Yamaha FS850 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

to the Yamaha FS850 Acoustic Guitar

The Yamaha FS850 is an acoustic guitar that offers solid craftsmanship, a rich sound, and excellent playability at an accessible price point. Part of Yamaha's F Series, the FS850 features a traditional dreadnought body shape with a sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides. This combination produces a focused yet nuanced tone that works well for various musical genres. The FS850 punches above its weight with premium features like die-cast gold tuners and a tortoise pickguard. Overall, the Yamaha FS850 provides an impressive value for intermediate players looking for a well-built, great-sounding acoustic guitar that won't break the bank.

Build Quality

The Yamaha FS850 features an all-solid wood body, with a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The solid wood construction results in a full, rich tone and excellent projection.

The spruce top is a high-grade solid Sitka spruce that provides clarity and responsiveness. Spruce is prized by acoustic guitar builders for its resonant properties.

The back and sides are made from solid mahogany, which gives the FS850 a balanced tone with clear lows and warm highs. Mahogany is a popular choice for mid-range acoustics due to its tonal properties and attractive grain pattern.

Overall, the FS850's all-solid wood body gives it the balanced tone, sustain, and projection that you would expect from a high quality acoustic guitar in this price range. The combination of spruce and mahogany produces a versatile guitar suitable for various musical genres and playing styles.

In addition to its all-solid wood construction, the Yamaha FS850 has other high-quality components that contribute to great tone and playability. It features a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, which add snap and presence to the tone. The nut and saddle are made from urea, which helps transfer vibrations efficiently.

The guitar has a 25.6" scale length and narrower nut width of 1 11/16", making it comfortable for players with smaller hands. It comes equipped with a Yamaha SRT pickup system, which faithfully amplifies the guitar's acoustic tone through an amp or PA system.

When comparing the Yamaha FS850 to other acoustics, it stacks up well against competitors like the Martin D-18 and Taylor 414ce. While those models may edge out the FS850 in some areas, the Yamaha punches above its weight class given its accessible price point. Overall, the FS850 offers pro-level build, tonewoods, and electronics in a mid-range acoustic package.

For guitarists seeking an affordable all-solid wood acoustic with great playability straight out of the box, the Yamaha FS850 is an excellent choice. It's ideal for fingerstyle, strumming chords, and playing live shows. The quality tonewoods and construction will reward players with great tone for years to come.

If you're looking for a premium all-solid wood acoustic with some legendary pedigree, check out the Martin 11DXJOHNNYCASH. This signature model acoustic honoring Johnny Cash has a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, much like the Yamaha FS850. However, being a Martin guitar, it offers top-tier build quality and collectability that comes with the Martin name. The 11DXJOHNNYCASH produces a robust, balanced tone perfect for playing country, folk, rock, and more. It's an heirloom-quality acoustic for Cash fans and guitar enthusiasts alike.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha FS850 produces a beautifully balanced tone with impressive projection that fills the room. The solid Sitka spruce top offers excellent responsiveness across the frequency range while the rosewood back and sides deliver full, rich lows and sparkling highs. Many reviewers praise the FS850 for its well-rounded sound that sounds great whether played acoustically or plugged in.

The dreadnought body shape provides a nice sweet spot between the bright projection of smaller bodies and the beefy bass of jumbo models. It's an ideal build for lead playing or singer-songwriters who need their guitar to cut through the mix. The strong projection allows the complex overtones and harmonics to come through even when played without an amp.

Overall, the FS850 delivers professional-level sound quality and balanced tone at an accessible price point. The crisp highs and robust lows excel for both fingerpicking and strumming across various genres. It's the kind of versatile, gig-ready tone that punches above its weight class. The Yamaha FS850 is an excellent choice for guitarists looking for impressive sound quality without breaking the bank. With its solid construction and balanced acoustic tone, it's built to go the distance whether you're playing coffee shops or larger venues. For more options in this price range, check out the Cordoba C9 GUCLCOR-05274. This concert-shaped guitar also gets high marks for its rich, nuanced sound that belies its affordable price tag. The all-solid wood construction and pro-level appointments make it a great value for gigging musicians. The smooth playability and gorgeous tone of the Cordoba C9 make it easy to fall in love with this guitar. While the Yamaha FS850 is tough to beat in its class, the Cordoba C9 offers another compelling choice for those seeking an affordable workhorse acoustic. No matter which you choose, you can be confident in getting professional sound and quality construction without emptying your wallet.

Playability

The Yamaha FS850 has a comfortable, slim neck that makes it very playable. The neck has a standard 25.6" scale length, 1 3/4" nut width, and modified low oval profile that fits nicely in the hand. Many reviewers mention how the slimmer neck profile and narrower nut width make the FS850 feel almost like playing an electric guitar.

The action on the FS850 is very low and comfortable right out of the box. Most owners report the action being perfectly set up and not requiring any adjustments. The low action allows for easy fretting and makes the FS850 a very playable acoustic guitar. Between the comfortable neck profile and low action, the FS850 is an acoustic that you can easily play for hours without fatigue.

Hardware

One of the standout features of the Yamaha FS850 is its high-quality hardware. It comes equipped with die-cast chrome tuners that do an excellent job of keeping the guitar in tune. The tuners are mounted on a classy headstock overlay made of rosewood.

The guitar has a tortoise pickguard that matches nicely with the sunburst finish. The pickguard has an understated design that complements the guitar's overall aesthetic without being too flashy. It's made of quality materials and blends in seamlessly.

The nut and saddle are both made of urea, which helps transfer vibrations efficiently. Overall, the hardware components on the FS850 are very solid for an acoustic guitar at this price point. The tuners, in particular, make tuning hassle-free.

Electronics

The Yamaha FS850 is an acoustic-only guitar, containing no built-in electronics. While this limits your options for amplification and effects, the lack of onboard electronics helps contribute to the FS850's balanced tone and great playability. Without preamps, pickups, or other electronic components, the guitar's natural resonance can ring out uninhibited.

The FS850 produces a bold, balanced acoustic sound on its own, but players wanting to amplify their sound will need to utilize an external pickup. A soundhole pickup can easily be added to the FS850 to amplify your sound at gigs or recordings. Going electronics-free keeps the FS850 affordable as an all-wood acoustic guitar focused purely on optimal tone and playability. For players satisfied with a pure unamplified acoustic sound, the FS850 delivers impressively without electronic enhancements.

Pros

The Yamaha FS850 has many notable benefits for players looking for a quality acoustic guitar.

Quality Materials

The FS850 features solid spruce and mahogany construction that makes it lightweight yet durable. The materials are carefully chosen for resonance and sound projection. The laminated back and sides offer stability and reliability.

Balanced Sound

This guitar produces a clear, balanced tone across the tonal spectrum. The spruce top provides brightness and articulation in the high end, while the mahogany back and sides boost warmth and fullness in the low mids and bass. It's an extremely well-rounded acoustic guitar for fingerpicking and strumming.

Comfortable Playability

With a slim taper neck and smooth satin finish, the FS850 plays very comfortably right out of the box. The slim neck and low action facilitate complicated chords and fast lead lines. The cutaway provides easy access to upper frets. Overall it's a joy to play for extended periods.

Cons

The Yamaha FS850 is an all-solid wood acoustic guitar, so it does not come equipped with any electronics. This means there is no built-in preamp or pickup system that would allow you to plug the guitar into an amplifier or PA system.

While the lack of electronics helps contribute to the FS850's resonant, balanced acoustic tone, it does limit the guitar's versatility. You cannot amplify the FS850 for live performances or recording without adding an external pickup or microphone.

Some guitarists prefer to have electronics available even if they mainly play acoustic. The FS850 would require installing a pickup or getting a separate acoustic guitar with electronics for amplified situations.

The FS850 is designed as a pure acoustic guitar. If you frequently need to plug in, you may want to consider the Yamaha FGX800C which has a built-in pickup and preamp. Otherwise, the FS850 provides premium all-wood construction and an excellent unplugged experience.

Alternatives

While the Yamaha FS850 is a high quality dreadnought guitar and has a lot going for it, there are some other great acoustic guitars in the same price range that can also be considered:

• Martin Dreadnought Junior: This is another popular dreadnought style acoustic guitar made by Martin, known for their excellent craftsmanship. It has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, producing a balanced and warm tone. The playability is very comfortable with its modified low oval neck and shorter 24" scale length. It sells for around the same price as the FS850.

• Fender CD-60S: A solid top dreadnought with mahogany back and sides by the trusted Fender brand. It has a very playable "C" shaped mahogany neck and smooth satin finish. The hardware is chrome with die-cast tuning keys. It has great sound at an affordable price point similar to the Yamaha.

• Epiphone EJ-200SCE: This jumbo body acoustic-electric guitar has many of the elegent design elements of a classic Gibson at a fraction of the price. The laminated maple body produces a bright, balanced tone. It comes equipped with a Shadow preamp system and built-in tuner. A good alternative for those who prefer a jumbo over a dreadnought.

• Seagull S6 Original: Known for their high-quality craftsmanship and sound, Seagull's S6 model features a pressure-tested solid cedar top with cherry back and sides. It produces excellent resonance, clarity and sustain. Though a bit more expensive than the Yamaha, it's an option for those looking for the best possible materials and build quality in this category.

Conclusion

The Yamaha FS850 is an excellent option for acoustic guitar players looking for superb build quality, rich sound, and easy playability. Though not the cheapest model, it delivers great value with its solid-wood construction, beautiful rosewood back and sides, and Yamaha's expert craftsmanship.

The mahogany top produces a balanced, nuanced tone with plenty of warmth and resonance. Combined with the rosewood back and sides, the FS850 projects nicely and offers complex harmonics. It's very responsive across the tonal spectrum, suiting both fingerpicking and strumming styles.

Some players may prefer more bass punch, but the FS850 provides satisfying low-end when played fingerstyle. The midrange blooms nicely, while the treble has enough sparkle without getting overly brittle. From soft strumming to aggressive flatpicking, the FS850 adapts well.

The slim neck and comfortable body size also promote versatility. The FS850 feels great played seated or standing, providing a natural playing feel. Fretwork and intonation are excellent out of the box.

Overall, the Yamaha FS850 is a fantastic mid-priced acoustic that punches above its weight. Players looking for an inspiring, great-sounding instrument will find tremendous value in the FS850. It's easy to recommend for serious amateur and gigging musicians alike.