Best Solid Top Acoustic Guitar (Jan 2023 Update)

I bought this guitar to check out a budget friendly offering from Yamaha. I have to say I was not disappointed! Excellent tone and volume, the top really resonates. The guitar was really well setup right out of the box. It needed about 3/4 of a clockwise truss rod adjustment, no prob. Other than that it didn't need any fret dressing whatsoever. That's really impressive for a Chinese guitar. Heck even one of my Mexican Martins needed fret dressing out of the box! Also intonation was spot on and this also is important in your guitar. Very impressed with this guitar, intermediate/advanced feel but priced at a beginner budget. You won't regret picking one up, I assure you!Big Bone Murphy

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.Scott

I've owned many acoustics over the years, MANY, and this Yamaha is one of the best sounding I've ever owned. Went to GC just to check out a few lower end acoustics to pick up for jamming on, and tried almost every one in the room. Picked this one up last just before I was ready to leave, and immediately was blown away by the sound and playability, brought a couple friends to listen and tell me which one they thought sounded the best, and hands down this won over all of them. It has the tone and warmth of a Martin D34, which I have owned a few, and it plays like a dream. The neck is so sliky smooth, easy to fly up and down with no effort. It has amazing sustain and beautiful tone, I fell in love with it and just couldn't put it down. I didn't expect a guitar of this price range to sound as good as it does, got it home and I couldn't put it down. Played for 4 hours straight, and even after trying to put it down to go to bed at 1am I found myself playing a for a few more minutes before I could actually go to sleep. Love this Yamaha more than any guitar I've bought in the last decade. The best thing about it is, It gave me the desire to pick up playing guitar again, after hardly touching any of my other guitars for almost a year it's the one I want to play more than all of them. Great guitar, wouldn't hesitate to buy another in a different color, if you want something that you won't be able to put down this baby has the sound and feel your looking for.Johnny D

I am a professional musician/songwriter (also a Berklee grad-1981). While guitar is not the principal instrument I was trained on (piano/keyboard are my primary), I have been playing guitar on and off since I was a teen back in the 1970s. However, over the last couple of years I've been putting a lot more dedicated practice time on improving my guitar skills for both for songwriting and solo guitar playing. I've been particularly focused mastering the layout of the guitar fretboard so I can put all my harmonic knowledge to work on the instrument, something I wish I did many years ago, but better late than never! I purchased this guitar because I wanted an instrument that was reasonable, easy to play, and enjoyable to listen to. I tried guitars in a variety of price ranges and was surprised at how much more I liked the F335 than guitars 2-3xs more costly. Although this guitar has a laminate rather than solid spruce top, it has a clear yet warm sound that I find really pleasing sonically. The fretboard is also very comfortable and easy to play which adds to the enjoyment of making music with it. I was so impressed with this instrument that I recently also purchased a Yamaha FS800 to use more for fingerstyle playing while using the F335 for flat picking. Those are a nice combination of instruments that cover all my guitar playing needs at this time. Regardless of what level you are playing I highly recommend this (and the FS800) for anyone looking for a very reasonable option that you can use for playing and songwriting.Scott F.

First of all, I own 2 Yamaha Guitars, the F335 being the first one I have owned. For an entry-level dred, you could not ask for a better quality, easy to play right out of the box, althought I would recommend a set-up with any instrument right out of the box with the addition of a bone saddle. Did this with this one and it brought its already rich tone to another level. I only give it 4 stars because I have owned a number of high-end instruments. If you are a brand new player, or one who is in the market just to have a dred to beat around with, look no further. This is the one for you.Chris

I purchased this guitar while it was on sale so can't really complain. There are several QC issues I would expect better from Yamaha even in a cheap imported product. Fit and overall build seems solid but there are odd finish issues that make no sense. At the neck joint there seems to be the remains of a tape line from the body to the neck all around the joint. This neck feels quite thin and comfortable but again, the finish is inconsistent. Just before the headstock, the finish goes from semi-gloss to mat in a very visible way that can also be felt in the hand. As I said in the beginning, cheap guitar, cheap price, hard to complain.Robert

Guitar required fretwork to eliminate buzzing on High E and B. B still buzzes will require that I make a new saddle. Wood and luthier work excellent except for too heavy finish.jlbriar

These are fine guitars, amazing that you can get a solid wood naturally aged Adirondack Red Spruce top with solid E.I Rosewood at such a reasonable price. I wonder how long they will be able to sell them at prices 1/4 or less then the big name brands. Fit and finish of this guitar was excellent as was the set-up with low action all the way up the fretboard and plenty of saddle extension.brightstar7

This 79 buck guitar was the biggest surprise ever! I really didn't expect much, and was having second thoughts after I placed the order. I bought the sunburst version on a SDOTD as a total impulse buy. I have several expensive acoustics, and I don't need a cheap guitar. But I have to say, this is a really nice instrument. The fit and finish is above average, with relatively smooth fret ends and a huge sound. The tuners, however inexpensive, work as intended and stay in tune. The sunburst finish is lovely, with only one small thumbnail scratch. The neck joint is well done, and the neck has a comfortable full feeling. Epiphone has improved the "E" symbol on the pickguard, it is made into the plastic, and not glued on and wanting to fall off like on the older Epiphones. The rosette appears to be painted on, but it looks good regardless. The bridge (rosewood) is solidly attached to the top, with no lifting or gaps. The body has a white plastic binding front and back that is well executed. The rosewood fretboard is attractive with nice grain. And the sound! This guitar has a huge, loud sound for a laminate guitar. Tomorrow I plan to replace the original strings with some quality mediums, which can only make it sound even better. One odd feature is a false truss rod cover, held in place with three wood screws. There is nothing under it! The access to the truss rod is inside the sound hole. I did have to remove some glue from around the truss rod adjusting nut inside the guitar. Quite frankly, the quality and sound of the Epiphone just blows me away! If I had to sell all of my other acoustics and only keep this one, I would be content. It's that good!JimmyJ

Overall: Normally I don't write reviews unless I stumble upon something exceptional, and this guitar is no doubt something else. I've been doing research over the past year to find my dream acoustic guitar, something that I'll cherish for a lifetime. I'll start off by sharing that I'm not an Ibanez guy per se, although I am a big fan of their craftsmanship for their electric guitars, I've mostly played HSS Stratocaster's before settling down to my Studio Les Paul. Up until now the only acoustics I've had were beater guitars, with the exception of a Luna Acoustic which was a gift I could never quite take to because of the small neck profile and scale. A few months ago I was lucky to run into an Ibanez AW54 Artwood (non electric, no cutaway) at a local guitar shop and was blown away by the sound and tone, it had the same richness and warmth as a mahogany Martin and Taylor (both cost over a grand) but with way better action and feel. At that moment I was sold. I needed to get the AW54CE.This morning I was pumped to find the guitar arrived after 2 days, free shipping. Even though the temp outside was 40 degrees (big concern), the guitar was well-packaged and insulated. Taking it out of the box I felt like a kid on Christmas. The pictures you'll find floating around the internet don't do this thing justice. Not one flaw or blemish anywhere to be found. And the one thing that shocked me the most, the neck and bridge needed absolutely zero adjustment. The action was flawless! There was already a battery inside, so after an hour of letting it acclimate, I just tuned it up and was absolutely floored by the tone. Holy crap. I still can't believe I can rip on this thing like my Les Paul, with no action set up whatsoever! I'm now sold on Ibanez products. The craftsmanship between the setup, the bridge, the special pins, tuning heads, attention to detail with the neck, I could go on forever. But I'll leave you with this. If you're in the market to drop a couple hundred on an acoustic, and you want QUALITY that will hopefully last you a lifetime, look no further. This is the guitar you've been dreaming of.Christopher

Having played bass for 28 years I never thought I'd actually enjoy playing an acoustic guitar. I grabbed this as a barley used guitar for my daughters to learn on. Even if they don't follow through and get tired of it, I'll keep it for myself. The wood and finish are what caught my eye, as the mahogany and ovangkol match my 1206E nicely. But I was blown away when I realized how good it sounded both unplugged and amplified. Aside from a minor cosmetic issue (glue in center of book matched top seam) it was WELL worth the price they were giving away this used acoustic. It still had the pickguard wrap on it! I can't wait to reveal it to the girls for Christmas. A beautiful sounding piece of eye candy. As long as I don't ever need the two-year protection plan, I think this might be the second best guitar investment I've ever made.Matthew

Great setup, amazing sound. Very satisfying and inspiring to play. It is worst campfire guitar ever… it is way better than you expect at this price. Looking for your first guitar? Buy this one. You will own it forever. There are better looking guitars at this price, but you will not beat the sound of the artwood.Delusional

I have owned a number of high-end 12 Strings. This Fender can hang with them and some Twice as expensive and more! It was perfectly set-up right out of the box. Great action and play-ability.I am still Impressed with this guitar especially at it's price point. The strings it came strung with were not for me. It is The one thing that I changed and it just made the sound POP, the voice INCREDIBLE and made the guitar even more impressive. The strings I used are the Martin Retro Monel Custom Lights. It opened a whole new sound for this guitar. I have owned this now over 4 months and am still awed. For a twelve string it holds its Tuning even when I am wailing and using my Dunlop Brass slide. You really cannot go wrong with this well built and great sounding Guitar! Don't wait if your looking, pull the trigger and BUY IT NOW! You will have NO regrets, and with AMS's great payment plans what more could you ask for?!?!?Spikeola

Things I like: -Noiseless pickups sound pretty close to regular single coils but without the annoying hum. They may not sound 100% as glassy as my Tele single coils, but if we're honest, very few people will notice the difference and the trade-off for quiet pickups is well worth it. -One volume and one master tone is user friendly like a Telecaster -Comfortable body and neck -Rotary switch adds a nice boost to get closer to Tele or p90 when needed Comments: -First time I tried out the rotary switch I thought it was kinda of dumb, but after setting it up, I think it is most valuable to add some thickness when the thinner Strat sounds needs a bit more. I like it now but still think the lower settings aren't truly necessary. Makes the neck pickup more suitable for jazz and gets the bridge close to a Tele. -After received, we tweaked it but adjusting the truss rod, filing the nut a bit for a couple strings, raising the pickups to the Fender specs (3.2mm), adjusting the rotary switch so when you turned it the knob would stop and not just keep spinning when you got to the end of the options. -Make sure you unplug the guitar from the amp or the battery will run down very quickly -Never owned a Pau Ferro fretboard before but it's very close to Rosewood. If you're on the fence, I wouldn't let it put you off. In the end, we've got a very usable, comfortable, versatile Strat that sounds great! If you are looking for a Stratocaster that can do Strat tones and can get close to Tele or even Les Paul (maybe a bit far on the Les Paul but again, close is the operative word–there is no ONE guitar) when needed, all with noise-free pickups, then this is a great choice.Steve

This is a fantastic guitar – it sounds beautiful and is really easy to play. Amazing value for money. I had an issue with my first order, and PMT were excellent with their customer service and everything got resolved perfectly within a day, and I received the guitar the following day. Thank you for the fantastic service.Melissa R.

. Now let me set the scene… I am a guitar lover (I can even play a little too) and a quality professional so My expectations are somewhat higher than most looking at this product. An absolutely beautiful instrument, this is my second SA360 and although they are no longer. Made in Japan, be assured they have not lost any of the build quality or attention to detail. The guitar was really well set up, is great to play, feels good in the hand and sounds the bee’s knee’s. If you are looking to start out in guitar playing get yourself an Ibanez Gio to start as a first upgrade from that, then the SA series is where you want to be at.Timbo

I didn't have high hopes for a guitar in this price point, but it has had rave reviews so I ordered one. When I unboxed it after about 5 hours, the very first thing that I noticed was the build quality. The neck set is absolutely perfect and the guitar is very nicely playable right out of the box. The finish on this guitar is superb. It is a Plain Jane but it's pleasing to the eye as a solid, well built guitar. It tuned up well and I played a couple of sets on it, and after one retune, it sang out quite nicely. The only change I will make to this guitar is changing the nut and the bridge to bone, since the plastic polymer just doesn't sustain like this guitar is capable of doing. The additional 50 dollar investment is well worth it, I would be comfortable playing this guitar anywhere, it's well worth the money, and it's easy to see why the reviews have been so good on it.Taylor W.

When the guitar arrived, I was not disappointed. The "sandburst" finish was fantastic–satin on the body, matte on the neck, which made playing a breeze. The fret work has no issues. The only change I will make is to have a tech file the nut grooves so the action is easier on the first fret; this is not uncommon with new guitars from any manufacturer. Other than that, the guitar is ideal. The bass response makes my fillings rattle (in a good way) and this guitar is loud when I need it to be. An important factor is this FG800 comes with a solid top spruce–this can't be emphasized enough. With laminate tops, you might get lucky with a decent tone, but the odds will be against you. A solid top will bring you closer to the sound you want. I don't believe in "beginner" guitars, which is another term for paying less in case you don't want to play the guitar later. If you're a guitar player, you'll know what you want. The FG800 passes for a quality guitar that will last your lifetime and that of the person you might bequeath it to.Dave

I’m impressed by the build and sound quality of this acoustic guitar! Easy to tune and play. I used to play on a Taylor GS mini (Koa) but couldn’t bring it with me when I moved to the UK. I was thinking about buying the same model here but they’re quite expensive and paying for international shipping to bring mine from my home country wouldn’t be cheaper as well. That’s when I saw online reviews of this Yamaha FG800 and decided to give it a shot. PMT shopping experience was very smooth and the delivery was very fast – next day. Couldn’t be happier! Now I have something to play after 6 months after moving. And it’s a good quality guitar.Victor T.

This guitar is beautiful! Its sound is superb. I tried a Fender guitar (concert-style, smaller body) at a local guitar store and I was not impressed. It sounded too bright. I was looking for a dreadnought style with no electronics, and since the only other one in the store was a cheap Fender for complete beginners, I searched online to find a better one. Alvarez seemed to me like a quality guitar brand with rave reviews, especially on this guitar. And let me tell you, those reviews are correct. The sound is unbelievable. One strum of a G chord and I was obsessed. Not bright at all. Its deep, warm, loud, smooth. The bass and highs balance out perfectly. If you are a beginner I highly recommend you spend the extra money over the cheaper Fender models. Its totally worth it. You will feel like a pro with a guitar that sounds this nice. If you are a seasoned musician, this is not a "cheap beginners guitar", its a bargain. You will feel like you stole it for this price. You will play it and stun your audience if you tell them how much you paid for it. The craftsmanship is also spectacular. The inlay is beautiful. You will stand and stare if you are guitar obsessed. Baby it, or take it traveling and touring. Either way, you will love this guitar.The Novice

My first acoustic guitar was an older model of this this guitar. Loved its tone back then. It was stolen and I bought another, more expensive brand to replace it. That guitar never sounded like the first one. After a lot of years I decided to play again and only considered Alvarez. I still consider myself a novice but the tone, shape, and quality are even better than I remembered. The tones are full and rich, it's comfortable to hold and play, it's the finish is rich and with no blemishes, and It's a pleasure to listen to and play.Bob

I came in to sign up for guitar lessons as an old man. I could barely spell guitar. First thing — I would need a guitar. Soon, I was in a room full of guitars, and I had no idea what I needed. Sam Ash's man knew. Not too cheap; not too expensive; not too gaudy; try this one, try that one. After a while we decided on the Baby Taylor. What a joy he was to work with, explaining, suggesting, leading, helping. A great experience. And, I love my guitar.Ralph

Purchased in 2002 for practice and travel when I didn't want to take a full-sized guitar. I was impressed with the rich sound and ease of play. It stays in tune, even when not played for long periods of time. It's always been stored in the Baby Taylor gig bag that came with it, in a closet, when not in use. I recently took it out to practice and discovered a crack in the top near the bottom, and that the top has separated from the body all across the bottom. It's been stored in a closet, protected from humidity fluctuations, along with 3 other acoustic guitars, one of which is vintage, and none of the other guitars have any issues. I also had a vintage, hand-made, late 1800's era mandolin stored with my other instruments, and it had no issues. I have loved this Baby Taylor for many years, and I'm heartbroken to discover the quality is so poor. The sound of acoustic guitars improves with age, so a new one won't sound the same. Sadly, I can no longer recommend this guitar.CJ

Oh my gosh I love my Baby Taylor! The koa wood makes it look as good as it sounds. My main goal was to have a guitar to travel with. I have so many guitars, but I wanted something small to take on the airplane. I've always heard great things about Taylor guitars…this is my first. It did not disappoint. I didn't expect it to have the sound quality that it does for its size. So that was just a bonus to me. It doesn't have the deep, full sound like my full bodied acoustics, but it is still good enough to play under any circumstance without being embarrassed. I don't play live anymore, but I wouldn't hesitate to play my Baby Taylor on stage. The case is great too. Compact backpack style with enough padding for protection.BK

For what it is – a very cheap, small, travel guitar, this is great. You'll need a strap as it doesn't sit high enough on your leg to be comfortable to play. Also – the action was high, but a bit of adjusting with a belt sander on the saddle and that came down well. The scale length is short, but plays OK – takes a bit of getting used to from my full-sized acoustics. Putting a capo on it and making chords further up the neck is tight, but OK. Sound is very good for a travel guitar of this size. This would be a great kids guitar or even for an adult beginner. I did put 11s on it – sounds a bit weaker, but is fine, and that's what I use on my other acoustics. I had a washburn rover before – this is better, though not as small, but worth the extra size, I think. I have a GS Mini, which is much better, but a good bit larger, and much more expensive. Tuner works good, haven't tried plugging it in yet. Bought this for the boat – seems pretty sturdy.Alexander

I bought this guitar because I have chronic pain and am a small lady and found that even smaller acoustic guitars are too big and bulky and unplayable. I like to play high up on the neck so wanted a cutaway and occasionally perform so having an electro-acoustic version means it ticks all the boxes. When play acoustically it does sound really tinny, there's not getting away from that. It also tends to be unbalanced toward the neck end, so I need a strap to keep it in place. But it is much more playable for practice and I am almost managing to play bar chords again. Not chance on a normal size guitar. It has a full fret board just smaller but not too small.Michelle S.

I ordered this for my pastors wife who wanted to learn a new instrument. She is tiny ( less that 5 ' tall) and a full size guitar would not fit her body type. I was shocked when the guitar came in. The photos on line do not do the finish justice. I was even more shocked when I played it. Most student guitars in this price point have horrible action. The set up on this from the factory was great. It was very easy to play and the sound was extremely good for a thin body acoustic . Then we plugged it in. I could not believe the sound quality of the electronics in this guitar. On Sunday, I pulled out after church and let the music team take turns with it. Everyone that played it raved about every aspect of this little guitar. The instrument also came with a quality gig bag. The material was thick, padding was good, the zippers and hardware appeared to by sturdy. Even more importantly, she loved the guitar. I highly recommend that you consider this one for your beginner or intermediate guitar student. Both Children and small adults should be pleased with this one.Greg H.

Had other parlour guitars but always thought they didn't sound to good but I like the look and quality of the Taylor. So easy to play and the built-in tuner and electrics magic. Trouble is the grandson has taken a fancy to it and he's only just started playing so I might not have it for to long. Overall love it.Dave L.

I bought it because I had an injury to my right arm which left me with limited range of motion and unable to use my standard size Ovation. The Baby Taylor is easy to play and sounds good amplified, but acoustically it is easy to play it too hard. In addition mine gives me a harsh resonance when I play an open D. It turns out that the resonance is also present on notes simply near the D. (Its not fret buzz.) It is much less noticeable when amplified, don't know why. Other people don't notice it and tell me that the guitar has a wonderful sound. I played a Big Baby Taylor and loved it, but it's bigger and therefore less portable and easy for me to play. Perhaps the unwanted resonance is unique to my guitar. I haven't tried to get it looked at by a luthier yet. Perhaps another small guitar, like the Martin, would be better. Don't know. I'm pretty much satisfied with it because it is small and very light and portable which fits my need. It's pretty, nice workmanship, good tuner and electronics.Ed

Lovely sound and tone – a real pleasure to play. Nice looking guitar. Can't fault it at all: Looks great sounds great. So easy to pick up and have a strum anywhere: out and about, on the stairs, on the sofa wouldn't surprise me if I play it on the toilet one day, actually, maybe not! Good gigbag too – light and easy to carry – I can even ride my bike with it on my back no problems at all. Riding off to the forest with my guitar now is easy and just makes it what it's all about enjoying playing music in your favourite places.Reviewed by guitarguitar custome

I bought this guitar online with high hopes, but got a seemingly used piece in which the knobs that tune the guitar were turning copperish, as if discoloured. Definitely got a used piece, despite paying full price for a BRAND NEW product. Very unacceptable practice by best buy. And on top of it, they expect me to go through the hassle of returning the product through shipping such a large item back to them and then get a new one. I bought this as a gift for someone, I don't have the time to keep returning and waiting for new pieces, which will probably also be used. Disappointed, never again. Even Amazon gives quality products.sonu

If you are older when you start playing the guitar, you might not make it to Eric Clapton levels of talent. That’s okay as he probably had one in utero. Sometimes I sit back in awe of him or Jimmy Page, and hear the notes and chords moving at a riveting speed. Both their hand eye coordination/hands, and mathematic abilities must be off the charts. They are the guitar heroes. Yet I’ve been quite happy with the Takamine Jasmine acoustic, which I bought for around $100. The sound quality for its price is impressive. A couple of friends of mine whom play in a band, believe it’s better than Yamahas that cost $50 to $100 more. I’ll trust their ears, as they have experience and talent. My neighbors are glad I got the acoustic, and with practice I’ve been learning some basic songs. It has been time consuming, frustrating, and yet so rewarding. Strings are easy to replace or tune on this, and it’s forgiving nature has helped with my self esteem. I won’t always hit the six strings as I’m supposed to, or mess up on the frets, but I’m pleased with the purchase of this.michael.r

For a lower end guitar, I’m overall impressed. You really aren’t going to get good quality without going a few hundred more, but for the beginner / someone who plays a little as a hobby, this is better than some of the cheaper priced ones. I have used for recording as background music, and taught students with this guitar. If you’re looking to spend under $150 on an acoustic this is your best bet.Loagz Beatz

There are hundreds of reviews on this guitar, of course some good and some bad. The good reviews (4-5 stars) far out number the rest. Although I’ve read some really, really bad ones. I suppose every guitar maker churns out a turd on occasion when mass producing affordable beginner (read inexpensive) guitars.
I can only tell you about my particular guitar.
It is fantastic, it’s beautiful, sounds amazing (plugged in and acoustic), plays amazingly well, stays in tune, the tuners are smooth and work as you would expect on a much more expensive guitar. The neck is perfect, the action is great (Martin MA540 Authentic Acoustic Light strings 0.054-0.012). I haven’t a single complaint I can’t say whether the quality has gone up or down in the last few years. Mine is an earlier production model about 10 years old. They’re relatively common , You can find a nice used one locally in most cities for under $150. That way you can play and give it a thorough inspection before you buy it. Check your local Guitar Center, try it, return it if you don’t like it, my bet is you will love it.Larry Daniels

I usually don't leave negative reviews. This guitar is beautiful, it sounds amazing. However, I just can't believe that guitar center would let this be shipped. The neck seems fine but every fret divider is razor sharp. It's so uncomfortable that I have quit playing it. Living in a small town it's very expensive to return stuff, so I guess it will just sit for now. To guitar centers credit, I have shopped there for many years and never been disappointed. But gee guys, why wouldn't you be checking this stuff? If I picked it off your wall I would never buy it unless you fixed it for me. Sorry but this sucksJohn

Tried out two of these at the local store looking for a first guitar for my son. Both sounded pretty good for the price point, but both had problems with the neck and really terrible frets. Terrible like not safe for children or unsuspecting adults – they both had sharp edges sticking out the whole length of the neck. Between that, some minor string buzz, a crazy high 9th fret on one, and iffy intonation on the other, it just didn't seem worth getting either of them. What's the point of getting a low priced guitar if you have to spend $100+ getting it worked over to make it playable? I suspect that the neck binding makes it difficult for the factory to really get the frets properly dressed and still pass cosmetic inspection. It may be I just had the bad luck to find the two worst examples of this model in the same store, but I suggest you move up notch in price range and you will be happier with what you get.triple.ratrider

At first I was going to say it's a great guitar for the price, but that really doesn't do this thing justice. It's just a great guitar. It has a great sound, it feels good in your hands, it's easy to hold and to play. I can't fault this guitar at all. The action was a bit high out of the box, but the tech at Guitar Center gave it a great set-up and now it's very easy to play. I'm planning to give this one to my daughter, but I would happily keep this myself. I have only been playing guitar for a few weeks, but even I can make this thing sound good!Todd

There is a place in my project studio for FS800: 48 years ago I sold Yamaha Guitars and found them excellent. When the group "America" presented a acoustic sound (Horse with No Name; Ventura Highway; Tin Man . . . et al) the solid rhythms of Yamaha solid top guitars proved Ideal. Through the years I have experimented with various genres as a singer songwriter; now a days I have returned to folk and "heavy on" acoustic guitar sounds. To complement my more expensive guitars I needed something that could deliver the solid rhythms I fondly recall. Now the Yamaha FS800 excels for finger styles as well: I layer tracks this guitar is a breeze to play and its character naturally stands out in the mix. I cannot see a beginner or a more advanced guitarist going wrong with The Yamaha FS800. JHajarhill

Perfect couch and campfire guitar. Sustains and project very well with a surprisingly round warm sound. Gorgeous burst finish much nicer in person. String spacing is slightly narrower than standard, make note. Bridge saddle needed to be shaved down for lower action. Neck and frets were perfect otherwise. Tuning very stable. A set of 11-52 will be next string change. Love playing this thing, and exploring alternate tunings! It seems Yamaha's reputation is true.Greg

Absolutely amazing guitar. I had been shopping for a while, and tried an OM-21 in my local GC. The overtones, the warm tone, I just had to have it! Definitely a forever guitar and could not be happier. Get your hands on one of these!K

I really love this guitar! I purchased in a sunburst finish. There's nothing to dislike. Martin's come with the action a little high, this is to be expected. I took it to a tech to have the action lowered to my taste. Because it's plek'd from the factory, you can really get the action quite low. It's is now the best of my guitars. The sound is so balanced, it's beautiful to behold and to play. I never want to put it down. I've waited a bunch of years to commit…it is everything I wanted and imagined it could be. Martin standard series are all amazing. They Are the Martin sound defined, the reference point. They are not a cheap investment, but they are worth it. Whether you like a short scale hog (000-18), or a long scale Rosewood dread (D-28), you will not be disappointed. I love the long scale OM with rosewood. I wanted a sunburst with understated dark bindings to blend with the sunburst. This is my guitar…it is stellar in every respect. If you can acquire any model of the standard series of martins, you will be blessed with tone and beauty. It will be a lifetime guitar.GGC

I don’t like buying mid to high end guitars in the blind. Even if it’s a Martin, Collings, Taylor etc… but I was able to play 3 M36’s at a store in Nashville and they all sounded the same. I had to think about it because I have a Martin HD28 and it was very close. The thing about the M36 is that it having a OOOO (Jumbo) size body, I got bolder low ends. Finger style was easy and picking was bright and articulate. Problem solved not needing to bring more then one guitar to the recording studio and didn’t have to worry about gigging with it because of the affordability. American Musical Supply always makes it easy with the nice selection and 12 months interest free to get one. I installed (myself) a K&K pure mini pickup and this guitar sings. Thank AMS!T Galloway

Purchased this Takamine based on reviews and brand. Definitely a great guitar! After it arrived about a month ago, I took it in to have the action lowered and completely set up as I play finger style guitar. Unbelieve response! The deep tone, resonance and playability is incredible. Onboard electronics are high quality. I'm 6'4" and this guitar fits me perfectly. It's appearance is stunning with nice appointments. American Musical Supply was quick on shipping and superior customer service. Highly recommend this Takamine for all playing styles. Meets all expectations!Jeffrey W

I just love the Takamine guitar, its craftmanship and sound quality. I own 3 Takamine acoustic quitars. The only minor issue I am having with this one is when I plug in the 1/4 jack, there is no sound from the amp. I have to put the jack out about a quarter inch.MarkC

I really enjoy playing this guitar. Its louder than I expected, with more punch than a regular 000 style guitar. Well designed and made. A bargain priced guitar that overperforms.novar

I returned this exact described guitar because it has a belly AND a bad neck angle./ Can't believe they just re-listed it.ttedh

Unless you routinely play above the 12th fret, or really need the thumping bass of a dreadnought, I can't imagine any player at any level being disappointed with this guitar. 12-Fret guitars have a magic to their tone because of their bridge placement that a 14-fret simply can't duplicate. In fact, the original Martin dreadnoughts were all 12-Fret for over a decade because they sounded better and played easier. The ROS-06 is beautifully executed with a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany plywood sides and back, and a chunky mahogany neck. You're not going to get solid wood sides and back in this price rsnge, so I can't ding it for that. The faux tortoise shell binding and rosette and an unexpected luxury look, and the lacquer work is flawless. But back to the tone. Everyone who picks it up immediately falls in love, it is just thst sweet. You'd have to spend 5-6X the money on a Taylor or Breedlove to get a noticeable improvement, likely from the solid sides & back, and then it's only incremental. While you can lean on it medium-hard before it starts to compress, it really is happier as a fingerstyle guitar, again, no surprise, so bluegrass pickers needing the volume might want to stick with your dreads. For the rest of us, we'll be very happy with this little jewel. This is the guitar you hang on the wall in the living room and invite anyone to play.LouieLouie

Guitar was packaged well, arrived set up, stays in tune, and sounds wonderful! Low action like an electric, and has great sustain, and a sweet full sound. I tried this before Covid hit at my local guitar center. It sounded better than high end guitars 5 times the price. I've had it on my mind for 2 years. I finally purchased it, and it's everything I remembered. Sweet!Scott

I am of the thought that you get what you pay for but now im to so sure. I own some high end 3K guitars and have been playing for 50 years and there is something about this guitar. I played every inexpensive mahogany guitars on the floor and this one stood out loud and proud. The strings that came with it must have been floating around in a shipping container in the Bay somewhere as they were corroded pretty bad. I put Martin Monel Retros on it and this guitar sounds fantastic. I love how it records. I have large hands and the neck is one of the most comfortable necks I've ever played. I haven't touched my D28 since I bought this a few months ago. There is something about the roughness of this guitar that really grabs me. I took it and plated out with it and everyone liked the sound. I think it is good enough to warrant an investment of a fret level and polish and maybe an upgrade to Grovers but it stays in tune fairly well as it. The action is great as is but there are a few high frets past the 12th fret. Aside from that its a great guitar.Miki

I bought the 10 year old granddaughter a Little Martin because she showed an interest in learning to play. Little did I know I would wind up teaching her. Great, but I'm a drummer. I can play bass, too, but guitars have always eluded me. So, since I'm suddenly a guitar teacher, I bought this Mitchell T331so we could learn together. I'm taking lessons, and then I pass them on to her. We're having so much fun! It's a great way to spend some time together. I've been around long enough to recognize a well built, great sounding, ergonomically easy to play guitar, and this Mitchell is all of those. The tone is outstanding for a low budget learner. I absolutely love the looks of it too! Pics don't do it justice. It came with standard medium DeAddario strings, and in the week I've had it, I've tuned it 3 times, 2 for the new string stretch, and once because I'm clumsy and hit the tuners. No damage, just de-tuned a couple strings. The guitar needed no after purchase setup. The neck is straight, the frets are smooth and even, and the body is fairly solid for such thin, light wood. The volume is nice, it projects when you want it to, and whispers when you want that too. Did I mention the tone? It's lovely! Really. And I don't use that word often. The sound from this guitar is as good as a lot of far more expensive guitars I've heard. I've got some DeAddario silk and steel strings coming to make it easier on my fingers while I'm learning. The one flaw I've noticed is a barely noticeable spot on the back of the neck, near where it joins the body, that slightly dips and then returns to normal, like a spot that could have been sanded a little more before finishing, but it doesn't affect the playability at all, and in my eyes isn't a defect, but a beauty mark that says hand made and individual. So, not a problem, at least to me, but I'm a drummer and not a guitar snob, lol. All in all, I don't regret this purchase in the slightest. In fact, I'm loving it more every day.Not a noob, just a beginner

I was very excited to see and play a highly reviewed 12 string that costs pennies compared to my 12 string Takamine, Yamaha and Ibanez. Once I got through the box I saw the guitar had the look of some cheap pressed wood. The sound was as weak as a cup of Finnish coffee. The darn thing couldn't stay in tune to save mine or its life. How this guitar gets rated so highly MUST be a result of fake reviewers OR I simply got the ONE Rogue 12 string that seemed to be made by the Fisher-Price Company. This is NOT a musical instrument. It IS an instrument to make noise with. My edition was not worthy of the effort one has to put forward to learn and play guitar. One must have to have an instrument meet the musician at least half-way. With this "musical" instrument, you have to cross the block, pick the guitar up and fight against it to produce close to a tone that sounds musical. Best to buy a used good name 12 string guitar. Or save your pennies and get a Takamine or Yamaha. The latter will be excellent and cost in the $350 range. But a Yamaha will play forever and stay in tune. I recommend my Yamaha over my ash Ibanez. The former just has a fuller tone. If possible save for the Takamine which is on another guitar plane altogether. But don't buy a guitar based on price and/or name. I've discovered many of the friends I play with can't tell if their singing and/or playing is in tune!!. And yet, they own $5,000 MARTIN GUITARS!! Haha. Quite simply a waste of money. Be like me buying a red-green "masterpiece" oil painting, as I'm red-green color blind. But I DO have a good ear and this Rogue of a guitar is worthy of no one's money or effort. M.F. has many more-though more expensive-options that will bring the performer YEARS if not DECADES of playing happiness. Only misery lies in a 12 string Rogue guitar. Avoid.muskoxmike

Purchased this around December hoping to get my kids into it. As usually happens, it ended up being much more of a display use. I would imagine it was picked up about 12 times max total. It sat on display being ignored primarily. Still, by mid-June (in under 6 months) the bridge has warped and started to detach from the main guitar. I noticed this as I walked past it. The glue did not hold. Surprise though, because you can't just pull up a website for Rogue. I called Guitar Center for help to contact the manufacturer as this should be covered under their warranty. Guitar cCenter took my information and said they would forward it to their "contact" for the company and I should receive a response in 3-5 business days. It's been a few weeks now and I'm not impressed. No one called me back, they wouldn't simply give me an 800 number to call to handle it myself, and I still have no solution and no idea who to contact in order to make a claim on the manufacturer warranty. I am more than disappointed with Guitar Center's negligence to truly stand behind a beginner product they seem to offer a great deal of.Amanda V.

I'm so impressed by my RD 90. I think some reviewers are hesitant to give it the praise it deserves because it is an inexpensive guitar. I did a little work to lower the action and now it is perfect. Humidity and temperature changes cause it to need occasional tuning, no different that my other two acoustics. It has a full, rich tone. It plays easily. It makes me feel like I got a real bargain; I don't know how they turn a profit at this price.Charles