The Traditional Western body shape is similar to the popular Dreadnought shape. Loved for its bold and rich tone, large size and its loud volume the Traditional Western is highly regarded for its versatility. Another aspect in which both instruments differ is in sound and tone. The FS800’s smaller body profile omits a brighter, more present tone.

The width at the nut on the FG800 is 43mm (1 11/16″). This is a narrower width than the traditional width but it’s fast becoming the standard width on acoustic guitars.The slightly narrower width makes it easier to play physically as you don’t have to get your hand around as much. It can also make it slightly more difficult to play finger style but I found this guitar was fine for finger style. Fretboard (Fingerboard) If an item can not be repaired, a similar alternative product or cash discount (as defined in this policy) will be offered Otherwise the playability of this guitar is pretty good, and this guitar is actually one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners. Action

To start, it has a solid spruce top. A so lid top is vital if you want a more vibrant tone and good sustain, and it's one of the critical things separating well-made acoustics from cheaper ones. While an all-solid instrument may sound slightly better, the top is where solid wood matters most. While the FS800 certainly isn’t a parlor guitar, and its scale length remains unchanged, we feel it would be better suited to players of smaller stature who don’t want to wrangle a full-sized dreadnought .The FG800 is a full-sized dreadnought guitar that projects the full-bodied sound one would closely associate with that of a dreadnought. Beyond the smaller size, the FS800 has the same, clean and simple, look as the FG800 and is made from the same materials (Spruce and Nato woods). It does, however, have a slightly lighter sound – understandable giving the smaller size – though it still has a nice tone and is a great choice for new players. Pros and Cons: Pros Even Yamaha’s lower priced guitars tend to have reasonable tone – and the FG800 is no exception. It has Yamaha’s typical nice even tone. It’s nothing exciting or unique but it’s solid and balanced.

The bridge and fretboard were both made from walnut, which is a wood that is seeing a lot more use, even in high end models. The grain on the fretboard looked good, and was nice and tight, with no deep pores. We loved the rounded fretboard edges, too, they significantly added to the comfort and playability, and we found ourselves wishing other manufacturers at this price point would do the same. On the other end of the spectrum, the full-sized body of the FG800 results in a much deeper sound, with considerably more projection and sustain .Straight out of the box, the FG800 is incredibly playable, and most players will find it comfortable. For those who may not be drawn to the large size of the dreadnought, then it’s worth considering the Yamaha FS800.

Either is a fantastic choice for the beginner to the intermediate player. It would serve its purpose valiantly for years without concern for longevity or build quality. This takes the features seen here in the FG but shrinks down the body into a much more manageable size. This may be a particularly good option for younger players (for more options, take a look at our guide to the best guitars for kids). With both models sharing so many features, there is little to compare as they are both quite similar. Both guitars feature a 25” scale length, the standard scale length for acoustic guitars with which most users will be familiar. This scale length provides a decent amount of space between each fret from the nut to the instrument’s sound hole. We are also pleased to report that both models come with an adjustable steel truss rod installed, which for some bizarre reason, is a feature omitted on some lower-priced acoustics.

Yamaha FG800J Acoustic Guitar Features:

Fender CD60S : Coming in around the same price, the Fender CD60S is another solid top dreadnought aimed squarely at the beginner guitarist. Sustain was a strong suit for the FG800, especially when strumming open chords. This was largely helped by the improved scalloped bracing, which not only gave it superb sustain, but also provided it with huge presence and awesome projection. The sides are comprised of Nato, a species of timber comparable to the tried and true material of mahogany. Now that we have taken the time to highlight the differences and similarities between both instruments, how do they compare when pitted against each other head-to-head? Due to Yamaha’s intention of keeping the price of the FG800 and FS800 down, using both Nato and Sitka tonewoods ensures that the buyer is purchasing a quality product that sounds good and is durable without necessarily breaking the budget. Playability