Yamaha FG Series Acoustic Guitar

Top - Solid Sitka Spruce
Body - Nato (Rosewood on 730)
Neck - Nato
Fingerboard - Rosewood
Scale - 650mm
Machines - Enclosed Chrome
Bridge - Rosewood

Generations of professional and amateur musicians remember – and still use – their first Yamaha FG Series acoustic guitar.
Now, Yamaha has found a way to apply innovative techniques developed for its high-end L-Series handcrafted models to improve tone and playability while maintaining outstanding value. The result: these exciting new FG guitars.
Each new model features an inverted L-block which creates a deeper low end and a tighter body-neck connection.
Additionally, solid spruce tops, die-cast chrome hardware, and unique non-scalloped bracing help these new FG guitars build on the longevity and legendary status of the originals.
The entire range plays very nicely, with bright ringing chimes, easy going necks and simple decorations, no frills, just a great playing instrument.
The FG range are all dreadnaughts, full sized acoustics, with specifications increasing up the range. Fundamentally, they all follow the same design, so I'll describr the FG720S here, and mention where things are a little different on the other models we list.
So, we start with a straighforward enough headstock, in Rosewood, gloss fininsh to the front, satin on the back, a nice little V shape cut out of the top to give a little character. The front has the Yahama block letters logo, and a small crest, both in nice pearloid white. The 3 a side machines are Chrome die cast, unbranded with large buttons.
The Nato neck fells pretty slim, with a smooth satin finish to the back and quality cream celluliod binding to the Rosewood fingerboard. The finishing here is good with nice high frets, well polished off. Small white Abolone dots mark the usual positions.
The neck joins the body at the standard 14th fret on this dreadnaught. The body itself is Nato, from the Mahogany family, and Rosewood on the FG730. Nato has quite a light brown colour, whereas Rosewood is much darker, it also has a tighter grain, helping to give a clearer and more defined tone. All of the FG Series guitars have solid Sitka Spruce tops, and these are of excellent quality for a guitar in this price range.
The finishes here are a bit different however, the FG700 has a satin finish, pay a little more the FG720 and you get a gloss finish, a little more again fro the FG730 with the Rosewood body and gloss finish.
All models have cream binding to the rear of the body, and 6 ply cream and black binding to the front. The soundhole rosette on the 700 and 720 is a simple cream and black affair, with the 730 a bit fancier having green and white Abolone. All have a large, tortoiseshell (plastic) scratchplate and Rosewood bridge.
Sounds, well very nice. All play superbly, with easy going neck, bright sounds and plenty of playability and character. These instruments have been in production for so long now, and Yamaha really excell in them, you just can't go wrong.
In all, a great playing dreadnaught. Simple looks, quality materials and construction, a top brand name and great tones combine to produce a classic acoustic guitar at a great price.

From £159