The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 12-10-2009, 06:53 PM
ricvdb ricvdb is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2
Default Yamaha FG730S, or alternative?

Hey there, first time poster here looking for some quick help.

I'm about to buy my first acoustic guitar. I'm actually a drummer, but I play a bit of guitar also. My budget is around £250-300. From reviews I hear the yamaha FG730S is fantastic for its value. However, from any recordings I've found of the guitar on youtube I've gathered that it sounds like quite a 'bright' guitar. What are the alternatives in this price range? Is there anything with a darker, drier tone that anyone would recommend?

Any advice appreciated, thanks a lot!

Richard.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-10-2009, 07:30 PM
Buck62 Buck62 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago, Il
Posts: 1,747
Default

YouTube is a poor representation of a guitar's true tone, due to the cheap, non-studio quality microphones often used by those recording their videos. The FG730S is a great guitar for the money. A lot of people say it's the best at it's price point and that's very hard to argue with.
__________________
'Common-sewer' of unrefined guitars.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-10-2009, 07:34 PM
Broadus Broadus is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Clinton, SC
Posts: 3,374
Default

Welcome to AGF, Richard. That Yamaha is a really good guitar. Something a little darker in your price range, I think would be a Seagull S6. They are a good deal different in nut width and neck profile, so you would want to try both (and others) to see which you prefer, both playability and sound.

Best,
Bill
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-10-2009, 07:43 PM
PJ10 PJ10 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 220
Default

Richard, I own the acoustic-electric version of this guitar and I love it! But you're right in that it is bright ... some people like that, and some people don't. Personally, when I played it for the first time (I was comparing it to a Takamine G series and a Seagull), the sound just popped right out at me.

I put some Elixer strings on, and it really sounds nice all over. I would recommend.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-10-2009, 07:49 PM
gary0319 gary0319 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sarasota Florida
Posts: 1,882
Default

The FG730S is is a great guitar, regardless of price. I swapped out the stock saddle for a Colosi bone saddle and the sound really rounded out.

Gary
__________________
Taylor 612c (1994)
Taylor Custom GC All Mahogany (2010)
Eastman E10-OM
Yamaha NTX700
Recording King ROS-06
Greg Bennett OM 8CE
Yamaha CGX 171 SCF Flamenco
Ibanez AG95 DBS
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-10-2009, 07:53 PM
Harmonycat Harmonycat is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 75
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Broadus View Post
Welcome to AGF, Richard. That Yamaha is a really good guitar. Something a little darker in your price range, I think would be a Seagull S6. They are a good deal different in nut width and neck profile, so you would want to try both (and others) to see which you prefer, both playability and sound.

Best,
Bill
Hey Bill....(It has been awhile)....I agree.

Been to L&M Ottawa lately?

As much as I think that the 700 series Yamahas are pretty good guitars, if I walk across the Acoustic Room in L&M Toronto, and pick up an S&P or Seagull, (or if I take a Norman B18 in there as a bench mark), The Godin stuff is just more rich and full sounding.

The S&P, Norman, and Seagull offerings are readily available in the UK.

Don't misunderstand my reference to Yamaha....the LL6 for the money is fabulous.

But the new all Solid Wood Mahogany Spruce S&P Limited Edition L&M is just as phenomenal.....it even sounded better than the two Showcase models that I also played at Lunchtime on Monday.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-10-2009, 10:49 PM
rlouie rlouie is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 13,255
Default yamaha FG730S

this is a good recording of the yamaha FG730S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNCsL...eature=related
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-10-2009, 11:00 PM
riorider's Avatar
riorider riorider is offline
*mahoganut*
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Central Rural Oklahoma, off old Route 66
Posts: 7,112
Default

+1 for both the Yamaha 730s and Seagull S6. I've owned both, really enjoyed both, and recommend each for different reasons. You can't go wrong with either. But play them and see which one calls to you!

rr/Phil
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-10-2009, 11:11 PM
Payne Payne is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NET
Posts: 67
Default

Buy one, you wont be sorry.
__________________
'97 Gibson J-60
'05 Taylor 410
'10 Silver Creek T-160
Rogue Spider Resonator
Fishman Loudbox Mini
L.R. Baggs Venue
Kentucky KM-505 mando
Hohner Special 20 harps
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-11-2009, 07:08 AM
Kitchen Guitars's Avatar
Kitchen Guitars Kitchen Guitars is offline
Formerly Yamaha Junkie
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South West Pennsylvania
Posts: 7,930
Default

Yep the 730 is a favorite, but it does have "bright" or "modern" tone. For your needs maybe an Alvarez all Mahogany?
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-11-2009, 09:17 AM
edman edman is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,394
Default

You may want to consider picking up a used Yamaha LL6.

Here is a good video of the FG730S:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imQer...eature=related
__________________
Main guitars:
Taylor 416ce - 2015
PRS Silver Sky - 2018
PRS SE Custom 24
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 12-11-2009, 09:55 AM
FlyFast FlyFast is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 269
Default

I agree with the others, the FG730S is very nice. If you want a "less bright" sound, see if you can find an older (70s or 80s), used Yamaha. Something like an FG180 or FG340. They can often be found for very little money and may have more of the sound you want. Also, changing strings can make a big difference.
Good luck and let us know what you pick!
__________________

Rainsong Shorty SG
Rainsong P12T
All the Martins, Gibsons, and others are gone.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-11-2009, 10:01 AM
alvinjismyl alvinjismyl is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 255
Default Yamaha LL-6

Alternative to FG730S would be LL-6, IMHO. Solid spruce top w/ rosewood back and sides.
__________________

Mcilroy A25
Yamaha LL-16 12 Strings
Yamala LL-TA
Headway HD113 STD
Tanglewood TW-15 DLX
Alhambra 5PA-PT (classical)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-11-2009, 10:19 AM
owlshead owlshead is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 106
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by edman View Post
You may want to consider picking up a used Yamaha LL6.

Here is a good video of the FG730S:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imQer...eature=related


Hey... I ended up getting a FS720S... Mainly because I just kept... A/B it with the other link above from KM...

I just thought (and I asked both of my sons as well) that the FS720S sounded a bit more balanced, not quite as bright as the FG730S.
But I was never able to A/B one in person... anyway... i ended up with the FS720S.... it is a nice little Git... and I like it... it is smaller than the FG730S, but packs a pretty good wallop, I think anyway... Good Luck

Link to FS720S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjTbZ...layer_embedded
__________________
--------------------
Yamaha FG340II Taiwan 1982
Guild D4 NT HR Westerly, RI 1998
Yamaha FS720S Hangzhou, Zhejiang CN 2009
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-11-2009, 03:18 PM
Kitchen Guitars's Avatar
Kitchen Guitars Kitchen Guitars is offline
Formerly Yamaha Junkie
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South West Pennsylvania
Posts: 7,930
Default

For what its worth
The 730 is solid Sitka, the LL's are Engelmann, the older models mentioned are Laminated tops but Braced perfect and they do have a wonderful tone.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=