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Taylor 326ce
Yamaha AC5M ARE
VS
Playability
77
Sound
86
Build
85
Value
73
Score
83
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Playability
73
Sound
89
Build
89
Value
79
Score
84
FIND IT ON:
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Taylor 326ce vs Yamaha AC5M ARE

Reasons to Get
Taylor 326ce over Yamaha AC5M ARE

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Body Shape
Grand Symphony vs Concert
Balanced tones. Larger than a Grand Auditorium
Scale Length
24.9'' (632.5mm) vs 25.6'' (650.2mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15'' (381mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Yamaha AC5M ARE over Taylor 326ce

Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.75'' (44.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Body Shape
Concert vs Grand Symphony
Compact body with balanced tones
Scale Length
25.6'' (650.2mm) vs 24.9'' (632.5mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 15'' (381mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
79 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Taylor 326ce vs Yamaha AC5M ARE

Saddle Material
Synthetic Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
West African Crelicam Ebony vs Ebony
Different Bridge Material
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Spruce
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Taylor 326ce vs Yamaha AC5M ARE

Back Material
Mahogany
Same Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany
Same Sides Material
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Yamaha AC5M ARE is probably the better product overall with its final score of 84 compared to the Taylor 326ce's 83 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha AC5M ARE wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Taylor 326ce has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Taylor 326ce
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha AC5M ARE
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Taylor 326ce Overview

  • From Taylor's 2020 300 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.9"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany top
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany back
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Satin Black tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Yamaha AC5M ARE Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2017 A series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • African Mahogany (3-ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM71(SRT2 System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Yamaha AC5M ARE

Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Winner: Tie.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Taylor 326ce
Sustain 90
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 86
Yamaha AC5M ARE
Sustain 90
Versatility 95
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 89

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Taylor 326ce compares to the Yamaha AC5M ARE.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Taylor 326ce is built in United States while the Yamaha AC5M ARE is made in Japan.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Taylor 326ce has a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

On the other hand, the Yamaha AC5M ARE comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Taylor 326ce's are Satin Black while the Yamaha AC5M ARE's are Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh)

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor 326ce
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha AC5M ARE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Electronics
  • Ivory Tusq Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Taylor 326ce
Quality of materials 86
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 85
Yamaha AC5M ARE
Quality of materials 96
Features 80
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 89

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Taylor 326ce Nut Width
Taylor 326ce Nut Width
Yamaha AC5M ARE Nut Width
Yamaha AC5M ARE Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Taylor 326ce has the wider nut with 44.5mm (1.75'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 1.5mm (0.057'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Taylor 326ce, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Taylor 326ce's Scale Length
Taylor 326ce's Scale Length
Yamaha AC5M ARE's Scale Length
Yamaha AC5M ARE's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Yamaha AC5M ARE has the longest scale: 25.6". The Taylor 326ce is only 24.9" long. This is a 0.7'' (17.8mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Taylor 326ce Neck Profile
Taylor 326ce's neck profile
Yamaha AC5M ARE Neck Profile
Yamaha AC5M ARE's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Taylor 326ce and the Yamaha AC5M ARE have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Taylor 326ce Fingerboard Radius
Taylor 326ce's Fingerboard radius
Yamaha AC5M ARE Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha AC5M ARE's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Taylor 326ce's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Yamaha AC5M ARE's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Yamaha AC5M ARE.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Taylor 326ce:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Yamaha AC5M ARE:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Taylor 326ce and Yamaha AC5M ARE Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Taylor 326ce
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77
Yamaha AC5M ARE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Taylor 326ce vs Yamaha AC5M ARE
General Taylor 326ce Yamaha AC5M ARE
Brand: Taylor Yamaha
Year: 2020 2017
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Japan
Series: 300 A
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Tropical Mahogany Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing
Sides Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Back Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Satin Black Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh)
Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Tropical Mahogany African Mahogany (3-ply)
Decoration: Gemstone, Italian Acrylic Dots
Scale Size: 24.9" 25.6"
Shape: Acoustic Taylor Standard Acoustic C
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15" 15.75"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 44.5mm (1.75'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp / Active) SYSTEM71(SRT2 System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp / Active)