Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar Review
The FG line marked the beginning of the heritage of Yamaha acoustic guitars, and the Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar is a celebrated and prominent member, rooted in this long heritage of the Yamaha “Folk” acoustic guitars. This splendid entry level acoustic guitar comes with deluxe features, such as die-cast tuners, a NATO body, a rosewood fingerboard and a solid Sitka spruce top. It is an ideal first acoustic guitar, with an astonishingly full and round sound, available at an unbelievably reasonable price between $120 and $250. If you want to play an acoustic guitar that feels and sounds amazing, the Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar will not disappoint.
Along with die-cast Chrome hardware and solid Spruce tops, the Yamaha FG700S features an inverted L-block and a non-scalloped, unique X-bracing. Originally, it was the more costly Yamaha LL6 that was equipped with this L-block, where it connected the body and neck more tightly, providing a deeper and fuller low end. The Yamaha FG700S features a gloss finished back, sides and top. This heavy and high gloss finish may project too much of an open Natural tone, but project tone is still Natural and open enough. Intonation at the second string has been compensated with the rosewood bridge, and due to its larger size, more string vibration is transferred to the solid spruce top.
1. Rosewood & Tortoise Exterior (Exterior Appearance)
Just because this Yamaha FG700S is a beginner’s guitar does not mean that it necessarily has to play like one. Although shredding will not be possible with the Yamaha FG700S, chords and scales can still be played in comfort and ease. The NATO neck of the Yamaha FG700S can be comfortably held and the fingers are able to travel across the smooth rosewood fingerboard in a relaxing manner. A nice sustain for the chords and notes is also provided by the NATO neck.
The strings are secured down by the rosewood bridge with confidence and long-lasting intonation. A nice contrast in color is also offered to the Sitka spruce top by the rosewood bridge, which matches nicely with the rosewood fingerboard. Below the soundhole, there is a gorgeous tortoise pickguard that adds more contrast and panache to the attractive top of the FG700S. This is an excellent acoustic guitar that not only plays well and sounds sweet, but also looks attractive.
2. Dreadnought Shape With NATo Back & Sides & Sitka Spruce Top (Build)
If you are planning to buy the Yamaha FG700S as your “first guitar,” then it will prove to be a perfect dreadnought acoustic guitar. If you are pursuing a songwriting career, then you will most likely be keeping this guitar throughout it. The body of this guitar has a classic dreadnought build. Due to the NATO back and sides and Sitka spruce top, the Yamaha FG700S resounds with warm tone. The NATO neck is incredibly comfortable with a nice 25.56-inch scale length, spanning 20 frets. The rosewood bridge, rosewood fingerboard, and stable die-cast tuners all work in unison in a reliable manner. It is the build of this acoustic guitar that enables it to offer a comfortable feel and full-bodies sound.
The dreadnought shape has a rich history that goes way back. Many acoustic guitars have been associated with this classic shape. The Yamaha FG700S carries on with this tradition, which means that it will feel quite familiar once it fits comfortably against your body, i.e. if you have ever played a guitar before. Strumming will be provided with a mellower sound by the Sitka spruce and the sound will resonate with a slower response. A nice humble tone is also provided to this acoustic guitar by its NATO back and sides, while they also make it more lightweight in comparison to guitars made of heavier woods.
3. Amazing Sound & Tone That Exceed Expectations (Sound)
Perhaps the area where the Yamaha FG700S stands out the most is the sound it produces. The tone of this guitar is a feature that justifies its price range to quite an extent. For an acoustic guitar, the Yamaha FG700S produces beautiful sound. This means that it produces full chords that resonate and soar, it produces clear and easy to pick out notes that retain their presence no matter how high up they go on the neck. It also produces crisp octaves sounds without any warbling quality, as long as this guitar is properly set up and tuned. Considering its price range, perhaps more could be offered by the Yamaha FG700S, but as far as the tone is concerned, you could probably not ask for more.
Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar Features:
Black / White Body Binding– Diecast Tuners
L shapped neck block for enhanced volume & LF response
New 90deg bracing pattern
Retro “red-label” soundhole labelling
This acoustic guitar is certainly fun to play and you will probably end up enjoy it right out of the box. If you want to improve as a musician that you will definitely enjoy it.
It is well put together and unlike in pictures, it will look much better in person. It features a durable finish and solid construction.
As mentioned, the sound quality of this guitar will indeed impress, especially because of how robust it is. In this price range, you will likely not find an acoustic guitar that sounds as good.
It can prove to be an excellent guitar for jams. In fact, once the saddle and strings have been changed, it can be taken to a whole new level.
The price range of this acoustic guitar is well worth it and it will provide you with the ideal value for the money. For instance, you will not have to tune it just once or twice every week even if you play it 30 minutes every day.
Customer Reviews & Scores
On the basis of 132 customer ratings and reviews that the Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar has received on Amazon, it has a 4.7 stars out of 5 stars average score. Out of those 132 customers, 110 of them gave the Yamaha FG700S a 5-star rating.
It is true that to bring out the complete potential of the Yamaha FG700S, it may have to be modified, but then again, many guitarists have to modify their instrument to match and suit their preference and style of playing. The quality of the accessories that are sold with the other version of this guitar may not match the quality of the guitar itself, but they are not as important as this instrument is.
The bottom line is that it can make all the difference to have a well-designed and well-manufactured instrument available within an affordable price range. The Yamaha FG700S Acoustic Guitar is just that, and whether you are a developing or new guitar player, the Yamaha FG700S will make all the difference. Considering the ease of use and sound it will offer you, it should probably be worth much more.
