Yamaha FG820-12 Natural 12-String Acoustic Guitar

There is a point of quality when an instrument reaches when it stops being seen as "better or worse" but rather just a different flavor. This Yamaha has reached that point. You can play it alongside a guitar costing 5x more and it stands up well. Yamaha is also one of those rare companies with a long history of top quality across all kinds of products, and guitars are an area Yamaha knows well. This is just a beautiful guitar through and throughout. You can get beautiful uncompromisingly great studio recordings with this guitar. Hitting the low strings hard with strumming gives a nice deep and rich tone. Also, the hardware / tuners are nice.

Overall:I'm a bit shocked by how good this guitar is. I had been looking for a starter guitar to get for my nephew, and wanted to get the best I could find. I had read tons of great reviews about the fg8XX series guitars, but was a little worried about string spacing, since I had tried out an AC3R whose spacing was too tight for comfortable fingerpicking. They both have a 1 & 11/16 inch nut, but there seems to be a big difference in the pin spacing at the bridge, because the FG830 strings feel much wider spaced, and very comfortable to fingerpick (I learned on a wide S&P6 that is 1 & 3/4).The sound is incredible. It's not just a great sound for a starter guitar, it's a great sound for a guitar, period. More like a starter 'gigging quality' guitar. I was expecting a ... MoreOverall:I'm a bit shocked by how good this guitar is. I had been looking for a starter guitar to get for my nephew, and wanted to get the best I could find. I had read tons of great reviews about the fg8XX series guitars, but was a little worried about string spacing, since I had tried out an AC3R whose spacing was too tight for comfortable fingerpicking. They both have a 1 & 11/16 inch nut, but there seems to be a big difference in the pin spacing at the bridge, because the FG830 strings feel much wider spaced, and very comfortable to fingerpick (I learned on a wide S&P6 that is 1 & 3/4).The sound is incredible. It's not just a great sound for a starter guitar, it's a great sound for a guitar, period. More like a starter 'gigging quality' guitar. I was expecting a weak and thin sound for the price, but it has a surprisingly growly Martin-like bass to complement a really well-balanced and modern sounding tone. Incredible sound for a guitar with laminate back and sides rather than solid wood. This guitar is staying with me now, lol. I'll have to get my nephew another FG830 for his birthday (still half a year away).

Buying a (12-string) guitar during isolating lockdown was an anxious affair. You can’t see it, hear it nor feel if it’s right for you. So you rely on reviews, accurate descriptions & specs, lots of photos & vids (keeping in mind a good guitarist can make a broom sound great on video...) and a little luck.Chose the FG820 (12) based on my budget/ price, listed build materials, quality, sound (indirectly) and +tv reviews. Reliability of my old Yamaha CPX5 acoustic also contributed. Some of the competition came with pickups, accessories & case for a similar price, but used all-laminates. Opted to pass on such extras in hope of a better sounding guitar.Took plunge and ordered via PMT’s website on 25JAN2021, without hitch. Guitar arrived midday 27th in a large cardboard ... MoreBuying a (12-string) guitar during isolating lockdown was an anxious affair. You can’t see it, hear it nor feel if it’s right for you. So you rely on reviews, accurate descriptions & specs, lots of photos & vids (keeping in mind a good guitarist can make a broom sound great on video...) and a little luck.Chose the FG820 (12) based on my budget/ price, listed build materials, quality, sound (indirectly) and +tv reviews. Reliability of my old Yamaha CPX5 acoustic also contributed. Some of the competition came with pickups, accessories & case for a similar price, but used all-laminates. Opted to pass on such extras in hope of a better sounding guitar.Took plunge and ordered via PMT’s website on 25JAN2021, without hitch. Guitar arrived midday 27th in a large cardboard outer box. Inside was a Yamaha box (+guitar) and lots of shock-absorbing air bags. Some compression damage to inner box at headstock end but happily guitar intact with no visible damage.Unpacked, guitar looks well made for mass-produced item. Surfaces well finished, no visible cracks or blemishes, bindings are sound, neck is smooth & playable with no sharp or uneven frets, solid build/ nothing loose.One issue I had was busting both B-strings during Standard tune-up even tho’ taking my time (the thinner G was fine). Both Bs went at the saddle, which is longitudinally notched for the Bs and maybe cut a bit too sharp? Frustratingly, had to order & wait for new strings.Note to PMT: be great to throw in some spare strings?!Finally new strings on (no breaks) and tuned using correct frequency tones. The action is perfect @medium-low (tho some reviews spoke of nut & saddle alterations). Machine heads are holding Std tuning well. No early sign of any neck distortion (guitar comes with truss rod key for future adjustment).Best of all: it plays and sounds 12-string gorgeous - very happy with my FG820.