (of note, I am a diminutive person and likewise have small hands). The scale also is longer and it weighs more than I expected. But after a week or two I adjusted my playing style a bit and, of course, it goes without saying the more you practice the more flexible you will become - even at age 70. I tuned down a half step and used a capo for a few days to work into the differences. This is my first foray into using amplification as well, and the engineer at Sweetwater guided me through the equipment I needed. I am grateful for the attention and time spent in explaining things clearly. It is obvious how much dedication went into the design and craftsmanship to create this unique instrument. I love that it can also be used with headphones - hence the "silent" part, which is useful when traveling. Using amplification is a whole new world for me, and the guitar's reverb controls allow for enhanced moods from ethereal to growling bass notes. My musical horizons have expanded exponentially.

I bought the Yamaha slg 200 NW to replace a Godin Multiac which I disliked profusely…
This time I got it right. The Slg 200 has a very comfortable feeling and is very playable, right of the box. It didn't need any adjustments. The blend between pickup and mic, gives the exact sound of an acoustic guitar, which was what I was looking for. The wide neck provides the comfort you need for fingering, you can even hear it without amplification. The looking is exquisite. The gig bag is great and useful bonus
Overall is a wonderful guitar for half of the price of several regular guitars.
If you're looking for a amplified classical acoustic guitar, the Yamaha slg 200n is the right one for you.

I play classical guitar and travel on airliners all the time, some time airlines are accommodating and will place it in the coat closet if no room in the overhead, sometimes not. This guitar is compact and easy to store. like the built in tuner and that I can still play it without an amp although it is very quiet, and I like that because I can practice in the airport and not draw a crowd

This is promoted as a practice guitar for classical guitarists. Maybe. But I suspect the design of the body shape and the way the tones are developed are just too different for a dedicated classical guitarist to readjust. What few non-classical guitarists seem to understand is that classical musicians don't play guitar over their right legs. Because classical guitars (and the SLG200NW) have wide necks you have to rotate them at 45 degrees or more to play up the neck on the lower pitched strings. It's a matter of being able to reach across the neck with your left fingers. To do that you either have to have the guitar over the left leg or wear the guitar on a strap like a bib. Except the Yamaha SLG200NW just doesn't sit like a classical guitar over the left leg. The body is too thin. Even a foot stool doesn't quite get it high enough. A strap works, but now you're getting father and farther away from the format classical guitarists are used to.

So the Yamaha SLG200NW is a different instrument worthy of its own category. It's an electric guitar with nylon strings. Because of the solid mass of wood between the headstock and the tailpiece wound strings have incredible sustain especially when played open. This is true even with headphones. The guitar responds well to shifting the right hand position along the string length between the bridge and the neck to create different tones. Moving toward (and over) the fretboard creates warm, fat tones and unlike a classical guitar you don't have to be concerned about your right hand covering the sound hole and dampening projection. Classical guitarists can apply their free stroke and rest strokes techniques with superb (if not terribly classical sounding) results. The bass notes are bright, distinct and clear; the treble notes are warm; the guitar produces a distinctive and desirable sizzle and crunch with chords. The neck feels great in my hand and I have to wonder if the extra width doesn't add to the overall mass to the guitar to influence the unbelievable sustain and tone. The real estate of the fretboard is far more open in the higher pitches than on a traditional classical guitar fingerboard, which makes a greater creative difference than I would have expected. Positions up the neck that were a struggle on my classical guitar are easy now and the pitches more accurate. There is more to explore.

This is a great guitar for someone who is performing complex music. Jazz, New Age, World music and hybrid styles would be great fits. This is really a fascinating guitar that responds to a classical guitarist's right hand touch in a jazz kind of way. If you're playing mostly first position chords in standard tuning you don't need the wide neck version. The wide neck is for those who leave no area of the fingerboard unexplored.

Drawbacks:
•Because there is only one piezo pickup under the bridge there really isn't any way to add percussive effects. You won't miss them.
•The upper bout of the frame of the guitar digs into my sternum after extended practice sessions. This might not be a problem for others, but I've had to wrap a pad around that area.
•The height of the strings at the nut was unacceptably high when I received the guitar. I've heard someone else complain about this, too. I had to recut the slots. I don't know why Yamaha allowed this guitar to be shipped like that. I don't mind strings being a bit high at the saddle, but at the nut is careless. It's something that is adjustable so don't be put off by it.

I love my new Yamaha SLG200NW. The attention to detail on this guitar is absolutely amazing. I love all the new features: like the tuner, using the SRT powered system (being able to tweak between the modeler and the piezo pickup), on the fly sound effects and so much more.
Not only does it play and sound like the real thing, but the curiosity and conversations it creates from the average person to the consummate musician just runs wild.
I couldn't be happier with this purchase.
I just wish Yamaha made a hard case for this Awesome Guitar.
Thank you Mason for helping with making this purchase.

This is an odd looking guitar but well made and easy to travel with. I was looking for something to play at home when everyone goes to bed. I wanted the acoustic feel as well. It has been great for me.

My friend came waltzing in to my house with the Yamaha SLG200NW, pulled it out of the bag, and instantly I lusted after it! It is a beautiful looking instrument - very zen lines. But the sound! I had to have one. I tried playing it, and loved it even more! My main instrument is bass guitar, and I prefer classical guitars because of the wide necks and nylon strings. This had a very wide neck, and I found that I could play cleanly without any learning curve. I liked the built in effects, the ergonomics. I play using all the fingers on my right (strumming) hand, and my right hand found the strings exactly where they were expected. It just worked for me.
Sadly for my friend (and happily for me), it didn't work for him. He is a shredder, and likes his action very low, strings very light and neck very thin. He stuck with this guitar for about 2 weeks, and then asked me if I wanted it. Duh!!!
So now I have this beauty, and I haven't picked up a bass guitar for more than a month, except to gig.
So a word of warning to shredders: you might want to go with the steel string model. But for the classically oriented, this is a great find!

I love this guitar, and play it all the time. I love being able to play through the headphones and not disturb the neighbors. I asked Sweetwater to do a set up, and the instrument plays like a dream. Silky smooth. It's just a lot of fun to play. It is nice to have a cutaway shaped body. A couple of drawbacks. The shape of the body doesn't lend itself to the wide neck. The body is more appropriate to a steel string or electric guitar. I've had to rig a strap to it that allows me to elevate the neck. It works, but is a bit awkward, and the contour of the upper bout tends to dig into my chest. The electronics are good enough. I can't get a lot of variety from the effects and pick ups without an imbalance in string volume. I've got it dialed in fine, but I would truthfully prefer to have an equalizer instead of the chorus and wide hall reverb effects. But that said, I do love this instrument and have a great time playing it.

The "Silent Guitar" is living up to my expectations. I played this guitar at a shop in Orlando and it only took a couple Earl Klugh tunes to realize that it is a marvelous instrument. The functionality of this guitar is awesome. For practice it"s just the best thing that has happened to my fleet of guitars. The ebony fret board is the real difference maker when I am playing it in a gig. I have a Godin and Ovation nylon string guitars and this Lil Silent Guitar is better than both over half the price. I am very pleased with Yamaha and this guitar. It"s the coolest thing in my fleet! Chris Ishak...Thanks for helping me get this guitar as quickly as it could be shipped. You are the best my Friend!! Thanks Sweetwater!!

I own two other classical electrics, Ovarion and Fodin. This guitar is on top of both of them. I can not put it down just because it is so functional for practice and for performance! I love it!! Great job Yamaha!! Colonel TW Williams, US Army...retired!! Drive on!!

I ordered this guitar after several youtube videos. I have one OVATION steel strings, One Classical ESTEVES (my favorite) and a GODIN Gran Concert SA. This guitar is very stylish and pretty and the fact I can practice without disturbing my wife is a plus. The down side of my review is I was expecting more about the "action" of an instrument of this price. The action was to high even thought the claimed 55-point inspection. I honestly thought to return the guitar, but after searching and watching a few videos from people who's complaint about the same "high action" issue and how they fixed, I decided to give the guitar a chance. I spend time fixing the saddle and adjusting the Truss Rod looking the best fit. After a while I got an acceptable action and decide to keep it. Another thing I did not like are the strings, but this should be an easy fix, replacing them. After playing the guitar for almost a week I notice the tuning are not perfect when press each string at the 12 fret. This may be due the adjustment I did to the Truss Rod. I will have to revisit the Truss rod adjustment to see if I can solve this small tuning difference. In comparison to my other guitars this will be ranked #3 from all 4's.

I've owned this guitar for two years now. It's only good for silent practice. If you are a classical guitar player looking for a gig guitar keeping looking. My main objection is the sound it produces when it is plugged in and amplified. It not a classical guitar sound. You can keep dialing and fussing with the controls but to won't happen. You can sort of get that "pseudo" classical guitar sound that's popular. The electronics are absolutely horrible. Sounds more like a toy instrument with plastic strings you give you kids when they are little. The effects are rolled into one dial. They don't improve but rather obscure the sound. The upper bout of the guitar comes off when it is time to pack it away. There is a knurled threaded post that connects the bout to the rest to the instrument that constantly comes lose when you have a strap on. Yes, you pretty much have to use a strap when playing this. For Classical guitarist they do offer one model with the standard neck dimensions of a classical guitar. That is the one I purchased. But as mentioned above it is only good for silent practice. Too much money for a practice instrument.
The target consumer for this thing is a electric guitar player looking for a nylon string with a neck similar to a acoustic guitar The novel body set up is bound to appeal as well. Yamaha has become the clown car company of guitar manufacturers. As an example, this comes with an Allen wench to adjust the neck. I pulled it out today for the first time and wasn't even the correct size wrench for the job. It was too small. That's what prompted this review. You can do better for the same amount of money.
I hope my honest review has persuaded you to keep looking.