Yamaha FG820 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha FG820 is a quality 12-string acoustic-electric guitar that delivers impressive sound and playability at an affordable price point. As part of Yamaha's long-running FG line, the FG820 combines classic styling with modern appointments to create an instrument suitable for a wide range of musical genres.

This 12-string model features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, a durable construction that projects volume while retaining musical nuance. The slim neck and shorter 24.75" scale length enhance comfort and playability. An onboard piezo pickup and preamp provide plug-and-play convenience for amplifying the FG820's lush acoustic resonance.

Overall, the Yamaha FG820 offers an excellent value for intermediate to advanced players seeking the rich, ringing tone of a 12-string guitar without breaking the bank. Its quality woods and electronics make it versatile for practice, performance, and studio work. This review will examine the guitar's specifications, sound, and strengths in greater depth.

Body Style and Construction

The Yamaha FG820 12-string has a traditional dreadnought body style, which produces a full and resonant tone thanks to its large body size. It has a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck.

The overall dimensions are 41" long x 15" wide x 4.75" deep, which provides a roomy feel and allows for easy strumming and picking across the double courses. The dreadnought shape with its wide waist and shoulders creates a large resonant chamber that projects the sound outward.

The spruce top is nicely grained and of good quality. It generates crisp highs and excellent volume. The mahogany back and sides offer a balanced tone, with good lows and midrange. Overall the combination of spruce and mahogany produces a rich, well-rounded timbre.

The Yamaha FG820's traditional dreadnought body style provides a great platform for playing the 12-string guitar. The large body size and shape produce loud, resonant tones that project well. While the FG820 focuses on delivering an authentic 12-string acoustic guitar experience, players looking for more versatility may want to check out the Cordoba 7122. This nylon-string acoustic-electric model has a smaller body size but includes useful features like a built-in preamp and pickup system. The Cordoba 7122 produces bright yet warm nylon-string tones and its thinner neck profile makes it very comfortable to play. Between its compact body and flexible electronics, the 7122 is ideal for amplified live performances as well as more intimate acoustic playing. The Cordoba 7122 demonstrates how contemporary design can expand the capabilities of a nylon-string acoustic, offering options beyond traditional classical guitars. Ultimately the Yamaha FG820 and Cordoba 7122 each have their strengths that will appeal to different players and musical needs. The FG820 delivers the quintessential 12-string experience, while the 7122 brings fresh acoustic energy and stage-ready sound. Comparing these two models helps illustrate the range of what's available today in acoustic guitars.

Neck and Fretboard

The Yamaha FG820 features a nato neck with a urea nut and rosewood fretboard. The scale length is 25.3”/643mm, providing a nice balance of playability and rich tone. The neck has a comfortable C profile that feels great in the hand.

The fretboard width at the nut is 1 11/16” (43mm), which provides ample room for intricate chording and fingerstyle playing. The rosewood fretboard has a 12.9” (328mm) radius for smooth playability across the entire neck. The fretboard edges are smoothly rolled for added comfort.

The neck and fretboard specs make the FG820 very comfortable and playable while still producing full, rich acoustic tones. The scale length provides a nice balance, while the nut width gives enough room for complex chording. Overall, the neck and fretboard design highlights Yamaha's expertise in crafting excellent playability without compromising on tone.

In addition to the excellent neck and fretboard design, the Yamaha FG820 offers great overall playability and acoustic tone for its price point. It's an ideal choice for beginners looking for their first serious acoustic guitar or intermediate players seeking an affordable, quality instrument. With its comfortable neck, quality materials, and Yamaha's acoustic design experience, the FG820 delivers impressive playability and sound.

For players seeking more flexibility, the Yamaha SLG200NW is an excellent option. This nylon-string acoustic-electric model produces rich nylon-string tones and includes a built-in tuner, EQ controls, and pickup system to provide amplified tones. The slim neck and nylon strings make it very comfortable and playable for fingerstyle techniques. While the FG820 focuses on steel-string acoustic tone and playability, the SLG200NW brings Yamaha's expertise to nylon-string guitars, with excellent amplified sound and playability. Both models demonstrate Yamaha's commitment to making quality, comfortable, and great-sounding acoustic instruments accessible for developing musicians.

Hardware

The Yamaha FG820 features quality hardware to provide stable tuning and comfortable playability.

Tuning Machines

The FG820 has sealed die-cast chrome tuners that hold tune reliably. The tuning machines are mounted on a rosewood headplate for aesthetics. The chrome finish gives them an elegant look. The sealed mechanism prevents against dust and debris interfering with smooth tuning. Overall, the tuners perform well and make keeping the FG820 in tune hassle-free.

Bridge and Saddle

This guitar has a rosewood bridge and saddle, which is typical for guitars in this price range. The material helps transfer string vibrations well. The saddle is made of plastic which is budget friendly while still getting the job done. The bridge has a compensated design that improves intonation across the strings. This results in accurate tuning and removes the need to intonate the guitar yourself. The bridge and saddle give stable, quality performance.

Electronics

The Yamaha FG820 features a System66 piezo pickup and preamp system that provides clear, natural amplified tone. The pickup is integrated into the bridge, with an onboard preamp and EQ giving you control over your amplified sound.

• Pickup System: The System66 piezo pickup utilizes a thin sensor built into the bridge to detect the guitar's vibrations. This allows it to produce an amplified signal without compromising the guitar's acoustic resonance and sustain. The under-saddle piezo design keeps feedback under control.

• Preamp: The FG820 has an ACT-eq preamp with a simple 3-band EQ for shaping your amplified tone. Bass, mid, and treble controls allow you to dial in the perfect amount of low-end thump, mid-range punch, and clear, crisp highs.

• Controls: Volume and tone controls are conveniently located just inside the soundhole for quick adjustments on the fly. The easy-to-access battery compartment holds a single 9V battery to power the preamp. A tuner out and feedback control provide additional utility.

Sound and Tone

The Yamaha FG820 produces a well-balanced acoustic tone with nice warmth and resonance thanks to its solid Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides. The jumbo body shape projects the sound loud and clear, while the scalloped bracing helps the top vibrate freely.

When amplified, the FG820 maintains its balanced tone. The under-saddle piezo pickup and 3-band EQ system provide a very natural amplified sound without excessive quackiness in the midrange or tinny brightness in the highs. The EQ gives you good control over the amplified tone, allowing you to dial in just the right amount of lows, mids and highs. Overall the FG820 sounds excellent plugged in or unplugged.

Playability

The Yamaha FG820 has excellent playability thanks to its comfortable low action and slim neck profile. The action, referring to string height above the fretboard, is very easily playable out of the box without buzzing. Yamaha sets up the FG820 with a low action that makes chord shapes and leads easy to fret without hand fatigue.

Even when played up the neck in higher fret positions, the FG820 remains comfortable and buzz-free. This is aided by the extra slim neck profile common to Yamaha acoustic guitars. The neck shape is a rounded "C" that fits nicely in the hand. Fretwork from the factory is very good, with smooth fret ends that don't catch when bending strings. Overall the FG820 rates highly for its easy playability that works well for rhythm and lead playing all across the neck.

Pros

• The FG820 is considered very well-built for the price, with its solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides. It has gone through Yamaha's extensive quality control checks and is constructed to last.

• Reviewers consistently praise the FG820 for its balanced, rich and full tone that belies its affordability. The solid spruce top in particular helps the 12-string really sing, with excellent volume and sustain.

• The FG820's neck gets high marks for comfort and playability. It has a slim, easy-to-handle profile with a rosewood fingerboard and smooth satin finish. The action is set nice and low for comfortable playing high up the neck.

• The tuning stability is very good, thanks to the diecast chrome tuners, adjustable truss rod and quality build. It's easy to get the 12 strings tuned and ringing out with a sweet, resonant sound.

Cons

The Yamaha FG820 12-string acoustic-electric guitar does have a few drawbacks worth considering.

• The electronics and pickup system are fairly basic for an acoustic-electric guitar in this price range. The system consists of just a single piezo pickup located under the saddle, without any onboard EQ or tuner. While it gets the job done for plugging in, the unshaped tone can sound a bit thin and lacking in richness through an amplifier or PA system. Players who want more control over their amplified sound may need to invest in a preamp or other external EQ.

• As a 12-string guitar, the Yamaha FG820 is inevitably a bit heavier than comparable 6-string models. The larger body required to produce adequate bass response from 12 strings means this guitar weighs in at over 6 pounds. For some players, especially smaller framed musicians, this added weight could lead to fatigue during long practice or playing sessions. Using a supportive strap and proper playing posture helps mitigate this issue.

• The wider 12-string neck, while very playable, may present more of a challenge for those with smaller hands. Stretching to fret some of the wider chord voicings inherent to 12-string guitar does require a certain amount of finger flexibility and span. Thus, the FG820 may not be the most suitable choice as a starter instrument for younger students with tiny hands.

Conclusions

The Yamaha FG820 12-string acoustic-electric guitar provides solid overall performance and good value for the price point. The use of solid Sitka spruce for the top along with rosewood back and sides produces a balanced and nuanced tone profile that works well for various playing styles and genres. While not as fancy looking as some higher-end models, the matte finish and vintage styling give it an understated appeal.

The slim neck and shorter scale length improves playability and makes it easier to fret, especially for those with smaller hands. The built-in ART-based pickup and preamp system offers flexibility for amplifying the guitar in live settings. While the electronics don't perfectly capture the nuances of the acoustic tone, they perform well for the price.

Some compromises were made to hit this lower budget tier, like the laminated nato neck and heavier bridge pins. However, the guitar plays very well right out of the box and should provide years of musical enjoyment before upgrades are warranted. Overall the FG820 12-string hits a sweet spot between quality and affordability, making it a great choice for aspiring musicians looking to add a 12-string to their collection.