Yamaha FG800 and new FG800J are different - how?

sublro · #1 10-18-2023, 08:54 AM

stumbled on this when i unexpectedly came home from GC with an FG800J - all i knew at the time was it sounded so good i couldn't pass it up for the price. Here's some cool stuff i didn't understand - and thought i'd share cuz it's confusing...

- made in indonesia - but fit and finish are same as the chinese ones

- new ever-so-slightly smaller dread shape - Yamaha calls it "folk" size - but it's almost indistinguishable from dread - careful comparison does show it's a hair smaller
- short (25") scale

the upshot is smaller body and scale give it a very punchy warm sound. different from fullsize longscale dreads including fg800

I put a compensated TUSQ saddle on to true up the intonation and wake up the tone just a bit and it sounds AMAZING - will be great for recording rhythm parts - and for $229 yagottabekiddingme!

NBMgreg · #2 10-18-2023, 09:21 AM

Fg800 has a 25.5” scale length. As far as I’m aware, that’s the only difference. I have a FGC-TA, FG body with a cutaway and transacoustic system and I love it, fun guitars

Ralph124C41 · #3 10-18-2023, 09:31 AM

Why the "J" designation then if it is slightlly smallerr? At first I thought it was a larger guitar with the "J" meaning it was a jumbo or a mini-jumbo ... but it seems as it is headed in a different (smaller) direction.

jonbee · #4 10-18-2023, 10:26 AM

Interesting. Yes, the FG, FS series Yamahas are ridiculous values at their prices.
If my fS830 had a 1 3/4" nut I'd still have it for practicing and knockaround use.

sublro · #5 10-18-2023, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbee

If my fS830 had a 1 3/4" nut I'd still have it for practicing and knockaround use.

same - wish they would widen the necks just a bit

YamahaGuy · #6 10-18-2023, 08:14 PM

The J model is made in Indonesia. Non - J designated models are made in China. That's it.

sublro · #7 10-19-2023, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

The J model is made in Indonesia. Non - J designated models are made in China. That's it.

hey there, yamahaguy! actually, read above, significant differences

YamahaGuy · #8 10-19-2023, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sublro

hey there, yamahaguy! actually, read above, significant differences

https://shop.usa.yamaha.com/en/p/ins...coustic-guitar

Only major difference I see is the scale length.

Mirosh · #9 10-20-2023, 10:34 AM

The Yamaha catalog says the FG800J has rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The FG800 I bought at Guitar Center in March 2020 has a walnut fingerboard; the guitar is not here now and I am not sure of the bridge, but think it's rosewood..

I think the switch to walnut was a cost-cutting measure - not sure just when it started, and if it applied to all FG800s or just the special darker than natural color that GC had at that time. That color appealed to me, and the guitar sounded better to me than an FG830 and several more expensive guitars I played that day. It still is a pleasure to pick up and play.

brancher · #10 10-20-2023, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sublro

same - wish they would widen the necks just a bit

Me, too. The AC3M dlx I had was stellar and cheap (but I couldn't get o with the nut width...).

I love the idea of a short-scaled slightly smaller dread..... Guess this is to compete with the J45 Studio or maybe the Martin D-16e? As I get a little stiffer, I truly enjoy playing my two 25" oms

Mirosh · #11 10-20-2023, 11:23 AM

Widen the neck, or would more E-to-e space do (some or all of) the trick? I just put a new unbleached bone nut on my AC1R Yamaha that has 37.50mm spacing, compared to the original 35.77.

The brand is LYWSMSK, it's called "for YMH LL and A series..."

Retired1 · #12 03-09-2024, 08:28 AM

I see the online retailors have lowered the price to $199 - wonder if they are dumping them - if so why ?

Ralph124C41 · #13 03-09-2024, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retired1

I see the online retailors have lowered the price to $199 - wonder if they are dumping them - if so why ?

Which retailer? Which guitar model?

Hamdad · #14 03-09-2024, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retired1

I see the online retailors have lowered the price to $199 - wonder if they are dumping them - if so why ?

Yep, lowered the price to $200 a couple of weeks after I bought my FG800j. I still think it was well worth it at $230.

gurroz · #15 03-09-2024, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

https://shop.usa.yamaha.com/en/p/ins...coustic-guitar

Only major difference I see is the scale length.

The Yamaha website lists several differences, some good, some not so good. The string spacing on the J is 10mm v 11mm on non-J models. B/S nato/Okoume on the Non-J v Nato/Mohagony on J models. The fingerboards are different as well.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musi...l#product-tabs