I'm a 6'1" man with 10" hands and even I feel like dreadnaught style guitars are uncomfortably large to wield. If you have never owned a guitar of this size, give it a try. I just got my Yamaha FS800 - it's decent, but mine needed string height adjustments at bridge and nut to make it more playable.
I’m about an inch shorter on both those dimensions. Would you recommend this to a total beginner? Looking at getting this one over the dreadnaught but I don’t know if how it’ll feel as I don’t live near any guitar stores with models to try.
@@Sins4Jesus Hmm, well, yes, I think it's a decent guitar for a beginner, though as I said, I felt mine needed some bridge and nut adjustments to make it really play well. If you can afford it, I'd consider upgrading to the next level up, either an FS-830 or FG-830. I kind of wish I had, though that's based on nothing other than my belief that they are probably slightly better because they cost more. Don't be afraid of the dreadnaught size either. You're plenty big enough to play one of those as well. I just like the smaller concert size guitars slightly better for feel. Dreadnaughts have a more powerful low range tone and can really project volume when needed. I happen to play quite a bit of fingerstyle which sounds good on either style of guitar. The more mid-range forward concert style and parlor style guitars are often preferred by fingerpickers though. I have also played some nice Sigma guitars which are Korean copies of Martins. Check them out as well. One more thing to consider: check Craigslist and local thrift stores for guitars around $100. As a true beginner, it might be nice to start on something very affordable until you know for sure you enjoy playing and will stick with it. If possible, bring a more experienced player with you when shopping to help you decide if the guitars are easy to play or not. Tone is less important that playability in my opinion, especially as a beginner. If you get a guitar where the strings are too high, it will be much harder to play and could be somewhat discouraging. Sorry for the essay. Good luck on your music journey!
Yes, small guitars are comfortable to play. They definitely have a different tone than a dreadnaught. However, if you play well enough, no one listening will care if you're playing a dreadnaught or concert size guitar. I've got a couple of little 3/4 size guitars that I use when I'm writing music. I can put them down and pick them up, easier, when I'm writing and erasing on a piece of staff paper.
I am a HUGE Yamaha fan and you have a new subscriber! The sound of this guitar is kind of thin but yamaha undoubtely rules in this price range. The high-end series from yamaha 26, 36 (and, why not, 56) sound like a piano : engelmann top and rosewood back and sides. Good projection and a complex harmonic texture. Unfortunately there are not that many reviews about them.
Couch guitar... good description. This is a thin soundling little guitar. However, because of its size, it's handy. For working on your chops, this is a handy little guitar to have close by. This being said, don't expect it to have a really full sound. It's kind of tinny sounding, but it's still a fun guitar. Also the neck is very slim, especially lower on the neck.
Thanks great review! I have an FSX 800C, it sounds great. I'm taking to a luthier to do a pro setup strings are way to high at the nut and all the way down. What string do you recommend for this smaller body guitar? I'm learning bluegrass. I put the EJ-19 bluegrass springs and they are too hard to play for this 65 yo man!
It's a thin sounding guitar. It's almost like a scooped sound. UPDATE: Thank you guys for responding. I have to say that after owning this guitar for longer period of time, I have grown quite fond of it. Also, the stings have aged and have mellowed a bit. So part of the scooped sound that I was hearing is just characteristic of the brightness of new strings. I now view this guitar as fairly well balanced in sound, and great guitar.
@@KenTeel then I misinterpreted ‘scooped’. I have the FS820 (mainly ornaments difference) and I find the bass indeed full (not a bad thing) but the highs are lacking somewhat. This is after a year of owning it and with stock strings. I actually like the mellow sound, but not a fan of the narrower string spacing.
@@99rpm I misstated my original intention. The FS800 is not thin sounding, it's scooped sounding with more lows and highs. You responded to my inaccuratley articulated words. Thanks for your patience. I should add, also, that I've become very fond of my FS800. It's like a comfortable shoe, and is inexpensive. It feels good, but isn't mistaken for expensive stuff. My FS800 is a very handy guitar. It's small body and narrow neck just feel grand. And the durability of a poly finish mean that I don't have to be so concerned aout minor bumps. This guitar is designed for practical use. Other guitars, like the Big Baby sound better, but, for me the differnce isn't enough to be concerned about. I, now (evolution in thought) view them as just different tools. Each has its own purpose. The wood on the Big Baby is more fragile because of the oil (or whatever it is) finish. This light finish helps to give it more balanced sound. The FS finish adds to its sound, too. For the price, and the durability, I would very much recomend the FS800. If a person is chasing tone, go with the Taylor Big Baby if they can afford it.
@@KenTeelI have one also. Was my first guitar years ago, and is definitely robust. Has put up with a lot on knocks etc. Alvarez also make great entry level guitars. I have a 12 fret mahogany parlour solid top that’s very sweet sounding
Both of those are good guitars for their price. You can't go wrong either way. The Taylor neck profile is probably slightly thinner and easier for a beginner to play. The Taylor has a bolt on neck which is very unusual for an acoustic guitar. Apparently it is very easy to remove the neck and put it back on for traveling. The Yamaha has a more tradtional set in neck with a slightly thicker neck profile which some players prefer. (Fatter necks give you more to hold onto when making chords and bending strings, while thinner necks makes it easier to fret some chords and usually faster runs.) Consider them both, look at the specs, but in the end, trust your gut feeling.
Also, I believe the Big Baby has a thinner body than the Yamaha FG830. The Yamaha is a full size dreadnaught style guitar, while the Big Baby is a thinner version of the same shape. It has an arched back to help compensate for the reduced volume of the thinner body.
The Big Baby is fuller sounding than the FS800. The FS800 has a scooped sound, with a strong orientation toward treble. The Big Baby Taylor has more of a balanced sound. Yamaha always manages to somehow screw up their low end acoustic guitars. They've made improvments like making the action better and scalloping the bracing, and putting on a solid top, but they still don't get it right with the voicing. For the price, though, it's an OK deal (the Big Baby Taylor costs over twice as much.) Yamaha does much better building low end motorcycles, than low end acoustic guitars. I think that there are other manufactures that do better with making low end acoutic guitars.
@@rocioestrada4766 You might have to tighten the truss rod slightly to account for the higher string tension. These guitars come set up with light gage (0.012" - 0.053") I believe, and medium gage is only slightly thicker at 0.013" - 0.056".
FS800: 2.0 string spacing at the bridge. Crazy narrow, and not suitable for fingerstyle, many experienced players would tell you. FG800 is much wider, and would be fine.
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I'm a 6'1" man with 10" hands and even I feel like dreadnaught style guitars are uncomfortably large to wield. If you have never owned a guitar of this size, give it a try. I just got my Yamaha FS800 - it's decent, but mine needed string height adjustments at bridge and nut to make it more playable.
I’m about an inch shorter on both those dimensions. Would you recommend this to a total beginner? Looking at getting this one over the dreadnaught but I don’t know if how it’ll feel as I don’t live near any guitar stores with models to try.
@@Sins4Jesus Hmm, well, yes, I think it's a decent guitar for a beginner, though as I said, I felt mine needed some bridge and nut adjustments to make it really play well.
If you can afford it, I'd consider upgrading to the next level up, either an FS-830 or FG-830. I kind of wish I had, though that's based on nothing other than my belief that they are probably slightly better because they cost more.
Don't be afraid of the dreadnaught size either. You're plenty big enough to play one of those as well. I just like the smaller concert size guitars slightly better for feel. Dreadnaughts have a more powerful low range tone and can really project volume when needed.
I happen to play quite a bit of fingerstyle which sounds good on either style of guitar. The more mid-range forward concert style and parlor style guitars are often preferred by fingerpickers though.
I have also played some nice Sigma guitars which are Korean copies of Martins. Check them out as well.
One more thing to consider: check Craigslist and local thrift stores for guitars around $100. As a true beginner, it might be nice to start on something very affordable until you know for sure you enjoy playing and will stick with it.
If possible, bring a more experienced player with you when shopping to help you decide if the guitars are easy to play or not. Tone is less important that playability in my opinion, especially as a beginner. If you get a guitar where the strings are too high, it will be much harder to play and could be somewhat discouraging.
Sorry for the essay. Good luck on your music journey!
Yes, small guitars are comfortable to play. They definitely have a different tone than a dreadnaught. However, if you play well enough, no one listening will care if you're playing a dreadnaught or concert size guitar. I've got a couple of little 3/4 size guitars that I use when I'm writing music. I can put them down and pick them up, easier, when I'm writing and erasing on a piece of staff paper.
Kinda sad you can’t play a dreadnought
@@link-so9wn Was that supposed to be an insult?
I am a HUGE Yamaha fan and you have a new subscriber! The sound of this guitar is kind of thin but yamaha undoubtely rules in this price range. The high-end series from yamaha 26, 36 (and, why not, 56) sound like a piano : engelmann top and rosewood back and sides. Good projection and a complex harmonic texture. Unfortunately there are not that many reviews about them.
Thanks for subscribing! More Yamaha reviews on the way.
This is one really comfortable couch guitar
Yep
Couch guitar... good description. This is a thin soundling little guitar. However, because of its size, it's handy. For working on your chops, this is a handy little guitar to have close by. This being said, don't expect it to have a really full sound. It's kind of tinny sounding, but it's still a fun guitar. Also the neck is very slim, especially lower on the neck.
Thanks great review! I have an FSX 800C, it sounds great. I'm taking to a luthier to do a pro setup strings are way to high at the nut and all the way down. What string do you recommend for this smaller body guitar? I'm learning bluegrass. I put the EJ-19 bluegrass springs and they are too hard to play for this 65 yo man!
That's for watching!
I like the EJ26 strings
It's a thin sounding guitar. It's almost like a scooped sound. UPDATE: Thank you guys for responding. I have to say that after owning this guitar for longer period of time, I have grown quite fond of it. Also, the stings have aged and have mellowed a bit. So part of the scooped sound that I was hearing is just characteristic of the brightness of new strings. I now view this guitar as fairly well balanced in sound, and great guitar.
Interesting
I can guarantee you it’s not thin sounding in real life. It has volume and ample bottom end for an orchestra model.
@@KenTeel then I misinterpreted ‘scooped’. I have the FS820 (mainly ornaments difference) and I find the bass indeed full (not a bad thing) but the highs are lacking somewhat. This is after a year of owning it and with stock strings. I actually like the mellow sound, but not a fan of the narrower string spacing.
@@99rpm I misstated my original intention. The FS800 is not thin sounding, it's scooped sounding with more lows and highs. You responded to my inaccuratley articulated words. Thanks for your patience. I should add, also, that I've become very fond of my FS800. It's like a comfortable shoe, and is inexpensive. It feels good, but isn't mistaken for expensive stuff. My FS800 is a very handy guitar. It's small body and narrow neck just feel grand. And the durability of a poly finish mean that I don't have to be so concerned aout minor bumps. This guitar is designed for practical use. Other guitars, like the Big Baby sound better, but, for me the differnce isn't enough to be concerned about. I, now (evolution in thought) view them as just different tools. Each has its own purpose. The wood on the Big Baby is more fragile because of the oil (or whatever it is) finish. This light finish helps to give it more balanced sound. The FS finish adds to its sound, too. For the price, and the durability, I would very much recomend the FS800. If a person is chasing tone, go with the Taylor Big Baby if they can afford it.
@@KenTeelI have one also. Was my first guitar years ago, and is definitely robust. Has put up with a lot on knocks etc. Alvarez also make great entry level guitars. I have a 12 fret mahogany parlour solid top that’s very sweet sounding
Is it better a yamaha FG830 or a big baby taylor?
Both of those are good guitars for their price. You can't go wrong either way. The Taylor neck profile is probably slightly thinner and easier for a beginner to play. The Taylor has a bolt on neck which is very unusual for an acoustic guitar. Apparently it is very easy to remove the neck and put it back on for traveling. The Yamaha has a more tradtional set in neck with a slightly thicker neck profile which some players prefer. (Fatter necks give you more to hold onto when making chords and bending strings, while thinner necks makes it easier to fret some chords and usually faster runs.) Consider them both, look at the specs, but in the end, trust your gut feeling.
Also, I believe the Big Baby has a thinner body than the Yamaha FG830. The Yamaha is a full size dreadnaught style guitar, while the Big Baby is a thinner version of the same shape. It has an arched back to help compensate for the reduced volume of the thinner body.
If at all possible, play both in person before deciding, but my guess is you wouldn't have asked if that was an option.
The Big Baby is fuller sounding than the FS800. The FS800 has a scooped sound, with a strong orientation toward treble. The Big Baby Taylor has more of a balanced sound. Yamaha always manages to somehow screw up their low end acoustic guitars. They've made improvments like making the action better and scalloping the bracing, and putting on a solid top, but they still don't get it right with the voicing. For the price, though, it's an OK deal (the Big Baby Taylor costs over twice as much.) Yamaha does much better building low end motorcycles, than low end acoustic guitars. I think that there are other manufactures that do better with making low end acoutic guitars.
@@KenTeel What low end brands do you think are better?
Can i use a medium gauge for the Yamaha fs800?
Yes
@@ThisGuitarChannelOnline wow !! So does not affect the tension of the strings to the guitar?
@@rocioestrada4766 You might have to tighten the truss rod slightly to account for the higher string tension. These guitars come set up with light gage (0.012" - 0.053") I believe, and medium gage is only slightly thicker at 0.013" - 0.056".
Tell ya a seceret. If you are unsure of what strings to use then there is no need to be specific.
Nice...for 200 bucks jeez...just get it.
Very nice😋👏!!! You are missing out = Promo`SM !!!
FS800: 2.0 string spacing at the bridge. Crazy narrow, and not suitable for fingerstyle, many experienced players would tell you. FG800 is much wider, and would be fine.
Sounds like you’re in a tin can