The Yamaha FG800 is a great choice for those who want a decent acoustic guitar that sounds great and is built to last.
It has a non-cutaway body with a top made of spruce, back and sides made of nato, gloss body finish, a nato neck with a adjustable truss rod, and chrome hardware plating.
You can purchase this guitar in many different stores, some of them include:
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In this review article, we’ll look at the Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar, especially its tone, value, features, and playability.
Some guitar features are more important than others when it comes to the overall sound and playability of the instrument; we’ll help you understand which ones those are.
Table of Contents
Summary
To give you an idea of how well this guitar performs, we have summarized the Yamaha FG800 key points below.
Please take into account that the score and rating we give is just our own personal opinion.
Hardware
All of the metal and plastic components that make up a guitar are collectively referred to as the hardware.
These include but are not limited to:
- Tuning machines
- Pickguard
- Bridge
- Strings
- Strap buttons
- Pickups
- Tailpiece
- Control knobs
The phrase “hardware” is commonly associated with electric guitars, however, it may also refer to certain parts of an acoustic guitar.
When buying a guitar based on its hardware, be sure it’s of decent quality and will last a long time.
Plastic saddles on the bridge indicate a lower-quality guitar, which can result in poor tone and intonation, as well as making tuning more difficult.
Also, ensure sure the metal pieces aren’t prone to rusting or tarnishing, and that they appear solid, durable, and can’t be readily damaged.
Good hardware is required for a good-sounding and playable guitar, and there are a few things a manufacturer can do to make it ideal for us.
Let’s look at it more closely!
– Tuning Machines
On this Yamaha FG800, the tuning machines are die cast, made of chrome, and have a classic solid surface design.
- Material: Chrome
- Design: Classic solid surface
Tuning machines (generally referred as “tuners”) are an essential aspect of every guitar’s hardware.
They’re in charge of keeping the strings tight so they can vibrate properly and generate the desired pitch.
Poor-quality tuning machines can lead your guitar to quickly fall out of tune and be difficult to tune.
They can also make changing the strings more difficult, as well as making playing the guitar more difficult in general.
Must Remember:
Good tuning machines are composed of durable, long-lasting materials and operate with accuracy and precision.
You’d want to look for materials such as nickel-plated steel, or stainless steel, which are less likely to rust.
These materials are also less likely to tarnish, extending the life of your instrument.
– Pickguard
The Yamaha FG800 is available with a black pickguard with a red tortoise design.
- Color: Black
- Design: Red tortoise
The pickguard is a little piece of plastic or metal attached near the strings on the guitar’s body.
Its aim is to protect the guitar’s finish against scratches caused by the pick as you play.
Most pickguards are constructed of plastic or metal, in some cases, even carbon fiber, and there are a variety of styles to choose from.
A decent pickguard should be built of a strong material that can survive repeated use.
It also should be in a position where it’s likely to actually protect the body of the guitar from scratches caused by the player’s pick.
In terms of appearance, a pickguard should also match the guitar’s overall design.
It shouldn’t be too noticeable, but it shouldn’t be so little or low-quality that it seems out of place either.
– Strap Buttons
For some reason, the Yamaha FG800 only comes with one strap button, so you’d have to install the second one if you want.
- Material: Standard Chrome
- Position: Bottom only
- Design: Classic
Strap buttons are little metal buttons on the guitar’s body that are used to connect a strap to the instrument.
On the body of most guitars, there will be at least two strap buttons, one on each side.
Metal strap buttons should be solid and strong to avoid coming loose over time.
This process shouldn’t be too hard though, so don’t let this be a deal-breaker for you.
Body
The bridge, neck, and strings are all connected to the guitar’s body.
This is also where you’ll find a hole (the “soundhole”) through which sound from within the instrument resonates.
The majority of guitars have a wooden body, while others have carbon fiber, metal, or plastic bodies (less usual).
– Wood
If you’re seeking for a specific tone, you must take in mind the sort of wood utilized for the body of the guitar.
When it comes to the Yamaha FG800, it has a spruce top with a nato back and nato sides.
– Finish
The guitar’s body finish is the last layer of protection for the wood.
When it comes to this guitar in specific, it features a gloss finish.
It’s what gives the guitar its brilliance and shine, but also protects the wood from scratches, dents, and other damages.
There are different types of finishes to choose from, including the following:
- Polyurethane
- Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Polyester
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is considered to be the best type of finish, but it’s also the most expensive.
It’s a durable finish that can be buffed to a high shine, and it’s also relatively easy to repair if it’s damaged.
Polyurethane is a cheaper alternative that’s almost as good, and Polyester is the cheapest option but it doesn’t provide as much protection.
Among these categories, there are subcategories as well, such as:
- Gloss finishes: High shine and they’re very reflective.
- Matte finishes: Have a lower shine and they’re not very reflective.
- Satin finishes: Somewhere in-between gloss and matte, they have a moderate shine and they’re somewhat reflective.
– Colors Available
The color of a guitar’s body is typically not a significant factor in the overall tone.
It can, however, influence the instrument’s aesthetic appeal.
Some individuals like a certain color guitar because it complements their aesthetic or because it’s easier to see in low light conditions.
Some of the most popular colors for guitar bodies are:
- Natural: This is the color of wood that hasn’t been stained or painted.
- Black: Black is a popular color for metal-style guitars.
- Sunburst: Sunburst is a combination of light and dark colors, usually red, yellow, and brown.
– Bridge, Saddle, and Pins
The Yamaha FG800 has a standard pin bridge with black-colored plastic pins and a saddle made of urea.
Each one of these components plays an important role in how the guitar sounds and feels.
For example, the bridge is responsible for transferring string vibrations to the guitar’s body.
The saddle is what the strings sit on, and it’s usually made of plastic or bone.
And the pins are what hold the strings in place.
There are several kinds of bridges, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
The three most common styles of bridges on acoustic guitars are:
- Pin bridges (standard)
- Pinless bridges
- Classical bridge
The most frequent form of bridge is the pin bridge, which is also the simplest to replace.
However, they can be more difficult to intonate, which involves getting the strings in a precise position and tuning them.
Pinless bridges are bit less common, although they are easy to intonate as well.
They also have the benefit of not requiring any pins, which may be difficult to keep track of.
Finally, classical guitar bridges are only found for the most part on classical guitars.
They’re similar in shape that most other bridges, but the main difference is that they don’t have any pins and just consist of a saddle and wooden block that has a hole for each string.
This hole is used to secure the string, giving the guitar a much cleaner appearance.
Now, the sort of saddle you have is also crucial; plastic saddles are the least expensive and simplest to buy, but they do not last as long as bone saddles.
The cost of bone saddles is more, but they are also more durable.
As for the bridge pins, there are three main types:
- Plastic bridge pins
- Steel bridge pins
- Brass bridge pins
Plastic bridge pins are the cheapest and easiest to find, but they’re also the least durable.
Steel bridge pins are more expensive, but they’re also more durable.
Brass bridge pins are the most expensive, but they’re also the most durable.
Neck
When it comes to the Yamaha FG800, its neck is made of nato and has a Standard shape with an adjustable truss rod.
The neck is the long thin part of the guitar that extends from the body to the headstock and is generally made of wood.
Because different woods have distinct qualities that influence how the vibrations created by the strings behave, the type of wood chosen for the neck can alter the guitar’s playability and sound.
The most popular style of neck is the bolt-on neck, which is screwed or bolted onto the body of the guitar.
Another popular style is the set-neck, which is actually glued to the body of the guitar.
The fretboard, frets, nut, and truss rod are some of the most critical components of a guitar neck.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the surface on the neck of the guitar where your fingers press down on the strings.
It’s usually made of wood, but it can also be made of other materials like plastic or even metal.
As for the Yamaha FG800, it has a fretboard made of walnut with pearloid dots inlays:
Even though this has always been a big debate, it is generally agreed that the type of wood that’s used for the fretboard can slightly affect the sound of the guitar.
Maple, for instance, is a popular material for electric guitars because it produces a sharp and rich tone.
Rosewood is another popular choice, and it is frequently used on acoustic guitars because it produces a warm, full-bodied tone.
Ebony is another popular choice, and it’s frequently used on guitars that are designed to have an extremely clean and clear tone.
There are several types of fretboards available, each with its own set of pros and cons.
The kind of fretboard you pick is ultimately up to you and what you’re looking for in a guitar; the tone of the instrument will not be dramatically different, but the feel of the guitar will be.
Brand Info
Yamaha is another one of the world’s leading guitar brands, and they’ve been in business since 1887.
They’re known for their high-quality acoustic guitars, but they also make electric guitars, basses, and other stringed instruments.
Yamaha guitars are used by some of the most famous musicians in the world.
The company offers a wide range of different models to suit every budget and every playing style and is a great choice for both beginners and experienced players alike.
In terms of quality, Yamaha is definitely up there with the best of them, they use only the finest materials and craftsmanship to produce their instruments.
One of the things that set Yamaha apart from other guitar brands is its commitment to innovation.
They’re always looking for new ways to improve their products and they have a team of dedicated engineers who are constantly working on new designs and concepts.
Videos
For those of you who want to get a more in-depth look at this guitar, we’ve included some videos below.
The first video is a demo showing off how it sounds and looks.
While the second video is a review that goes over some of its features and specs.
Demo
Review
Specifications
A guitar’s specifications can tell you a lot about the instrument, and they can be helpful when you’re trying to decide between different models.
Below, we’ve included the specifications for the Yamaha FG800:
– General
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | FG800 |
| Type | Acoustic |
| Size | Full Size |
| Colors | Natural, black, and more |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Hardware Plating | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines | Die Cast |
| Electro-acoustic | No |
| Built-in Tuner | Not applicable |
– Body
| Body Style | Dreadnought |
| Cutaway | No |
| Solid Top | Yes |
| Top Material | Spruce |
| Back Material | Nato |
| Sides Material | Nato |
| Finish Type | Gloss |
| Pickguard | Yes |
| Pickguard Design | Red tortoise |
| Strap Buttons | Yes |
| Strap Buttons Position | Bottom only |
| Strap Buttons Design | Classic |
– Neck
| Neck Material | Nato |
| Neck Shape | Standard |
| Scale Length | 25.0″ |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable |
– Fretboard
| Fretboard Material | Walnut |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid dots |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
– Bridge, nut, saddle, pins
| Bridge Design | Standard pin bridge |
| Pin Color | Black |
| Pin Material | Plastic |
| Bridge Material | Walnut |
| Saddle Material | Urea |
| Nut Material | Urea |
| Nut Width | 1.69″ |
Please note that some brands might change the type of materials that they use on their guitars.
This can be because of new regulations and laws that come and go throughout the years.
If you see a mistake in any of these specifications, please let us know and we’ll correct it.
You can reach out to us via our email: [email protected]
I also encourage you to check out our other guitar reviews if you’re looking for something specific that you might have not found here with this guitar.
There are a lot of great guitars out there, and it can be tough to choose the right one sometimes.
We have reviews on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, effects pedals, and more.
No matter what your budget is, or what type of guitar you’re looking for, we should be able to help you find the perfect one for you.
Born and raised in Florida! I’ve been playing guitars for the past 5 years. Love to learn, and I’m always striving to achieve greater heights in music. Currently have a Fender Stratocaster as my main guitar.
