Yamaha AEX-500N2

This is a follow-up to my previous review. Nothing different from what I wrote except to say that, as I mentionned, the neck is really very narrow on this guitar and I tried to get used to it but gave up... This may work for you if you are just playing chords but for fingerpicking, it is just to narrow and hard to play. I switched to the apx9na which has a much more comfortable neck and still narrower than a conventionnal classical guitar (but not as narrow as the aex500n2). In addition, it has a better bridge transducer (B-Band). Something to check out and compare to the aex500n2 would be the more affordable apx5na which has probably the same neck as the apx9na without the fancy woods. The aex500n2 is an interesting guitar if it happens to be exactly what you're looking for. In particular, you need to make sure that this neck works for you.

Must be quite similar to AEX 500N (see reviews under that model number for more reviews on this guitar) but I call it "N2" because that's what it's called now. Maybe it's the newer version of the 500 N.
Bought brand new in 2004.Made in Taiwan. 20 accessible frets (cut away). Spruce laminated top. Natural finish with "f" holes. Alder thin body finished in black.The volume knob is near the bridge and the three band EQ is on the side where you'd expect it. Good sounding under-the-bridge piezo pick-up. The tuners are very smooth and feel like good quality. The bolt-on neck meets the body at the 15th fret giving the impression that the action is high but I measured it at the 12th fret and it is actually slightly lower than my regular nylon string. It is an unusual nylon string guitar that needs a little getting used to (long neck, narrower fretboard, etc.).It is great if you want a guitar that lets you switch from your electric to the nylon string with no change in neck width. I measured the string spacing at the nut at 1" 6/16th which is about the same as my electrics and one of my acoustics. No case included. I ordered the original Yamaha case intended for it (nice case too!). I feel it deserves a ten for features because it is quite an interesting concept for a nylon string and probably doesn't have any serious competition at the price they ask for it (some similar guitars like Godins are probably better but cost three times as much!)

I play jazz and fingerpicking style pieces.It may seem irrelevant to talk about the acoustic sound because it is simply not an acoustic instrument. but I can say that, unplugged, it is responsive and loud enough for the purpose of unamplified practice in the living room (getting used to this neck). When amplified, the sound is really decent and, I find, well balanced between strings. It is a piezo pick-up (a rather good one) and we all know how they sound, particularly on the attack and this one is no exception but it sounds good. Just don't expect the sound of a miced GC 71. Also, the squeaking sound when changing chords positions is rather loud on this guitar. I couldn't fix the problem with the built-in EQ (some of you may think I just should improve my technique and you'd be kind of right but, fact is, sometimes it's hard to avoid those at fast tempos). Controls are very quiet.

This is an area where Yamaha are hard to beat. This guitar is flawless as far as finish is concerned and was well set up. The woods are not the top selection but then this guitar is not a top of the line Yamaha so no complain here. The neck is two piece maple glued at 45 degrees around the third fret. This is not the prettiest thing to look at but it happens to be a very solid, reliable way of building a strong neck.
One thing that I dislike, although I wouldn't call it a "flaw", is that the high E string is a little too close to the edge of the fingerboard making it too easy to "fall off" when playing. I loosened the screws of the neck and pulled the neck a little sideways before retightening the screws and it improved a bit but is still a little too close for my taste. I guess they went a little overboard with this narrower neck. But all in all, great finish. It is, after all, a fairly simple guitar meant to play and sound as good as you could reasonnably expect at this price. good job.

Don't know yet. But it is obviously very well built and I guess it is reliable. I will know in a few years or months.

Never had to deal with Yamaha even though I have owned quite a few Yamaha products over the years. The products themselves never let me down.

I have played 30 years. I have a hand made acoustic Beneteau (my best acoustic), an acoustic Larrivee C-19, my electrics are a Lag Louisiane (pretty good), a Lag Roxanne Elegance ( terribly expensive and very bad guitar full of flaws), a Gibson Les Paul Gary Moore equipped with Classic '57 (Good guitar with the usual finish flaws of Gibsons but good nonetheless.) and a superb high end Yamaha 335 style semi solid SA 2200 which has the best quality of all the electrics I own. My amp is a line6 flextone, not great but I can hear myself. I won't bore you with the rest of my stuff.
The AEX 500 N2 is an excellent value and I would buy it again. it serves the purpose for which I bought it. What I wish it had? a slightly wider neck (more room between the string and the edge of the neck) and a built-in Chromatic tuner.
I am a big fan of Yamaha. They are a great company who take musicians seriously and nobody for granted.