Yamaha JR1 Vs JR2 – Yamaha acoustic guitars – Ultimate Comparison 2023

If you are a newbie to guitar, there must be difficulty choosing a suitable instrument that fits your hand and your budget. No worries just yet because we are here to help you find the best one out of Yamaha JR1 vs JR2- the most popular guitars for newbies. What are you waiting for? Follow us!

Yamaha JR1 

Yamaha JR1 Vs JR2: Specification

Both Yamaha JR1 and JR2 share all other specifications:

  • 3/4 scale – 21-½ inch scale length (If you are familiar with the Yamaha FG series, then the Yamaha jr2 3/4 is a model of this guitar)
  • Estimates 33-½ inches in total
  • 1 11/16 inches in Nut width
  • Rosewood Bridge And Fingerboard
  • Sitka spruce top Plastic Layering
  • Urea saddle and nut
  • Nato neck
  • Acoustic guitar with steel strings
  • String featuring 10mm spacing
  • Consists of a padded gig bag
  • 4.5 pounds in weight
  • Nice binding

Which One Should You Buy?

When you’re looking for a compact acoustic guitar with outstanding sound at a reasonable price, the JR1 model is a fantastic choice.

The JR2 guitar may be the ideal choice if you love the line’s flagship model and desire a sharper design than the Yamaha JR1.

JR2 what are unique?

The JR2 model is a better portable guitar since it is more robust. As a result, you can take it on road vacations, campground sing-alongs, and other activities without fear of it being damaged.

There is not that much of a distinction; however, the JR2 model is the victor. It has finer tonewoods. Thus the sound quality is unquestionably superior. It’s also a bonus to have additional color selections to pick from.

Yamaha JR1 Vs JR2: Pros and Cons

Yamaha JR1 Reviews

Pros

  • Highly portable and space-saving.
  • Adjustable truss rods.
  • Affordable Price
  • Durable Material

Cons

  • Strong Artificial Smell
  • Lack built-in preamp

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Yamaha JR2 Reviews

Pros

  • Durable And Portable
  • Additional Finishing
  • Warping Resistance
  • Well-Balanced Sound

Cons

  • More Expensive
  • Strong Artificial Smell

Differences Between Yamaha JR1 and JR2

Material

Meranti is an unpopular wood with which you may find yourself unfamiliar. Meranti is a powerful tonewood with some mediocre tonal characteristics. It’s frequently viewed as a cheap tonewood. Yamaha selected glued wood for the top of this guitar to offer it a vibrant, characteristic FG-series sound.

Rosewood is used for the fingerboard, which produces a warm tone. The bend-resistant neck is built of sturdy nato. On the other hand, laminated mahogany works for the back and sides. Mahogany is a strong wood that is recognized for its endurance. It may be fairly hefty.

The JR2 model is a more advanced variant of the JR1. It features a glued spruce top, much like JR1.  JR2 is constructed with a Mahogany design on the back and sides (super thin film). The mahogany adds to the sturdiness and artistic merit of the piece. Its smooth and clean acoustic tone is also a consideration.

The neck is built in almost the same way as the JR1. Nato neck with satin finish and rosewood fretboard. The chromium open-geared pitching mechanism and the 20 frets.

JR2

Design

JR2 model is another FG-inspired guitar type. Both guitars bear a resemblance to each other in terms of body form. The guitars fall into dreadnoughts, the most common form among acoustic players.

However, the huge distinction between them is readily discernible. Even though both tops are constructed of spruce, the JR1 model has a deeper yellow tinge than JR2.

The bridge pins are also black ABS with spots, which adds to the attractive appearance. As this JR2 is available in two color variations, natural, and sunburst, you’ll have more alternatives in terms of style with it.

Yamaha JR2 

The Yamaha Folk Guitar Series body is 19 inches in length and 16.1 inches in width at the lowest bout. It features a 4.65-inch-deep vibrating body that is rather big. The entire length of this instrument measures 42.3 inches.

Both JR1 and JR2 are scaled-down variants of the FG series. They’re a quarter of the size of a normal FG series, measuring 33.5 inches long on the whole, approximately an arm’s length away. The body is shorter and shallower, with 15.5 inches long and 12.5 inches wide.

Dreadnoughts have a deep, vibrant tone and may be strung or fingerpicked with equal ease. It should be mentioned that the bass responsiveness of such lesser dreadnoughts could be weaker than those of comprehensive dreadnoughts. There is no definite victor in this case; both options are excellent.

Features

Truss rod

Yamaha included a truss rod in the neck of the guitar to prevent it from bending. This truss rod may also be used to shape up a bent neck. Chrome accents the tuned pegs to make them shine out.

Despite its tiny size and portability, this version has a powerful sound that could dominate the room with exceptional sound.

Finish

The notion that the JR1 and JR2 have various finishing choices is among the most noticeable JR1 vs JR2 variances. The JR1 is available in a single finish: a lovely vintage natural appearance that will appeal to most acoustic guitar performers.

The JR2 model, on the other side, comes in two colors: natural and sunburst. The original finish isn’t dated, and it highlights the spruce’s faint but lovely grain. The sunburst finishing is a wonderful dark tobacco polish ideal for people who don’t want to stick with conventional acoustic styles.

The JR2 acoustic guitar is the victor in this category. However, we like the vintage appearance of the JR1; we believe the JR2 acoustic guitar triumphs this round since consumers may pick their finishing.

Soundboard

The soundboards of both guitars are made of glued spruce. Although laminated spruce lacks the fullness and subtlety of genuine spruce, it nevertheless has some melodic qualities. Furthermore, laminated woods are resistant to humidity and temperature fluctuations, making them ideal for traveling.

Back and side

Neither of these Yamaha instruments has elevated tonewoods for the back and sides since they are both cost-effective.

The meranti back and sides of the JR1 aren’t particularly outstanding for tone quality, yet meranti is quite robust, making it a suitable option for portable instruments. The JR2 model, on the other hand, includes Yamaha’s super thin-film innovation, which adds a gorgeous mahogany appearance.

Conclusion

Overall, Yamaha JR2 is the champion in the race of Yamaha JR1 vs JR2.

For those who are budget users, JR1 can be a good choice over the JR2 model. Yet, you only have to pay a little more to purchase the ultimate JR2, which will guarantee a long lasting life span and wonderful sound.

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