Head to head
Taylor 217e-BLK Plus vs Yamaha APX Series
The verdict
The Yamaha APX Series comes out ahead overall — 75 to 61 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Taylor 217e-BLK Plus wins on
No standout advantage.
Yamaha APX Series wins on
- Better build (89 vs 61)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (74 vs 59)
Scorecard
| Metric | 217e-BLK Plus | APX Series |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 61 | 75 |
| Build | 61 | 89 |
| Playability | 64 | 64 |
| Sound | 60 | 68 |
| Value | 59 | 74 |
Full specifications
| Spec | 217e-BLK Plus | APX Series |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Taylor | Yamaha |
| Type | Acoustic-Electric | Acoustic-Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | Big Leaf Maple | Solid Rosewood |
| Neck wood | Hard Rock Maple | African Mahogany |
| Fretboard | West African Crelicam Ebony | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | — | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 25.59" |
| Pickups | Expression System® 2 | SYSTEM63 (SRT System) + SRT Piezo Pickup |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $1,499 | — |
| Armrest | None | — |
| Back And Sides | Big Leaf Maple | — |
| Back Configuration | Layered, 2-Piece | — |
| Back Side Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body Binding | White | Mahogany + Cream |
| Body shape | Grand Pacific | APX |
| Bracing System | C-Class Bracing | — |
| Bridge | West African Crelicam Ebony | — |
| Bridge Pins | Black ABS Plastic | Black ABS with White Dot |
| Controls | Expression System® 2 | SYSTEM63 (SRT System) + SRT Piezo Pickup |
| End Pin | Black | — |
| Finish | Black | — |
| Fretboard Binding | None | — |
| Fretboard inlay | Faux Pearl 4mm Dots | — |
| Neck Finish | Gloss | Matte |
| Neck profile | Standard Carve | — |
| Nut Saddle | White NuBone Nut, White Micarta Saddle | — |
| Nut width | 1-11/16" | 43 mm (1 11/16") |
| Orientation | Right Handed | — |
| Peghead Binding | None | — |
| Peghead Finish | Gloss | — |
| Peghead Inlay | None | — |
| Peghead Type | Paddle | — |
| Peghead Veneer Wood | West African Crelicam Ebony | — |
| Pickguard | Black | None |
| Rosette | Faux Pearl Single Ring | — |
| Scale length | 25-1/2" | 650 mm (25 9/16") |
| Strap Pin | Black | — |
| Top Finish | Gloss | — |
| Top wood | Torrefied Spruce | — |
| Tuners | Taylor Satin Black with Satin Black Buttons | Die-Cast Gold w/Black Buttons (TM29GB) |
| Accessories | — | Sound Hole Cover, Hex Wrench |
| Back Material | — | Solid Rosewood |
| Body Depth | — | 80-90 mm (3 1/8" - 3 9/16") |
| Body Finish | — | Gloss |
| Body Length | — | 490 mm (19 5/16") |
| Body Width | — | 384 mm (15 1/8") |
| Bridge Material | — | Ebony |
| Case | — | Reinforced Carrying Bag |
| Connections | — | LINE OUT |
| Fretboard radius | — | R400 mm (15 3/4") |
| Nut | — | Urea |
| Saddle Material | — | Urea |
| Side Material | — | Solid Rosewood |
| Sound Hole Inlay | — | Abalone + Rosewood |
| String Spacing | — | 11 mm |
| Top Material | — | Solid Spruce |
| Total Length | — | 1031 mm (40 9/16") |