Yamaha F-310

Year: Probably between 1999 and 2003
Frets: Around 20-24
Top: Laminated
No pickups. ..... Yet.
Finish: Probably satin
Wood: Cheap, but definitely NOT balsa
Body: Probably dreadnought
Bridge: String-through body
Tuners: Non-locking, generic brand
Neck/Scale: Typical
Included accessories: Picks (of course), gig bag, strap, reed tuner, capo, spare set of strings, winder. Basically a starter kit.

Suits my classic rock and church music styles perfectly
No amps or effects. Just natural acoustics
Not very noisy, especially if miked
Rich, full sound
Typical acoustic guitar sounds can be made
I like how well it sounds in room with a lot of reverb, even without a mike. However, I don't like how it has no cutaway, but there's not much I can do about that. Heck, having one put in may destroy it. Nobody wants a broken guitar, do they?

Was set-up fine
No pickups
Properly bookmatched top, and routed bridge
No flaws, but it obviously came to me detuned. I guess an Indonesian company's gotta what it's gotta do.

It will withstand live playing, but not in the way you are thinking. I normally just strum it gently when in front of a mike, because the mikes use are super sensitive. (Not bad for Audio-Technica)
The hardware seems that it will last. It seems to be made of stainless steel.
Finish is good enough to last.
The strap button sometimes pops out, but notice it does so once in a blue moon.
I can indeed depend on it.
I can use it on a gig without a backup. It's that solid.

I've never dealt with Yamaha, so I cannot tell you how helpful or friendly they are.
I had a string replaced, but not by Yamaha. I guess they don't cover string replacements.
I do not remember the duration of the warranty.

I have been playing for three and a half years. I don't own anything else by Yamaha. However, I do tune it with Yamaha pianos.
I really could not ask for more on account of this guitar.
If somebody had stolen it, they would probably turn it down at first sight, because of a few minor gouges. But, I would either buy this same guitar, or an electric from Yamaha.
I love everything about this guitar. I hate the fact that I don't have money for a pickup system or a guitar slide. ;-)
I compared it to another guitar, which was practically a beater. Heck the Yamaha sounded better than the beater.

This one was bought in 1999 and is made in Indonesia. It has a laminate spruce top and some cheap wood on the sides and back, definitely not rosewood or anything ou would call quality.

The sound is pretty good for something so cheap and laminated. It has a tendency towards the a bottom end sound. Quite a booming type of guitar that lacks defined range and tone when compared to a decent guitar. I have just purchased a Yamaha FG730 which is solid spruce and rosewood sides/back and when comparing the two you can notice the solid top is much warmer and has a wider range of tone. Playing harder chords and past the 7th is difficult in the sensethat often there are muted notes due to the action and design.

These guitars have pretty high action, probably designed that way to improve volume. If you were to lower the action Id say the buzz would be bad because even with action high there is buzz past 5 or 6 fret. It is not the easiest guitar to play and that for the beginner is actually a good thing. Practising on this will help the beginner appreciate playing a good guitar. Its amazing how easy I find it to play my other guitars after I play my 310. If you want to improve your speed and finger strength play this. Finish is decent for the price and really beginners dont really need anything fancy. Few glue marks near the neck and the neck saddle has come loose. Im giving it a 6 for action because if u were to compare it to a higher quality guitar but like I said dont let that turn you off if youre starting out because it will make you a better player when you upgrade.

This is a solid guitar, has a few dents and dings but sound is not affected by blemishes. I have knocked this guitar a few times, once I threw it to the ground it bent the tuner but still everything works fine.

NA

This was my first guitar and I would have recommend it over any other laminated guitar. These are usally selling for $250 which is about 100-150 less than a entry level solid top. For beginners they probably wont notice the difference in tone until they play for about 6months to a year and by that time if theyre keen musicians they would want to upgrade anyway. Had I known I would remain playing guitar I would have bought a solid top but that would have been 150 more and as a beginner you dont really need anything flash. Beginners cant go past this guitar.

Made in Indonesia, but not sure about the year (I got it for Christmas 2003). It has 20 frets, laminated top, no pickups. Natural finish, full-size dreadnought, 25 1/2" scale, with a neck width that's a little larger than an inch. My parents got it at a wholesale club, and it came in a starter pack, which included a gig bag, an extra set of strings, 3 picks, a strap, capo, truss rod adjustment tool, a string winder, and a pitch pipe.

I play mostly country and a little bit of classic rock, and this guitar sounds OK for it. I don't intend on playing live, just around the house, so I don't have a need for effects or amps or pickups. Ocassional buzzes occur, mostly at the 7th fret. The overall sound is OK, not great. I got a better sound when I changed the strings and put Elixirs on rather than the extra set they gave me. Elixirs are all I use on this guitar, and they really do make a difference.

The action is high, but the fretboard is easy to move around on. The only flaws that this guitar had was that the tuner for the B string was loose everytime I tuned the guitar, and the B string was always the string that was "most out-of-tune" everytime I tuned up to play. So there is definitely some type of correlation between the loose tuner and the B string being out of tune all the time.

Like I said before, I don't intend on playing live, but if I ever did, I probably would not use this guitar because of the ocassional buzzes and its inability to stay in tune. As a practice guitar or a "play around the house" guitar, I think it will last, but don't accidentally bump it against something because it does scatch, or ding, easily (I've done it). The finish has held up quite nicely, minus the few scratches as a result of my clumsiness. No strap buttons on my guitar, which was a disappointment.

Never had any big-time problems, just little ones that I fixed by myself, so I haven't had to deal with Yamaha at all. It did come with a one-year warranty.

I've been playing for about a year and a half now, so since I'm still practically learning, I don't want to get another guitar right now. I probably would get another guitar, but not same exact one, if this one ever got lost or stolen. I would probably dish out some more money for a better sounding, higher quality intrument. This guitar is basically good for the beginner, like me, and even though I plan on replacing it eventually, I'm still going to hang on to it and use it as practice guitar. I don't like that it doesn't have a strap button, and the buzzing, but you get what you pay for.

My F-310 was made in Indonesia by Y.M.M.J Corporation "to Yamaha's standards".It has no cutaways and is very basic-therefore ideal for beginners.The action is a bit high when it comes from the factory but this can be fixed if you like a low action.

The dreadnought sound is very good.I had a problem with one of the strings buzzing but this was fixed very easily.Once my action was lowered,the sound quality increased drastically so I suggest you lower your action for beter sounds.

The finish is o.k.Mine had glue marks where the bridge met the body but its barely noticeable.The sound of the guitar cancels this out totally.The body is nicely finished,has awesome tuning pegs I think and just has a great look and feel overall

This guitar is not really made for live playing-mine doesn't have a pick-up so it is just for songwriting,messing around and when I'm too lazy to switch on my electric.It is tough but it is made of thin wood-remember that.The guitar was made to sit down with and strum along with your favourite songs-not to swing it around and jump on it.The guitar is strong and I don't think it will break any time soon(or ever!)

Never called them-don't need to.

Very good guitar for beginners.When buying it I compared it to alot of others and it was the best(Tip:Stay away from Montanna guitars!)If you want a guitar for home-use,to mess around on and to write songs,this is the best one.

Made in Indonesia. Not sure about when it was made, but I bought it in early 2004. Typical dreadnought style of guitar. Laminated spruce top. Natural finish. Check the others for more detail. No cutaways. Mine actually comes with some accessories, eg. gigbag, tuner, capo, strings, picks etc.

The sound is kinda thin to me but overall it's pretty good. Beats everything within the price range. You can play pretty much anything on it.

The guitar looks like a big buck. The setup are good. At first I thought the action was too high. But after some finger practise I had adjusted to it. The neck is abit thinner than usual. Some minor dings here and there, but nobody will notice.

I've use it for a year and it still looks pretty good. Solid construction. But you don't wanna drop this thing, believe me.

Friendly people.

I play guitars for almost three years. I own a cheap classical guitar and a Gibson Les Paul. This is a great beginner guitar. It's a pleasure playing this guitar. If you want anything better, save up more for something like Gibson/Martin.

I bought it secondhand in early 2004. I'd guess it was born a year or so earlier. No special features. It's a basic dreadnought but with decent curves. Made in Indonesia, 20 frets etc, just the same as everyone else's. But since when did a lot of expensive fancy-work make for a decent sounding & playing guitar?

I play folk/blues/C&W, flatpicking, fingerpicking, strumming. This suits me fine as a practice instrument. I fitted Ernie Ball bronze medium-lights and a graphite bridge which improved the sound. And the sound you get depends a lot on how you play anyway.

As a secondhand instrument, it had been bashed about a bit. A little paint and polish sorted that out. The bridge pins had been gouged out by someone, leaving dents in the bridge. Some nice new black-and-pearl pins have improved the looks! Otherwise the build is fine. You don't expect anything flashy at this price.

I probably wouldn't play it live. I use it more as for practice e.g. in non-standard tunings. If it's anything like my other Yamaha (30-year old FG200) I expect it to last pretty well.

Never tried it.

This is a surprisingly good guitar for the money. I have been playing for 40+ years and own several guitars 5 and 10 times the price. I bought this for fun as a cheap take-anywhere practice instrument - now I play it all the time! It looks fine, it plays well. If I lost it I'd probably get another. A sound first acoustic - and infinitely better than the #4 horror I started out with way back when!

Natural-no pickups

Not a bad guitar for beginners. Depending on your taste you may find it lacks resonance, but it could also drown out a voice if you really like to hit the strings, at least it does with my wimpering. Recommended for personal use. Not sure about jumping up on stage with it even if you managed to install pickups.

Actions a bit slow- and the truss rod had to be adjusted, (note: read up on truss rod adjustments before attempting, it can make or break your playing)- Other than that it's constructed to fit intermediate needs. If your looking, and you come by one cheap as I did, then it wouldn't hurt to try.

My used yammy has some superficial flaws from the abuse of former owner(s), but it's a surviver and remains proudly playful.

I've been playing on and off for ten years, it's a habit I can't break. If your like me and need another fix then this guitar will suffice. If your looking to play some lead, you'll find it difficult on this hard to reach 20 fret. The only reason I chose the F-310 was because the price was nice.

Indonesian, made in 2000 and something. The pack came with lots of goodies but nothing spectacular. The 2 way truss rod works ok. Laminated spruce top, indoneisan mahogany back and sides etc... Was going to buy an Ashton DM25 which cost less and looks alot better but was advised that this one would have better sound.

it's not bad but nothing spectacular. i haven't changed the strings it came with but i want to coz i think it'll make a huge difference. The original strings are hard to fret (especially bar chords in lower neck) and sounds very harsh and metallic. But overall it is loud enough and good enough for the price.

IMPORTANT!!! although this guitar is good but it needs alot of tweaking!!!! i had to adjust the truss rod because originally the neck was overly concaved. some had said the bridge should also be adjusted. The original strings weren't all that flash either! Don't get me wrong, this does mean it's a bad guitar, but the tweaking it needs might not be easy with the begginers this guitar is aimed at, but would be okay for an experienced player who just wants a cheap acoustic.

Looks solid. Covered by the 5 year warranty anyway.

Have not dealt with the company but the music store i bought it at infromed me about the 5 year warranty etc. so i think it's not bad in this aspect

I have been playing electric guitar for a few years now and never owned a folk acoustic, only a half size classical which can be regarded as a "toy". I was looking at the Ashton DM25 which had an amazing satin finish and a low pric tag, but the shop assistant reccomended that i buy this one. I SHOULD OF BOUGHT THE ASHTON!! because for guitars in this price range the sound would not differ all that much i don't think, just buy one that you would like and looks good. But i'm not that unhappy because this guitar has a better sound and is covered by a 5 year warranty and doesn't look that bad. It's a more well known brand too. But as I said, too much tweaking is required for those who just started to strum. Buy it if you have some experiences with guitars and just want a nice guitar you don't mind taking around to places.

Basically, this is an entry level acoustic: all laminate. the one I'm reviewing is 10 years old; has been played loads! And with the exception of some wear around the binding, is still in perfect condition. No neck adjustments have ever been needed, the bridge isn't starting to pull away from the top, and it still sounds great, with no buzzing or dead spots. The best entry level guitar available, IMHO. Buy one today, and even after you buy your MArtin or Taylor in ten years time, this will still be around your house!

I bought my Yammy in 1996 so i guess its a '96 model. It was my first guitar of any sort and i still play it every day now. It only has 20 frets, plastic nut, bridge, and pegs. The tuners are chrome. It has a spruce top, rosewood fretboard, the rest is mahogany, made in indonesia. The guitar comes with no gizmos, no tricks, just 6 strings. Thats all you need to learn isnt it? Its a nice big dreadnought.

This guitar sounds fantastic. It booms with the best of them, especially with a nice set of 11s strings, but i recently put a set of 9s on so i wouldnt tear myt fingers to shreds every time i played. There are one or two slightly flat spots high on the neck, but you only notice this if your playing single notes, not chrods. Who shreds on an acoustic anyway? There is no buzz at all, just a big warm sound that actually gets better as the guitar gets older. Leave an old set of strings on and the guitar clowly changes from a big full sounsd to a nice mellow jazzy vibe.

The action gets a bit too high when your high on the neck, meaning bending strings past the 12th fret a bit difficult. But if this is your first guitar, learning to solo on a guitar like this will only make life easier when you buy and electric or a better acoustic. The action in general is fine, and the finish has held up to many bumps, crashes and scratches with minimal damage.

Up until this year this guitar has been invincible. recently a tuner started working loose (the screws have been knocked out of their threads in the wood, but that was because a sibling knocked the headstock against a wall. The plastic hardware has held up without the slightest bit of wear. The only damage sustained was a small chip at the bottom of the body, which was quickly re-attached with a bit of superglue and now you cant even tell.
Ive used it for maybe a dozen gigs and nothing has ever gone wrong with it, never gone out of tune, never broken a string, nothing. And i bash it pretty hard!

never had to deal with yamaha

Been playing this guitar for 7 years now and i wouldnt trade it for Hendrix's strat.... well maybe not. Its a perfect guitar to learn on, or just for that cheap acoustic that isnt going to sound like crap. I tried to use it to record once or twice and it held up reasonably well, but not great. But its not supposed to is it? Its an entry level axe for someone who is learning, and it will still sound good in years to come.
If it was lost or stolen i'd track it down until i found it, but thats because it was my first guitar. Theres nothing to hate about this guitar, but nothing flashy either. Its just dependable.