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Yamaha LS6M ARE
Yamaha AC3R ARE
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
69
Value
79
Score
74
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Playability
73
Sound
86
Build
74
Value
78
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Yamaha LS6M ARE vs AC3R ARE

Reasons to Get
Yamaha LS6M ARE over AC3R ARE

Nut Width
1.732'' (44mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Avg. Weight
4.475lbs (2kgs) vs 4.85lbs (2.2kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
79 vs 78
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Yamaha AC3R ARE over LS6M ARE

Release Year
2017 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Sides Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Back Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.732'' (44mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes

Other Key Differences
Yamaha LS6M ARE vs AC3R ARE

Back Material
Mahogany vs Rosewood
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany vs Rosewood
Different Sides Material
Bridge Material
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Yamaha LS6M ARE vs AC3R ARE

Saddle Material
Plastic
Same Saddle Material
Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
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
Scale Length
25.6'' (650.2mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
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
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 AC3R ARE is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Yamaha LS6M ARE's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha AC3R ARE wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Yamaha LS6M ARE has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

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

Yamaha LS6M ARE
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha AC3R 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.

Yamaha LS6M ARE Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce with A.R.E. top
  • Mahogany back
  • Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Passive System + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Passive)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold (TM29G) tuners
  • Weight between 4.4lbs (2kgs) and 4.55lbs (2.1kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Yamaha AC3R ARE Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2017 A series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood 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
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) tuners
  • Weight between 4.75lbs (2.2kgs) and 4.95lbs (2.2kgs)
  • 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
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

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.

Woods Used in the Yamaha AC3R ARE

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Winner: Yamaha AC3R ARE.

Electronics

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

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha LS6M ARE
Sustain 70
Versatility 90
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 81
Yamaha AC3R ARE
Sustain 85
Versatility 95
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 86

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 Yamaha LS6M ARE compares to the Yamaha AC3R ARE.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

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.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

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 Yamaha LS6M ARE's are Die-Cast Gold (TM29G) while the Yamaha AC3R ARE's are Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T)

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha LS6M ARE
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha AC3R ARE
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Yamaha LS6M ARE
Quality of materials 66
Features 80
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 69
Yamaha AC3R ARE
Quality of materials 76
Features 80
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 74

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

Yamaha LS6M ARE Nut Width
Yamaha LS6M ARE Nut Width
Yamaha AC3R ARE Nut Width
Yamaha AC3R ARE Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Yamaha LS6M ARE has the wider nut with 44mm (1.732'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Yamaha LS6M ARE, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Yamaha LS6M ARE and Yamaha AC3R ARE's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.6".

It's very similar to a typical long 25.5" guitar scale, but with an extra inch probably to compensate the saddle position in acoustic guitars. It should be pretty much the same as a 25.5" scale guitar.

It will allow you to strum hard without hearing so much fret buzz, even with lower tunings.

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

Yamaha LS6M ARE Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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 Yamaha LS6M ARE and the Yamaha AC3R 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

Yamaha LS6M ARE Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Yamaha LS6M ARE and the Yamaha AC3R ARE have the same fretboard radius of 15.75". It's a radius that makes playing single notes (and bending, vibrato, sliding, etc) easier than on a classic Les Paul guitar. However, it's still more curved than some baritone and 7+ strings guitars.

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 .

Yamaha LS6M ARE:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Yamaha AC3R ARE:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Yamaha LS6M ARE and Yamaha AC3R 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

Yamaha LS6M ARE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Yamaha AC3R ARE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Yamaha LS6M ARE vs AC3R ARE
General Yamaha LS6M ARE AC3R ARE
Brand: Yamaha Yamaha
Year: 2014 2017
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: L A
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Engelmann Spruce with A.R.E. Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing
Sides Material: Mahogany Rosewood
Back Material: Mahogany Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Gold (TM29G) Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T)
Fretboard: Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) African Mahogany (3-ply)
Decoration: Pearloid Dots Dots
Scale Size: 25.6" 25.6"
Shape: Acoustic C Acoustic C
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 15.75"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 44mm (1.732'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Passive System + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp / Passive) SYSTEM71(SRT2 System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp / Active)