Introduction of the Yamaha FG830
This article will provide you with all the necessary information about the Yamaha FG830 acoustic guitar. If you are interested in buying the Yamaha FG830 or you just want to know more about the guitar or the FG series, you should keep on reading.
Yamaha has an excellent reputation for its student-friendly instruments. This product is a perfect example of what Yamaha does best. The FG830 is an affordably priced, well-made, dreadnought-shaped, cut-away acoustic folk guitar.
It’s got a bound, nato neck, and a rosewood fretboard. The body is also made from rosewood and has a large depth to deliver a more powerful sound. It’s got a solid Sitka spruce top, which is a lovely material. It also has an adjustable truss rod and die-cast tuners. It is available in six colors and the sound-hole has an abalone inlay. It’s a truly beautiful guitar, both in terms of looks and sound.
The prices can vary depending on the website and country you are buying her from, but mainly the price stays between 370 and 450 euros. You can check the latest offers here!
Pros
- A really nice tone at both the mid and lower levels
- Good projection (in part thanks to the Dreadnaught design)
- A comfortable feel that makes it an excellent option for those learning to play guitar
- Good for advanced players who don’t have the budget for higher-end guitars (they’ll still be happy with the sound they get).
- Hard wearing and long-lasting (as long as you take care of it – check out our guide to doing just that here).
Cons
- Probably too large a guitar for younger players or those of a small stature to hold comfortably
- Playing can be a little more difficult due to how close the strings are to each other, meaning you might need to watch your fingering
- Inexperienced players may need help tuning the guitar.
The FG730 was one of our best-selling acoustic guitars thanks to its superb build quality, playability and warm sound. The new FG830 guitar brings an even richer tone with improved feel and response. A stunning guitar.
In-Depth Review of the above articles
Newly Developed Scalloped BracingA new FG has louder and stronger sound in the low- to mid-ranges, thanks to cutting-edge acoustic analysis technology developed by the Yamaha R&D Division. Yamaha’s engineers have achieved this sound by utilizing analysis and simulation to arrive at the best bracing design without depending on tradition or guesswork. This analysis led to the development of the new scalloped bracing pattern, a new and ideal acoustic structure that maintains the durability of the top board while bringing out the most sound the Yamaha FG has to offer.
- Body Shape Traditional Western
- Scale Length 650mm (25 9/16″)
- Body Length 505mm (19 7/8″)
- Total Length 1038mm (40 7/8″)
- Body Width 412mm (16 1/4″)
- Body Depth 100-118mm (3 15/16″- 4 5/8″)
- Nut Width 43mm (1 11/16″)
- String Spacing * 11.0mm
- Top Material Solid Spruce
- Back Material Rosewood
- Side Material Rosewood
- Neck Material Nato
- Fingerboard Material Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius R400mm (23 5/8″)
- Bridge Material Rosewood
- Nut Material Urea
- Saddle Material Urea
- Bridge Pins Black ABS with White Dot
- Tuners Die-cast Chrome(TM29T)
- Body Binding Cream
- Soundhole Inlay Abalone w/ Black + White
- Pickguard Tortoise Pattern
- Body Finish Gloss
- Neck Finish Matt
- Electronics None
- Controls None
- Connections None
- Strings .012/.016/.025(or.024)/.032/.042/.052(or.053)
- Color Natural, Tobacco Brown Sunburst, Autumn Burst
- Accessories Hex Wrench
- Case None
The FG830 takes this design several steps further with scalloped bracing for a punchier tone and better stage projection, and a slimmer, more comfortable tapered neck with gently rounded fingerboard edges.
New scalloped bracing makes the FG830 even fatter and louder. This gives the solid spruce top — a feature normally reserved for professional instruments — an expressive dynamic range for punchy chords, sweet-sounding leads, and lively riffing.
HIGH-END TONAL BALANCE
Rosewood tonewoods are common but still the best choice for acoustic guitars. Because of this, you have ensured the high-end tonal balance as you play.
EXCELLENT SOUND QUALITY AND PROJECTION
Even though the FG830 is affordable and comes at a price that won’t empty your wallet, the FG830 does NOT sound cheap. You have the usual Dreadnought body sound but with the pure quality tone. There is a rich projection and many overtones to appreciate.
But what impresses the most is its sonic impact. It is the booming projection that makes the Yamaha FG830b perfect for recording or live sessions, which can be heard in the whole room. Thanks to the dried woods, it has utter class in tune and stands out. Expect the strong mid and low ranges from the analysis technology of Yamaha.
SOLID BONY AND NECK
Nothing can beat any solid Sitka spruce top, which is what the FG830 owns. What makes the body better is that the top wood is matched with Rosewood back and sides, which makes the guitar look more expensive and premium.
Also, you get the popular Dreadnought body, which may be a bit larger than what you’re used to but is still comfortable.
You have a comfortable neck and profile, with the smooth strumming. With its die-cast tuners and the specially-designed bracing pattern, you get the strong build with equally robust sounds. However, it’s still a production guitar which means you may want to improve on its strings or have it tuned better when receiving it.
Featuring superb projection and volume with a warm, rich tone, the FG830 is a superb acoustic guitar for playing live, recording in the studio or just enjoying at home with friends.
- Traditional Western Body
- Solid Spruce Top
- Rosewood Back & Sides
- Newly Developed Scalloped Bracing
- Rich Overtones
- A value-packed acoustic with pro looks and features
- The newest installment in the best-selling Yamaha FG series
- Comfortable dreadnought body with tapered waist fits all players
- Solid spruce top is full and balanced
- Scalloped bracing improves punch and projection
- Rosewood back and side deliver a richness and long-lasting sustain
- Slim, tapered neck with fast satin finish glides through the hand
- Rosewood fingerboard with comfortable rounded edges
- Stable die-cast tuners
- Player Port app provides users with tips, tricks, videos, and a built-in instrument tuner
Yamaha provides a warranty for Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitars. The warranty is for Yamaha original products only.
- CONDITIONS OF LIMITED WARRANTY
If, during the applicable period from the date of original purchase, your Yamaha Guitar Product is found on authorized inspection to have a defect in material or workmanship, a Yamaha Service Center will repair such defect without charge for parts or labor. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK AND THE RESULTS OF NORMAL WEAR ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY.
- WARRANTY PERIOD
ONE (1) YEAR PARTS AND LABOR:
Tuning hardware, tail piece, bridge, plating, pickguard, vibrato mechanisms, and electronic/electrical components.
It’s not hard to see why Yamaha’s FG series is a world bestseller: the comfortable dreadnought bodies, professional-grade tonewoods, and fast-playing necks make these acoustics great first instruments for beginners, and solid seconds for seasoned players who need an extra acoustic for the stage or to play around the house.
With its wallet-friendly price point and extensive feature set, the FG830 is already a fantastic instrument for beginners or anyone else looking to add a top-notch acoustic to their arsenal. Yamaha is here to sweeten the pot even more, courtesy of their highly versatile Player Port app. Available for both iOS and Android devices, Player Port is a fantastic all-in-one resource for newcomers. Just download the app, register your Yamaha, and gain access to tips, tricks, articles, videos, an FAQ section, and more tools catered especially to the fledgling player. Player Port even comes stock with a free built-in tuner that doesn’t require an instrument registration to use, making this incredible app all the more impressive.
You can find some feedback and FG830 Acoustic Guitar reviews on Amazon, Sweetwater and Thomann. Overall the FG830 has been rated on average 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon Review.
Amazon Reviews #1 – “I seriously expected to have to do major setup work when I received the guitar because of the price, but all it needed was a little height taken off the saddle. The nut slot heights were perfect to a 1/10 of a mm, the fretwork was spectacular, and the materials were top notch. I really don’t know how they can manufacture these for the price. The sound really opened up after about a week and compared to my Taylor 314 and Martin it’s 90% of the way there in terms of sound and 100% of the way there in terms of playability. I’m used to Grover tuners so they feel a little loose while turning, and don’t hold tune quite as long as I’m used to, but they do work. Really amazing for the money. Oh, and the best part, I don’t worry about singing it, so as far as peace of mind goes, it’s way better than Taylor or Martin.”
Amazon Reviews #2 – “I don’t want to come across as the end-all of all, because I’m not. I had however been in the business years ago and played many an acoustic from Martins and Guilds with Brazilian Rosewood sides and backs, to Taylors, etc., being lucky enough to own some and use them in the recording. I may not be the best guitarist, but do know my way around enough to spot a value when I see one, and this Yamaha definitely fits the billing. Yamaha has always made decent products and I bought this under that premise. I was surprised, however, (maybe I just got lucky), that out of the box, this guitar needed no action to be set up. It was pretty much dead on. Something I couldn’t say about the Taylor I owned, or even the D-55 Guild, (in fairness it was owned by someone else, but the folks in N.J. took great pride in making things more than right!). The sound from this Yamaha is more than satisfying. For the money, it holds its own against Martin D-18’s, Guild D-35, (U.S.-made), and many others. The highs are crisp, lows, bellowing and mids smooth. For a Guitar in the mid $300 range, you will more than get your money’s worth, even if you have to have it set up. Good luck.”
To get a better idea of how the Yamaha FG830 Acoustic Guitar sounds and looks like, we have provided you with a couple of Youtube videos, where you can get a quick demo of the guitar.
YouTube Review #1 – This video is a sound demo of the Yamaha FG830 Acoustic guitar. This video depicts the beautiful versatile tones and sound that the guitar has.
Youtube Review #2 – Jake Blake demonstrates the Yamaha FG830 acoustic guitar at Kraft Music. Yamaha’s FG series has consistently been the #1 selling acoustic guitar family of all time, and rightly so. They represent one of the best values in the music industry. Whether you’re a beginning player, or just looking to add another guitar to your collection, the FG830 is a great way to get a high-quality and beautiful acoustic guitar at a very affordable price. This instrument features outstanding sound quality, smooth playability, and the craftsmanship you expect from a genuine Yamaha instrument. The FG830 includes premium features such as scalloped X bracing, die-cast tuners, a solid spruce top, Rosewood back and sides, Abalone soundhole inlay and a Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The heritage of Yamaha folk guitars begin with the FG series. Yamaha’s FG series stretches back into the mid 60’s on the heels of the folk guitar movement in the United States. Moving into the 1970’s, many notable artists were seen playing Yamaha acoustic guitars…Jimmy Page, Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Bruce Springsteen to name a few. Yamaha’s FG series is the #1 selling acoustic guitars of all time. FG guitars are known for quality, dependability, playability and value.
The Verdict: Is it Worth It?
It’s an excellent entry-level model made by one of the best brands for affordable instruments, Yamaha. The scalloped bracing is particularly impressive, it allows for more resonance and optimal sustain. It’s a great instrument that delivers superb value-for-money.
If you like this article and found the provided information useful, you might want to check out our other reviews at AalbergAudio.com