In this article, we will compare the Yamaha FG800 vs FG830 – Full Comprehensive Comparison Starting in 1966, Yamaha has been a leading manufacturer of musical instruments, including guitars, for over 40 years. One of their most popular guitar models is the FG series.
The Yamaha FG800 and the Yamaha FG830 are two widely popular, high-end acoustic guitars. They each offer their own unique features and benefits and there is no “right” choice – it is up to the player’s taste and preference. But this article will lay out all of their similarities, as well as their key differences so that you can make a more educated decision.
Please note that the Yamaha FG800 and the Yamaha FG830 both come in a dreadnought (D) shape, solid wood top, and sides, a cutaway for high fret access, and a gloss finish.
Beyond that, there are a few key differences between these two guitars that will affect both playability and sound quality. So, let’s take a closer look at both of them so you can decide which one is for you.
Products Overview: Yamaha FG800 vs FG830
Yamaha FG800: Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar
The Yamaha FG800 is a dreadnought-shaped guitar. The body is made of solid wood and the top is made of laminate. It has a gloss finish, and it comes in multiple color options. For players who want to hear the natural sound of their instrument, the Yamaha FG800 is an excellent choice. The guitar offers a smooth sound that’s often preferred by professionals, as well as great projection and good tone quality.
Specifications of Yamaha FG800:
1. Body Style: Dreadnought
2. Body Material: Solid wood
3. Top Material: Laminate
4. Body Size: Dreadnought (41 inches)
5. Top Size & Shape: Laminate (42 x 14 x 1 inch)
6. Neck Wood Type & Construction: Mahogany / Set-in; Grade A
7. Neck Wood Species & Shape: Mahogany (1 piece, round); Set-in
8. Fingerboard Material: Rosewood; Grade AAA SPF Nitrocellulose (Zero Residue) with Pure Nickel/Titanium Gold/Beryllium No Processing Finishes; 31 in x 1 3/4 in with Black Pearloid “Dots”
9. Electronics: Active EQ
10. Electronics Finish: Chrome
11. Fingerboard Nut & Saddle: Bone; 22 mm
12. Electronics Finish: Chrome
Here are some pros and cons of this product:
Pros
1. Affordable entry-level guitar
2. Great projection
3. Even tone from strings to the bridge
4. Durable and comfortable to play
5. Good for both fingerpicking and strumming
6. Works well with different types of amplifiers
7. Gloss finish enhances sound quality
8. Solid, high-quality craftsmanship
Cons
1. Lack of cutaway limits accessibility
2. Not versatile
3. Difficult to restring
4. Fingerboard may be too narrow for some players
Yamaha FG830: Yamaha FG830 Acoustic Guitar
The Yamaha FG830 is available in red, orange, white, or blue finishes and comes in the dreadnought (D) shape too. This guitar has a solid wood soundboard, with laminate tops. This guitar is rich and full in sound, and it also offers some punchy bass tones.
Specifications of Yamaha FG830:
1. Body Style: Dreadnought
2. Body Material: Solid wood
3. Top Material: Laminate
4. Body Size: Dreadnought (41 inches)
5. Top Size & Shape: Laminate (42 x 14 x 1 inch)
6. Neck Wood Type & Construction: Mahogany / Set-in; Grade A
7. Neck Wood Species & Shape: Mahogany (1 piece, round); Set-in
8. Fingerboard Material: Rosewood; Grade AAA SPF Nitrocellulose (Zero Residue) with Pure Nickel/Titanium Gold/Beryllium No Processing Finishes; 31 in x 1 3/4 in with Black Pearloid “Dots”
9. Electronics: Fishman Sonicore Pickup System
10. Bridge & Hardware: Fixed Bridge, Block Mahogany Tailpiece
11. Fingerboard Nut & Saddle: Synthetic Bone, 1-1/2 inch (42mm); 22 Jumbo Frets; 12 Inch Scale Length
12. Neck Joint: Set-in (Dreadnought)
Here are some pros and cons of this product:
Pros
1. Abalone rosette further develops feel a little
2. Rosewood back and sides make a more extravagant, more normal sounding tone
3. Setup is easy and generally good
4. Great sound quality
5. Versatile
6. Excellent value for the price point
Cons
1. Fewer options in regard to electronics and hardware compared to the Yamaha FG800, but still a great tone
2. Plastic endpin can break
3. No cutaway limits access to the upper frets
Features Face to Face:
1. Build Quality and Hardware
Both the FG800 and the FG830 come with an all-solid wood build – solid Sitka spruce for the top, solid Indian rosewood for the back and sides, and an ovangkol neck. These woods are used by many high-end acoustic guitars because they produce very balanced and rich tones.
The FG800 has a slightly different build than the FG830, as the former is an all-solid wood guitar while the latter has an ovangkol neck and an SRT Zero Impact Pickup system. However, they are both high-quality guitars and possess a build quality that is noticeably above average.
As for hardware, both guitars have quality Grover tuners and rosewood bridge pins for optimal tuning stability. The FG800 has a gloss finish on its ebony fretboard and its back and sides, whereas the FG830’s fretboard is matte, and it gets a satin finish on its back and sides.
2. Wood Scent
Both the FG800 and the FG830 are made of solid wood, as opposed to laminate, so their woody scent is a great bonus for players who are very sensitive to that smell. However, the Yamaha FG830 does have a slight smell, but it isn’t overpowering, and it will dissipate over time.
3. Sound Quality
The sound quality of both guitars is excellent. The low notes are produced with good clarity, and high notes have some good bites to them. That being said, they each have unique tones that some players might prefer over others.
The Yamaha FG800 sounds more balanced and fuller, thus it is preferred by professionals, as well as some professional players who prefer a full sound. The Yamaha FG830 has more punch in the low and mid-range frequencies. It also has a bit of fatness in its sound, which might appeal to some players.
4. Playability
Both the FG800 and the FG830 are comfortable to play. The fretboard is smooth and easy to play, with plenty of string tension. A guitar’s fretboard should have enough tension so that you can bend notes without it breaking or coming off in your hand.
As for playing shape, the Yamaha FG800 is an all-solid wood guitar with dreadnought body dimensions (41 inches) and a traditional dreadnought shape (has no style cutaways or f-holes). It comes in multiple color options (white, orange, red, blue), and its body size is suitable for players who are used to playing a dreadnought-shaped guitar.
The Yamaha FG830 is a dreadnought-shaped guitar with a solid wood build. It has an ovangkol neck, which gives it slightly different dimensions than that of the FG800. Even though they’re both dreadnoughts, they’re not exactly the same in size, shape, and weight. The FG830 comes in multiple color options too (red, blue, white), but its body size might be more suitable for smaller players than that of the FG800.
Beyond their differences in terms of body shape and size and their finish quality, there are other differences between these two guitars that will affect playability – namely the tone woods used.
5. Other Appointments
Both the Yamaha FG800 and the FG830 have quality hardware. They each have a fixed bridge and metal tailpieces.
The Yamaha FG800 has a gloss finish on its ebony fretboard and its back and sides, whereas the FG830’s fretboard is matte, and it gets a satin finish on its back and sides.
In terms of electronics, both guitars use Fishman Sonicore pickup systems, which offer great tone quality with good sensitivity to the play style of the respective players. The FG800 offers a few extra features, such as an onboard tuner, a phase switch, and an active EQ that boosts bass tones.
These differences make the two guitars very appealing to different types of players. Players who prefer full-bodied and balanced tones will prefer the Yamaha FG800’s sound quality, whereas players who prefer tighter lows and mid-range frequencies will tend to prefer the Yamaha FG830’s tones.
6. Price Range
The Yamaha FG800’s MSRP is $1,499 USD and the Yamaha FG830’s MSRP is $1,799 USD (as of Jan 2018). Both guitars are obviously on the pricey side.
The Yamaha FG800 comes in a variety of unique color options, whereas the FG830 is available in only a few standard colors.
Conclusion:
While these two guitars possess some different features and build quality, they both offer great sound quality and they each have their own unique tonal profiles that might appeal to different players. If you’re looking for a guitar that’s built to last, then go with the Yamaha FG800 as it has a solid wood top, which will keep its tone much better than an instrument with a laminate top. However, if you’re looking for a much more unique sound, then go with the Yamaha FG830. It has a unique build with its own distinctive tonal qualities.
We suggest comparing each guitar’s price range so you can determine which one is exactly what you’re looking for!
The Yamaha FG800 and the Yamaha FG830 are two very different guitars, both of which are built to last and produce great sound quality. Both the FG800 and the FG830 are great instruments and they’re both an excellent choice for guitar players who want to get into an acoustic guitar.
The FG 800 is an all-solid wood guitar because it offers a great deal of elegant tone quality, and it will definitely last long enough to justify its high price tag. The FG830 is an excellent guitar choice if you want to get something with a more unique tonal feel and look.
Both the FG800 and the FG830 are great instruments and they’re both an excellent choice for guitar players who want to get into an acoustic guitar. We are confident that you will find a guitar for yourself that is built to last, offers the great sound quality, and will satisfy you in every way.
FAQs:
1. Is the Yamaha FG800 a good beginner guitar?
Yes, the Yamaha FG800 is a very good guitar for beginners. It is suitable for players of all skill levels because it produces clear, full-bodied sound and a versatile tone.
2. Is the Yamaha FG830 a good beginner guitar?
The Yamaha FG830 is also suitable for beginners. However, if you’re looking to play very soft ballads and want to produce a clear yet quiet acoustic sound, then this might not be the right guitar for you. While the Fishman Sonicore pickup system does give you that option, it might take some extra effort on your part to produce it as such.
3. Is Yamaha FG830 good for fingerstyle?
The Yamaha FG830 is a very versatile guitar. It’s suitable for fingerstyle players because the tone is more versatile than that of the Yamaha FG800, which is more suited for acoustic ballads.
4. Is Yamaha FG800 good for fingerstyle?
The Yamaha FG800 is suitable for fingerstyle players too. However, if you’re looking to produce a clearer, cleaner sound or prefer not to use any effects pedals in your acoustic sound then you should probably go with the Yamaha FG800 instead of the Yamaha FG830.
5. What kind of wood is NATO?
The wood used in the Yamaha FG800 is Ovangkol, which is a semi-hardwood that has great resonance and natural sustain. It is lighter than solid wood and is likely to react better with your fingers.
6. What kind of wood is Ovangkol?
Ovangkol is a type of cedar that grows in parts of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It has a distinctive reddish-brown coloration, and its density varies from 5 to 40 pounds per cubic foot (that’s between 16 to 32kg per cubic meter!).
7. What type of wood is used in the Yamaha FG830?
The Yamaha FG830 uses Sitka Spruce as its top and Cedar as its back and sides. Sitka spruce is found in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States while cedar is found all over Asia. It is also a medium hardwood with good resonance. It’s rather lightweight but it still has sustained, and it can produce a fairly clear, full sound.
8. Does the Yamaha FG800 have a high action?
The Yamaha FG800 is a very playable guitar, and its action is suitable for all levels of play, regardless of your skill level. Its playability will depend on how you set up the guitar’s truss rod, so make sure you adjust the truss rod to suit your own playing ability.
