You’re after a first acoustic that sounds good and doesn’t cost a fortune. Two Yamahas keep showing up on your list: the F335 and the FG800.
They look like the same guitar at a glance. The split shows up in the top wood, which is the part most new buyers skip right past.
The F335 tops out with laminated spruce. The FG800 moves to a solid top, and that single choice shapes how each guitar opens up as it ages.
We’ll line up how they’re built, how they feel, what they cost, and how they sound across both budget acoustics. Then we’ll get straight to which one earns your money.
Quick Comparison
| Category | Yamaha F335 | Yamaha FG800 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Laminated spruce | Solid Sitka spruce | Yamaha FG800 |
| Back and sides | Meranti | Nato | Tie |
| Tone | Bright, doesn't sound cheap | Fuller and more resonant | Yamaha FG800 |
| Neck | Narrow, small-hand friendly | Standard, action runs high | Yamaha F335 |
| Weight | Light and portable | A bit more guitar | Yamaha F335 |
| Price | The cheapest entry | Still under $200 | Yamaha F335 |
| Overall | Tightest budgets and travel | The better-sounding step up | Yamaha FG800 |
Yamaha F335 vs FG800: The Quick Verdict
The main difference between the Yamaha F335 and the Yamaha FG800 is the materials used to build each guitar. The F335 is made from meranti with a laminated spruce top, while the FG800 uses nato back and sides with a solid Sitka spruce top.
Because they use different woods, they sound slightly different, with the FG800 delivering a richer, fuller tone for a bit more money.
Below is a more detailed comparison of the Yamaha F335 and FG800 dreadnought acoustic guitars.
The Build of the Guitars
Japanese manufacturing of instruments is widely respected worldwide, and Yamaha lives up to that expectation. Even though these two models aren’t made from premium materials, the build quality is solid and they genuinely provide excellent value for money.
Yamaha F335 Construction
For the Yamaha F335, the top is made from laminated spruce, while the back and the neck are made from meranti with a rosewood fingerboard. The body is a combination of both kinds of wood.
There are different color variants to choose from, including Natural, Black, and Tobacco Sunburst, so you can pick a style that suits you best. You can use the guitar for regular practice knowing that it’ll perform like a trooper, and it also has smooth gold die-cast tuners.
Yamaha FG800 Construction
The Yamaha FG800 is a step up in build quality because it features a solid Sitka spruce top instead of laminated wood. The back and the sides are made from nato wood.
It also features scalloped bracing for good strength and balanced sound, plus die-cast tuners. You’ll find rosewood at the bridge and a rosewood fingerboard on both models.
As for the finishing, the FG800 only came in natural color at first, but other variants are now available. Move up to the F820 or the F830 if you want more color options.
The F820 has a mahogany back, while the F830 uses rosewood.
The Tone and Sound Quality
These guitars are dreadnoughts, so they tend to have a rich and deep sound that can fill a large room. Despite having laminated wood for the top, the F335 doesn’t sound cheap.
It still provides the bright tone associated with spruce. You can enjoy excellent resonance, but you can also produce mellow notes when you need to.
Advanced players who have tried premium guitars may find it lacking in some areas, but beginners will probably not notice. It’s good enough, and you can make it even better by replacing the strings.
The FG800 won’t disappoint you with its power. Thanks to its loudness, it’s an excellent choice for practice in your room and performance in a small venue.
This particular model comes from a long line of entry-level guitars from Yamaha and is actually in the 8th generation, so imagine all of the improvements made along the way. Many guitars have an excellent high-frequency response, but this one also nails the lows and mids.
It isn’t every day that you run into a model with such an impressive tone under $200. It punches above its weight and is versatile enough to handle both fingerpicking and strumming.
The Feel and Playability
Another thing to love about the Yamaha F335 is its narrow neck. If you’ve small hands, thick necks get in the way and force you to strain when reaching the fretboard.
Even those with large hands sometimes prefer narrow necks just for playability. It almost feels like using an electric guitar, as you can go up and down the frets with ease.
Of course, it’s still not the same because of the different feel and sound, but you can bridge the gap further by using friendlier strings with a lighter gauge.
As for the FG800, the neck has a matte finish and a compound profile. It’s thin and flat near the body, so you can easily play it, and it becomes more rounded near the head, which feels good in the hand.
However, some players might find the action too high for their taste, which requires greater force on the strings to make contact with the board. Beginners who haven’t yet developed good finger strength might find it challenging at first until they get used to it, though they can also adjust the action to make it lower.
Just note that high action has its perks, too, like fewer worries about fret buzz. Some might need to tune the strings, while others swear it sounds great out of the box.
The Performance and Value
Another notable thing about the Yamaha F335 is that it’s lightweight and easy to carry. If you’re looking for something cheap and portable to bring on long drives, camping trips, or school sessions, then this could be the guitar for you.
You might be able to find a bargain online for just a little over $100. It might be super cheap, but it won’t sound that way.
Practice every day and you’ll impress those around you with how great you sound. This guitar could be your gateway to bigger things ahead.
The FG800 is a bit more expensive than the F335, but it’s still under $200. With the solid spruce top and the scalloped design, this guitar has better sound quality worth the added cost.
It can grow with you from your first few chords until you become a songwriter and performer in your local scene. Yamaha’s excellent construction means it can last for years, so you can save up for a professional-level guitar in the meantime.
You might even want to invest in a trip to a luthier to have your guitar optimized.
How the Yamaha F335 and FG800 Compare
So we’ve looked at the build, tone, feel, and value of each guitar. Here’s how they stack up head to head.
| Feature | Yamaha F335 | Yamaha FG800 |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Laminated spruce | Solid Sitka spruce |
| Back and sides | Meranti | Nato |
| Bracing | Standard | Scalloped |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Tone | Bright, decent resonance | Fuller, strong lows and mids |
| Neck | Narrow, easy to play | Matte, compound profile |
| Price | Around $100+ | Under $200 |
For raw affordability and portability, the F335 wins. It’s lighter, cheaper, and its narrow neck makes it friendly for small hands or anyone moving over from electric guitar.
It’s the better grab-and-go practice instrument.
For tone and longevity, the FG800 pulls ahead. The solid spruce top and scalloped bracing give it a richer, fuller voice that handles fingerpicking and strumming, and it’s built to grow with you for years.
If you can stretch the budget, the FG800 is the more rewarding long-term choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Yamaha FG800 worth the extra money over the F335?
For most players, yes. The FG800’s solid Sitka spruce top and scalloped bracing deliver a fuller, more resonant tone that the laminated-top F335 can’t quite match, and it stays under $200.
If you’re buying your very first guitar on the tightest possible budget, the F335 is still a great value. But if you plan to keep playing, the FG800 is the upgrade worth making.
Are these guitars good for complete beginners?
Both are excellent beginner guitars. The F335 is lightweight with a narrow neck that’s easy on small or developing hands, making it forgiving for first-timers.
The FG800 has slightly higher action out of the box, which can take some finger strength to get used to, but the action can be lowered. Either model will serve a beginner well for years.
What’s the difference between laminated and solid spruce tops?
A laminated top, like the one on the F335, is made of thin layers of wood pressed together, which keeps costs low and resists humidity changes. A solid top, like the FG800’s Sitka spruce, is a single piece of wood that vibrates more freely.
Solid tops generally produce richer tone and can open up and sound even better as the guitar ages, which is a key reason the FG800 sounds fuller.
Should I upgrade to the F820 or F830 instead?
The F820 and F830 are worth a look if you want more color options or different tonewoods. The F820 features a mahogany back, which adds warmth, while the F830 uses rosewood for more sparkle and projection.
If your priority is the best balance of price and tone, the FG800 remains the sweet spot, but these models are reasonable steps up.
Final Thoughts
In comparing the Yamaha F335 and FG800, it’s clear that both are decent beginner options in a similar price range for anyone wanting a quality entry-level guitar on a tight budget. They may not be perfect, but they provide excellent value for money.
The FG800 has better materials than the F335 and a fuller tone, so it’s the one to choose if your budget allows.
The right pick comes down to your goals. Grab the F335 if you want the cheapest, lightest, most portable practice guitar, and step up to the FG800 if you want a guitar that’ll grow with you as a player.
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