Yamaha F-310

What made me buy TWO of these guitars is the shape of the neck, the sound, the fact that the saddle is positioned properly and the plain (but attractive) look.
These would be the cheapest steel string acoustics that I have ever owned that are still great instruments, I am planning to gig with these!
Already built-in pickup systems may be the cheapest, but I like to add my own (a combination of a saddle piezo Baggs LB-6 and a Sunrise Magnetic Soundhole Pickup on a stereo jack; no internal electronics, no unreliable batteries!).

My first good acoustics were the Martin copies Takamine made in the seventies. When I eventually graduated to real Martins I realized I spent 4 times more for a 20% improvement.
Since then I've had Taylors, right now my best guitar is a Collings, for me the best ever, and every other one I've ever played has been outstanding too!
The Collings cost more than twenty times more than the AU $150 I paid for a second hand Yamaha F-310, and it is probably 4 times as good in every department.
Still, once you slap some pickups on it, there isn't much of an advantage left, over the cheapo Yamaha.....

I adjust my own necks, and I can fiddle with saddles till I like the action. If I ran a shop, I would not do this for free on a below $500 instrument, let alone a $200 one.
So if you are buying this guitar new and don't know how to adjust action and such, see if you can sneak in under the radar and get the store to do this for you as a courtesy anyway, they may be able to if you pick the right time :)
If these were totally consistent setup-wise, I'm sure they would cost more, I can easily spend a couple of hours setting up a guitar myself, and my guess is that this instrument is made with very few man-hours, even if it is made in Indonesia.
Both the necks on my pair are good, straight, nice shape & easy to play.

I never gig without a backup, a good set list is like a song, and breaking momentum is not a good plan.
Still, I do not expect the guitar itself to fail, the only moving parts are the tuners, and they have been ok so far....

There was an ad campaign once that stated: "One day you'll own a Yamaha"..... and in my case, never a true-er word has been spoken :)
I've had the bike, the stereos, the mixing desks, the sound effects units, played the pianos, loved the cheap Made in Taiwan acoustics, and now the Made in Indonesia ones aren't bad either.
All this stuff was so good I never needed any after sales support, and most of it was bought second hand anyway, it worked really well, and eventually I sold most of it without losing any money, what more can you ask for?

I can absolutely recommend this as a first guitar, but the killer is this would be more like my 200th guitar (40 years of playing), and I'm having fun with it.
With a good set of strings (right now I'm using Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 12-54 Phosphor Bronze) these guitars can ring like a bell.
The fretwork is ok, the wood looks nice, the neck shape is great, what a winner!

Very nice guitar, I've been playing for 35 yrs and i love this guitar. 20 frets, cost me $200.cdn for the guitar, soft case, strap and extra strap peg. Only problim I have with it is i have a bridge peg hole witch is lose. The e string will pull the bridge peg lose. Other than that it's a great guitar to take to a party, campfire,ect. inexpensive and durable.

Basic, no frills. Pretty much like everyone else said. At least it doesn't look like a cheap guitar, even if it is. I'm guessing it was made in the late 90's, as I bought it new in 1999.

The tuners are el cheapy cheap, but they've done the job fine

I'll give the sound an 8, considering the price point. It's actually a very good sound for 150 dollar axe

It was set up close to perfect when I bought it. Of course, it has not received the same kind of care my 2003 Taylor has had.

Dependable, but it has sustained some neck warping, and there is a buzz around the 3rd fret where the neck actually has a nick in it right on the edge of the fretboard. That's my fault, though. Being a laminate cheapy, I haven't really worried too much about dinging it up. My Taylor gets a lot of pampering, though.

Not too much fanciness here. my boss gave me this guitar for FREE when he was moving house. it's fast become my favourite acoustic (I have a few higher priced ones).

I love the sound from this guitar. i'm mostly a country/folk player and it suits me fine. a mate of mine has one but it doesn't have the brightness or the warmth mine has. maybe i've been lucky. i have it strung with 11's and the tone is superb for a laminate top cheap guitar.

the only issue i had was the fret wire. i had to take some steel wool to the frets to smooth them off as there was an occasional 'scratching' when strings were bent. apart from that the guitar is great.

i've not used the guitar live yet. i'm strongly cosidering fitting an expensive pickup though, as i'd love to give it a proper run-out. the guitar keeps its tuning fine but again, i'm tempted to make a change, possibly to a set of grovers to ensure long life. the guitar is pretty light, so may not stand up to extensive gigging, but you never know unless you try.

obviuosly this guitar could be better, but i honestly love it as it is. the jangle in the tone, the playability, the size, the way it holds is tuning, and the fact it won't break the bank if i ever need to replace it. I have a tanglewood with the B-band pickup for live gigs but i think the f310 will be having a pickup fitted very soon.

Basic looks. Doesn't have that ugly poly look of chapo guitars.

This is Yamaha's bread and butter. Sweet solid sounding acoustics.You don't mention Martins, Taylors etc because it is not in the same class but in the low to mid priced it can't be beat.

No buzzes. Action is perfect but action is a personal preferance.

I bought this guitar for use at open mics in bars. I want a guitar that can take a beatingor if damaged wouldn't break my heart but it still has to deliver.

This is basically a follow-up on my review:

The original strap finally tore away at the "butt end" of the instrument, and the strap button is now nowhere to be found. Went to my local music center, got a heavier strap, new strings. Replaced the strap button with a stand-off and thumb screw. The thumb screw is so much nicer since I don't have to worry about damaging any strap parts. Best small investment I made for my 4-year-old guitar. (It just turned four this October)

Next thing to consider: An amplifier system.

I also use Native Instruments FM7 for my guitar sound effects. The latest effect I have just created was a flanger effect.

Very basic no frills, steel 6 string acoustic guitar.

Sounded better then anything by Ibanez (too bright) or Gibson (too dark)
I would compare the sound to that of a Martin dreadnoughts, I did a side by side comparison with a D28 and I was very impressed. The build quality isn't nearly as nice as a Martin, but it comes very close to sounding like one. The tone isn't to dark or bright... very rich, and loud.

I bought it used and I believe the previous owner had the action lowered. It is very easy to play, and I believe the lower action may be why is sounds the way it does too. The only problem with the lower action is you do get a few buzzes here and there, but that should be easy to fix.

I might play it live, I actually bought it for some home recordings. I would fix the buzzing problems first though.

Ive been playing for over 10 years and I didn't want to spend an entire paycheck on a guitar. I compared this guitar to a Martin D28 and I couldn't be happier with the sound. When it comes to sound, Yamaha's guitars are much better then Ibanez, Johnson, and even Gibsons acoustic guitars. (thats my opinion of coarse) For the price this guitar is hard to beat.

Well, you can't cram many features into a ??100 acoustic, but mine came with a gig bag, spare set of strings, simple 'learn guitar' book with CD and a few plectrums. You're not going to get better than that for the price.

This was my first guitar, been playing for maybe a year and a half now, and just about to move on to an electric (probably a Schecter C1 Classic). The sound is acceptable enough, it's plenty loud if you play it hard enough, though it sounds a bit 'cheap' when playing single strings with a pick (fingerpicking's ok, though). Been playing folk and rock with it, seems to stand up fine to them. Very good as a first guitar, you'll get the trade-up bug soon enough though. If you're not certain how long you'll want to play for, want something you can just mess around on, or whatever, it's perfect.

Set-up seemed fine, action's a bit high, but as a beginner, I didn't really notice, and by the time I did, I was already thinking about upgrading. No noticeable flaws, seemed pretty well put together.

Well, in the year and a half I've owned this guitar, I've knocked it over a lot of times, left it lying against tables, given it fairly hard whacks against things while it's been in a gig bag, had it fall off seats in a car due to hard braking, and mistreated it in all sorts of other ways. The only effect has been a couple of superficial chips, one on the headstock, and one on the body of the guitar. You'd have to be fairly brutal to it to manage to cause serious damage.

Not really applicable, never dealt with Yamaha.

I'm just preparing to move on to an electric, and shell out around ??600 or so for a really nice rig. This is a perfect beginner guitar, something you can learn the ropes on, mistreat, and pass on to a younger sibling/friend once you want something better. If it were stolen, I wouldn't get another, because I've moved past that stage of playing now, but I'll probably still use it every now and again, even when I get the electric. I love the price, and the fact that it's a good guitar for the money spent. Looked around a few other beginner guitars, chose this because of recommendations, a good bundle deal, and the fact that Yamaha are a big company. If you're thinking about starting to learn guitar, and don't mind starting with an acoustic, this is a very good choice.

2000, Made in Indosneia. Standard basic jumbo steel-strung acoustic guitar. Nice wide(ish) neck to fit my fat fingers in. No cutaways, no electrics. No frills.

Beautiful, bright yet also deep and rich sound. Simple, straight forward great acoustic guitar sound.

V Good for a guitar in this price bracket. Guitar set up fine at the factory. I have not touched the action since I bought it about 6 years ago. Finish is very acceptable on both neck and body, and has proved fairly resistant to knocks.

This guitar is utterly dependable. Stays in tune for days (or even weeks, depending on how hard you treat it).
For low volume situations ( eg a sing along with a load of friends), this guitar is ideal. It produces a loud, full sound. However, obviously if amplification is needed, I would always use my electro-acoustic instead.

Never had to deal with them

Been playing over 20 years. This guitar is everything I want out of an acoustic guitar. Its sound is equal to many, ten times its price. Another big benefit is that I don't have to worry too much about it being stolen or damaged. I saw one for #83 brand new on ebay the other day. I cannot believe you can get them that cheap ! If it was stolen, I would unhesitatingly go out and buy another.
I would, obviously, also like it to be elecro-acoustic as well. I play amplified reasonably often and I have to have an electro-acoustic for that (Yam APX-3T - outstanding plugged in, but boxy and small sound acoustically, due to small body).
For its price I would give it an 11 if I could.

As for the "wood" used - or lack thereof, you can read about this elsewhere. This review is as much a tribute as it's an testimony to what I think of the F-310.

I've owned two of these babies at different times. Both purchased at same shop in Germany. For the first one, I paid around 350DM (those were the days). Three years later, it cost 140euro -- slightly less expensive.

I have put it to the test, hitchhiking with it throughout most of Europe - rain, snow, hot & cold weather, mud, ..., lying on pavement outside gas stations, propped-up rather precariously in others' rooms, ..., et cetera. I have lent it out to strangers at music festivals - having it returned each time. From the freezing depths of northern Sweden to the sweltering heat of a bone-dry week-long music festival (SZIGET) in Budapest. From a holding cell in Paris, and fair sands of Bodensee's beaches, to the murky shadows of trucker depots.

Her only protection through these adventures -- IF/WHEN ANY at all -- has been a thin plastic garbage bag.

The memories and fun times she's provided me with, over the years, are as irreplaceable as her sound is impressive for a lower-end guitar. Oddly, she's considerably few scratches, dings, et al. to show for it.

A beater guitar is a MUST. And if you want it to sound A+ without forking-over big bucks for a Martin, this Yamaha f-310 is a WINNER among humble princes.

PS. fairly thin neck, which is good for those with smaller hands (myself incl.) I've never had a problem whether strumming, plucking or picking her strings.

With a new set of strings (I prefer light, so as not to exacerbate detuning more than necessary in light of construction mtl. and craftsmanship), she purrs like a road warrior.
Deep lows and decent mids. Detuning is not a major issue, once the stings are worked-in. The F-310 is rather loud for such a low priced guitar. Of course that alone is not necessarily a good thing. Most of that loudness carries a decent tone, but intonation and consistency, brightness and richness are only substantially improved on many other models with a disproportionally sharp price increase.
Of course, less expensive guitars, while mass produced, are more susceptible to deviations in build quality and aren't quality controlled to the same degree as a handcrafted sweetheart -- so you'd be well-advised to adequately audition potential candidates, prior to combat.
For the sound this guitar makes - quantity and quality-wise - it is fantastic. When exposed to harsh conditions, one need not worry about the potential for cosmetic damage, whilst milking her for all she's worth.

I've played high end guitars and low end ones. Generally, I find, you get what you pay for. But among the lower ranking soldiers of this troopers division, she's a leader. Most lower end setups that include ANY electronics, decals, extras, etc. are poor - extras ARE ALWAYS included in cost (non cross-brand comparison basis) and detract from the basic sound.

Very versatile for a learner guitar.
*FOR A LOW END*, NEAR-BEATER, but still solid learner GUITAR: avg. 7,5-8,5 / 10
*FOR ACOUSTIC DREADNOUGHTS in MY EXP.*: avg. 6/10, plus-AND-minus

no electronics: a PLUS (if you spend so little and the price includes "FEATURES", you're considering the wrong guitar)

setup was fine - action low-med.: not OVERLY versatile with consistency... playing above the 8th fret or so not as fluid

came in cardboard box - no case (not even garbage bag!)

Keeping-in-mind what it is were talking about - SOLID, GOOD ENTRY+ LEVEL DREAD for low price and comparable good sound: 7/10

Live playing? Yes? though I?d recommend you tune it well and give it time to warm up (lit.) if it?s been out in the cold for a while.
The tuning keys seem to be slightly different - the luck of the draw. Some are tighter, some looser than others. They hold the string consistently, with no slackness, but are generic and so each with it's own unique character. They could be geared slightly slower, for when an inadvertent extra string wrap further increases the speed at which a tone changes from the same turning motion. One or two keys are slightly loose, but the key body remains solid.
The neck/body joint has held up very well considering the battles it been through. I've never touched the setup and have had light-med. gauge strings on with little difficulty.
Mess around with her hard (but not TOO hard), or stroke her softly in a quiet room.
Over the years, the sound seems to thin ever-so-slightly - even when regularly replacing the strings. Perhaps this is due to the excessive wear that my example has handled admirably BY ANY STANDARD! In general, however, more synthetically constructed (i.e. laminate) guitars retain the same body sound, while 100% wood guitars can (negatively, or hopefully, positively) gain richness and character with time.

Under 2yrs: 8+
LONGTERM/over 5-10years+ & WITH freq. use under adverse conditions: 7

I've never dealt with Yamaha.

It a great first guitar and a fabulous guitar for traveling (where-ever, how-ever).
Having a beater guitar is just as important to me as having a high-end one. I'm sure I've gotten my 140euro out of this, more than I'll ever get a return on a D28 - despite that being a far higher quality, better sounding instrument.

After all our good times, I gave this guitar to a good friend recently. Hopefully, he'll get as much out of it as I have.

That being said, I recommend a person not buy ONLY this guitar beyond 1 year or so. The danger in owning this guitar ALONE, is that it sounds good enough to (merely) remain content, but is not good enough to advance your technique and progress at the same rate a better model would allow for. (At least an extremely nasty guitar tells you with less ambiguity, when it?s time to say goodbye and move-on.)

She was a beautiful Lady, a bit rough around the edges, but we learned a lot from each other.

>10 years playing
6 acoustics
2 electrics
1 piano
a few amps, effects, mics, a PA, etc...
most important: a big heart and good ear
sadly lacking: a fat budget

OVERALL GRADE for *ENTRY LEVEL, SOLID BUILT, COMPARITAVELY GOOD SOUNDING DREAD*: 7,5+