The Yamaha FD01S is hard to beat as a starter guitar. The guitars are great for those just starting out, but if you’re an intermediate player, you may get more use out of an Fg800 (Check Price SP). If you prefer the durability of an all-laminate instrument, make sure you give this one a look. A key difference, however, is the quality of sound. Taylor GS Mini VS the Baby Taylor : Which is better? Its solid wood top is one-of-a-kind in the sub-$200 category. The Fg800 features that scalloping brace I mentioned earlier. In fact, they are made explicitly for entry-level guitarists who want to try out a new instrument. We've found three decent-quality alternatives you might want to compare to this one. Here's what comes with it: You do have the option to buy the guitar by itself and then choose your own accessories. This person's guitar arrived with some blemishes, but other buyers who received guitars with more extensive blemishes have reported sending them back for a replacement. Last Update: 3/31/2016 . Well the great thing about these guitars is that you do not need to pay extraordinary amounts of money for great sound. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. What this means is that you do not need to stretch too much when playing more complex chords – making this great for younger learners. Both the Fg800 and the Fd01s (SP) are excellent guitars for those who are starting out. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The FD01S has a solid spruce top, which (all other things being equal) gives better tone and improves more with age than plywood (like that used on the F325). Martin D28 Review – Standard Series Dreadnought, Yamaha LS16 Review – Midrange Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar, Fender CD 60 – Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Review, Takamine GD20 NS – Dreadnought Style Acoustic Guitar, Gretsch Jim Dandy Review – Flat Top Parlor Acoustic Guitar. YAMAHA FD01S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar (Amazon-Exclusive), Best Worship Guitars for Praise and Church Musicians, Top 10 Best Metronomes for Guitar Players & Musicians in 2020, The 8 Best Guitars For Punk Music – From Iggy Pop to Anarcho-punk. Last update on 2020-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. While they are both made of solid wood top, the body and back are made of laminate – which is not surprising at the under $200 price point. There are a couple of issues that people have encountered with the product. It also sounds just as good fingerpicked as it does strummed--picked notes have a sparkling quality about them. It is definitely worth considering as an option. 14 product ratings - Yamaha Fd01S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar-Exclusive. Yamaha FD01S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar The Yamaha FD01S is a premium solid-top guitar with superior tone and projection. The FD01S has some surprisingly nice features for a beginner guitar, and one is the rosewood fingerboard. This reviewer also points out that this guitar sounds dramatically better than any laminate guitar. Many beginner guitars are made with cost savings in mind, and many manufacturers, even major ones, make starter guitars with laminate tops. One of the most notable features of this guitar is the fact that it has a solid top. Here are some things to keep in mind: But before we start, let's look at some pros and cons: This is a surprisingly high-quality, good-sounding acoustic guitar given its price. Mahogany offers mellow, woody tone and impressive sustain. Some musicians also choose to pair this guitar with better quality strings and tuning pins. This guitar comes with chrome die-cast tuners, which many buyers have praised as being high-quality. This video compares the sound of an all-laminate guitar and one with a solid top. Even though it’s slightly more expensive; it’s more durable, it has a warm tone, and you might also be able to take it to unplugged gigs. This can feel "sticky" and make it harder to move up and down the neck--satin finishes are often used to give guitar necks a "slick" feel. But if you really want to upgrade the sound of the FD01S, replacing the nut with bone or a tone-enhancing composite is fairly straightforward. The FG800 is overall worth your dollar and has made it to numerous top 10 budget guitar lists. While suitable for intermediate to professional players, the FD01S is the perfect first guitar, providing an outstanding value that won't break the bank. This makes sense--tuning stability is one of the most important things in a beginner guitar, and Yamaha's beginner guitars have a reputation for being playable. If you want to learn how, this video will show you. Nato (eastern Mahogany) neck, sides & back, The perfect first guitar; Combining quality woods and outstanding tone at an outstanding value, Solid spruce top with Nato (Eastern Mahogany) back & sides, The acoustic guitars need a professional setup out of the box to achieve the player's preferences. When it comes to the quality of sound coming from a guitar at this price point, most of us probably don't expect much. We've found a few helpful reviews of the FD01S from around the web: This brief but helpful review praises the guitar's tone and playability. Body Shape- Dreadnought. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These guitars might not handle gigs all that well; the Fg800 might hold its own in an unplugged gig if you change the strings, nut, and saddle. The neck, like the rest of the guitar, has a gloss finish. This guitar is well suited to assure sweet melody when played. The reviewer aptly describes its tone: "bright and deep when needed.". Yamaha has a very good history of making high-quality acoustic guitars in every price range. Here are some of the features you may want to consider when buying. From United States. It has features of guitars far past its price point, and it's affordable enough for almost anyone. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, It has a solid top, which is extremely important for great tone, Nato back and sides make it lightweight and durable, You can buy it by itself or as part of a Gigmaker package with the accessories you need to start, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge are features not often found on guitars at this price point, Some buyers have complained about issues with the action (often stating it's too low), Some have complained about tuning stability issues, Smaller, thinner body is easier to handle and play, Also has a solid spruce top and laminated NATO back and sides, Scalloped X bracing helps bring out both high-end and low-end, All-laminate body likely won't sound as rich as the FD01S, Slim Taper neck shape may make learning to play easier, All-laminate construction is very durable, Mahogany will sound rich and mellow, compared to the relative brightness of spruce, Nato neck and laminated okuome back and sides keep it lightweight, Is slightly more expensive, but still under $200. It has laminated okuome back and sides, is a full-size dreadnought, and is only slightly more expensive than the FD01S. The neck is made of nato. However, the Slim Taper neck is likely to make learning to play a lot easier, especially if you have small hands. The inner workings of the Yamaha Fg800 (Check Price Here) mean that the durability of the top board is maintained, and also the scalloped bracing brings about more natural sound of the instrument. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yamaha guitars have become a staple in any musician’s arsenal. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Otherwise, they’re really more designed with hobbyists in mind though they work well if you want to entertain guests in your living room to show your newly acquired skills. Martin D-35 – Review of Standard Series Dreadnought Guitar, Martin D15M Review – Series 15 All Mahogany Dreadnought, Instructional DVD to help you get started. Back to the List. It’s no surprise really, as they produce well-made, affordable guitars and also exquisitely crafted high-end instruments that are an absolute pleasure to play. Though, there are bundles with a soft case available if you are in need of one. Scale Length- 641mm (25 1/4") ... Case- None.