Silent Guitars – Are They Worth It?

You may have come across the idea of travel guitars before, but that is not what we are discussing in today’s blog post. Most travel guitars are a gimmick, and have issues with performance like tuning and ease of adjustment. Some even fold in half so they fit in a backpack, though the good ones from Ciari guitars, as demonstrated by guitar legend Steve Stevens, are notoriously expensive. You get what you pay for, I guess!

You may be thinking that all electric guitars are basic silent guitars before you amplify them, which is very true, but you would be surprised how much volume semi-hollow, fully hollow and even good solid body electric guitars can put out. Our focus today will actually be on the silent version of acoustic instruments which, by natural design, are loud all on their own. 

What Is a Silent Guitar? How Does It Work?

As mentioned above, a silent guitar in my opinion encapsulates all manner of acoustic guitars, but are deliberately manufactured and designed to have as little acoustic resonance and volume as possible. If you look at the typical designs of silent guitars like the Yamaha SLG series, you will notice that the ‘wings’ of the body detach for storage and transport purposes, and the strings are only attached to the main middle piece of the guitar. The strings vibrate as normal, but that vibration does not transfer to rest of the guitar because… because there is no more physical guitar for the vibrations to travel to. 

For the above reason, silent guitars are the same or even quieter than your typical solid body electric guitar. But how do you actually use it then? Silent guitars are fitted with electronics that emulate the sound of microphones, piezo pickups or a blend of the two. One of the biggest differences between cheaper and more expensive silent guitars is the quality of this pre-amp. Often, they include basic EQ functions and effects like reverb – the more expensive ones just sound a lot better also, at least in my personal experience. To play there is not much difference, but cheaper offerings are able to achieve the low cost with lower quality electronics.

What to Look Out For

As I have mentioned many times before, the best thing you can do is to play the guitar, but also shop with budget in mind. It is also best to buy from a store unless you are confident buying from second hand websites or otherwise online. 

For specific things to watch out for regarding silent guitars in ensuring that all of the electronics work, because that is the key point of these guitars and are not fit for purpose otherwise. Using headphones and then separately a cable into an acoustic amp/appropriate speaker, make sure that the controls work and do not make any erroneous noise. I would also suggest that you check the clips for attaching the wings of the guitar, because they have been known to fail. 

Everything else, like making sure it stays it tune and that you like the look of the instrument, is pretty straightforward. 

Do You Actually Need One?

If you live in an apartment, especially in Japan where it is common for instruments to be prohibited in the rental agreement, you may find a direct need for a silent guitar. As mentioned before, a solid body electric guitar is basically silent prior to being amplified. If you need to practice electric guitar material, then you can plug into a laptop or a device with headphone capabilities. However, acoustic or classical techniques are nuanced differently – if you wish to challenge yourself with learning some material using these techniques, or have an upcoming performance featuring some classical or acoustic tunes, then it would make sense to invest in a silent guitar. 

There are many professionals that use silent guitar, mainly for travelling and because some of them do genuinely sound good – this could also be a contributing factor in deciding to make a purchase.

My Recommendation

I would recommend the Yamaha SLG200 series of guitars. The cost is relatively affordable, and very good value for money considering the sound and playability. There are three main models currently available, they are:

SLG200N – this is the nylon string variant, and my personal favorite. The neck is slightly narrower than a classical guitar and is therefore popular with electric guitarists, as the transition is easier to manage. 

SLG200NW – the W variant of this guitar stands for ‘wide’, and has a wider neck width that would allow classical guitarists to feel more at home.

SLG200S – this is the steel string variant, and feels like a normal acoustic guitar. 

The electronics used in each of these models are all the same, so the difference is based on the strings and or neck width. You can find these models for sale from Soundhouse at the link here. If you are looking for a bargain, then you could check out the older SLG100 series that has been discontinued – the main differences are the features and quality of the electronics, but the sound is still great. 

Let’s Hear It!

I have known about silent guitars for many years, but there was one particular performance from Lee Ritenour that really caught my attention. It was the 2013 live performance at the 2013 Java Jazz festival in Indonesia (view the performance here). The opening track ‘Night Rhythms’ is played with a Yamaha SLG200N, and the guitar is used throughout the show. Check it out!

Final Thoughts

Some people love these instruments and some people hate them; silent guitars have always been divisive. Have you ever played one? I recommend it otherwise. You could also ask your teacher for their opinion too!