Yamaha FS800 Folk Acoustic Guitar

Yamaha FS800 Folk Acoustic Guitar Review

The Yamaha FS800 Folk Acoustic Guitar is one impressively astonishing entry-level guitar that, considering the price, pays great attention to sound quality and construction. In terms of comfort size, warmth of tone, and total solid construction, the FS800 keeps the balance of attention moving from beginners to intermediate players. Within this review, we will look deep into design, quality of sound, playability, and general value to further your insight into what makes this Yamaha FS800 acoustic guitar impressive in the market today.

Key Specifications:

Here’s an overview of the key specifications of the Yamaha FS800:

• Body Style: Folk (Smaller body compared to dreadnought)
• Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Back and Sides Wood: Mahogany
• Neck: Nato (a type of wood similar to mahogany)
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Scale Length: 25 inches
• Nut Width: 1.69 inches
• Finish: Gloss
• Bracing: Scalloped X-Bracing
• Pickguard: Tortoise shell

These specifications reflect solid construction and attention to detail. The solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and scalloped X-bracing give the FS800 both great sound and build quality.

Design & Build Quality

The Yamaha FS800 is a folk body-style guitar, hence smaller in comparison to a normal dreadnought. This size is ideal for those players who wish to play with a compact guitar. It is particularly comfortable for young players, beginners, and for those persons aspiring to have an easy guitar to handle. Despite the reduced size, FS800 does not compromise much on sound.

The Sitka spruce solid top reinforces brightness and clarity in the guitar‘s tone, while mahogany used on the back and sides adds warmth and richness. Together, they provide an evenly balanced and full–bodied sound suitable for many styles. The sound of a solid spruce top improves with time, enriching it through resonation, as it gets aged and used more often.

The nato neck and rosewood fretboard ensure that playing will be effortless and smooth. The gloss finish makes this guitar really shiny, while the tortoise shell pickguard adds a bit of nice contrast to it. Overall, the construction on the FS800 is solid and sufficient for practice or performance.

Sound Quality

One of the most impressive things about the Yamaha FS800 is the sound. This is an affordable option, but you get a very rounded tone that has great clarity and projection. You’ll be sure to get some very bright, crisp sounds from the solid Sitka spruce top, but there’s added warmth and depth to give a balanced sound from the mahogany back and sides.

The FS800 produces a balanced tone across the low, mid, and high. The mid is somewhat clear, which gives it a warm and resonant feel, apt for folk, acoustic pop, and light rock. The bass is quite solid to hold rhythm playing with a nice foundation, while the treble remains bright though not overly sharp.

The scalloped X-bracing really enhances the resonance of this guitar. This kind of bracing makes the guitar very responsive and dynamic, providing a clean and balanced sound whether one plays softly or hard. The FS800 serves well for both strumming and fingerpicking, making it versatile for musicians who may want to try out different playing styles.

Though the FS800 doesn’t present the booming low-volume dreadnought guitar, it compensates for clarity and balance. It is just perfect for players who want a guitar that will handle a range of genres while offering great articulation and tone.

Playability

The Yamaha FS800 delivers great ease of playability. Its folk body shape promotes great handling, mainly for players with much smaller frames. The size is more petite, hence comfortable during a long playing session in both standing and sitting positions. The smooth neck made of nato allows great movement along the neck so that chord changes are swift, with solo runs effortless.

For most players, the nut width is ideal-1.69 inches is large enough to be comfortable moving up and down on the fretboard, yet not so wide that it becomes intimidating to a beginner. Added to this smoothness is the rosewood fretboard, which provides just enough grip for the players without sacrificing accurate note placement. The low action takes a great deal of stress off the hands, making it quite a bit easier to push the strings down.

The guitar feels natural under the fingers, whether you are playing open chords or more intricate fingerstyle patterns. For beginners, the Yamaha FS800 is kind and allows a few mistakes to be made along the way without hindering the learning process. For intermediate players, the playability will be smooth and easy as one moves further along with one’s skills.

Durability

For the price it comes in, the Yamaha FS800 is quite strong. It boasts of a solid spruce top with a gloss finish to always keep it looking new. Further, mahogany back and sides lend strength to it and make the guitar sustainable for everyday playing. Its neck is of nato, which is strong and less given to warping.

Scalloped X-bracing also contributes to the structural integrity of this guitar. This kind of pattern supports the protection of the top and enriches its resonance. The FS800 can take on different playing environments and withstand casual playing. Once again, like any other wooden instrument, care and storing should be carried out with it when not in use to prevent extreme temperatures or humidity from causing damage.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Great sound: Balanced and articulate tone, perfect for a variety of genres and playing styles.
• Comfortable playability: The smaller folk body and smooth neck make it ideal for beginners and players with smaller frames.
• Solid construction: Solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides provide durability and tonal development over time.
• Affordable: Great value for an entry-level guitar.

Cons:

• Less volume than larger guitars: The folk body size doesn’t have the same volume or bass depth as a dreadnought.
• Limited low-end response: While the sound is clear, it lacks the deep low-end that some players might prefer.

Ideal Use Cases

The Yamaha FS800 is perfect for the starting to intermediate-level player. Budget–friendly, this is an excellent choice for the person beginning or any pickers who need a reliable second guitar. For strummers, fingerpickers, or a person performing a little of both, clear balanced sound fits most genres of music.

Be it for acoustic jamming, open mic nights, or for general performances, the FS800 will suffice if you need a guitar. Its compact size also makes it ideal for traveling musicians. This guitar is greatly versatile for different playing situations, whether it be practicing at home or performing for an audience.

Overall Value

The Yamaha FS800 is quite a steal for the price. With a top made of solid spruce, back, and sides made of mahogany, and the added feature of scalloped X-bracing, it‘s both sounding great and durable. Overall comfort and playability and a balanced tone make it one of the very best choices in this price range.

If one is on the lookout for an affordable and high-quality acoustic guitar, then the Yamaha FS800 will surely never disappoint with its great performances at economic prices. Be it a beginner looking to start his or her musical life or even a conventional workaday guitar player, this will prove to be a very useful ally for many years in the future with FS800.

Conclusion

The Yamaha FS800 Folk Acoustic Guitar is one of the best choices for anyone in search of a reliable reasonably priced acoustic guitar. Its great sound, good playability, and durability do not come with an increase in price compared to higher-end models. For both novices who are looking for their first guitar and mid-level players needing an instrument which would give them versatility and quality, FS800 is a good choice.

The Yamaha FS800 is an excellent value for the musician looking for an instrument to grow with them, featuring clear, articulate sound combined with comfortable playability and durable construction. Versatility lends itself to many music genres from folk to pop, and its compact size makes it perfect for practice or performance.