Introduction
The Yamaha F310 acoustic guitar has been a top choice for beginner and student players for decades. First introduced in the 1970s, the F310 quickly gained a reputation for being an affordable, quality entry-level acoustic. Its combination of playability, solid construction, and balanced tone made it a go-to recommendation for generations of new guitarists. Even today, over 40 years since its original release, the Yamaha F310 remains one of the best-selling starter acoustics on the market.
But is the F310 still the best beginner acoustic guitar in 2023? In this in-depth review, we’ll examine the key specs, sound quality, playability, and value of the Yamaha F310 to see if it retains its status as the top option for new players looking for their first real acoustic.
Yamaha F310 Specifications and Features
The Yamaha F310 features a compact concert folk body style with a non-cutaway design. This makes it an ideal size for smaller players or those still growing.
For the top wood, Yamaha uses solid Sitka spruce which provides a bright and articulate tone. The back and sides are made from meranti, an affordable tonewood similar to mahogany.
The neck is constructed from NATO wood and has a user-friendly slim taper profile. The fingerboard and bridge are rosewood.
The nut and saddle are plastic which helps keep costs down on this budget model. The F310 utilizes a standard non-scalloped X-bracing pattern under the top.
This guitar comes in two finish options – a glossy all-natural look, or a tobacco brown sunburst.
Additional specifications include:
- Scale length: 25"
- Nut width: 1.69"
- Chrome enclosed tuners
- Tortoiseshell pickguard
- Nato neck with slim taper profile
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Plastic nut and saddle
The F310 combines high quality tonewoods with Yamaha’s excellent attention to detail and craftsmanship. The specifications make this an ideal and affordable choice for new players.
Sound Quality and Playability
The Yamaha F310 is known for having a bright, articulate tone that projects well, especially for a guitar of its smaller size. The combination of a solid spruce top with meranti back and sides produces a balanced sound with nice sparkly highs and pronounced mids.
Many owners highlight the crisp treble tones that make the F310 a great choice for fingerstyle playing. The notes have a clear definition that allows for intricate patterns to come through. The F310 also has enough volume to be heard over lighter strumming, though it may lack the projection for heavy strumming or aggressive playing.
Overall, the F310 provides a balanced tonal character that belies its affordable price point. While it may not have the deepest bass tones, the bright treble and articulate mids give it a pleasing voice for pop, folk, and fingerstyle players. The resonance is decent for a beginner guitar, though the lack of scalloped bracing limits the projection. But for most new players, the F310 has enough volume and tonal nuance to sound great.
Playability
The Yamaha F310 has a slim taper neck profile that makes it very easy and comfortable for beginners to play. The neck width measures 1.69" at the nut, which is on the narrower side. This allows even smaller hands to easily wrap around the neck and fret notes cleanly.
The action on the F310 is also set up low from the factory. Action refers to the distance between the strings and the fretboard. A low action makes pressing the strings down to form chords and notes require less finger pressure and force. This really helps beginner guitarists who are still building up finger strength and dexterity.
Overall, the F310’s slim neck and low action setup combine to make it a very playable instrument right out of the box. Beginners will find it comfortable and easy to learn on without fighting the guitar. The smooth neck and low action help reduce finger fatigue as well, allowing for longer, more enjoyable practice sessions. Advanced players may find the action too low for more aggressive strumming styles, but for beginners it’s just right.
Build Quality and Durability
The Yamaha F310 is known for having excellent build quality and durability, especially for an affordable entry-level acoustic guitar. The all-laminate construction may not be as tone-responsive as solid woods, but it offers great stability and resilience.
The guitar feels very solid and sturdy in your hands thanks to the combination of a spruce top lamination and meranti back and sides. The neck joint and body connection are nicely crafted, and most models exhibit clean fretwork right out of the box.
Hardware components like the diecast chrome tuners manage to stay in tune well, even under heavy use by new players. The plastic nut and saddle get the job done, although an upgrade to bone may help intonation and resonance. The tortoiseshell pickguard adds a nice visual touch without impacting vibrations.
Some users have reported issues like finish cracks around the edges and minor fret sprout over time. But overall, the F310 holds up impressively even with accidental bumps and drops. As long as it’s cared for properly and stored in a hard case, it should easily last through years of practice and playing.
The main downside is that laminate woods don’t age and improve with play like solid tonewoods can. So the F310 may not become more resonant over time like a pricier all-solid wood instrument. But for the affordable price, it delivers durability and quality that can withstand a beginner’s journey for a long while.
Value for Money
The Yamaha F310 typically sells for around $150-$200 USD brand new from most major retailers. This positions it as one of the most affordable all-wood acoustic guitars on the market. While it’s not the absolute cheapest beginner acoustic you can buy, the F310 represents a great value for the quality and performance it delivers.
When you consider the use of solid spruce for the top and laminated meranti back and sides, the F310 is very competitively priced compared to other major brands’ beginner acoustics. Many guitars in this price range will use cheaper basswood or plywood for the back and sides instead of tonewoods like meranti. The spruce top in particular helps the F310 deliver better clarity and articulation than other budget acoustics.
The F310 also compares very favorably to Fender’s CD-60 dreadnought acoustic, which can be found in the same $150-$200 price bracket. While the CD-60 has an all-mahogany construction, the F310’s blend of spruce and meranti arguably gives it better tonal balance. Yamaha’s renowned quality control also gives the F310 an edge over some other brands when it comes to consistency.
Considering the construction quality, playability and balanced tone, the F310 represents excellent value for any beginner looking to buy their first acoustic on a budget. While paying a little more could get you some upgrades in areas like hardware and electronics, the F310 focuses spending on the right areas like wood quality to deliver on sound and playability.
Alternatives to Consider
The Yamaha F310 has been a popular beginner acoustic guitar for decades, but there are a few other models that are also great options in a similar price range. Here are some of the main alternatives to consider:
Fender CD-60 – Fender’s CD-60 is one of the top competitors to the Yamaha F310. It has a solid mahogany top which gives it a slightly warmer, darker tone compared to the F310’s spruce top. The mahogany construction makes it very durable and feedback resistant as well. The playability is very comfortable for beginners. One downside is it may not have as much tonal nuance as the Yamaha.
Yamaha FS800 – A small step up from the F310, the FS800 features solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. This all-solid wood construction allows it to resonate more freely and project louder than the F310. The tone is balanced with clear highs and tight bass. The neck is slimmer than the F310 for easy playability. Overall better instrument but at a slightly higher price point.
Epiphone Pro-1 – Epiphone’s Pro-1 has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides like the FS800. It produces a bright, vibrant tone while the mahogany provides some midrange punch and warmth. The Pro-1 sounds fantastic plugged in as well. The neck profile is slim and comfortable. At around $200 it gives the F310 strong competition.
Epiphone Dove Pro – The Dove Pro has a solid spruce top with maple back and sides. It offers a bright, lively tone with a bit more bass response than the F310. The neck is slim and comfortable to play. A great entry-level option with Epiphone’s quality craftsmanship.
Who is the Yamaha F310 Best Suited For?
The Yamaha F310 is well-suited for a few different types of acoustic guitar players. Here’s a breakdown of who will get the most value and enjoyment out of this beginner model:
Complete Beginners
The F310 is arguably the best choice for someone just learning to play guitar. Its affordable price, slim neck, low action and overall ease of playability make it ideal for beginners who are new to fretting notes and chord shapes. The balanced tone gives new players flexibility across genres too. The guitar’s durability also means it can withstand the bumps and drops that may come with early learning.
Younger Players
Parents looking for a good "starter" guitar for their child will find the F310 fits the bill nicely. Its smaller concert body size and light weight make it perfect for younger players with smaller hands and body frames. The guitar is comfortable to learn on whether sitting or standing. The gloss finish is also more resistant to dirt, scratches and wear-and-tear from a child’s heavy usage.
Fingerstyle Players
The Yamaha F310’s bright, focused tone and crisp high end is well-suited for fingerpicking and fingerstyle playing. The notes have good definition for hearing subtle dynamic and harmonic changes. The wider nut also provides more room for complex fingerings up the neck. The balanced mids allow the guitar to work for both accompaniment and melodic soloing.
Certain Genres
With its articulate tone and controlled overtones, the F310 works nicely for pop, folk, country, blues and other lighter accompaniment styles of playing. The focused sound helps each note come through clearly in a mix without muddiness. It may not be as ideal for aggressive strumming styles where more resonance and projection are needed.
Smaller Body Types
The F310’s compact concert body size and slim neck profile make it a natural fit for smaller players, including women and teenagers. The light weight is comfortable for long practice sessions too. Larger players may find the guitar too small for proper fretting hand clearance or body support though.
So in summary, while the Yamaha F310 may have some limitations for advancing players, it remains a wise choice for beginners, younger players, fingerstyle enthusiasts and smaller body types looking for an affordable, quality starting acoustic guitar.
Conclusion
After reviewing the Yamaha F310 acoustic guitar in depth, what’s the final verdict – is it still the best beginner guitar you can buy in 2023? Based on its stellar combination of quality, playability, and value, the answer is a resounding yes.
The F310 continues to hit the sweet spot for an affordable, entry-level acoustic. Its classic dreadnought body style provides good projection, while the spruce and meranti tonewoods produce a balanced, articulate tone perfect for learning. The slim neck and low action facilitate easy playability, even for small hands.
While it may lack some resonance compared to all-solid wood models, the F310 compensates with its consistently high build quality and durable construction. Factor in the insanely reasonable price point, often under $200 new, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better starter guitar.
The Yamaha F310 should be the first acoustic for any new guitarist. Its friendly setup helps beginners get over the initial learning hurdles, while still providing a lifetime’s worth of playability. Experienced players may eventually look for more premium features, but for pure value the F310 remains virtually unmatched.
For the combination of quality, tone, and affordability, the Yamaha F310 is certainly still the best choice for a beginner in 2023 and beyond.
Video Demo
This in-depth video review from Michael’s Guitar Garage provides an excellent look at the Yamaha F310’s features, sound quality, playability, and overall value.
Michael demonstrates fingerstyle playing to highlight the balanced tone and crisp highs. He also shows open strumming to give a sense of projection and volume. Closeups of the construction and hardware are provided. The video is well-filmed, with good audio quality to accurately convey the guitar’s sound.
Overall, this is one of the best and most helpful Yamaha F310 review videos for someone considering this beginner acoustic guitar. It showcases all of the key factors to evaluate in under 15 minutes.