Yamaha FG800J NT Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha FG800J is an affordable dreadnought acoustic guitar that punches above its weight class when it comes to quality construction and great sound. Part of Yamaha's long-running FG line that helped establish the company's reputation for building high-value acoustics, the FG800J features a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides.

Known for its bright, focused tone and sturdy build, the FG800J is an excellent choice for beginning and intermediate players looking for a reliable instrument that will retain its playability and tone for years to come. While not as fancy looking or sounding as more expensive models, the FG800J delivers impressive bang-for-buck with its no-frills approach focused on great materials, solid construction, and straightforward playability.

Construction

The Yamaha FG800J features solid spruce for the top and Nato for the back and sides. Solid wood construction allows the top to vibrate and respond freely while the Nato back and sides provide a sweet, balanced tone.

Solid spruce is a popular choice for acoustic guitar tops thanks to its lightweight and resonant properties that emphasize the brightness and rich overtones. Along with giving the FG800J a full, rich sound, the spruce top will mature nicely over time as the wood ages.

The back and sides are crafted from laminated Nato, also known as Eastern mahogany. Nato is known for its focused midrange tones while still providing warmth in the low end. This combination with the spruce top gives the FG800J a well-rounded tonal profile. Overall, the solid spruce and Nato body provides excellent resonance, sustain and balanced tone across the entire frequency range.

The construction of an acoustic guitar is vitally important to the tone and playability of the instrument. Factors like the wood choice, bracing patterns, neck joint, bridge design and more all influence the sound and feel. When it comes to the FG800, Yamaha has crafted a guitar built from quality tonewoods using proven construction methods.

In addition to the solid spruce top, the FG800 features a Nato neck and rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The neck is constructed using a traditional dovetail joint for excellent stability and resonance. The nut width measures 43mm for comfortable fingerpicking and chord shapes. The rosewood fingerboard and bridge provide crisp note articulation and bright tone.

Inside the body, scalloped X-type bracing provides rigidity to the top while allowing it to vibrate freely. A rosewood bridge pins and synthetic bone nut and saddle transfer string vibrations efficiently. Overall, the FG800 is thoughtfully designed and built to deliver the excellent playability and balanced acoustic tone that Yamaha guitars are known for.

For guitarists looking for a premium instrument with pro-level features, be sure to check out the ADM JC613-39-NR. This acoustic-electric model boasts a solid cedar top, mahogany back and sides, and an ARCTIC SRT Piezo pickup system. The slim neck profile and low action facilitate intricate fingerstyle playing while the onboard tuner ensures you always sound in tune. If you want the looks and tone of a high-end acoustic with stage-ready features, the ADM JC613-39-NR is an excellent choice.

Sound

The Yamaha FG800J has a well-balanced tone that projects nicely. The dreadnought body shape produces a full, rich sound with nice bass response thanks to the large soundboard. Many reviewers praise the guitar's ability to deliver volume without distorting or sounding thin. While not as loud as a high-end acoustic, the FG800J has impressive projection and resonance for its class. The solid sitka spruce top contributes to the bright, balanced tone. Overall, the guitar captures the Yamaha sound - warm midrange, crisp trebles, and tight bass - at an affordable price point. Both fingerpicking and strumming styles sound full and vibrant on the FG800J. It handles various genres well, from rock to country to jazz. The tone is suitable for ensemble playing or solo performers. The Yamaha is capable of producing quality unplugged sound on stage or in the studio. While not the loudest acoustic guitar, it provides nice balanced tone and sustain. The FG800J's sound quality rivals more expensive models. The combination of solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides allows it to produce rich lows, sparkly highs, and nice sustain. Many users feel it sounds as good as their $500+ acoustics. While it may not have the absolute loudest acoustic projection, the FG800J punches above its weight class in terms of balanced tone and resonance. It's a great choice for beginners looking for an affordable workhorse acoustic with professional-grade sound. If you're looking for an alternative, check out the Fender 0970713003. This dreadnought acoustic guitar also offers quality materials and construction at a budget-friendly price. It features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Owners describe the tone as balanced, clear, and resonant. The midrange stands out with nice presence. It handles both fingerstyle playing and energetic strumming well. The Fender excels at versatility, sounding great across various genres. While not as loud as high-end models, it projects nicely for its class. Overall, the Fender 0970713003 is another good acoustic guitar option with great sound at an affordable price point.

Playability

The Yamaha FG800J NT's flat neck and low action makes it comfortable and easy to play, even for beginners. The slim taper neck has a smooth satin finish that allows your hand to glide up and down easily. Yamaha designed the neck to be playable by guitarists of all hand sizes, with a nut width of 1 11/16 inches.

The action, or string height, is set low at the 12th fret. This allows easy pressing of the strings without buzzing. The low action reduces hand fatigue when playing for long periods of time. It also helps beginners to press the strings down without exerting a lot of effort or feeling pain in their fingers. Even barre chords can be played with relative ease due to the low action.

Overall, the comfortable neck profile combined with the low action makes this an accessible, easy-playing acoustic guitar. Both novice and experienced players will find this Yamaha dreadnought to be enjoyable to play for extended practice sessions or live performances.

Hardware

The Yamaha FG800J features high-quality hardware that enhances its playability and functionality. It has die-cast chrome tuners which provide smooth and accurate tuning stability. The tuners are mounted on a rosewood headplate which matches the body and contributes to the guitar's attractive appearance.

The FG800J also comes with a stylish tortoise pickguard. The pickguard protects the guitar's top from scratching and wear from guitar picks. Its tortoise design adds vintage appeal to the instrument. The pickguard is made from quality materials so it will hold up well over years of playing without cracking or warping.

Overall, the hardware components Yamaha selected for the FG800J add to its quality build and reliability. The die-cast tuners keep it in tune while the tortoise pickguard protects the spruce top from wear and tear during playing sessions. Guitarists will appreciate these details that enhance the instrument's playability and durability.

Electronics

The Yamaha FG800 has no electronics. It is an acoustic guitar, relying solely on the vibration of the strings and resonance of the body to produce sound. The lack of any pickups, preamps, or effects means the FG800 has a pure acoustic tone. This makes it well-suited for playing unplugged, whether practicing at home or performing live for a small crowd. The tradeoff is it can't be connected to an amplifier or PA system to play for large audiences. But for guitarists focused on traditional acoustic playing, the all-natural sound is a benefit not a drawback. Without electronics, the FG800 avoids any tone-coloring that can come from preamps, and lets the wood construction and strings be the only factors influencing its voice.

Tonewoods

The Yamaha FG800 features a solid spruce top, with nato back and sides. Spruce is a classic guitar top wood that provides brightness, articulation, and responsiveness. It's lightweight and resonant, with crisp highs and excellent projection. The solid spruce top in the FG800 helps it produce a balanced, dynamic sound.

Nato, also known as Eastern mahogany, is used for the back and sides. Nato is tonally similar to mahogany, with a slightly brighter sound. It offers a clear midrange, warm lows, and good bass response. The nato back and sides complement the spruce top nicely in the FG800, providing depth and resonance to balance the crisp highs. Together, these tonewoods allow the FG800 to produce rich, nuanced tones across the frequency range. The all-laminate nato construction also provides durability and stability.

Pros

The Yamaha FG800J is an excellent affordable entry-level acoustic guitar with several noteworthy pros.

• Affordable Price - The Yamaha FG800J is very reasonably priced for a full-sized dreadnought acoustic guitar. It is an ideal choice for beginners and budget-conscious players who want a well-built instrument.

• Good Build Quality - Considering its accessible price point, the FG800J features quality construction and materials including a laminated spruce top, Meranti back and sides, and a Nato neck. The materials may not be top-shelf, but the guitar is built very well.

• Balanced Tone - The FG800J produces a balanced and pleasing tone that belies its price tag. It offers a nice blend of warmth and articulation with good projection suitable for both practicing and jamming. The sound is even across the tonal spectrum.

Cons

The Yamaha FG800J has a few drawbacks worth considering.

• No cutaway or electronics: This is a purely acoustic guitar without any electronics or cutaways. The lack of a cutaway can make it harder to access higher frets. There's also no built-in pickup or preamp, so you'll need an external mic if you want to plug this guitar into an amp or PA system.

• Plainer looks than some models: The FG800J has a very basic, no-frills appearance. The top is solid spruce, but the back and sides are laminated Nato rather than a more decorative tonewood. If you want more visual flair, there are flashier looking acoustics in this price range.

Conclusion

The Yamaha FG800J is an excellent entry-level acoustic guitar that provides great value for its price. With its solid spruce top and nato back and sides, it produces a balanced tone that works well for various styles of music. The playability is superb right out of the box, with its comfortable neck, low action, and reduced fingerboard. While it lacks some of the projection and richness of more expensive models, the FG800J holds its own with its full and rounded tone. The smaller body size makes it a great choice for beginners and travelers. Overall, the Yamaha FG800J is a fantastic choice as a starter guitar thanks to its quality construction, easy playability, and great sound. Its affordable price makes it accessible for beginners while still providing professional level quality. For those looking to buy their first acoustic or a simple practice guitar, the FG800J is tough to beat.