Introduction
The Yamaha FG series has been a staple of the acoustic guitar world for over 50 years. Known for their high quality craftsmanship and tonal characteristics, the FG lineup provides excellent value for money.
The FG820 dreadnought is one of Yamaha’s most popular and affordable models featuring a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back and sides. It’s an ideal choice for beginners and intermediate players looking for great playability, balanced tone across various styles, and Yamaha’s renowned build quality.
With its traditional design, solid top construction, and premium appointment details like a rosewood fingerboard, the FG820 delivers an impressive musical voice at this price point. It’s suitable for everything from practicing and learning, to recording and live performance. The FG820 manages to capture the soul and vibe of more expensive guitars at a fraction of the cost.
Construction & Materials
The Yamaha FG820 features a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard. The solid spruce top is crucial for producing a full, resonant tone and good volume projection. Spruce is a popular choice for acoustic guitar tops thanks to its balanced tone, crisp articulation, and improved resonance as the wood ages.
The back and sides are made from laminated mahogany, which provides warmth and depth to the overall tone. Mahogany adds complexity and overtones to the guitar’s voice. The rosewood fingerboard contributes to the FG820’s clear, sustained notes and overall tonal balance.
Another important construction feature is the scalloped X-bracing pattern inside the FG820’s body. Scalloped bracing carves away wood from the underside of the top to allow it to vibrate more freely. This improved resonance means better volume and responsiveness across the tonal spectrum. The scalloped braces are crucial for translating string vibrations into the projecting, balanced tone the FG820 is known for.
Sound & Tone
The Yamaha FG820 produces a balanced, warm tone that works well for a variety of musical styles. The solid Sitka spruce top provides excellent resonance and sustain, allowing the guitar to project clearly. The mahogany back and sides add warmth and depth, resulting in a rich, full-bodied sound.
The scalloped bracing pattern further enhances the FG820’s resonance and tone. By carefully carving and tapering the bracing, Yamaha’s luthiers optimize the top’s vibration and responsiveness. This allows the guitar to produce robust and nuanced tones across the tonal spectrum.
The dreadnought body shape also boosts the FG820’s projection. Its large body and wide waist produce loud, vibrant tones that carry well when playing live or with others. The expansive soundboard area enabled by the dreadnought design gives the FG820 impressive volume for a guitar in its price range.
Overall, the FG820’s solid spruce top, mahogany back/sides, scalloped bracing, and dreadnought shape come together to deliver a balanced, warm, resonant tone with excellent projection. The guitar sounds fantastic both when strummed rhythmically and when fingerpicking melodic lines.
Playability & Feel
The Yamaha FG820’s playability and feel make it a joy to play, especially for beginners and intermediate players. It has a slim and comfortable neck profile that fits nicely in the hand. The neck width measures 43mm at the nut, which is a standard width for acoustic guitars. This allows for easy fretting and chord changes.
The slim taper neck depth along with the smooth rosewood fingerboard create a very playable feel. The action on the FG820 is set low from the factory, so fretting takes little effort. This really helps beginners to learn chords and start soloing without fighting the strings. The smooth rosewood fingerboard is gentle on the fingers, avoiding any sharp fret ends digging in. Overall the FG820’s ergonomics lend themselves to prolonged comfortable practice sessions without fatigue.
Between the slim neck, low action and smooth fingerboard, the FG820 provides a wonderful playing experience right out of the box. It’s clear Yamaha designed this entry-level model with playability in mind, making it ideal for newer players learning on their first "real" acoustic guitar.
Hardware & Electronics
The Yamaha FG820 features quality hardware and electronics that enhance the guitar’s playability, tuning stability, and tone. It comes equipped with diecast chrome tuners that provide precise and smooth tuning thanks to their high gear ratio. The tuners are durable and help the guitar stay in tune well during playing sessions and when stored.
The nut and saddle on the FG820 are made from synthetic bone. The nut guides the strings over the neck and allows for low friction when tuning and bending strings. The saddle sets the string height at the bridge and transfers vibrations to the top of the guitar. Both components are made to be durable and impact the overall tone and sustain. The synthetic bone has similar tonal characteristics to natural bone but doesn’t require any maintenance like real bone.
Overall, the hardware and electronics on the FG820 are well-suited for an acoustic guitar in this price range. The components are built to last and provide great functionality that belies the guitar’s affordable price tag. The tuners, nut and saddle all work together to offer smooth playability, reliable tuning stability, and quality acoustic tone.
Build Quality & Durability
The Yamaha FG820 features an all-solid wood construction that provides excellent durability and longevity. The solid Sitka spruce top is resilient and will mature well over time, improving in tone and resonance as the wood ages.
The mahogany back and sides are laminated rather than solid wood. While not as resonant as solid wood, the laminate mahogany still offers a pleasing warmth to the tone while being more resistant to cracking and warping.
The natural gloss finish on the FG820 not only gives the guitar an elegant aesthetic, but also helps protect the wood against moisture and minor dings and scratches. Compared to a satin finish, the gloss provides an extra layer of protection to keep the solid spruce top looking its best.
The FG820’s rosewood bridge and fingerboard are also made of durable tonewoods that can withstand years of playing. Overall, while not a high-end guitar, the FG820 is built to last and can provide many years of musical enjoyment with proper care and maintenance. The all-solid wood construction gives it an advantage over guitars with laminate tops when it comes to longevity.
Yamaha FG820 vs FG830
The Yamaha FG830 is another popular model in the FG acoustic guitar line. It sits a small step above the FG820 in Yamaha’s lineup.
The main difference between the FG820 and FG830 is in the back and side wood. The FG820 has laminated mahogany back and sides, while the FG830 has solid mahogany back and sides.
The solid wood construction on the FG830 allows for slightly richer tones and resonance. The mahogany offers a nice balanced sound across the tonal spectrum.
In addition to the solid wood back and sides, the FG830 also has some upgraded cosmetic appointments. This includes die-cast gold tuners, tortoise pickguard, and white/black body binding.
So while the FG820 focuses more on value and affordability, the FG830 adds a bit more ornamentation and upgraded materials for a little more money.
The FG830 sells for around $100-150 more than the FG820. For serious players on a budget, the FG830 represents a nice step up in quality while still being relatively affordable. But the FG820 is likely the better choice for most beginner or intermediate players.
Who It’s For
The Yamaha FG820 is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate level acoustic guitar players looking for a quality instrument on a budget. Its combination of playability, solid construction, and balanced tone make it ideal for learning on and developing skills.
Specifically, the FG820 is a great fit for:
Beginners
As an affordable entry-level dreadnought, the FG820 is perfect for beginners just starting out on acoustic guitar. Its comfortable neck, low action, and smaller body size allow new players to easily fret chords and strum without hand fatigue. The solid spruce top rewards proper technique with bright, resonant tones. And the overall quality inspires new players to stick with practicing and improving.
Intermediates
Beyond beginners, the FG820 provides everything an intermediate player needs to take their skills to the next level. The crisp note definition encourages precision and control while playing. And the dreadnought body offers the volume and projection for jamming with others. As skills progress, the guitar reveals more nuanced tone and dynamics.
Folk/Country Players
With its balanced tone, comfortable feel, and vintage vibe, the FG820 is a great match for folk and country styles. The solid spruce and mahogany body produce clear, articulate tones perfect for fingerpicking. And the slim neck and lower action facilitate intricate lead lines. The FG820 allows players to shape warm, rich accompaniment or solos.
The FG820 hits a sweet spot of quality and affordability. For new players or those advancing their skills, it’s an inspiring instrument that can support years of musical growth. The Yamaha craftsmanship and solid woods provide pro-level tone and playability at a beginner-friendly price.
Pricing & Availability
The Yamaha FG820 typically retails for $200-250 USD, making it very affordable for a solid top dreadnought acoustic guitar. This price point puts it within reach of beginner and intermediate players looking for a quality instrument that won’t break the bank.
The FG820 is widely available both online and in brick and mortar guitar stores. You can find it at most major music retailers like Guitar Center, Sam Ash, Sweetwater, and Amazon. Local music shops are also likely to carry it, though availability may vary.
Some retailers like Musician’s Friend and Sweetwater offer flexible financing options to make the FG820 even more accessible. The guitar’s popularity and Yamaha’s reach as a manufacturer ensure it’s one of the easier models to find in stock.
While minor sales and discounts on the FG820 aren’t uncommon, the price tends to stay relatively stable. This speaks to its reputation as an excellent value at the $200-250 range. Considering its all-solid wood construction and Yamaha craftsmanship, it’s a bargain for the quality.
The bottom line is that the Yamaha FG820 is readily available at major music retailers for an affordable price that belies its impressive sound and playability. For guitarists shopping on a budget, it’s hard to beat in terms of bang for your buck.
Conclusion
The Yamaha FG820 is a fantastic acoustic guitar that provides excellent value for the price. It’s a highly recommended model for beginner and intermediate players looking for a quality instrument on a budget.
With its solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the FG820 delivers a balanced, rich tone that works very well for many different playing styles and genres. The traditional dreadnought body gives it great projection, while the scalloped bracing enhances the resonance and sustain.
The playability is also superb, thanks to the smooth rosewood fingerboard, slim neck profile, and quality hardware. It stays in tune reliably, and feels comfortable during long practice sessions. While the gloss finish and appointments are basic, the FG820 makes up for it with its impressive tonewoods and construction.
For those seeking an affordable workhorse acoustic with professional-grade sound, the Yamaha FG820 is easy to recommend. It punches well above its price range in terms of tone, playability and durability. An excellent choice for the beginning or intermediate guitarist.