Yamaha YX500F 3.5 Octave Acoustalon Xylophone
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Yamaha YX500F Xylophone – 3.5 Octaves with Acoustalon Bars
The Yamaha YX500F is a 3.5 octave intermediate xylophone designed for schools, music services, percussion departments and players who need a serious tuned percussion instrument that can stand up to regular use.
It uses Yamaha’s Acoustalon bars, made from fibre reinforced plastic with a brown urethane finish. The idea is to give players a full, wood-like xylophone sound, but with greater durability and stability than natural wood bars. That makes it a very practical choice for education settings, rehearsal rooms and shared percussion spaces where the instrument may be moved, played and handled by lots of different users.
With a gas-spring height adjustable frame, resonators, two-position resonator slots and a foldable design, the YX500F gives you a proper concert-style xylophone setup in a format that is still manageable for schools and ensembles.
What Does It Actually Sound Like?
The YX500F has the clear, bright attack you expect from a xylophone, but with a fuller and more natural tone than a basic student instrument.
The Acoustalon bars are designed to produce an authentic wood-like sound, giving the instrument a warm, focused response while still cutting clearly through ensemble textures. The tone is crisp enough for rhythmic xylophone parts, but not thin or harsh.
The two-position resonator slots help keep the sound balanced across the instrument, and the 38mm bars give players a clear, consistent playing surface. For schools and percussion departments, it gives you a strong xylophone tone without the care demands of rosewood.
Why Choose the Yamaha YX500F?
The YX500F is a good choice when you want a step-up xylophone, but durability is just as important as tone.
Natural rosewood sounds excellent, but it needs more care around temperature, humidity and day-to-day handling. Acoustalon is more stable and hard-wearing, which makes this model especially useful for schools, colleges, music services and rehearsal rooms where the instrument may be used heavily.
The gas-spring height adjustment also makes a big difference in shared environments. The frame can be adjusted from 80cm to 95cm, helping different players find a comfortable playing position. The foldable frame and steel casters make it easier to move, store and set up than a fixed-frame instrument.
Key Features
3.5 octave intermediate xylophone
Acoustalon FRP bars with brown urethane finish
Full, wood-like xylophone tone with improved durability
38mm wide bars for a clear, consistent playing surface
23mm bar thickness
Two-position resonator slots for tonal adjustment
Gas-spring height adjustable frame
Height adjustable from 80cm to 95cm
Foldable frame for easier transport and setup
Steel casters for improved mobility
A442Hz tuning
Octave tuned
Suitable for schools, music services, percussion departments and ensembles
Practical alternative to rosewood for heavy education use
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | YX500F |
| Product ID / SKU | KYX500F |
| Instrument Type | Xylophone |
| Range | 3.5 octaves |
| Note Range | F45–C88 |
| Bar Material | Acoustalon FRP |
| Bar Finish | Brown Urethane Finish |
| Bar Width | 38mm |
| Bar Thickness | 23mm |
| Pitch | A442Hz |
| Tuning | Octave tuned |
| Resonators | Two-position resonator slots |
| Frame | Gas-spring height adjustable foldable frame |
| Height Range | 80–95cm |
| Casters | Steel casters |
| Width | 137.5cm |
| Height | 80–95cm |
| Depth | 75cm |
| Weight | 38kg |
| Suitable For | Schools, music services, percussion departments, intermediate players and ensembles |
What’s Included
Yamaha YX500F Xylophone
Height-adjustable frame
Resonators
Short cover
Mallets
Who Is It For?
The Yamaha YX500F is ideal for schools, colleges, music services and percussion departments that need a proper xylophone with good tone, easy height adjustment and durable bars.
It is also a good option for intermediate players who need a more serious instrument than a basic student xylophone, but do not necessarily want the care requirements of rosewood bars.
For busy education settings, this is the practical version of the YX500 range: concert-style setup, proper resonators and a stable synthetic bar material that can cope with regular handling.
Not Sure If This Is the Right Xylophone?
If you are comparing the Yamaha YX500F and YX500R, the main difference is the bar material.
The YX500R uses Honduran rosewood bars for a more traditional wooden tone. The YX500F uses Acoustalon bars, which are more resistant to daily wear, temperature changes and humidity.
For schools and busy teaching spaces, the YX500F is often the more practical long-term choice. If tone and natural wood character are the main priority, the YX500R may be the better fit.
If you are buying for a school, music service, ensemble or developing percussionist and are not sure which Yamaha xylophone is best, get in touch and we can help you choose the right model.