Yamaha FSX800C Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

An Overview of the Yamaha FSX800C Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The Yamaha FSX800C is a high-quality cutaway acoustic-electric guitar that offers versatile sound options and easy playability. As part of Yamaha's Folk Series, it's designed for playing folk, country, pop, rock and more. With its solid Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides, the FSX800C produces full lows, bright highs and good sustain. The slim mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard make playing smooth and comfortable. An EQ-pickup system provides amplification while retaining the guitar's authentic acoustic tone. Overall, the FSX800C delivers an impressive balance of natural acoustic sound, plugged-in convenience, playability and value.

Body Style

The Yamaha FSX800C features a classic dreadnought cutaway body design that provides excellent balance, playability and ample projection. The large body produces loud, rich tones thanks to its generous internal air space that allows the top to vibrate freely.

The cutaway gives you easy access to the upper frets, making this an excellent choice for lead guitar playing. The curved cutaway is ergonomically contoured for comfort. Despite the cutaway, the FSX800C still provides the full and robust voice that dreadnoughts are prized for.

The body shape allows for comfortable seated playing, yet isn't too large for younger players or smaller-framed guitarists. The body depth is 4-7/16" at the lower bout and 4-5/8" at the neck joint. With its versatile and well-proportioned dreadnought cutaway design, the FSX800C is suitable for all playing styles.

The dreadnought body style is one of the most popular for acoustic guitars, prized for its balanced and versatile sound. The large body provides volume and bass, while the wide waist allows for comfortable playing. Though originally designed for big, booming rhythm playing, dreadnoughts have proven to be exceptionally versatile for all styles. Their iconic shape is recognized worldwide as the quintessential acoustic guitar body style.

Fender is another leading brand in acoustic electric guitars like the Fender 378002506. This model features a slim dreadnought body for comfort and playability. The cutaway allows easy access to the upper frets while the Fishman pickup system provides excellent amplified tone. The solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides give it the balanced, full-bodied voice expected from a dreadnought. With its stylish looks and great playability, the Fender 378002506 is an excellent choice for any guitarist needing a high-quality acoustic-electric.

The dreadnought continues to be a highly popular acoustic guitar body style, thanks to its versatility, balanced tone, and iconic look. Though originally designed for volume and projection, the shape has proven exceptionally adaptable across musical styles. From bluegrass flatpicking to singer-songwriter strumming, the dreadnought delivers. Models like the Yamaha FSX800C and Fender 378002506 demonstrate the continued innovation in acoustic-electric dreadnought guitars.

Tonewoods

The Yamaha FSX800C features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with rosewood back and sides, producing a balanced and articulate tone.

Sitka spruce is a popular top wood prized for its strength, lightness, and balanced tonal response. The solid wood construction allows the top to vibrate and flex freely, resulting in excellent resonance and projection. Sitka spruce provides sweet and detailed highs along with balanced lows and mids.

The back and sides are made from laminated rosewood, which adds warmth and richness to the overall tone. Rosewood is known for its dark coloration and overtone complexity. It emphasizes the midrange while still allowing the highs to shine through the spruce top. The rosewood back and sides give the FSX800C a well-rounded tonal palette suitable for various styles of playing.

The all-solid wood construction ensures professional level tone and sustainability in different playing environments. The FSX800C produces clean articulation and balanced tones perfect for live performances or studio work. The choice of tonewoods has a significant impact on the sound and playability of an acoustic guitar. Sitka spruce is valued for its acoustic properties while rosewood adds depth and character.

Other popular tonewoods for acoustic guitars include cedar, mahogany, maple, koa, and ovangkol. The combination of woods, along with construction methods and other specifications all contribute to the unique voice of each instrument. High end models may use more exotic woods like Brazilian rosewood which is prized for its beauty and rich overtones.

The body shape is another important factor, with larger guitars like dreadnoughts able to produce louder and deeper tones. Smaller bodied guitars like parlor models emphasize balanced frequency response. Jumbo and Grand Auditorium shapes are in between.

The bracing pattern underneath the top also affects the sound, with X bracing being common on steel string acoustics. Scalloped bracing carves away wood to allow more top movement while asymmetric patterns provide directional emphasis.

Neck construction is vital for playability, with options like one-piece necks and dual action truss rods offering increased stability. Fretboard woods like ebony and rosewood contribute to feel and sustain. Nut and saddle materials also influence tone and articulation.

Beyond woods, important specifications include the neck profile, string spacing at the nut and bridge, electronics if equipped, and hardware like vintage style tuners. High end options may include abalone binding and inlay. Collectors value appointments like this along with exotic materials.

While the Yamaha FSX800C focuses on affordable quality through its solid spruce and rosewood construction, Fender's Paramount series offers all solid wood models with premium appointments and electronics perfect for discerning players.

With so many variables, two guitars may look similar but sound quite different. The nuances of design and material selection allow guitar makers to produce unique instruments with distinctive voices. It takes playing a variety of models to find your ideal acoustic guitar match.

Neck and Fingerboard

The Yamaha FSX800C features a Nato neck and rosewood fingerboard. Nato is known for being a sturdy, reliable tonewood that provides stability and sustain. It has a deep brown color that pairs nicely with the rosewood fingerboard.

Rosewood is a dense, oily wood that helps produce clear, bright tones with excellent note separation. Its rich brown color and distinctive grain lines make it a popular and attractive choice for fingerboards. The rosewood on the FSX800C has a smooth feel that is comfortable to play.

The 25.6" scale length and slim taper neck profile make the FSX800C very playable and accessible for most hands. The neck has been crafted for excellent intonation up and down the fretboard. Overall, the Nato neck and rosewood fingerboard offer stability, comfort, and great tone.

Electronics

The Yamaha FSX800C features the System66 piezo pickup system, which is designed to accurately reproduce the guitar's natural acoustic tone and deliver excellent amplified sound. The pickup has individual piezo sensors for the bass and treble strings, allowing you to get a balanced tonal response across the frequency range.

It also has a built-in 3-band EQ, giving you additional tonal shaping control when plugged in. The low, mid, and high EQ bands allow you to cut or boost frequencies as needed to tweak the amplified sound to your liking or to better fit a particular mix. This is especially useful for live performances where you need to match the guitar's tone to other instruments and vocals.

The preamp also has a tuner function, allowing quick and convenient tuning without needing any additional accessories. Overall, the electronics package on the FSX800C provides the key features most acoustic guitarists will want for amplification and live playing.

Hardware

The Yamaha FSX800C features quality hardware that enhances its playability and functionality. It has die-cast tuners with black keys and buttons to keep it in tune. The tuners are high quality and precise for easy tuning and intonation.

It also has a tortoise pickguard that matches well with the natural finish. The pickguard protects the body from scratches and dings during playing. It has a stylish and vintage look.

Overall, the hardware like the die-cast tuners and tortoise pickguard not only add to the visual aesthetics but also the playability of the guitar. The precisely tuned machine heads keep it in tune which is essential for optimal sound. And the pickguard protects the spruce top from damage when strumming.

Playability

The Yamaha FSX800C features a slim, comfortable neck profile that makes it very playable. The 25.5" scale length and narrow 1.73" nut width allow for comfortable fretting and chord shapes.

The action on this model is set very low from the factory, making it easy to press the strings down without a lot of finger effort. This makes it accessible for beginners while still allowing intermediates and advanced players the fast playability they need for lead lines and solos.

The slim neck and low action combine to create an acoustic-electric that feels great right out of the box. Players can focus on making music without wrestling an overly thick neck or high action. The Yamaha FSX800C offers excellent playability ideal for rhythm and lead playing.

Sound

The FSX800C produces a nicely balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, neither too bright nor too bassy. The midrange stands out with excellent clarity and definition. Notes are articulated cleanly without muddiness.

Volume and projection are also strengths of the FSX800C. It's loud enough to hold its own in jam sessions or open mic performances. The guitar projects well when playing solo too, easily filling a room with its acoustic resonance.

The onboard electronics and EQ give you further tonal shaping options. The guitar has enough power and dynamic range to handle effects pedals without getting too muddy. Overall it's a very versatile and full sounding acoustic-electric perfect for gigs or recording.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides make for a beautifully resonant and rich acoustic tone. The all-solid wood construction results in excellent projection and sustain.

• The SRT piezo pickup system provides a very natural acoustic sound when plugged in. The discrete preamp with built-in tuner also makes plugging in seamless.

• The slim neck profile and smooth satin finish make this guitar very comfortable and fast to play. The action is also set very well from the factory.

Cons

• This guitar sits at the higher end of Yamaha's price range for acoustics, so it may be out of reach for some players. However, the quality woods and electronics do justify the price for serious players.

Verdict

The Yamaha FSX800C is a great all-around acoustic-electric guitar for intermediate players. It has a comfortable compact dreadnought body shape that is nicely balanced and easy to hold. The solid Engelmann spruce top and rosewood back and sides produce a bright, balanced tone that works well for various styles of music. While not as rich sounding as higher-end models, the tone is still impressive given the price.

The narrow nut width and modified low oval neck profile provide comfortable and fast playability. The built-in SRT pickup and preamp system offer convenient plug-and-play amplified tones with EQ control. This is a sturdy, reliable guitar perfect for practice, jamming, and small to mid-sized performances.

Some may want more high-end features or premium tonewoods at this price point. But the FSX800C punches above its class with quality construction, electronics, and well-rounded acoustic tones. For gigging musicians or upgrading beginners, it's tough to beat the value this Yamaha offers.