Thank you for responding. I do not play yet. I bought the Yamaha FS800 on Ebay should be here today. I was watching you change the strings on youres and noticed how much difference it made. I also so read where a string change to lighter strings may help a beginer. I am 62, so I need all the help I can get. I Love youre Style of Playing, you sound Great, Big Fan. Thankyou for the help. Barry S Smith.
I got my Gutair at 10:30,and I have learnes 3 coards. I went ahead and ordered the new strings for it as well. It took a minute to figuer out the tuner I bought. Its going really well. Thank you for youre help,Ill keep watching.@@jasonvalcourt
I love the sound of that Yahama. That's sure a lot of guitar for the price! Of course you really make it sound fantastic. I have a lot of guitars....including a '63 Martin D-28 (purchased new by my Dad), a Martin 000-16....and a Yahama FS-TA (I just checked the string spacing at the bridge is exactly 2") and the Yahama has a beautiful tone! Thanks for the video.
My used 2016 Yamaha FS800 in Tobacco sunburst finish came in 2 days ago and i love it. it sounds great. I've actually been trying to find one that's made pre-2018 for years prior to the purchase because that's when Yamaha was still making this series with the Rosewood fretboard and bridge before switching to Walnut in early 2018. i'm very lucky that the site i got it from posted the serial number which allowed me to track down the year. killer guitar.
The Eastman Ochoa series has 1 3/4” nut and wider string spacing at the saddle, which makes it really nice for fingerstyle. Great quality for $349. Also comes with bone nut and saddle and gig bag.
I really like what Yamaha are doing with the FS series. They're amazing entry level guitars at an affordable price point. Especially the 800 models. Allows a person to comfortably learn on a good quality guitar without breaking the bank. I'm an avg size guy who could easily handle a dread but when I was in store trying them out I much preferred the FS over the FG. For around the house and sofa/recliner duty they're perfect.
Stumbled across your channel and enjoy your vibe. Nice mix of lutherie and playing. You play great btw. I have flipped thru a couple FS800 guitars when I see them at super cheap prices. With minor setups and strings they play amazing. As you mentioned, the string spacing at the bridge is the biggest issue which is why they don't stay around long. I just picked up a used FGC-TA with the same smaller nut, but the string spacing is wider at the bridge, which helps. Keep the great content coming!
Much appreciated! Yes, aside from the preference of string spacing the 800 really delivers a lot of guitar. Those FGC-TA look like great players. Haven't played one or experienced the onboard effects but it is an interesting innovation in a niche that's hard to innovate in. Thanks!
I enjoyed this video very much. Just getting started here and I'm planning to buy this model of guitar. It's the smaller details that I see in this video that made me make a decision.
Love the video. I bought a used FGX800C last year. After watching your video, I discovered that I too got to enjoy peeling the protective layer that was still on the pick guard. NICE! Interested to know the brand of polish and linseed oil you used. Thanks.
Thanks! Nice choice of a guitar. Ha! It's the little things right? The polish is from Stew Mac. I believe it is called Clean + Shine. The linseed oil is a food grade Flax Oil made by Spectrum that I commandeered from the kitchen cupboard, cheers!
Nice video. I have an FG830 and LL6M ARE. I was thinking about an LS6, but I am going to stick with the FG830 and LL6M ARE. The FS might be a little little small. That being said, the FG Series is quite good and goes way above its price range. The FS800 sounds good.
Thanks, nice pair of guitars. Glad you think the FG holds up for the price. The LL6Ms look like really a nice step from FGs, especially with the 1 3/4 nut width. Haven't played one yet but I'm sure they're fantastic. Cheers!
@@jasonvalcourtJust my experiences, I have the the FG 830X & the FSX 800- C & they are both excellent guitar's ( I had never heard of the L series before) however a partially damaged LJXC came into my sight, brought it and Wow, a very subtle difference in tone, ( L series = Luxury, apparently-- I checked the Yamaha w/site) in a nutshell, maybe just a bit more depth & the Adirondack top gives a Slightly different enhancement to the overall tone. Well worth the price- with not much work to bring it up to scratch 😊😊😊
Excellent! You have a whole family there. Glad to hear it. I just played an LL-TA that was big and bold and hard to put down. Very strong tones and a deep growl to it which I loved. I didn't plug it in, but it was a charmer acoustically and the volume was equally loud up and down the neck. Thanks for the note, cheers!
The D'Addario lights are the way to go especially if the action is high you can just tweak the truss rod like you did and the strings will sit in the nut and the bridge better than the thicker strings
Nice review. I have a few older Yamaha FGs, all with 2" string spacing. I was able to widen the spacing to 2 1/8" by putting in a new saddle and carving a slight notch for each string to "stretch" the spacing. Seems to hold up okay, but I'm not a finger style player so YMMV.
I left the nut as is. Check out an old FG-75, I think you'd like it, ladder braced. My first guitar and probably my favorite, makes me wonder why I'm always in the market for another guitar.
Nice. Tx, will do. I've seen them around. Had a similar old Fender F-15 for a minute and it had a really nice sound. I imagine the 75 could be nicer. Strange how we do that isn't it, cheers!
I recently bought the FS 850 and love the tone & look. But yes transitioning from an FG to FS is challenging . I imagine it's annoying for those with larger fingers. Great content, thank you.
Excellent! I'd been searching the local used market for months with no luck on the 850, but that's a good sign to me. Good choice to go with the mahogany, I hope it keeps inspiring your playing. Yeah, the transition part is rough, but after playing a while it was easy to forget/adjust, at least, enough to just kick back and enjoy without being bothered much. Overall, I think they are great guitars already and will definitely have in mind to recommend at that price point. Thank you!
@@jasonvalcourt I'm in a place where I can't play several guitars I like to make a choice of one. Would you be able to offer any advice please. I've watched reviews & listened with good earphones but I still can't decide. Yamaha FGX3, FGX5, LL16, Epiphone J45. The Taylor Academy 12e plays like a dream but lacks the bass I'd like. Watching your vids I love what you did with the Yamaha FG850 & wonder if I should just settle for that. It's probably enough. I don't like guitars that are too crisp, or bright. However ease of playability is important. Slinky & easy to fret. I hope you have time to answer but understand if you don't.
What a great problem to have today, fun stuff! Great selection, hard to go wrong...and a really hard question to answer. Out of all of these I have only played the FGX3, the 850 and a 2021 J45. Assuming a good set up can make any of these guitars play like a dream? my personal inclination is to narrow it down to the LL16 and FGX5 if you want to spend up, and the FG850 if you don't. Most appealing to me at the moment would be an LL16 and get a K&K mini installed if you plan to plug in. But, if you like your FS850 for that mellow mahogany-ness, I think you have a good example of what its big brother the FG850 will be like tonally as opposed to the spruce tops on the FGX5 and LL16. Other folks may be able to add opinions as more qualified tastemakers. And then there's the dream situation (queue the dream sequence): I could see you making a weekend trip somewhere to play them all and go home with one. Guitar fantasy! I hope this helps. Thanks for asking my opinion. Enjoy the search and that FS850!
@@jasonvalcourt thank you so much. I do value your opinion. You come across as honest & objective. Keep up the great playing & lutherie. I'm really enjoying your channel & learning a lot.
I have the Alvarez Regent 5225 with D'Addario lights definitely is not boxy sound but that one's a dreadnought I think the scalloped bracing on the Yamaha makes the difference on your guitars even though they're the same size the dreadnoughts are so big so I'm in the market for the orchestra size with the fs800 on my mind
Nice, we evidently both enjoy Alvarez and Yamahas. The FS is a really nice size to have if you're looking smaller than a dread. In another price tier, I still have a FS5 that I played last year on my mind but I'm just dreaming at this time, cheers!
The FS800 has string spacing of 2.0 " at the bridge, crazy narrow. You manage it fine. It's not good for beginners though, unless they have tiny hands. Good playing :)
I’m learning and I bought the same guitar as it sounded great at the store to my ear. I was wondering if the Fs820 would sound even better. Also wondering if I upgraded the saddle & nut to bone if that would make a noticeable difference. Was great to hear you play.
I believe, and I could be wrong, but the FS820 is the same guitar with different color binding and maybe a more fancy inlays. The 800 has black biding. The 820 white. Saddle material is a subtle game. Much appreciated!
This video convinced me to buy one of these, thanks! Does the one in this video have the original saddle and nut? I saw a few other people recommend switching out the saddle and nut for a bone saddle and bone nut, would you recommend this?
Awesome, I hope you like it! This has the original (Urea) nut and saddle. It would be a totally preferential change that is extremely subjective in my opinion. Personally, I like what I get out of bone. To my ears it has a more chaulky, or biting tone that I enjoy. But there's nothin lacking in the stock nut and saddle in my opinion and some find it hard to even decipher a difference. Some hear a huge difference.
@jasonvalcourt Thanks mate. Also, you said in your description you had it adjusted. What did you have done? Sorry for the dumb questions, I just bought this as my first guitar and know nothing.
Hmmm, I'm not sure what I meant, but maybe the action at the nut or a truss rod adjustment. Basic things, but if yours doesn't play right, see about getting a setup, cheers!
Cool vid. I always like these types.
Thanks, cheers!
Amazing video! I loved the vibe and the explanations. I just got a Yamaha FG-800, so this was helpful. New subscriber!
Hey thanks, I'm glad it was helpful. The 800's are winners, enjoy!
Thank you for responding. I do not play yet. I bought the Yamaha FS800 on Ebay should be here today. I was watching you change the strings on youres and noticed how much difference it made. I also so read where a string change to lighter strings may help a beginer. I am 62, so I need all the help I can get. I Love youre Style of Playing, you sound Great, Big Fan. Thankyou for the help.
Barry S Smith.
Excellent, I hope you enjoy it, cheers
I got my Gutair at 10:30,and I have learnes 3 coards. I went ahead and ordered the new strings for it as well. It took a minute to figuer out the tuner I bought. Its going really well.
Thank you for youre help,Ill keep watching.@@jasonvalcourt
Glad to hear it!
I love the sound of that Yahama. That's sure a lot of guitar for the price! Of course you really make it sound fantastic. I have a lot of guitars....including a '63 Martin D-28 (purchased new by my Dad), a Martin 000-16....and a Yahama FS-TA (I just checked the string spacing at the bridge is exactly 2") and the Yahama has a beautiful tone! Thanks for the video.
Excellent collection! How great to have your dad's guitar, fantastic. Cheers!
My used 2016 Yamaha FS800 in Tobacco sunburst finish came in 2 days ago and i love it. it sounds great. I've actually been trying to find one that's made pre-2018 for years prior to the purchase because that's when Yamaha was still making this series with the Rosewood fretboard and bridge before switching to Walnut in early 2018. i'm very lucky that the site i got it from posted the serial number which allowed me to track down the year. killer guitar.
Excellent! Great guitar to have and for the money it's just hard to beat, I hope you enjoy it, cheers!
Bought this for my 14 yr old granddaughter. I think it will be fantastic.
Excellent choice! I think so too. And you're forever the cool grandpa, cheers!
The Eastman Ochoa series has 1 3/4” nut and wider string spacing at the saddle, which makes it really nice for fingerstyle. Great quality for $349. Also comes with bone nut and saddle and gig bag.
Glad to know. Sounds like a great fingerstyle player and overall package. They're making some nice guitars. Cheers!
Models from those Ochoa series to share?
I really like what Yamaha are doing with the FS series. They're amazing entry level guitars at an affordable price point. Especially the 800 models. Allows a person to comfortably learn on a good quality guitar without breaking the bank. I'm an avg size guy who could easily handle a dread but when I was in store trying them out I much preferred the FS over the FG. For around the house and sofa/recliner duty they're perfect.
Agreed. I think they check a lot of boxes and keep recommending people give them a try. I'm hooked too, cheers!
Stumbled across your channel and enjoy your vibe. Nice mix of lutherie and playing. You play great btw. I have flipped thru a couple FS800 guitars when I see them at super cheap prices. With minor setups and strings they play amazing. As you mentioned, the string spacing at the bridge is the biggest issue which is why they don't stay around long. I just picked up a used FGC-TA with the same smaller nut, but the string spacing is wider at the bridge, which helps. Keep the great content coming!
Much appreciated! Yes, aside from the preference of string spacing the 800 really delivers a lot of guitar. Those FGC-TA look like great players. Haven't played one or experienced the onboard effects but it is an interesting innovation in a niche that's hard to innovate in. Thanks!
I enjoyed this video very much. Just getting started here and I'm planning to buy this model of guitar. It's the smaller details that I see in this video that made me make a decision.
Excellent, glad to hear it. I think you'll get a lot out of it, cheers!
@jasonvalcourt ordered it, and it's on the way! Thank you again!
Love the video. I bought a used FGX800C last year. After watching your video, I discovered that I too got to enjoy peeling the protective layer that was still on the pick guard. NICE! Interested to know the brand of polish and linseed oil you used. Thanks.
Thanks! Nice choice of a guitar. Ha! It's the little things right? The polish is from Stew Mac. I believe it is called Clean + Shine. The linseed oil is a food grade Flax Oil made by Spectrum that I commandeered from the kitchen cupboard, cheers!
Nice video. I have an FG830 and LL6M ARE. I was thinking about an LS6, but I am going to stick with the FG830 and LL6M ARE. The FS might be a little little small. That being said, the FG Series is quite good and goes way above its price range. The FS800 sounds good.
Thanks, nice pair of guitars. Glad you think the FG holds up for the price. The LL6Ms look like really a nice step from FGs, especially with the 1 3/4 nut width. Haven't played one yet but I'm sure they're fantastic. Cheers!
@@jasonvalcourtJust my experiences, I have the the FG 830X & the FSX 800- C & they are both excellent guitar's ( I had never heard of the L series before) however a partially damaged LJXC came into my sight, brought it and Wow, a very subtle difference in tone, ( L series = Luxury, apparently-- I checked the Yamaha w/site) in a nutshell, maybe just a bit more depth & the Adirondack top gives a Slightly different enhancement to the overall tone. Well worth the price- with not much work to bring it up to scratch 😊😊😊
Excellent! You have a whole family there. Glad to hear it. I just played an LL-TA that was big and bold and hard to put down. Very strong tones and a deep growl to it which I loved. I didn't plug it in, but it was a charmer acoustically and the volume was equally loud up and down the neck. Thanks for the note, cheers!
The D'Addario lights are the way to go especially if the action is high you can just tweak the truss rod like you did and the strings will sit in the nut and the bridge better than the thicker strings
I played mediums for years but lights are just fine to me, especially if you're playing acoustic only. It's a lot on the hands/arms.
@@jasonvalcourt definitely
Nice review. I have a few older Yamaha FGs, all with 2" string spacing. I was able to widen the spacing to 2 1/8" by putting in a new saddle and carving a slight notch for each string to "stretch" the spacing. Seems to hold up okay, but I'm not a finger style player so YMMV.
Hey, thanks! Older Yamaha's have a fond place in my heart. Nice work with the saddle, why not! Did you widen at the nut as well? Cheers!
I left the nut as is. Check out an old FG-75, I think you'd like it, ladder braced. My first guitar and probably my favorite, makes me wonder why I'm always in the market for another guitar.
Nice. Tx, will do. I've seen them around. Had a similar old Fender F-15 for a minute and it had a really nice sound. I imagine the 75 could be nicer. Strange how we do that isn't it, cheers!
I recently bought the FS 850 and love the tone & look. But yes transitioning from an FG to FS is challenging . I imagine it's annoying for those with larger fingers.
Great content, thank you.
Excellent! I'd been searching the local used market for months with no luck on the 850, but that's a good sign to me. Good choice to go with the mahogany, I hope it keeps inspiring your playing. Yeah, the transition part is rough, but after playing a while it was easy to forget/adjust, at least, enough to just kick back and enjoy without being bothered much. Overall, I think they are great guitars already and will definitely have in mind to recommend at that price point. Thank you!
@@jasonvalcourt I'm in a place where I can't play several guitars I like to make a choice of one. Would you be able to offer any advice please. I've watched reviews & listened with good earphones but I still can't decide.
Yamaha FGX3, FGX5, LL16, Epiphone J45. The Taylor Academy 12e plays like a dream but lacks the bass I'd like.
Watching your vids I love what you did with the Yamaha FG850 & wonder if I should just settle for that. It's probably enough. I don't like guitars that are too crisp, or bright. However ease of playability is important. Slinky & easy to fret.
I hope you have time to answer but understand if you don't.
What a great problem to have today, fun stuff! Great selection, hard to go wrong...and a really hard question to answer. Out of all of these I have only played the FGX3, the 850 and a 2021 J45. Assuming a good set up can make any of these guitars play like a dream? my personal inclination is to narrow it down to the LL16 and FGX5 if you want to spend up, and the FG850 if you don't. Most appealing to me at the moment would be an LL16 and get a K&K mini installed if you plan to plug in. But, if you like your FS850 for that mellow mahogany-ness, I think you have a good example of what its big brother the FG850 will be like tonally as opposed to the spruce tops on the FGX5 and LL16. Other folks may be able to add opinions as more qualified tastemakers. And then there's the dream situation (queue the dream sequence): I could see you making a weekend trip somewhere to play them all and go home with one. Guitar fantasy! I hope this helps. Thanks for asking my opinion. Enjoy the search and that FS850!
@@jasonvalcourt thank you so much. I do value your opinion. You come across as honest & objective. Keep up the great playing & lutherie. I'm really enjoying your channel & learning a lot.
Excellent, thanks so much!
This is really really helpful. Now I know what guitar to purchase. Thanks alot 🤝
Awesome!
I have the Alvarez Regent 5225 with D'Addario lights definitely is not boxy sound but that one's a dreadnought I think the scalloped bracing on the Yamaha makes the difference on your guitars even though they're the same size the dreadnoughts are so big so I'm in the market for the orchestra size with the fs800 on my mind
Nice, we evidently both enjoy Alvarez and Yamahas. The FS is a really nice size to have if you're looking smaller than a dread. In another price tier, I still have a FS5 that I played last year on my mind but I'm just dreaming at this time, cheers!
@jasonvalcourt I'm a new subscriber and love the content
The FS800 has string spacing of 2.0 " at the bridge, crazy narrow. You manage it fine. It's not good for beginners though, unless they have tiny hands. Good playing :)
Much appreciated!
I bought the strings for my FS 800 you told me about. an just put them on and tune?
Excellent, yes, I hope the sound great.
I’m learning and I bought the same guitar as it sounded great at the store to my ear.
I was wondering if the Fs820 would sound even better.
Also wondering if I upgraded the saddle & nut to bone if that would make a noticeable difference.
Was great to hear you play.
I believe, and I could be wrong, but the FS820 is the same guitar with different color binding and maybe a more fancy inlays. The 800 has black biding. The 820 white.
Saddle material is a subtle game.
Much appreciated!
Who makes the picks you use?
Plastic Dunlop thumb pick and Stainless Steel Dunlop fingerpicks .020 thickness.
This video convinced me to buy one of these, thanks! Does the one in this video have the original saddle and nut? I saw a few other people recommend switching out the saddle and nut for a bone saddle and bone nut, would you recommend this?
Awesome, I hope you like it! This has the original (Urea) nut and saddle. It would be a totally preferential change that is extremely subjective in my opinion. Personally, I like what I get out of bone. To my ears it has a more chaulky, or biting tone that I enjoy. But there's nothin lacking in the stock nut and saddle in my opinion and some find it hard to even decipher a difference. Some hear a huge difference.
You could just have the string spacing adjusted. I did it to mine, was easy.
@randombrutalttv Nice. I opted to leave it alone but that would take care of pretty much the only feature I'd change. Great guitars!
What strings did you put on it?
@@nashie16 D'Addario EJ16
@jasonvalcourt Thanks mate. Also, you said in your description you had it adjusted. What did you have done? Sorry for the dumb questions, I just bought this as my first guitar and know nothing.
Hmmm, I'm not sure what I meant, but maybe the action at the nut or a truss rod adjustment. Basic things, but if yours doesn't play right, see about getting a setup, cheers!
@jasonvalcourt thank you!
@nashie16 you bet!
Can you give me the Brand and specs on the Strings you put on youres? It sounds Amazing.
Sure! They are D'Addario EJ16 - Lights .012 - .053
Thanks , i am 62 and just starting to learn. I need all the help I can get.I bought one of these on line, should be here tomorrow. @@jasonvalcourt
Amazing.
Much appreciated!