The Yamaha CG-TA TransAcoustic is a next-level classical guitar with TA technology that makes its built-in reverb and chorus sound astonishingly textured and authentic.
Pros
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The TA technology is not limited to only the guitar itself; you can use the onboard chorus and reverb through a PA system and amplifier.
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Top construction and electronics makes for an enchanting playing experience.
Cons
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Much of the price you're paying is going towards the technology rather than the acoustic build.
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There are acoustic guitars, and then there are Yamaha’s TransAcoustic guitars. For those in the dark, Yamaha TransAcoustic series guitars are solidly crafted acoustic-electric instruments as is, but what makes them unrivaled is that they come equipped with TransAcoustic technology that incorporates built-in reverb and chorus, which upon activation, elevates the natural acoustic guitar sound into an entirely transformative experience.
If you’ve never tried one, it’s something to behold once you hear it, because the effected sound emanating from the guitar’s body chamber sounds as if it were processed in a recording studio or even a live setting - and it’s achieved without adding any external gear, pedals or amplifiers. I totally gushed over the steel-string FS-TA TransAcoustic in an earlier review, but after playing the Yamaha CG-TA TransAcoustic, I find this one sounds far more enchanting presented here as a nylon-string.
The CG-TA TransAcoustic arrives in a standard classical body shape with a fetching vintage orange tint and features a solid spruce top, laminated ovangkol back and sides, nato neck and rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
For those who are used to playing traditional dreadnought or concert-sized steel-string acoustics, you’ll need to get accustomed to the wider nylon-string spacing from its 2.04-inch (52mm) nut width, which is fairly common for classical guitars.
The guitar comes with Yamaha’s TA technology, consisting of an actuator discreetly mounted inside the sound chamber that detects the string’s vibrations and transfers those reflections throughout the body, resulting in spacious reverb and thick chorus depending on where you set the controls.
Three slim thumb wheels adjust reverb (hall and room) and chorus, while the last one doubles as a line-out volume (for a PA or amp) and turns the TA on/off (all you have to do is push and hold for two seconds).
Finally, the TA is powered by two AA batteries concealed inside the endpin jack’s compartment.
Performance
(Image credit: Yamaha)
Without enabling the TA technology, the CG-TA is an all-around robust acoustic and, it’s safe to say, an excellent introductory- to mid-level instrument for those who wish to take a deep dive learning classical guitar. I also dug its satiny, matte finish neck and relatively low action that lends to an overall enjoyable feel and smooth playing experience.
But the star of the show is its TransAcoustic capabilities, which instantly reveal the guitar’s almost supernatural sound once activated. On just the hall setting, your ears are pleasingly stimulated as the cavernous reverberations uncannily swirl in the air around you, making your sensory perceptions do a double-take - surprised that it’s all coming from the soundhole.
The chorus is also really good, very lush and very '80s in its doubled effect. However, I found myself hanging onto the natural-sounding reverb, which makes everything you play sound more polished. Is it novel? Definitely. A bit of a gimmick? You could certainly argue that. Is it a must-have? Man, it’s hard to say no.
Try as I might, it’s a guitar I couldn’t put down because its effected sounds are so immersive and just plain fun. No need to get to Carnegie Hall; Yamaha has delivered the acclaimed venue to your living room with this guitar.
Paul Riario has been the tech/gear editor and online video presence for Guitar World for over 25 years. Paul is one of the few gear editors who has actually played and owned nearly all the original gear that most guitarists wax poetically about, and has survived this long by knowing every useless musical tidbit of classic rock, new wave, hair metal, grunge, and alternative genres. When Paul is not riding his road bike at any given moment, he remains a working musician, playing in two bands called SuperTrans Am and Radio Nashville.
