Yamaha FG800 VT Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar represents Yamaha's most affordable solid top dreadnought acoustic guitar. Part of Yamaha's long-running FG acoustic guitar series, the FG800 delivers impressive sound and playability in an accessible and affordable package.

With a solid Sitka spruce top, Nato back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard and bridge, the FG800 provides crisp highs, rich lows, and resonant sustain. The slim neck profile makes it very comfortable and playable, even for smaller hands. Impressive for its price point, the FG800 offers great build quality and tone you'd expect from a more expensive instrument.

An ideal starter guitar or affordable option for casual players, the FG800 provides rich dreadnought tones without breaking the bank. Its quality construction, easy playability, and balanced sound make it a versatile choice for various musical styles. The FG800 continues Yamaha's legacy of quality affordable acoustic guitars.

Construction

The Yamaha FG800 features a solid spruce top, which gives it a nice bright tone and good projection. Spruce is a popular choice for acoustic guitar tops thanks to its resonant properties.

The back and sides are made from nato wood, which is also known as Eastern mahogany. Nato has a balanced tone - not too bright or too bassy. It provides a nice complement to the spruce top.

Combined, the spruce top and nato back and sides make for a great sounding acoustic guitar. The laminate build is durable while still allowing the woods' tonal characteristics to come through.

The FG800's neck is also made from nato. Overall, the use of spruce and nato woods gives this Yamaha acoustic a classic, balanced sound at an affordable price point.

The construction and materials used in the Yamaha FG800 allow it to produce rich, balanced acoustic tones. Many musicians appreciate the FG800 for its quality craftsmanship despite its affordable price tag. It's an excellent choice for beginners looking for their first real acoustic guitar or more advanced players seeking an affordable, reliable backup option.

While the Yamaha FG800 is a great acoustic guitar, there are also other quality options in this price range. One such guitar is the Ibanez GRGR131EXBKF. This acoustic-electric model features a solid Engelmann spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The combination produces a warm, balanced tone with good articulation and volume. The GRGR131EXBKF has a slim neck profile that makes it comfortable for smaller hands. It also comes equipped with an Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp system for plugging into an amplifier or PA system. The onboard tuner is convenient for quick tuning adjustments between songs at gigs. Overall, the Ibanez GRGR131EXBKF delivers impressive specs and playability at a reasonable price point around $200.

Both the Yamaha FG800 and Ibanez GRGR131EXBKF represent quality acoustic guitar options for players shopping on a budget. The Yamaha offers an all-laminate construction focused on delivering balanced acoustic tones and reliability. The Ibanez has a more traditional build with solid wood top and the addition of useful electronics. Guitarists should consider their needs and preferences for materials, body style, electronics, and other specs when deciding between these two great models.

Acoustic guitars require careful craftsmanship to produce their signature warm, resonant unplugged tones. Features like solid wood tops and quality hardware tuning machines make a noticeable difference. Yet, brands like Yamaha and Ibanez prove that you don't have to spend a fortune to get excellent acoustic sound and playability. Players shopping for a budget-friendly workhorse acoustic would do well to check out both the enduringly popular Yamaha FG800 and the impressive Ibanez GRGR131EXBKF.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar produces a bright, balanced tone that projects well. The solid Sitka spruce top contributes to the guitar's clear, articulate voice and good sustain. There's nice warmth in the mids and low end thanks to the Nato back and sides. It's impressive how full and resonant the FG800 sounds for a guitar at this price point. The tone has enough crispness and cut to shine when strumming, but retains pleasing sweetness when fingerpicking too. Overall, the FG800 offers very good acoustic projection and balanced sound across the tonal spectrum. It's a versatile guitar that works well for various styles, from strumming chords to fingerstyle playing. The sound quality exceeds expectations for an entry-level acoustic and makes the FG800 very appealing for new players.

The Yamaha FG800's sound quality stands up well when compared to other entry-level acoustic guitars like the Pyle PEAG99. While the PEAG99 is slightly cheaper, the FG800 generally provides better tone and projection. The PEAG99 tends to sound somewhat thin and quiet unplugged, while the FG800 has fuller low end and more volume acoustically. The FG800's solid spruce top helps it produce clearer trebles compared to the PEAG99's laminate top. When plugged in, the FG800 also has more balanced amplified tone thanks to its System55T electronics. The PEAG99's pickup and preamp boosts the midrange too much, sounding somewhat muddy amplified. So for those looking for an affordable acoustic guitar with quality sound for practice and jam sessions, the FG800 is the better choice over the PEAG99. Its well-balanced acoustic voice and decent plugged-in tones make it a more versatile and appealing option for beginners learning on their first guitar.

Playability

The Yamaha FG800's playability is one of its standout features that makes it great for beginner and intermediate players. The neck has a comfortable slim taper that makes it easy to wrap your hand around for chording and faster playing. The action on the FG800 is set low and comfortable right out of the box, which helps reduce finger fatigue since you don't have to press as hard on the strings. This allows you to play for longer periods of time without your fingers getting tired.

The low action and slim neck really help improve playability for guitarists with smaller hands too. The Yamaha FG800 provides a very playable experience even for someone just starting out on the instrument. Overall, the easy and comfortable playability helps make the Yamaha FG800 a great choice for new players looking for a quality guitar that's enjoyable to play on.

Hardware

The Yamaha FG800 features high-quality hardware that enhances its sound, playability, and durability. It has chrome die-cast tuners that provide smooth and accurate tuning. The tuners are durable and maintain their functionality over years of playing.

The guitar has a tortoise pickguard that protects the body from scratches and provides some decoration. Tortoise shell pickguards have an attractive mottled pattern that complements the instrument's vintage aesthetic. The material is strong yet lightweight.

The nut and saddle are made from urea, which is dense and resonant. This allows more vibration to transfer from the strings into the body, improving the guitar's tone and sustain. The urea nut and saddle hold tuning steadily as well.

Overall, the hardware components on the Yamaha FG800 are thoughtfully selected to optimize the guitar's sound and reliability. The tuners, pickguard, nut, and saddle all contribute to making this an excellent acoustic for the price.

Electronics

The Yamaha FG800 is a purely acoustic guitar, featuring no onboard electronics. This means it does not come equipped with a built-in preamp, pickup or tuner like some higher-end acoustic-electric models.

While the lack of electronics may limit the FG800 in amplified live situations or recording applications, it allows the guitar to focus purely on optimal acoustic tone and playing feel. The FG800 produces a vibrant unplugged acoustic sound that projects well, avoiding the need for pickups and effects.

Some players may miss having an onboard tuner for quick tuning reference on the FG800. However, many feel the organic acoustic tone is worth the tradeoff. Those wanting to amplify or tune electronically can always add an external pickup or tuner down the road.

Overall, the Yamaha FG800 delivers an authentic all-acoustic experience perfect for practice, jamming and unmic'd performing. Its simple, electronics-free design lets players enjoy pure acoustic tone shaping through their playing technique and choice of strings alone.

Pros

The Yamaha FG800 is an excellent entry-level acoustic guitar that punches above its weight given its affordable price point. Here are some of the standout pros for this model:

• Quality Materials for the Price - The FG800 features a solid Sitka spruce top, Nato back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard and bridge. These are all quality tonewoods that you would expect to see on more expensive guitars. The build quality and components are impressive given the low price tag.

• Easy to Play - This guitar features a comfortable slim neck profile that makes it very playable, especially for beginners learning their first chords and notes up the neck. The action and string height are set up well out of the box.

• Good Sound - Despite the low price, the FG800 produces a balanced, full sound that belies its budget cost. The solid spruce top in particular helps project the sound while the Nato back and sides provide a pleasing warmth. It's impressive just how good this guitar sounds for under $200.

Cons

The Yamaha FG800 lacks some of the aesthetic appeal and modern tech features of more expensive acoustic guitars. While it offers excellent sound and playability for the price, there are a few potential downsides to consider:

• Not much decorative appeal: The FG800 has a very plain, traditional dreadnought look with little ornamentation. The top is solid spruce but lacks any abalone or pearl inlay around the soundhole or fretboard. The back and sides are plain nato lumber. So if you want a more ornately decorated, "prettier" acoustic, you may want to look at models with gloss finishes and more decorative appointments.

• No electronics: There is no built-in pickup or preamp system on the FG800. So you cannot amplify or modify the tone electronically. To amplify the FG800, you would need to install an after-market pickup. The lack of electronics keeps the guitar affordable, but it limits stage and studio usefulness.

Alternatives

There are a few other entry-level acoustic guitar models that compete with the Yamaha FG800 in the sub-$300 price range.

Fender FA-100 - This is another very popular beginner acoustic from Fender. It has a laminate spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a slim neck profile. The tone is described as balanced and versatile. The FA-100 offers great playability for the price.

Epiphone DR-100 - Epiphone's DR-100 has a select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard. It has a slightly fuller sound compared to the Yamaha and Fender models. The DR-100 is known for its warm tone and good intonation up the neck.

Jasmine S35 - This all-laminate model from Jasmine offers a lot of value at an even lower price point than the others. It produces decent sound and playability considering the ultra-low cost. The S35 is a top choice if you're on a very tight budget.

Ibanez IJV50 - With an agathis top, back, and sides, the IJV50 provides an affordable option with a slightly different and unique tone. It has a comfortable, slim neck and quality hardware for the price. The Ibanez is worth checking out if you want something a bit different.

Conclusion

The Yamaha FG800 is a great entry-level acoustic guitar that provides excellent value for the price. If you're a beginner looking for your first acoustic, or want an affordable backup guitar, the FG800 is hard to beat.

Yamaha is known for making quality instruments that are accessible for all budgets. The FG800 continues this tradition with its solid spruce top, Nato back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard. While not the most premium materials, they produce a balanced tone that belies the guitar's low cost.

The slim neck and string spacing make the FG800 comfortable for smaller hands. The hardware stays in tune nicely and intonation up the neck is good. Electronics are basic but get the job done.

The FG800 punches above its weight class. While not for professionals, it's an ideal choice for new players who want a real acoustic guitar without breaking the bank. I would absolutely recommend the Yamaha FG800 as a top acoustic guitar option for beginners.