Posted: 10/25/2025 6:35:47 AM EDT
[Last Edit: corwin1968][Edited]
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I paid $100 for a 2017 Yamaha FG700s back in 2019 and a few years later, I bought a Taylor 110e, which has laminated back and sides. I find myself playing the Yamaha much more than the Taylor, so I decided to look in that direction for my first solid wood guitar. The local GC had the pickup version of the guitar that interests me and I loved how it played and felt. I liked it more than the Martin, Gibson and Taylor guitars I tried. I have no need of a pickup and I only make large hobby purchases with cash on hand or 0% financing, so once again, I went with Sweetwater. Yamaha Red Label FG3. Sitka Spruce top, solid Mahogany back and sides, Mahogany neck and Ebony fingerboard and bridge. I have a weird superstition about serial numbers and several guitars I've bought from Sweetwater were picked on that basis. This one has the month and day of my birth, along with the address of my childhood home. They had one with the month and day of my birth and the final two years of the year I was born, but I didn't like the looks of it as much as this one. Attached File |
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I own several more expensive guitars. But I also own an OLD Yamaha made in Japan out of solid wood. No wait it was actually one of the early made in Taiwan guitars. When they were striving to prove they were as good as the Japan factory. Solid rosewood back and sides, spruce top. All good stuff. Action is great. Stays in tune. Punches way above it's weight in tone. I believe my more expensive guitars have an edge in tone. But it's an edge and it wasn't an edge in price. Course I bought the Yamaha well used for $300. Yamaha is a winner IMO. Good choice. I will be looking for a guitar to keep in Thailand for my annual 2 month visits there. I had a Yamaha AC5R which is solid rosewood and spruce and everything about it was perfect - except. And I hate that I didn't notice it. Nut width in the AC line is 1 11/16. Not 1 3/4. It is a small difference but eventually it matters to me. I'll be looking for a Yamaha OM-Dread size solid back and sides with electronics and a 1 3/4 nut in January. Guessing it'll cost about $1600. And will compare with a $2500 Martin in quality. |
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Originally Posted By LRShooter: I bought an FG5 about two years ago. Nice guitar and no complaints. I think I paid around $1500 at Sweetwater for it. |
Pour over coffee is best coffee.
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Originally Posted By corwin1968: The thought of buying the Made in Japan version is really appealing to me, but it's almost $700 more and I'm not at a point in my journey to make that big a jump. Nothing wrong with Chinese Yamahas... I have A FG800J, A1M and ACIM. I'd like an A5M ARE, but I am not convinced it would be much better than the A1M. |
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Originally Posted By corwin1968: The thought of buying the Made in Japan version is really appealing to me, but it's almost $700 more and I'm not at a point in my journey to make that big a jump. Nothing wrong with Chinese Yamahas... I have a FG800J, A1M and ACIM. I'd like an A5M ARE, but I am not convinced it would be much better than the A1M. |
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It came two days early (gotta love Sweetwater's customer service) and it exceeds my expectations. Both in beauty and sound, this thing is awesome. The soundboard is darker and richer looking than it appears in this photo. Sweetwater's photo in the OP is very accurate to how it really appears. Attached File |
Pour over coffee is best coffee.
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Sweet. And Sweetwater is always good to go. I like the version of yours if it had a pickup. That is something I might buy for my Thailand trips. Worth it to have a good guitar for 2 months a year. The FXS3 which is yours with the electronics looks perfect. Ill need to find a dealer in Bangkok with one to try. |
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One thing I noticed as I played it was that the fingerboard was REALLY dry. I didn't want to mess with loosening the strings on a brand new guitar, so I did it the hard way, by working around the strings. It looks much more healthy now. I wondered how long it sat in storage and it was made in late June, so not very long. |
Pour over coffee is best coffee.
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Originally Posted By Mach: Nice guitar! I thought the FG700 was a solid spruce top and solid nato back and sides. Are they laminate? |
Pour over coffee is best coffee.