Yamaha FG-800

It ranks #4 (A tier) on our consolidated acoustic guitars board, drawn from 7 cited sources across 4 outlets.

The Yamaha FG-800 is for a beginner or a budget buyer who wants a guitar that will not hold them back. It ranks fourth on our acoustic guitars board, in A tier, and reviewers cite it for value, affordability and excellent performance at a lower price point. Buy it as a first guitar or a knockabout second guitar. If you are ready to spend on a guitar for life, the Taylor 314ce Studio at the top of the board in S tier is the step up.

Yes, it is the beginner pick on our board. It is the highest-ranked low-cost guitar, in A tier, with reviewers describing outstanding quality and reliability for the money. A beginner gets a full-size dreadnought that stays in tune and sounds like a real instrument, which matters for sticking with practice. The Fender CD-60S in B tier is the other entry-level option on the board.

Many years. Reviewers cite the Yamaha FG-800 for outstanding quality and reliability and a build that holds up over years of use, and the board recorded no reliability complaints across seven research runs. Its laminate top is less sensitive to humidity than a solid top, which makes it forgiving of student ownership. Change the strings a few times a year and it will keep going.

The research on our board describes a laminate top with solid-wood-like tone. A laminate top is stiffer and more stable in dry or humid air, which is an advantage for a guitar that lives in a student bedroom. You give up some of the aging and responsiveness a solid top offers. At this price point that trade is sensible.

The Yamaha FG-800 ranks higher on our board, in A tier against the Yamaha FS830 in C tier, and it played more research games. The FG-800 is a full-size dreadnought, while the FS830 is the smaller concert body. Pick the FG-800 for volume and strumming. Pick the FS830 if a dreadnought feels too big to hold, which is common for younger or smaller players.

Light gauge phosphor bronze strings are the safe default for a dreadnought like the Yamaha FG-800. They balance tone and playability, and a beginner will find them easier on the fingertips than mediums. Change them when they sound dull or will not hold tune, roughly every one to three months for a daily player. Coated strings cost more but last two to three times longer.