YAMAHA FG800 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar,Natural,Guitar Only

Product Information

While Yamaha might not be the first name that springs to mind when it comes to acoustic guitars, they’ve actually been making them since the mid-60s, when they introduced their FG180 model. We found that a nut width of 43mm made both guitars hold a relative middle ground in terms of working for various playing styles. With both models sharing so many features, there is little to compare as they are both quite similar. The FG800 is a dreadnought so you expect a full, boomy kind of sound. But it’s even fuller and louder than you’d expect from your average dreadnought – something else that Yamaha’s are good at.

Now that we have established the primary difference between these two models let’s further investigate what makes them such a good option for anyone looking for a quality acoustic on a budget. Features The bridge and fretboard were both made from walnut, which is a wood that is seeing a lot more use, even in high end models. The grain on the fretboard looked good, and was nice and tight, with no deep pores. We loved the rounded fretboard edges, too, they significantly added to the comfort and playability, and we found ourselves wishing other manufacturers at this price point would do the same. For those who like the sound of the FG800 but are worried about the size, the FS800 might be the one for them because it’s the same guitar but using a Concert guitar design as opposed to a Dreadnaught design. When strummed, we found it to be an incredibly responsive guitar. The bracing has been improved since its predecessor, the FG700, which has resulted in improved dynamics. When we softened our touch, the guitar sounded sweet and rich, and when strummed hard the tones tightened up significantly.

Yamaha FG800 Acoustic, Brown Sunburst Overview

The spruce top kept the tones snappy and bright, which gave it a nice shimmering top end with enough punch to keep things sounding full. When played with arpeggiated chords or fingerstyle, the note separation was far better than expected, with bell like clarity. These guitars both feature a solid Sitka Spruce top that provides a clear and sharp tonality , often associated with instruments that boast a much heftier price tag. Both guitars feature a 25” scale length, the standard scale length for acoustic guitars with which most users will be familiar. This scale length provides a decent amount of space between each fret from the nut to the instrument’s sound hole.

How new to playing you are is probably a factor – if you’re starting out, the FG800 is perhaps the best choicebecause it is less expensive, and you’re unlikely to hear the difference in sound you would get with the FG830.

On the other end of the spectrum, the full-sized body of the FG800 results in a much deeper sound, with considerably more projection and sustain . Ultimately, determining what you require in terms of tonality and what you are willing to endure in terms of body size will make the choice clear . They could achieve even better tone, in my opinion, if they used something better than plastic for the saddle and nut. But this is something that you can replace. Fender CD60S : Coming in around the same price, the Fender CD60S is another solid top dreadnought aimed squarely at the beginner guitarist. In part, this is thanks to Yamaha’s engineers, who use cutting edge technology to make sure their guitars are continuously redesigned so musicians can get the most out of them, as well as the company’s commitment to quality.