Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200 Comparison – Musik-Ebert Gmbh

The Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200 solves an old problem: practising without disturbing neighbours, family or a hotel room. Instead of a closed sound chamber it has only a slim frame body, so it stays almost silent acoustically. You get the full tone back through headphones or an amplifier.

It comes in two characters: a steel-string version and a nylon-string version. Which one suits you depends mostly on the playing style you are used to. This comparison puts the differences in perspective.

SLG200S Steel

Steel strings, narrow neck

Ideal for: For pop, folk, fingerstyle or strumming with a steel-string sound.

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SLG200N Nylon

Nylon strings, wide neck

Ideal for: For classical playing or anyone who prefers the warm, soft nylon tone.

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01The concept: near-silent practice, full tone through headphones

At the heart of the SLG200 is a frame body of mahogany and maple. It replaces the classic resonance chamber with a slim, detachable frame that only hints at a guitar shape. Acoustically it is very quiet, about the level of a plucked string on its own.

The sound comes from the SRT Powered pickup system: it models the natural resonance of a real acoustic guitar, so headphones or an amp deliver a full, spatial tone. Reverb and chorus, a chromatic tuner and an aux input for playing along to music are built in. Powered by two AA batteries, it runs for around nine hours.

02Steel or nylon: the decisive difference

Both models share the frame, electronics and features. The difference is the string type and the neck.

The Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200S NT Westerngitarre has steel strings and a narrower neck of about 43 mm at the nut, like a steel-string acoustic. The tone is bright and percussive, ideal for strumming, fingerstyle and accompaniment.

The Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200N NT Konzertgitarre has nylon strings and a wider neck of around 50 mm at the nut. The tone is softer and warmer, and the wider string spacing suits classical playing and picking individual voices.

If you want an even wider, classically sized neck and a little more acoustic volume, there is the Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200NW NT Konzertgitarre with a solid wood frame.

Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200S NT Westerngitarre

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Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200N NT Konzertgitarre

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Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200NW NT Konzertgitarre

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SLG200 side by side
Feature	SLG200S Steel	SLG200N Nylon	SLG200NW Nylon (wide)
Strings	Steel	Nylon	Nylon
Nut width	approx. 43 mm	approx. 50 mm	approx. 52 mm
Tonal character	bright, percussive	warm, soft	warm, fuller
Frame	detachable	detachable	solid wood, fixed
Ideal for	pop, folk, fingerstyle	classical, latin	classical with familiar neck

03Who a Silent Guitar is for

The SLG200 is made for situations where a normal acoustic guitar would be too loud: practising at home in the evening, in a hotel while travelling or late at night without disturbing anyone. The detachable frame makes it compact to store and carry, which makes it a practical travel guitar.

It also works on stage: the line output connects straight to a mixer or amp, with none of the feedback issues of an open sound chamber. You will find more models and matching accessories in our Gitarren.

The decision is simple at its core: steel strings and a narrower neck point to the SLG200S, nylon strings and a wide neck to the SLG200N or SLG200NW. If you play a steel-string acoustic today, stay with the S version; if you come from classical guitar, the N models will feel familiar.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Yamaha Silent Guitar really silent?

Not completely, but very quiet. Without an amp you only hear a faint string noise, far quieter than a normal acoustic guitar. The full sound comes through headphones or an amp.

What is the difference between the SLG200S and SLG200N?

The SLG200S is a steel-string guitar with a narrower neck, the SLG200N a nylon-string guitar with a wider neck. The choice depends on your usual playing style and tonal taste.

What does SLG200NW mean?

The NW stands for an even wider, classically sized neck (wide nut). This version has a fixed solid wood frame and a little more acoustic volume than the detachable SLG200N.

Can I take the Silent Guitar travelling?

Yes. The detachable frame of the SLG200S and SLG200N comes apart, making the instrument more compact. With battery power and a headphone jack it is well suited to practising on the move.

Do I need extra equipment?

For quiet practice, headphones and two AA batteries are enough. Reverb, chorus and a tuner are already built in. For stage or recording, connect the line output to a mixer or amp.