Quick Summary
This is our comparison of the Yamaha FG800 vs FG830 vs FG820 acoustic guitars.
As a professional guitar player and recording studio owner, I had the chance to work with artists owning the different versions of the Yamaha guitars from the FG series.
The Yamaha FG800, FG830, and FG820 are all solid-top acoustic guitars with similar body shapes, but there are some differences between them.
The FG800 has a solid spruce top, Nato back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard, while the FG830 has the same materials but adds a cream binding and a tortoiseshell pickguard.
The FG820, on the other hand, has a mahogany back and sides, a solid spruce top, and a rosewood fingerboard, giving it a slightly warmer and richer tone than the other two models.
Personally, my favorite is the FG830. But, overall, all three guitars are well-regarded for their affordability and quality, and the choice between them may come down to personal preference in terms of tone, aesthetic features and budget.
Let’s get into it!
Yamaha FG800 vs FG830 vs FG820: Overall Reviews
I’ve been around Yamaha guitars lovers for years (I played a lot of them too) and got caught up in the debate about the F830, FG820, and FG800. That’s why I decided to take all three instruments for a spin and provide you with my findings.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these (fantastic) acoustic guitars in greater detail to help you make the right buying decision based on your wants and needs.
Yamaha FG800 Review
The Sitka spruce top and Nato back and sides of the FG800 make it a great choice for beginners. The sound is bright and clear, with a good bass response.
It’s not nearly as loud as many other instruments in its price range, but it can still fill a room without having to be played too loudly.
It also looks wonderful in a dark, glossy hue that will catch your attention right away.
The glossy neck might be a little sticky in humid climates, and the lack of binding on the neck can make the fret edges unpleasant. We may describe it as excellent for playability since it is small and comfortable.
On the low end of things, this acoustic guitar has a lovely voice and will sing proudly and loudly. Although it does not have the same level of focus or richness as mahogany, Nato does an excellent job on the lows.
It sounds better when you strum full chords and utilize the scalloped bracing to allow the solid top to vibrate more freely.
If you are looking for a well-built acoustic guitar that will not break the bank, the Yamaha FG800 might bring you years of enjoyment.
What I liked
- Scalloped bracing enhances vibration
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Nato works well on the lows
- Neck tuners stay in tune
Not so much
- No binding on the neck
- Sticky, glossy finish on the neck
Yamaha FG820 Review
The Yamaha FG820 has all of the requirements to be a winner on its own. Despite its closeness to the FG800, it has some distinguishing characteristics.
The Nato back and sides of the FG800 are replaced with mahogany back and sides, improving the ringing quality of the lower strings. You may hear that the bottom end is round and full when you play an E major chord and allow the guitar to ring until the sound fades away.
The overall sound is thickened by the presence of mahogany, which emphasizes the lower registers. You’ll notice that the lower register is more focused as well; you can fingerpick and arpeggio with plenty of success.
The neck is the second major difference. The feel of the crowned frets improved considerably, owing to the binding that was applied from the body to the nut.
Furthermore, the fact that your thumb may easily roll over the top and perform the John Mayer trick on the sixth string is rather enjoyable.
Finally, the neck is now a satin finish rather than glossy, making an enormous difference in terms of playing feel.
The FG820 also has a top made of solid Sitka spruce, scalloped braces, and diecast closed tuners like the FG800.
There’s only one thing I’d improve about this guitar: a better saddle and nut. They’re made of plastic, which takes away from the sound the FG820 is capable of.
This may be the guitar for you if you’re searching for a fantastic intermediate entry-level instrument that sounds and plays great.
What I liked
- Mahogany sides and back
- Non-stick, a satin-finished neck
- Neck binding from the body to the nut
Not so much
- Plastic nut
- Plastic saddle
Yamaha FG830 Review
The Yamaha FG830 is a mid-range acoustic guitar that has many of the features that you would expect to find on a higher-end instrument.
It has a hand-finished Sitka spruce top, rosewood back and sides, and a mahogany neck.
This guitar also features a new scalloped bracing pattern that Yamaha has developed, which they say gives the guitar a louder and more balanced sound.
The neck binding now covers the headstock, which is a nice touch. The size is on the small side (like most Asian guitars), and it’s quite pleasant to play.
The finish on this guitar is a beautiful natural satin that brings out the grain of the wood.
This is a great guitar for the intermediate player who is looking for an upgrade from their beginner guitar. It has a beautiful sound and is very well-made.
If you are looking for a keeper, a guitar that can give you many hours of playing bliss, then this model might be your best choice.
What I liked
- Hand-finished Sitka spruce top
- Rosewood back and sides
- Mahogany neck
- New scalloped bracing pattern
- Satin finish
- Limited lifetime warranty
What I didn’t like
- Nothing!
The Yamaha FG830 also has the advantage to exist in various colors like the Tobacco Brown Burst and the Autumn Burst below.
Is the Yamaha FG830 a better-sounding guitar than the Yamaha FG820 and FG800?
All three of these guitars are great-sounding instruments, but which one sounds the best?
The Yamaha FG830 is a dreadnought guitar that features a solid Sitka spruce top and laminated rosewood back and sides. It has a slightly brighter sound than the FG820, with excellent projection and volume.
The Yamaha FG820 is a dreadnought guitar too, but it features a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back and sides. It has a warm, full sound with plenty of volume and projection.
The Yamaha FG800 is a smaller concert-style guitar that features a solid Sitka spruce top and Nato/Okoume back and sides. It has a warm, rich sound with good volume and projection.
So, which one of these Yamaha acoustic guitars sounds the best?
It depends on what you’re looking for in a guitar sound and, of course, your budget. If you want a warm, full sound, then the FG820 is a great choice. If you’re looking for a slightly brighter sound, then the FG830 is a great option. And if you want a warm, rich sound with a good projection, then the FG800 is a great choice.
Whichever one you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of these Yamaha acoustic guitars.
After all, there is a reason the Yamaha FG Series is one of the best-selling lines of acoustic guitars in the world!
Related Article: Lava Guitars review
A Quick Comparison of the Construction Materials
(Complete specifications are provided below)
Yamaha FG830
Rich overtones and improved sustain, thanks to the rosewood back and sides, deliver improved sound through greater depth.
- Traditional Western Body
- Solid Spruce Top
- Scalloped Bracing
Yamaha FG820
In addition to a warmer and stronger sound, thanks to the mahogany back and sides, the body and fingerboard binding are cream plastic for an upgraded look.
- Traditional Western Body
- Solid Spruce Top
- Scalloped Bracing
FYI: The FG820 Series is also available in these models
FG820L – Left-handed version of the FG820
- Traditional Western Body
- Solid Spruce Top
- Mahogany Back and Sides
- Scalloped Bracing
- Warm and Strong Sound
FG820-12 – 12-String version of the FG820
- Traditional Western Body
- Solid Spruce Top
- Mahogany Back and Sides
- Scalloped Bracing
- Warm and Strong Sound
Yamaha FG800
- Traditional Western Body
- Solid Spruce Top
- Nato/Okoume Back and Sides
- Scalloped Bracing
Specifications for Yamaha FG830, FG820, and FG800
| Model | FG830 | FG820 | FG800 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Shape | Traditional Western | Traditional Western | Traditional Western |
| Scale Length | 650mm or 25 9/16″ | 650mm or 25 9/16″ | 650mm or 25 9/16″ |
| Body Length | 505mm or 19 7/8″ | 505mm or 19 7/8″ | 505mm or 19 7/8″ |
| Total Length | 1038mm or 40 7/8″ | 1038mm or 40 7/8″ | 1038mm or 40 7/8″ |
| Body Width | 412mm or 16 1/4″ | 412mm or 16 1/4 | 412mm or 16 1/4 |
| Body Depth | 100 -118mm 3 15/16″ – 4 5/8″ | 100 -118mm 3 15/16″ – 4 5/8″ | 100 -118mm 3 15/16″ – 4 5/8″ |
| Nut Width | 43mm or 1 11/16″ | 43mm or 1 11/16″ | 43mm or 1 11/16″ |
| String Spacing | 11 mm | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Top Material | Solid Spruce | Solid Spruce | Solid Spruce |
| Back Material | Rosewood | Mahogany | Nato |
| Side Material | Rosewood | Nato | Nato |
| Neck Material | Nato | Nato | Nato |
| Fingerboard Material | Rosewood | Rosewood or Walnut | Walnut |
| Fingerboard Radius | R400 mm (15 3/4″) | R400 mm (15 3/4″) | R400 mm (15 3/4″) |
| Bridge Material | Rosewood | Rosewood | Walnut |
| Nut Material | Urea | Urea | Urea |
| Saddle Material | Urea | Urea | Urea |
| Bridge Pins | Black ABS w White Dot | Black ABS w White Dot | Black ABS w White Dot |
| Tuners | Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) | Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) | Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) |
| Body Binding | Cream | Cream | Cream |
| Sound Hole Inlay | Abalone w/ Black + White | Abalone w/ Black + White | Abalone w/ Black + White |
| Pickguard | Tortoise Pattern | Tortoise Pattern | Tortoise Pattern |
| Body Finish | Gloss | Gloss | Gloss |
| Neck Finish | Matte | Matte | Matte |
| Electronics | None | None | None |
| Controls | None | None | None |
| Connections | None | None | None |
| Strings | Yamaha FS50BT or D’Addario EXP11 | Yamaha FS50BT or D’Addario EXP11 | Yamaha FS50BT or D’Addario EXP11 |
| Accessories | Hex Wrench | Hex Wrench | Hex Wrench |
| Case | None | None | None |
The Yamaha FG series, 50+ years in the making
The Yamaha FG series was first introduced to the market in 1966. 57 years later, it is the best-selling acoustic line in the world. The company worked on the model, trying to find an affordable alternative that would sound and look just as good as the competition.
What Changes Were Made to the New FG Series?
Concerning the three models being compared here in this article, the FG830 replaces the FG730. The FG820 replaces the FG720. And the FG800 replaces the FG700.
Yamaha has been listening to its customers and making improvements on all aspects of the series. They recently introduced scalloped bracing, which provides a more full sound with rich details that you can’t get from other instruments!
This bracing allows the top of the guitar to sound more responsive. This translates into effortless strumming and enhanced dynamics.
In case you are not familiar with what bracing is, you can check this video:
What to look for on an entry-level acoustic?
Let’s take a look at the three most crucial elements I believe you should be searching for when purchasing your next guitar.
Laminate VS Solid Top
A laminated top is common on entry-level acoustic guitars. What does this signify? Furthermore, is this feature a game-changer?
Yes, it is a game-changer.
Because laminated wood is composed of many planks or layers bonded together with glue, it does not vibrate in the same way solid wood does. Glued planks don’t move together as solid wood does, so they struggle against the strings. The sound is monotonous, inharmonic, and rapid decay as a result of this.
Solid-top guitars, such as the Martin DSM Dreadnought, are more resonant because the top part vibrates harmonically with the strings. The sound is far closer to what you hear on a record, and there’s much more decay (sustain).
- Decay is how sound ends in audio. Attack, internal dynamics, sustain, release, and decay are all components of an acoustic signal or waveform envelope that contribute to the signal’s or waveform envelope’s distinctive character.
If your budget allows, solid wood, especially for the top of your guitar, is usually preferred instead of laminate. Here’s a video that compares the differences with sound examples.
Neck binding
The neck binding is a strip of plastic that runs the entire length of the neck, from the body to the nut (and sometimes over the headstock as well).
Although it may appear to be merely ornamental, this binding serves an important purpose in ensuring that the frets are completely round and making playing more pleasurable.
If you’ve ever seen Jimi Hendrix or John Mayer fretting with their thumb, that technique is much easier on the thumb when there’s binding on the neck.
If it’s within your budget, an entry-level guitar with neck binding will give you superior results.
Glossy or satin finish for the neck?
The neck of the guitar needs to allow your fingers to move rapidly and effortlessly. Glossy-finished necks tend to be sticky and difficult in places where humidity levels are high.
You might find it difficult to move up and down the neck as your thumb might get stuck.
On the other hand, satin-finished necks are easier to play, even with high humidity. Whenever possible, go for satin-finished necks, especially in entry-level acoustics.
Check out this video to hear all 3 of these guitars in action
Summary
Now we come back to where we began and sum up my assessment at the top of this evaluation. Is the FG830 a better-sounding guitar than the FG820 or FG800?
Better-sounding acoustic guitars, like all things in life, have a steeper price tag. So, yes, the FG830 is a higher-sounding acoustic guitar. The difference between the three of them isn’t outrageous when you consider how different entry-level guitars they are.
If the price isn’t your driving concern because you plan to continue playing for some time, buying either the FG820 or FG830 is a fantastic choice.
However, if your budget is limited and you simply want a cheaper instrument that sounds good and looks cool, the FG800 is a decent alternative.
Whichever of these Yamaha FG series guitars you choose, you’ll be rewarded with years of joy. My recommendation is to go for the FG830 if you can afford it.
Happy playing!
