Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Review

If there is one thing we know, it’s that guitarists are sensitive about their instrument’s

After all, what good is an artist without their brush? Yamaha is well known for making good guitars. But even with their reputation, it can be hard to tell if one of their products will be right for you.

That is where we come into the equation. We have taken a close look at the Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar. We looked at this instruments strengths and weaknesses to determine if it is right for you.

Read on for a Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar review!

Important Features

We will now take a look at some important features that all potential buyers should keep in mind. Everything found below details features that we like. We will also take a look at some issues we detected a little bit later.

Read on!

Affordable

One of the biggest selling points about this guitar is that it is very affordable. It might not feel that way when you shell out the cash. However, in general, the FG800 comes with a price tag that is very reasonable.

Of course, the bargain does come at a cost. For one thing, you don’t get much in way of accessories to help you get started. Some acoustic packages will come with cases, picks, straps, etc. You aren’t seeing that here.

You also don’t get top-tier level sound engineering. The guitar is well built and plays good. However, musicians with a little bit of experience might look for something with a little bit more nuance.

Still, the price tag might be enough to tempt just about anyone that is looking for a new guitar.

Scalloped Bracing

Yamaha overhauled their bracing engineering to mixed effect. Let’s start by reflecting on the good. The design engineering that you get here does seem to promote high sound quality. Though this doesn’t ultimately sound like the type of guitar Willie Nelson might use, its quality does rival that of most instruments in its price range.

That’s the positive side of the equation. The flipside is that Yamaha hasn’t made good on the other side of their promise.

They advertise this new design pattern to increase the durability of the instrument. That isn’t the result that we have been seeing. The FG800 Solid Top is actually a little bit more fragile than we usually expect to see.

Still, the overall takeaway is positive. When buying in this price range, good sound quality isn’t always a guarantee.

Lots of Choices

One final thing that we will mention is that you get lots of choices here. Granted, the choice options are mostly cosmetic, but then who doesn’t like to feel ownership over the design of their guitar?

The FG800 is available in two different body types. There are also a variety of different wood options, and plenty of different color patterns to choose from. Of course, not every retailer will provide every option.
Still, if you have your heart set on a certain design, chances are you will be able to find it.

All of the design options are available at the same price. That being the case the selection process comes down strictly to your own preferences.

Issues

For the most part, we really liked the Yamaha FG800. However, there were a few issues that you may want to keep in mind as you consider buying it.

One of the first and possibly biggest issues we noticed is that it is fairly susceptible to wear and tear. This is somewhat common to all guitar. They are not made to be smashed up.

However, we found the FG800 top be a little bit more fragile than is common.

Some of the issues were strictly cosmetic. We found that the body was very susceptible to scratches. This doesn’t good, but it also won’t inhibit the performance.

We did however also find that it was very vulnerable to cracking. This is a bigger issue, for the obvious reason that a cracked guitar probably won’t play very well.

We also found that the strings that come on the guitar are a little bit off. This can probably be tweaked by skilled hands, but then who wants to have to do that?

There are other problems of course, but they mostly just come with the price range. Naturally, there are guitars out there that have a richer sound quality. However, they also come with a much bigger price tag.

Of course, it is also worth keeping in mind that this is a barebones package. Picks, straps, cases are all going to need to be purchased separately.

This is generally to be expected. However, the price of the case and other accessories will make the guitar a little bit less affordable. These things aside, it is a good guitar at a very reasonable price.

Pros And Cons

The review is just about over. By now, we have seen what this guitar does right and what it does wrong. Now it’s time to decide if the FG800 is right for your needs.

Pros Of Yamaha FG800 Solid Top

Cons Of Yamaha FG800 Solid Top

Conclusion

Is the Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Acoustic guitar perfect? Maybe not, but for many musicians, it will actually be pretty close. This instrument is affordable, and simply well made. When it comes to acoustic guitars, simplicity is just fine.

This is a classic instrument, and Yamaha has taken a classic approach to making it.

Bottom line? If you are a beginner, this is going to be a great way to get an affordable guitar that is high in quality.

Even players with a moderate level of experience are going to find plenty to like about this guitar. It is a good instrument at a very fair price.