YAMAHA FG800 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar is an affordable entry-level instrument aimed at new players and those on a budget. Part of Yamaha's legendary FG series, the FG800 carries on the tradition of offering great playability, tone and looks at an accessible price point.

This dreadnought style acoustic shares many characteristics with pricier Yamaha models, featuring a solid spruce top, Nato back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, diecast tuners and a tortoise pickguard. At under $200, it punches well above its weight class. The FG800 provides a robust, balanced tone that belies its low cost, making it a smart choice for beginners and hobbyists.

Construction

The Yamaha FG800 features a solid Sitka spruce top, which is a popular choice for acoustic guitars due to its bright, balanced tone and good projection. Sitka spruce is a strong, lightweight wood that allows the top to vibrate freely and produce louder and clearer tones.

The back and sides are made of Nato wood, which is similar to mahogany. Nato is a dense, durable wood that helps provide a focused midrange, warm bass response, and good resonance. It's a versatile tonewood that works well for all styles of playing.

The FG800 uses a standard non-scalloped X-type bracing pattern. This traditional bracing provides a solid foundation that prevents too much vibration and allows the top to resonate optimally. The bracing contributes to the guitar's balanced tone across the tonal spectrum.

Overall, the all-solid wood construction with Sitka spruce top and Nato back and sides produces a quality acoustic guitar tone and resonance, with the spruce top bringing out plenty of volume, articulation and sustain. The materials and bracing enable the FG800 to deliver an impressive musical performance.

The construction of the Yamaha FG800 is fairly typical for an acoustic guitar in its price range. It uses traditional tonewoods and bracing patterns to achieve a balanced, quality sound. Another comparable acoustic guitar is the Monoprice 625900. This is also an all-solid wood guitar with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It features scalloped X-bracing for a more open and resonant tone. The Monoprice 625900 is praised for having a warm, full sound with good sustain and volume projection. It punches above its weight class in terms of tone quality. While the Yamaha may have a bit more articulation and balance across frequencies, the Monoprice competes well with its rich lows and ringing highs. Considering the Monoprice 625900 costs significantly less, it represents an excellent value for an all-solid wood acoustic. Both guitars use traditional construction methods and tonewoods to achieve quality acoustic guitar sound, though the Yamaha FG800 does feature some more sophisticated bracing and finishing details consistent with its higher price tag.

Sound Quality

The FG800's sound quality punches above its price point thanks to its solid sitka spruce top, which helps produce clear trebles and crisp articulation. The combination of the spruce top with the nato back and sides generates balanced bass and bright tones with good projection.

Though it lacks the midrange complexity of more expensive all-solid wood guitars, the FG800's layered wood construction provides very impressive sustain and harmonics considering its affordable cost. Some players feel the midrange tones can be slightly muted at times, but the FG800 has impressive volume and dynamic range for a beginner instrument.

The spruce and nato tonewoods generate pleasant, balanced acoustics that work well for all styles of playing. From bright, shimmery trebles to focused midrange and decent bass punch, the FG800 delivers a balanced tonal spectrum that exceeds expectations for its price bracket. The crisp highs and percussive projection make this guitar suitable for flatpicking and strumming, while fingerpickers will appreciate the clear note separation.

Overall, the all-laminate wood construction belies the FG800's sophisticated, nuanced tone that outclasses other entry-level acoustics. The spruce and nato pairing provides great harmonic complexity, sustain and articulation - an exceptional sounding instrument considering its affordable cost.

The FG800's balanced and articulate tone makes it a great choice for beginners looking for an affordable workhorse acoustic. While it may lack some of the tonal complexity of more expensive models, its crisp trebles, focused mids and decent bass provide a versatile sound at a budget price point. Many players keep their FG800 as a practice and travel beater even after upgrading to pricier guitars. If you're looking for impressive playability and tone without breaking the bank, be sure to check out the D'Angelico DAPD300TBCBAPS for a comparable option with all-solid woods and a premium feel.

The FG800's spruce and nato tonewoods produce a balanced frequency response suitable for all styles of playing. Fingerpickers can articulate individual notes cleanly, while strummers will appreciate the crisp treble bite for accenting chords. The all-laminate construction provides great resonance and sustain, with impressive volume and dynamics from the spruce top. Overall, the FG800 delivers sophisticated tone belying its beginner-friendly price tag.

Though it may lack some midrange complexity compared to all-solid wood models, the FG800's layered wood construction punches above its class for sustain and harmonics. The balanced bass and bright treble tones work for both flatpicking and fingerstyle playing. From percussive rhythms to intricate melodies, the FG800 provides enough versatility for beginners to grow into. For intermediates needing an affordable alternate axe, the FG800's impressive playability and resonant tone make it a great value choice.

Playability

The Yamaha FG800 features a slim nato neck with a rosewood fretboard and 20 frets. The neck has a comfortable, easy-to-play shape that accommodates both small and large hands. The fretboard radius is 400mm, which provides a nice rounded feel across the width of the neck.

The action on the FG800 is set low from the factory, making it very playable right out of the box. Many owners report the action being perfect for their playing style without any adjustments needed. The low action allows fast lead playing while still avoiding fret buzz.

The FG800 comes strung with light gauge acoustic strings from D'Addario. The light gauge enhances playability by reducing tension and finger pressure needed when fretting notes. The strings have a bright, crisp tone which complements the guitar's overall voice. Owners report the factory strings retaining their liveliness for an extended period before needing to be changed.

The neck width at the nut is 1.69", which is a standard width for classical style acoustic guitars. This nut width provides ample room for fingerstyle playing while still allowing comfortable chording. Overall the FG800's playability makes it a great choice for new players and professionals alike.

Hardware

The Yamaha FG800 features quality hardware that allows for stable tuning and comfortable playability. The guitar has die-cast chrome tuning machines that hold tune precisely. The tuning machines have a classy vintage look with contemporary Yamaha branding.

The nut and saddle are made of urea, which is a durable synthetic material that promotes accurate intonation. The urea nut and saddle feel smooth during chord changes and note bending. The nut width is 43mm, which provides a good balance of playability and comfort for most players.

The FG800 has a rosewood bridge with a compensated saddle. The compensated saddle helps correct intonation issues, ensuring the guitar stays in tune across the fretboard. The rosewood material blends nicely with the rest of the instrument. The bridge pins are also made of rosewood. Overall, the hardware components of the FG800 are well-designed for tuning stability and long-term reliability.

Electronics

The Yamaha FG800 features a simple but effective electronics setup. It has a built-in passive undersaddle piezo pickup that allows you to plug into an amplifier or PA system for performances or recording.

The pickup reproduces the natural acoustic tone of the guitar well, without excessive quackiness or piezo harshness. It provides balanced and clear amplification without significantly coloring the inherent sound of the instrument.

There are no onboard preamp or tone controls. This helps keep costs down while still offering basic amplification capabilities. However, it means you'll need to shape your tone with an external preamp or EQ pedal if desired.

The lack of a preamp also means no onboard tuner, but the tradeoff is a straightforward, unfussy electronic system that gets out of the way of the FG800's excellent acoustic voice. Just plug in and let the guitar speak for itself.

Overall, the pared-down electronics give you what you need for plugging in without compromising tone or adding excessive cost. It's ideal for performers on a budget seeking a stage-worthy acoustic guitar that keeps things simple.

Aesthetics

The Yamaha FG800 has a classic dreadnought acoustic guitar shape with a nice gloss finish. It comes in two finish options - a rich tobacco sunburst or a more natural-looking satin finish.

The binding on the FG800 is clean and minimal, with single-ply binding around the top. There are no elaborate inlays, just simple pearloid dot inlays along the fretboard and around the soundhole. This gives the FG800 an understated, workhorse-like appearance.

Some players may prefer more decorative appointments, but the simple aesthetics allow the FG800 to fit into any genre or playing scenario. It has a timeless, versatile look that focuses more on playability and functionality over flash.

Accessories

The FG800 comes with basic accessories, so you may want to purchase some additional items to enhance your playing experience.

Case

A case is highly recommended to protect the FG800 while transporting or storing it. Soft cases lined with plush interiors will prevent scratches and dings. Hard cases offer even more protection but are bulkier. Gig bags are lightweight and make the guitar accessible.

Picks

Picks come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Try an assortment to find the right fit for your playing style and the FG800's tonewoods. Thinner picks bring out brighter tones, while thicker picks produce warmer, bassier sounds. Popular picks are celluloid, nylon, and tortex.

Strings

The factory strings may need replacing periodically as they lose vibrancy. Coated strings last longer. Silk and steel strings provide a warmer tone. Polyweb and fluorocarbon strings have a bright, crisp sound. Try different gauges and brands to experience the tonal varieties strings can produce.

Capo

A capo is a clamp that attaches to the fretboard to shorten string lengths. This allows you to play in different keys using the same chord fingerings. Capos come in various styles from elastic wrap-around to quick release lever models. They expand the FG800's musical versatility for songwriting or vocal accompaniment.

Pros

The Yamaha FG800 has several notable pros that make it a great value acoustic guitar.

Fantastic Sound

The FG800 produces a rich, full-bodied tone thanks to its solid sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides. The non-scalloped bracing provides excellent resonance and sustain. Many reviewers praise the impressive sound projection and volume from the FG800, especially for its price range.

Easy Playability

With its slim neck profile, low action, and comfortable body size, the Yamaha FG800 offers beginner-friendly playability right out of the box. The rosewood fingerboard and bridge are smooth and inviting. The wider nut width also makes barre chords easier to play.

Great Value

Considering its all-solid wood construction and impressive features, the FG800 provides fantastic value. It's durability and quality rival guitars costing twice as much. The FG800 is regarded by many as the best entry-level acoustic guitar for those looking for solid tonewoods and excellent playability without breaking the bank.

Cons

The Yamaha FG800 does have some downsides to consider.

• The electronics and preamp are fairly basic, without much tonal shaping or EQ options. While they get the job done for simple plug-and-play live performances, more advanced players may want more adjustability.

• The fit and finish is not on par with more expensive models. There are some reports of issues like uneven frets or poor setup out of the box. This may require a professional setup, adding to the cost.

• While the FG800 punches above its weight at this price point, more advanced players may want to consider some alternatives that offer higher-end features, electronics, and craftsmanship. Models like the Taylor 114ce, Martin DX1AE, or Seagull S6 Original can provide better sound, but at 2-3 times the price.