Yamaha FG-300

I bought it at second hand in 1976 in Canary Islands and no info about year made, but must be before 1975 (probably 1973)It has no serial number or be deleted, so it was impossible for me to get more information. It's a japanese unit.
Dreadnought acoustic without amplification devices.
Laminated top mahogany back and neck, 20 fret, Tune-O-Matic style bridge,
Glossy transparent natural finished.

I only use it to play in parties with friends and some others in recording in my studio, and it has a very rich sound that many people compare with Martins! even in some music stores. Is very loudly, if you are singing without micro you may go hoarse trying to stick out your voice. The best sound that I have got in this guitar was due to the use of Elixir 011 cords. I have to say that I redicover this guitar, just after restore it and replace cords for that brand. WOW!

Very strong made and durable even in my hands... and my damn friends ones.
The plastic made strap button mades me have some doubts at first sight but 30 years later it stills being there so... but being honest pickguard glue fell down some years ago and I had to stick it again.
Hardware, rollers -in fact- have being tuning the guitar decades and now, only one started having some problems, a stiff touch.

Yamaha in Canary Islands gets you a very good service, in my opinion.

Start playing 32 years ago.
Also I have 3 electric solid body guitars (brands: Yamaha Rgx, Epiphone LP & Fender Tele) and an electric bass (Yamaha Rbx) Efect pedals, PA system, and some more...
I particularly love its strong sound and beautiful shape, aspect, finish, fretboard inlays, picguard design, bridge calibrations.
I bought it because the guy who was giving me lessons of guitar in the seventies, recomends me to do it after test it and compared with sound and features of others in that price ratio, it was a budget.
I only wish it have a cutaway, in order to make easier fretboard work and it's impossible to change the bridge to instal a piezo because of design.

Major feature of this guitar is it's adjustable bridge/string setup. Very handy for configuring to taste. Mine was new in '73 I think when I got it with hardshell case.

Good, full, rich sound. Lot of texture and tone potentials.

Great, light action. Can be set quite low with relative ease. Sales outlet did initial setup. Only flaw in construction I'm aware of was the eventual failure of the pickguard adhesive, a fairly common problem as I understand it.

No problems, and I used it a lot, though not out much.

Service easy and great. Supplied by local distributor, not Yamaha directly. (see below)

My Dad bought one of these for me new in '73, my first "real" guitar, on the advice of professional sales folk. I'd been playing for a couple years maybe. Mine was "lost or stolen" and I'm looking for one to replace it -- Please contact me if you've got one to sell. It's just a good all around guitar. It was a good value at it's retail price then and they seem to hold their vaue.

Dreadnought, Mahogany, Adjustable Bridge(sweet), Made c. 1970, Red Label "Nippon Gakki", Nice touches and it is gorgeous! After 38 years

I just entertain myself with simple styled folk tunes from the 60s. So I am not really any kind of an expert, but I have it set for a super low action and the intonation is soooo sweet. I get compliments from my friends who actually can play, when they try it.

This puppy was set up so-so from the factory (very High action) but it takes only a few meinutes to set-up with the adjustable bridge. The bridge has action adjustments (up and down via screws) and Intonation adjustments like (an electric) for each string.

Finish is great! Still loooks great after 38 years! They even shot a couple of clear coats on the interior (humidity control???). No buzzes, etc. Original tuners, I need to remove and refasten the pick gaurd (pickey, pickey) though.

I am not a professional and don't play enough to have an opinion that counts, but, this guitar has held up to countless basement/campfire "hootenannies" :-)

Never had a problem that I couldn't solve myself

Only guitar I own, never needed another one. Easy action, great tone, loud enough to hold it's own.

Favorite features: adjustable bridge and the thing is a beauty! Bought it new in about 1970 I think it cost about $200.00 new???? (maybe less). One owner, only played on Sunday (heh heh), If I needed to replace it, and if I could find one in decent shape, I'd do it in a heart-beat!

Yamaha FG300; gloss finish(inside, too--why?); dreadnought 'jumbo' style(according to Yamaha); tune-o-matic bridge; Yamaha tuners, thin neck, low frets, laminated top?--looks like spruce. Definitely laminated back/sides of mahoghany. 1 3/4"nut. Very lightweight instrument. Flowered pickguard, kind of translucent red/brown--reminiscient of a Gibson Hummingbird. This is my 1st of two that I had--kept this one, sold the other because this one played better. The original Yamaha case is junk, very thin---buy a stronger case.
By the way, I don't think any of them are solid wood, as some on Ebay love to claim. So what? They still sound great. This one has the "Nippon Gakki" Red Label

Has a tight, midrangy tone to it, maybe like a Martin D-18. The FG300's have a sound all their own, yet there is another model Yamaha that has an even BETTER sound yet no cult following---The Yamaha FG350W from the late 1970's. Anyway, the mahoghany FG300's sound different than the Rosewood/laminate FG300's. This FG has lots of volume to it and has that vintage tone.

I had the nut raised and the truss rod adjusted for a nice low action; very easy to play.
The finish has various marks of a 30 year-old instrument that have no effect on the sound.

I think it would withstand live playing; so many are still out there in many forms of condition.

Been playing 25+years; own many of the other major brands; they all have their own 'voice', as does the FG300. I still think the Yamaha FG350W sounds even better than the FG300. How did they do it so well? We'll never know...

I hope I can put another review in ,because I just got my 2nd fg 300.Orig. tuners missing one cover but I have the ones I took off my first one. Got this one off E-bay. She's in great shape

Red lable what can I say..

Action was a little high but a few turns of the adj. bridge fixed that..Had to adj. the truss rod also. The nut was worn tried a trick I read about...super glue(very small amount) & baking soda let it set up and sand then file in the grooves

Serial # wiz sez 69 or 70, she's still in good shape

Accually the Serial # wiz didn't work had to call yamaha. they found the info

It's my 2nd 300... Is another in the future??? My fiance would kill me ..

i love my fg
wouldnt trade it for the world

trashes more expensive boxes to bits

like playing with cotton

although it has done by me very well the bridge is comming apart
i would like to get my hands on a new one if anyone knows where i can get oneit would be great you can e-mail me at donna_randy2@yahoo.com

This is an FG300 red label.. I got off ebay, no pick up, all acoustic, and all laminated too.. Ahhhh dont you love it, an all ply guitar that kills my martin, go figure!! Good neck, strings a bit close together, my fingers are skinny, but my friend has sausage fingers... I changed the tuners to grover. Ajustable bridge is very cool, but not to attractive..Back and sides lam. rosewood, very nice.. An all around busker..

Well Well Well, How? Why? Who? How did they do it? Why did they do it? And who did it? Great guitar man, Thunderous lows, nice highs, and for the love of god LOUD!!! I dont think there is any body out there that can build a guitar quite like Yamaha can, I mean this thing is not even solid wood, But you would never no it. I also have a fg180 also that great too.. But the 300 is a keeper, has that old to die for low dry tight martin sound... But it only cost 480.00 with shipping.. I am getting another one this week...Im hooked, For years I have reading about these old red labels, nippon somthing or other, So one day I just ordered the 180, And I was like WOW.. They are right..Great old sound, durable, and theres just somthing about these old yammys man.... They are becoming a cult thingy..I love these axes.. Buy one or two.

Really good, for 30+ years, allgood inside and out..Although the fg180 needed lots of help..

Come on there Yammys

Dont no, sorry

Just Amazing, What a sound ya...

When I first saw this guitar she had 5 rusted strings,a loose pick guard, worn tuners, a few nicks and most of all a "RED LABEL". It love at first sight!

Even with the 5 rusted strings it didn't sound real bad, but when I got her home and strung her up... WOW. I don't know alot about solid wood tops, Koa bodys etc. couldn't care less. Does a guitar sound and play good? That's what I know... And this one does.

She is easy to to play. I love the adj. bridge though I've only messed with it once when I first got her. I also like the idea of the laquer on the inside.

The guy I bought her from had bought this guitar for his father in the early-mid 70's,his dad had passed away 10 yrs. earlier and she sat all alone in his closet 'till I came along..Durable?? sure..I put new Grovers on her thats it. And of course the pick guard...easy fix.

nope

I got my 1st guitar when I was in 5th grade I'm 51 now (u do da math).I also have 2 other Yams-fg180 and a fg335 an Ovation a Washburn Agusta. I also have a Alvaraz 12 string and a cheep elec.guitar.If the house caught fire I'd grab the 300 first. I also keep my eyes open for another one, I'd buy it in a minute. I love these old "red labels". My uncle (he passed away 2 months ago) had a fg140 that I would love to have,they are good instruments also.

Finish is mellow and durable. No damage except where pickguard came off. Missing when I bought it. Not sure of year made. Typical red label also has K encircled on brace and serial number on brace next to sound hole on inside.

Incredible sound. No buzzing , highs and lows like I've never heard on any guitar.

Action set low, perfect condition of all hardware and wood. Tuners still perform as new.

With the exception of the pickguard missing, it looks like the instrument will last forever. Finish thick and solid, strap button solid, may have been replaced.

WOuldn't expect support at this age.

I began playing in about 1965. Had a cheap Silvertone that I thought was the best back then, moved on to Teisco electric couple years after that. Quit playing around 1970 until deciding to relearn about 3 months ago. I bought a couple of guitars on eBay, cheap and affordable. Found an Epiphone acoustic elec. at local music store and put it in layaway. The other night when going to pay a bit more down on it, I saw this little Yamaha FG-300 laying on the floor in its original case looking like an orphan. Picked it up, saw it's sad looking wood where pickguard used to be, played a few notes and fell in love. I paid the price, it was on consignment. Store people thought I was silly for wanting it. I knew nothing of it's age or history. Been wearing the ends of my soft fingers off playing it. Next day paid off my Epiphone and took it home, it's ok but no comparison. Just because I'm all the sudden getting silly with this guitar thing, I bought a slightly used Alvarez PD-90 at same store, got it home today and it does not even come close to the Yanaha. I will sell the Alvarez, keep the Epiphone for now, but never part with the Yamaha. If I'd had one like it in the 60's I would have never stopped playing.

I bought my FG-300 at a pawn shop in Houston for 90.00
I love this guitar. The neck is straight, the pick guard hums, and I put it on the pillow next to me at night ! Maybe that's why I don't sleep too well.

Lot's of Cash, Williams, & Coe. The action on this guitar is incredible.

Couple of dings, but it sounds better every time i pick it up !

Can't beat the adjustable bridge....

NOPE.

Been playing since I was a kid, also have a 1964 Gibson ES-150, and an old Strat...The FG-300 is my Favorite !