Yamaha FG800BL Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha FG800 is an affordable dreadnought acoustic guitar that punches above its weight class when it comes to quality and playability. Part of Yamaha's long-running FG line, the FG800 delivers warm, balanced tone with impressive projection and sustain. This all-solid wood guitar utilizes traditional construction methods and materials to achieve a sound that rivals more expensive models. While not as fancy looking as some higher-end acoustics, the FG800's utilitarian design masks its hidden value - an extremely well-built instrument that plays smoothly and sounds fantastic. Overall, the Yamaha FG800 is an ideal choice for beginners and intermediate players looking for great bang-for-your-buck in an acoustic guitar.

Construction

The Yamaha FG800 features a solid spruce top, nato back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

The solid spruce top contributes to the guitar's bright, lively sound and good projection. Spruce is a popular choice for tops of acoustic guitars due to its balanced tonal characteristics. The grain of the spruce top is visually appealing as well.

For the back and sides, Yamaha chose nato wood, which is often compared to mahogany. Nato provides a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum with good mid-range punch. It pairs nicely with the spruce top.

The rosewood fingerboard and bridge provide a warm and rounded tonal quality. Rosewood is known for its rich overtones, and is a traditional material used for acoustic guitar fretboards. The woods complement each other well for a versatile and balanced acoustic guitar.

The neck is made of nato wood as well. It has a slim taper profile for comfortable playability.

The Yamaha FG800 uses a standard X-bracing pattern inside the body. This provides stability and projection for the top. The nut and saddle are made from urea, which is an affordable and durable alternative to bone.

The guitar comes equipped with chrome Yamaha-brand tuning machines. These work smoothly and hold the strings in tune well. The tuners are sealed for reduced corrosion.

There are 20 frets on the rosewood fretboard, with dot inlays on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, and 19th frets. The fretwork from the factory is very good for an affordable acoustic.

The body binding and rosette provide an elegant look. The binding helps protect the edges of the top from cracking over time.

The matte finish is thin and allows the woods' natural grain patterns to show through clearly. Thicker gloss finishes can dampen vibration of the top.

The FG800 comes strung with clear and bright 80/20 bronze acoustic strings, gauged .012-.053. These strings pair well with the guitar's tonewood combination.

The slim neck profile and smooth frets make this a very comfortable guitar to play. It feels great right out of the box without the need to adjust the neck relief or action height.

Weighing just 5.1 pounds, the FG800 is nice and lightweight for prolonged playing. The compact dreadnought body size provides a good balance of volume, articulation, and comfort.

Yamaha is known for excellent quality control and consistency. Players can expect each FG800 to feel and sound similar, which is impressive for a sub-$300 acoustic.

The FG800 punches above its class in terms of looks, playability, and tone. It's an ideal choice as a starter or travel acoustic guitar.

Players looking for a similar entry-level acoustic may also want to check out the Cordoba C1M 02685. Cordoba is another company respected for making great affordable acoustic guitars.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha FG800BL brings impressive sound quality thanks to its solid Sitka spruce top and Nato back and sides. The spruce top is responsive and projecting, bringing out excellent volume, and the Nato provides warmth and depth to the tone.

The guitar produces rich low end with punchy bass response thanks to the all-mahogany neck and the rosewood bridge and fingerboard. The mahogany neck adds sustain and a focused midrange, while the rosewood contributes to the warm, rounded tone.

The body shape and bracing pattern also have an impact on the FG800BL's sound. The traditional dreadnought body provides impressive projection and volume. Combined with the scalloped "X" bracing pattern, the guitar delivers excellent resonance across the tonal spectrum.

Overall, the combination of premium tonewoods like spruce and rosewood with Yamaha's meticulous bracing and construction results in robust projection, balanced bass, and an appealing roundness to the FG800BL's voice. The guitar's sound is very balanced and versatile, suitable for a wide range of playing styles.

The Yamaha FG800BL's impressive sound quality makes it a great choice for beginners and experienced players alike. However, those looking for an even more affordable option may want to consider the Monoprice 610261. This budget-friendly model also features a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, delivering a balanced tone with good projection. While it may not match the refinement of the FG800BL, the Monoprice 610261 punches above its weight class when it comes to sound quality. At under $100, it's an excellent starter instrument for new players not looking to spend a lot. With its solid top and quality construction, the Monoprice 610261 can hold its own against more expensive models. So for those seeking great sound on a tight budget, it's definitely worth a look.

Playability

The Yamaha FG800 features a slim nato neck with a standard width nut of 1.69 inches. This gives the neck a comfortable and accessible feel that works well for most playing styles.

The action on the FG800 is set medium-low from the factory, making it easy to fret chords and notes up and down the neck without undue pressure. The action can be adjusted to suit individual preferences thanks to the adjustable truss rod.

The rosewood fretboard has a 12" radius and dot inlays at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st frets. The medium jumbo frets are nicely finished, providing smooth transitions up and down the neck. Overall the fretwork quality is quite good for a guitar in this price range.

The slim, comfortable neck profile combined with the accessible low action and quality fretwork make the FG800 a very playable instrument right out of the box. It's suitable for both rhythmic chord strumming as well as melodic single-note playing.

Hardware

The Yamaha FG800 features high-quality hardware that enhances its playability and tone.

Tuning Machines

The FG800 has Yamaha's own vintage-style, gold die-cast tuning machines. These sealed gear tuners are very durable and do an excellent job of keeping the guitar in tune. The tuning ratio is 14:1, providing a good balance of precision and ease of tuning.

Bridge and Saddle

The bridge and saddle are made from rosewood and urea respectively. The urea saddle promotes better transfer of vibrations from the strings to the top wood. The rosewood bridge matches the fretboard and provides solid anchoring for the strings.

Nut

The nut width of 1 11/16" (43mm) contributes to the FG800's comfortable playability. It is made from urea which helps transfer string vibrations. The synthetic nut material is engineered to reduce friction and allow accurate tuning stability.

Electronics

The Yamaha FG800 features a simple passive pickup design without any onboard preamps or electronics. It relies solely on the natural acoustic sound projection from the guitar body and top.

This pared back approach can be appealing to many players who want an uncomplicated dreadnought that focuses purely on the wood resonance and construction. The lack of electronics keeps the guitar lightweight and focused on acoustic tone.

Some players may desire more versatility with an onboard pickup and preamp for plugging into an amplifier or PA system. However, the Yamaha FG800 aims for a straightforward acoustic experience centered around the traditional wood construction.

Simple and stripped down when it comes to electronics, the FG800 highlights the acoustic craftsmanship and tone woods that have made Yamaha a leader in entry-level acoustics. This guitar is an excellent choice for players who want great unplugged sound without bells and whistles.

Finish Options

The Yamaha FG800 comes in a variety of attractive finish options to suit different tastes and aesthetics.

The most popular and traditional option is a gloss finish. This gives the FG800 a classically glossy look, with the spruce and mahogany woods shining through brightly. The gloss finish options include natural, tobacco brown sunburst, and black.

For players who prefer a more muted aesthetic, the FG800 also comes in nice matte finishes. These include blue matte, black matte, and natural matte. The matte look gives the guitar a more modern, understated appearance.

Beyond the standard gloss and matte options, Yamaha also offers some unique colors and variations. One eye-catching example is the blue floral pattern finish, which has a deep blue background with brighter blue floral designs. There's also a red burst finish with a vibrant sunburst effect.

The range of finishes allow players to choose the look that best represents their style and personality. The FG800 suits both traditional and contemporary aesthetics. And with options like the floral pattern, some visual originality is possible while maintaining the FG800's great qualities.

Price

The Yamaha FG800 typically carries a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of around $200 USD. However, this acoustic guitar can often be found available from most major musical instrument retailers for $150-170 USD. The affordable price point makes the FG800 an excellent entry-level or budget-friendly option for beginner and intermediate players looking to buy a decent acoustic without breaking the bank. While not the cheapest acoustic guitar on the market, the Yamaha FG800 provides excellent value considering the solid spruce top, quality workmanship and Yamaha brand reputation. Given the construction, sound quality and playability the FG800 offers, it is very competitively priced against other acoustics in its class. The accessible pricing helps explain why the FG800 remains one of Yamaha's best-selling acoustic guitar models.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent value for the price - delivers impressive tone and playability at an affordable cost
• High-quality solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back/sides provide great resonance and balanced tone
• Slim neck profile is comfortable and easy to play
• Built-in passive electronics allow for amplified performances
• Attractive, classic dreadnought body shape looks great on stage

Cons

• Not as rich sounding as more expensive models with solid wood construction
• Lack of cutaway can make upper fret access difficult
• Factory setup may require adjustments for optimal playability
• Electronics are basic and may not satisfy players needing advanced amplified features
• Less ornate style may not appeal to those wanting a more decorative, fancy guitar

Conclusions

The Yamaha FG800 is an excellent entry-level acoustic guitar that punches above its weight class. Its solid spruce top and nato back and sides produce a balanced, rich tone that works well for all styles of playing. The slim neck and lower action make it comfortable and playable right out of the box, even for beginners.

While it doesn't have the deepest bass or the most complex harmonics of premium models, the FG800 has impressiveprojection and sustain for a guitar at this price point. The matte finish is attractive and feels smooth in the hands. The built-in electronics give you the flexibility to plug into an amp or PA system for performances or recording.

Overall, the Yamaha FG800 is a fantastic value for an affordable, high-quality dreadnought acoustic. It's an ideal first guitar for new players and a great backup option for more advanced musicians. The construction quality and impressive tone rival guitars costing much more. If you're looking for an entry-level acoustic with professional sound, the FG800 is hard to beat.