New Yamaha FG830

[Ian111]

Just got another inexpensive Yamaha to have around for alternate tuning. Even better than the FS800. You really need to spend around or more than $1000 to get a dread that’s noticeably better than this. Is this body laminate? I can’t tell. Another great one.

[llew]

I believe it's a solid top and laminate back and sides.

[skoshi84]

Glad to hear a good report on the FG830! I got an FS830 recently and was super impressed. The only thing mine needed for its setup was a filing of the nut slots. This 830 series is great. I may have to join you in the FG830 club soon.

[gurroz]

Originally Posted by Ian111

Just got another inexpensive Yamaha to have around for alternate tuning. Even better than the FS800. You really need to spend around or more than $1000 to get a dread that’s noticeably better than this. Is this body laminate? I can’t tell. Another great one.

Yes, it is laminate back and sides. If you enjoy your FG5 and FS3 you should check out the Yamaha L series. The LS16 can be had for about $800.

[jricc]

Congrats on your new Yamaha Ian! Glad you are digging it!

[Glennwillow]

Those Yamaha FG830 are great values! Good for you! Have fun!

- Glenn

[zuzu]

Sweet guitars! Enjoy!

[YamahaGuy]

8/10 of my acoustic-electric and 4/4 of my electric guitars are Yamaha. Congrats. Solid sitka top. Rosewood laminate with meranti back and sides. My FGX730SCA is still one of my favorite.

[Railroad Bum]

I bought an FG830 recently as well. I had owned one a few years ago and sold it to a friend who needed an acoustic badly. That older 830 was pretty good, but this new one is very hard to put down and came set up pretty much perfect for me. It's my main acoustic now. It does have laminated rosewood back and sides, with a solid Sitka spruce top with scalloped bracing. Unlike some, I don't care about having an all-solid wood guitar; I only care about the guitar feeling and sounding good to me, and the FG830 checks those boxes. Congrats!

[abn556]

I played one a while back at GC here and it sounded good and the playability was good. They are a bargain at the price point.

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Railroad Bum

I bought an FG830 recently as well. I had owned one a few years ago and sold it to a friend who needed an acoustic badly. That older 830 was pretty good, but this new one is very hard to put down and came set up pretty much perfect for me. It's my main acoustic now. It does have laminated rosewood back and sides, with a solid Sitka spruce top with scalloped bracing. Unlike some, I don't care about having an all-solid wood guitar; I only care about the guitar feeling and sounding good to me, and the FG830 checks those boxes. Congrats!

Remember, a lot of the best custom builders in the country are using laminated sides as a choice. The new modern sound idea is to make the sides as stiff as possible to allow the back and the top to vibrate freely. Some use two and others 3 layers. I do not have a negatives to guitars with laminated sides.

[abn556]

Gibson semi-hollow body ES and arch top electrics have used laminates for 70+ years. The 335 as an example uses a maple/poplar/maple laminate on the top, back, and sides. Lots of acoustic builders use laminates for strength as well.

[skoshi84]

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

Solid sitka top. Rosewood laminate with meranti back and sides.

YamahaGuy,
Does this mean that the core layer of the back and sides is meranti? I was curious about the composition of these, but couldn’t find anything about it.

[YamahaGuy]

Originally Posted by skoshi84

YamahaGuy,
Does this mean that the core layer of the back and sides is meranti? I was curious about the composition of these, but couldn’t find anything about it.

Yes. They have a rosewood sliver on the outside and inside with the core being meranti. At least that's how it used to be.

[Inyo]

Originally Posted by Ian111

Just got another inexpensive Yamaha to have around for alternate tuning. Even better than the FS800. You really need to spend around or more than $1000 to get a dread that’s noticeably better than this. Is this body laminate? I can’t tell. Another great one.

Great get, indeed. Yep--it's a laminate rosewood body with a spruce top. Excellent instrument. I've said it before here and I'll say it again: I picked a Yamaha FG830 up not too long ago, and I've been playing it quite much with pleasure.