Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars With Rosewood Back in 2024

Here are the top Yamaha acoustic guitars with Rosewood back. Since the ban of Brazillian Rosewood, this has become a rare and expensive wood. It's not usually used for guitar bodies because of this, and also because it's heavy. Instead, it's used mainly for fretboards. Sometimes it's also used for necks because it's an extremely hard wood (even harder than maple). Its tonality tends to favor warm tones.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. Yamaha AC5R ARE

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Yamaha AC5R ARE
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Playability 73
Sound 89
Build quality 87
Value for money 78
Overall Score 83

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (3 votes)
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  • 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 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
  • Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) tuners
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  • 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 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
  • Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha AC5R 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

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2. Yamaha A5R ARE

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Yamaha A5R ARE
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Amazon logoSweetwater logoReverb logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability 73
Sound 90
Build quality 87
Value for money 78
Overall Score 83

What our users think

  • Neck access to high frets: Easy (2 votes)
  • Fret edges: Smooth (2 votes)
  • Tuning stability: Holds tune well (2 votes)
  • Weight: Lightweight (2 votes)
  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (3 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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Amazon logoSweetwater logoReverb logoMusician's Friend logo
  • 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 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
  • Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • 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 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
  • Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha A5R 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

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3. Yamaha LL36 ARE

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Yamaha LL36 ARE
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Sweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 85
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold (SG301-Y22) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold (SG301-Y22) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha LL36 ARE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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4. Yamaha LL56 Custom ARE

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Yamaha LL56 Custom ARE
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Playability 73
Sound 85
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold (TM67G-Y22) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold (TM67G-Y22) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha LL56 Custom ARE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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5. Yamaha GC42C

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Yamaha GC42C
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Sweetwater logoReverb logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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Sweetwater logoReverb logoMusician's Friend logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Western Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Western Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC42C
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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6. Yamaha GC42S

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Yamaha GC42S
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Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce or Solid Hokkaido Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce or Solid Hokkaido Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC42S
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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7. Yamaha GC82C

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Yamaha GC82C
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid American Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid American Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC82C
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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8. Yamaha GC82S

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Yamaha GC82S
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC82S
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

9. Yamaha LS26 ARE

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Yamaha LS26 ARE
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Sweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 80
Value for money 69
Overall Score 79

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Open-Gear Gold (SE700X XG) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Open-Gear Gold (SE700X XG) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha LS26 ARE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

10. Yamaha LS36 ARE

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Yamaha LS36 ARE
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold (SG301-Y22) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 L series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Engelmann Spruce A.R.E. top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany + Rosewood (5-Ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Gold (SG301-Y22) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha LS36 ARE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

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