You’re weighing two beginner-friendly Yamaha dreadnoughts and want to know what really separates them. The FG700 and the FG800 sit one step apart in the same family.
The differences are small but real. Bracing, neck shape, and finish are where this one gets decided.
Scalloped bracing and a slightly slimmer neck arrive on the FG800. It also throws in a black finish option that the FG700 doesn’t carry.
This article lines up build, playability, tone, and looks for both acoustics. First, a little context on where these two fit in Yamaha’s long-running FG line.
Quick Comparison
| Category | Yamaha FG700 | Yamaha FG800 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Solid Sitka spruce | Solid Sitka spruce | Tie |
| Bracing | Standard | Scalloped, more resonance | Yamaha FG800 |
| Neck | Standard profile | Slightly slimmer and rounder | Yamaha FG800 |
| Finishes | Natural | Adds a black option | Yamaha FG800 |
| Tone | Set the budget standard | More depth and definition | Yamaha FG800 |
| Value | A great used buy | The easy pick new | Depends |
| Overall | The original benchmark | The improved successor | Yamaha FG800 |
Yamaha FG700 vs FG800: A Quick Background
The FG Series quickly exploded in popularity thanks to a superb balance of playability, sound, and build quality, and it became a bestseller. Not ones to rest on their laurels, Yamaha continually updates the line with new models packing better features.
Two of the more recent additions are the FG700 and the FG800, both part of the wider Yamaha acoustic guitar family.
Yamaha uses a relatively simple naming system compared to other manufacturers. The “FG” initials stand for “folk guitar,” traditionally defined as a small-to-midsize acoustic.
The numbers represent successive iterations in the family, so the FG800 is effectively the next chapter after the FG700.
Yamaha FG700: Setting the Standard in Tone
At 16 and 11 inches across the lower bout and waist respectively, the FG700 looks like any other dreadnought. This isn’t your average entry-level dread, though.
It boasts a solid Sitka spruce top. With that comes more resonance potential, and you can hardly tell that the rest of the body is made of laminate Nato.
The neck, topped with a rosewood fretboard and small fret inlays, is also a Nato piece. It’s attached to the body via a dovetail joint, a welcome break from the bolt-ons we’re used to seeing at this price tier.
The body is held together with non-scalloped X-bracing, with an unobtrusive multi-ringed rosette surrounding the soundhole. The rosette combines with a chocolate pickguard and natural wood finish to create a stately look.
A plastic nut and saddle still remind you this is a mass-produced instrument, but the FG700 is about as classy as you’ll find in this range.
It plays even better than it looks. The action is set just taut enough to retain intonation, with no buzzing or rattling on the strings, but not so high that each chord costs a fingertip.
It’s well balanced for both soft picking and hard strumming. Yamaha also slimmed down the neck significantly to allow for an easy grasp, the size of your hands notwithstanding.
If you crave a faster-feeling neck, lightly rubbing the back of the glossy neck with a Scotch-Brite pad knocks down the shine and reduces friction without harming the finish.
Of course, volume and projection are what you’re really after in a guitar this size, and the solid soundboard delivers. The sound is meaty and very well defined.
There’s enough clarity that you can tone it down to a whisper without losing any detail. Overall, the FG700 is surprisingly versatile and refined for a unit meant to provide a stepping stone toward more expensive guitars.
Key specs for the FG700:
- Dreadnought non-cutaway body with six steel strings
- Non-scalloped X bracing
- 25.6-inch scale, 20 frets with dot inlays
- Die-cast chrome tuners
Yamaha FG800: Building Upon a Legacy
Updating an already successful design isn’t as easy as most people think. You’ve to walk a fine line between changing too little, and getting accused of complacency, and making wholesale changes that risk ruining the whole thing.
That Yamaha has navigated this tricky balance for five decades is impressive.
With the FG800, Yamaha stuck with the solid spruce top and Nato back, sides, and neck, along with the rosewood fingerboard. However, the neck has been slimmed down further, and the fretboard edges are more rounded for an even better grip.
Yamaha also ditched the standard bracing in favor of scalloped supports for improved resonance. The other notable change is in the finish options: while the FG700 was only available in a natural gloss finish, its successor can be had in black, with a black pickguard nicely complementing its character.
Other than that, the FG800 keeps its older sibling’s deep hourglass dreadnought body, so the core tone stays largely unchanged. The difference afforded by the scalloped bracing won’t be lost on you once you start strumming, though.
The sound now has more depth and definition in the low and mid ranges, but with the same sublime overall balance. Retaining the DNA of its elders while adding an enhanced sonic character, the FG800 is well poised to take over from where the FG700 left off.
A couple of practical notes round out the picture. The nut measures 43 mm wide, which keeps fretting hand stretches manageable on more intricate chords, and like the FG700 the body is built in Yamaha’s China factory using laminated nato/okoume for the back and sides.
One thing to budget for on either guitar is a setup: both ship with fairly high string action out of the box, which can challenge newcomers building finger strength. Having a tech adjust the truss rod and saddle brings the action down to where chords feel effortless.
Key specs for the FG800:
- Dreadnought non-cutaway body, 6 steel strings
- Scalloped bracing
- Fretboard radius: 15.74 inches
- 25.5-inch scale, 20 frets
- Die-cast chrome tuning machines
If you’re weighing other Yamaha options, it’s also worth reading our FG800 vs FS800 comparison.
How the FG700 and FG800 Compare
Both guitars share the same DNA, so the choice comes down to a handful of meaningful upgrades. The table below sums up where they differ.
| Feature | Yamaha FG700 | Yamaha FG800 |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Solid Sitka spruce | Solid spruce |
| Back and sides | Laminate Nato | Laminate Nato |
| Bracing | Non-scalloped X bracing | Scalloped bracing |
| Neck | Slim Nato neck | Slimmer neck, rounded fretboard edges |
| Scale length | 25.6 inches | 25.5 inches |
| Finish options | Natural gloss only | Natural and black |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
In practice, the FG800 edges out the FG700 on resonance thanks to its scalloped bracing, with more depth and definition in the lows and mids. The slimmer neck and rounded fretboard edges also give it a slight comfort advantage, especially for newer players or those with smaller hands.
The extra black finish option is a bonus if you prefer a moodier look over the classic natural gloss.
That said, the differences are evolutionary rather than dramatic. The FG700 remains a genuinely refined, well-balanced dreadnought that handles soft picking and hard strumming with equal ease.
If you find one at a good price, you aren’t missing out on anything essential.
Availability is the other practical factor. The FG800 is the current model, so it’s easy to find brand new with a warranty, whereas the FG700 has been phased out and now turns up mostly on the used market.
If you’re buying new today, the FG800 is the natural pick. If you stumble on a clean, well-priced FG700, it’s still well worth grabbing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the FG800 worth more than the FG700?
For most players, yes. The scalloped bracing gives the FG800 a noticeably richer low and mid response, and the slimmer, rounder neck is a touch more comfortable.
Those upgrades make it the easy pick when both are sold new at similar prices.
If you can find a used or discounted FG700, however, the gap is small enough that the savings may be worth it. Both are excellent value for the money.
What does scalloped bracing actually do?
Scalloped bracing means the internal wooden braces under the top are shaved down in certain spots, leaving less mass on the soundboard. This lets the top vibrate more freely, which translates into greater resonance, volume, and warmth.
On the FG800, the result is more depth and definition in the low and mid ranges compared to the FG700’s stiffer non-scalloped X bracing.
Are these guitars good for beginners?
Both are among the most beginner-friendly dreadnoughts available. The action is set low enough that chords are comfortable to fret without buzzing, and the slim necks suit smaller or less experienced hands.
The solid spruce top also means the tone holds up as your playing improves.
Between the two, the FG800’s slightly slimmer neck and rounded fretboard edges give it a small edge for newcomers.
Can the high action be fixed?
Easily. High string action straight out of the box is the most common complaint about these budget dreadnoughts, and it’s a simple fix.
A guitar technician can lower the action by adjusting the truss rod and saddle in a standard setup, which makes either guitar noticeably more comfortable to fret. Budget for that small adjustment and both play beautifully.
What’s the difference between Yamaha’s FG and FS series?
The FG and FS series share much of the same hardware and tonewoods, but they use different body shapes. FG models are full-size dreadnoughts, while FS models have a smaller concert-style body that some players find more comfortable to hold.
Our FG800 vs FS800 comparison covers this in more detail.
Final Thoughts
For decades, manufacturers of musical instruments pushed the belief that entry-level guitars could either be user-friendly or sound good, but not both. Yamaha overwhelmingly dispelled that notion with the FG Series.
These guitars ticked all the crucial boxes and were priced very agreeably, and beyond being a stepping stone for aspiring guitarists, the FG line has become an industry icon.
Both the FG700 and FG800 are testament to the company’s drive to improve and refine its lineup for beginner and experienced players alike. The FG700 came first, a solidly built guitar that handled neatly and adapted to various genres and playing styles.
The FG800 sticks to the same recipe while bringing a few notable improvements to the design.
It’s fair to say most people would be better off picking the FG800. But if you prefer to keep things a little old-school, you can’t go wrong with the FG700 either.
Either way, you’re getting a dreadnought that punches well above its price.
