Yamaha AEX1500 Archtop Jazz Gtr - MIJ w/Case – Floating Pickup + Piezo EQ

Beautiful Yamaha AEX1500, crafted in Japan during Yamaha’s golden era of archtop design. This model delivers classic jazz warmth and modern versatility, blending an elegant floating humbucker with a detailed piezo bridge system and onboard 3-band EQ for fine tonal control.

NOTE: This system allows switching to either pickup technology separately -or- a user-defined blend, say, acoustic overtones mixed into your humbucker tone, either a whisper or more. Ingenious! Perfect for players seeking both rich electric and acoustic-like tones in one refined instrument.

Of particular interest here is the fact that this particular model Yamaha is also unofficially known as the "Martin Taylor Signature" guitar, owing to his extended use of it over the years in his solo jazz career. (Going by album cover photos, it's apparently used on his 'Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar' and 'Jazz Guitarist' albums from some years back, and I recall reading forum posts attesting to his recording those albums with only the AEX-1500. If you like, try to find samples on Spotify, etc. to hear Martin's AEX-1500 in action. His jazz playing ain't too shabby either, lol!)

Features

• Flamed Sycamore arched top; Flamed Maple back, and sides with a gorgeous vintage sunburst finish
• Set mahogany neck with bound ebony fingerboard
• Floating humbucker with piezo bridge system
• Yamaha Piezo Equalizer: 3-band EQ, Mid Frequency control, and Magnetic/Piezo blend
• Three-way toggle selects: neck magnetic pickup; piezo tone; and a user-definable blend of both tones when set to the middle position on the toggle.
• Floating ebony and bone bridge
• Gold hardware throughout
• Made in Japan – superior craftsmanship and superb tone
• Includes original Yamaha hard case in excellent shape
  

Condition

This AEX1500 is in excellent overall condition, showing only minimal signs of handling:

• Tiny area of sticker residue on the back of the headstock (likely removable with gentle adhesive cleaner) (I hadn't ever noticed this over the years until doing this listing's final inspection. It's nearly invisible on the back unless to search it out.)
• Light abrasion on top edge of headstock, more pronounced in photos than in person (also unnoticed until my final detained inspection).
• No cracks, chips, or binding issues
• Clean frets and fingerboard
• Gold hardware bright and largely unfaded
• Electronics and piezo EQ fully functional

The guitar presents beautifully with a striking flamed sycamore top and flamed maple back, and, in my opinion, it’s one of the nicest sunburst examples of this guitar that you’ll find.

Included

• Original Yamaha hard shell case (in excellent condition)