Let's try this again

[Chas007]

My last poll did me very little good. I ruled out all mahogany, but mahogany back/sides and rosewood back/sides were virtually tied. And now that poll has moved off the first page so I don't hold out much hope for its guidance.

This poll asks for your vote for which of these guitars you would purchase. As you can tell I'm a Yamaha guy, but I could be persuaded otherwise if it's in my price range of real close to 1k.

I have listened to several YouTube videos and I just can't seem to love the rosewood sound. The warmer mahogany just seems to be what a guitar should sound like to me, if that makes sense. I did however put a rosewood in the poll because the voting in my last poll was only separated between the two by 3 votes.

So now vote for one of these or steer me in another direction.

Thanks for your help. I'm so indecisive!

[Dru Edwards]

Great guitars Chas. As soon as the FG5 / FS5 are in stock I'm looking to buy one. At this point my research makes me think I'd prefer the tone of the FG5 because it's a dread and I like that big tone but the FS5 may be more comfortable on the shoulder.

Here in Canada both of those guitars are $1650 (+15% tax). I have both bookmarked in my browser to check shipping dates but nothing.

[SpruceTop]

Also, please consider the Yamaha Red Label FGX5 for an amplified solution.

[Gordon Currie]

Life is too short to let other people make important decisions for you.

Your ears have already told you something important - that you don't care for the rosewood guitars you have heard.

Own it! You LIKE the mahogany, so buy that. Someday, you might find you like rosewood more than today. Buy the rosewood THEN, not today.

Buying something you think you SHOULD enjoy when you don't is setting yourself up for major disappointment.

(My own ears tell me that mahogany does not work for ME, even though I often like it in other guitarist's hands. So it has been off my list for 30+ years.)

[Ds114]

I have an FSX5 for 6 months and play it almost every day - as much as my Martin and Taylor, combined. Since I removed the pickguard it has been perfect.

I am thinking about getting one of the new Epi IBG Hummingbirds or an FG5, so that is how I voted.

[Chas007]

Originally Posted by Gordon Currie

Life is too short to let other people make important decisions for you.

Yes, if rosewood wins I would just give it a better listen and maybe even try to play one in person, which would mean traveling about 1-1/2 hrs one way to do so.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Chas007

Yes, if rosewood wins I would just give it a better listen and maybe even try to play one in person, which would mean traveling about 1-1/2 hrs one way to do so.

Worth the drive, Chas. Make a day trip out of it. Take some backroads and see the country.

[Zexxor]

Originally Posted by Chas007

Thanks for your help. I'm so indecisive!

I would vote for the FS3 if it were an option.

[Birchtop]

Of those choices I voted Japanese

[riorider]

I'd go for the 5. I have an FSX5 so didn't vote. The electronics are surprisingly excellent - at least as good as any others I've had.

Mahogany vs Rosewood - if you don't immediately have a leaning... I found that any rosewood family had too much "bloom" (overtones) for the accompaniment through inexpensive PAs and amps I was playing. When I opted for mahogany I was able to play without the muddy sounds of the rosewoods.

However.... if you are playing solo guitar (no vocal accompaniment) and/or through excellent sound reinforcement (or live un-amplified) a good rosewood will fill out the tonal spectrum and be much more interesting and rich sounding.

Choose wisely grasshopper...

Best,
Phil

[rokdog49]

I have no clue...never played any of them.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Birchtop

Of those choices I voted Japanese

I did too.

[leew3]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

I have no clue...never played any of them.

so buy the J 45 then right?

[Prahanien]

I kept looking and looking and looking but I didn’t see the FS5. Must be an error on your part

[jcpharm]

i would've voted FSX5 if it were an option, but i voted FGX3. the electronics would be important to me but if not to you, then FG5 is the right way to go.