Yamaha FG830

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GuitaRist DECEMBER 2016

problem for most makers in these

crowded times is quite simply, how do

we sell more? When approaching the

half century of the venerable low-end acoustic

champion, the FG, Yamaha had a different

problem: how to refresh something that, in

sales terms, really isn’t broke?

Using “proprietary software created to

analyse and simulate the tonal characteristics

of musical instruments”, Yamaha’s boffins

redesigned the 700 series to create more

“volume, a little more bass, a little more

oomph”. For the new 800 range, Yamaha

boasts: scalloped bracing that “moves the

resonant centre much closer to the middle of

the guitar”, a 0.25mm-thin finish for “great

tone and superior wood protection”, and “a

thin back and sides construction” to ensure

maximum volume and resonance.

The 800 series centres on just two body

shapes: the original dreadnought FG and its

smaller FS sibling. All models have solid spruce

tops with a choice of laminate back and sides:

Words Dave Burrluck Photography Jesse Wild

The humble 50-year-old FG is one of

the world’s best-selling guitar ranges.

This year sees it get a makeover…

Golden

Yea rs

first play

YAMAHA FG830

£360

WHAT IS IT? Refresh of 50-year-

old FG, a solid spruce-topped

dreadnought acoustic

YAMAHA FSX830C

£536

WHAT IS IT? Small body, solid

spruce-topped cutaway electro

in the smaller FS size

GIT414.rev_yamaha.indd 22 27/10/2016 12:06

Summary of content (5 pages)

PAGE 1
f i r st p l ay YAMAHA FG830 £360 WHAT IS IT? Refresh of 50-yearold FG, a solid spruce-topped dreadnought acoustic YAMAHA FSX830C £536 WHAT IS IT? Small body, solid spruce-topped cutaway electro in the smaller FS size Golden Years The humble 50-year-old FG is one of the world’s best-selling guitar ranges.
PAGE 2
Yamaha FG830 & FSX830C first play DECEMBER 2016 Guitarist GIT414.rev_yamaha.
PAGE 3
first play YAMAHA FG830 & FSX830C 1. While the rosewood bridges on both the FG and FS are the same, the spacing is narrowed on the FS to 50mm 2. Yamaha’s corporate block logo is retained here, as featured on virtually every guitar it’s ever made – bar the electric Revstar range, in an effort to make the guitars a bit ‘cooler’ 3. Despite the lack of output muting when you engage the tuner, the System 66 preamp is well sorted with an ultra-wide, sweepable midrange 4.
PAGE 4
YAMAHA FG830 & FSX830C first play 3 4 2 dry looking, they have cleanly bound edges. Fretting is from a small gauge; it’s very cleanly installed with the ends sitting over the binding, but the fret tops could do with a better final polish as they’re a little scratchy on bent notes.
PAGE 5
first play YAMAHA FG830 & FSX830C 5 the frequencies. It doesn’t have the power of its bigger-bodied sibling, but that could be an advantage plugged in. The Yamaha system is typically well sorted with quite a piezo-y tonality (it’s hardly alone there!), but very well centred EQs and a hugely viable midrange. Nasally upper-mid peaks can be attenuated, or muddy lows cleaned up, while the treble and bass controls can be used as a more general EQ.