Yamaha FG-300

How many features can you have in an acoustic? Not many but this is my favorite acoustic I've ever played on. I may only be 17 but I've been playing since i was about 11 years old. This is a wonderful guitar and possibly one of the best buys you can find. Esspecially with the red nippon ghakki (rare version, japenese) After buying these in 2002 I felt i had ripped th eguy off once iI got home. I got it for only $80 dollars!!!

Two words..GOD LIKE... no guitar under a thousand bucks has the sound this does. If you fnd one buy one..but they can be hard to get!

Very well! Although after time the pickguard trends to warp off the wood... other than that wonderful!

Very good except for the pickgaurd like i said.

dont know..this guitar is over thirty years so there would eb no need for customer service.

W - O - W

1974 FG-300
Black Label: Yamaha + Nippon nomenclature under varnish (watch for early model fakes as labels are peeling yellowed paper, not under shellac.
Serial number at front of sound hold bracing near neck side in blue.
Dreadnaught body style (fat waist, wide body acoustic).
Solid Rosewood sides, book matched rosewood back, rosewood neck, binding includes headstock!
Solid spruce top (use dental mirror to verify grain patterns when purchasing), with rosewood tailpiece, mother of pearl neck inlays, flower pattern 3 color painted pickguard is a must for true value.
Adjustable tailpiece (action, and intonation).

I'm comparing the sound to overal guitar tone. Since I'm not primarily an acounstic player this is based on an odd set of circumstances. However, my extensive/eclectic guitar collection and involvment in music makes me feel this is an unbiased opinion.

Some of my more recognizable guitars currently owned:
91 Fender USA Stratocaster 'Ultra' Model with Fender Lace sensors
84 Ibanez Signature series Alan Holdworth AH-10
76 Hagstrom Super Swede
79 Les Paul Standard
98 Les Paul Zak Wylde Signature model

This acoustic is ultimately a very warm guitar. Whom ever posted (see other reviews) that there is a lamitated top has never seen the original literature for this guitar, or looked inside with a dental mirror. The guitar features a solid spruce top with incredible solid rosewood book-match back and sides. No laminates here at all. Even the interior skeleton is made with rosewood, or spruce supports. Include the fact that there is close to 2 milimeters of gloss sealant on the guitar and you have a very dense, high sustain, warm tone. The fundamental notes ring true and last for days. If you match features with any new guitar of the same caliber, expect to empty your bank account for more than 2K us. That is the bottom line.

I received this guitar from my wife, who's father died at an early age. The guitar was in storage for 20 years. SInce I've had it, I have adjusted the intonation depending on the string gauges I use with it (try that with a solid tail piece!) and have had no problems with the playabilty of this guitar. There are even frets, and no dead-spots on the neck.

I have had the same standard pick guard problem. Ironically this is due to Yamaha trying to make a better pickguard mounting system. Instead of clear coating the top, and sanding where the pickguard was to be glued, they clamped a slightly smaller version of the pickguard before the shellac process. After the thick shellac was placed, the pickguard was removed and glue was poured into the cavity and the pickguard placed on top. The reasoning being that the glue adheres to the wood better than the clear shellac or varnish. Unfortunately for Yamaha, they didn't realize these guitars would be played 30 years later, and the glue shrank at a quicker rate than the shellac. With the edge of the pickguard overlapping the now-higher shellac, the two separated and the pickguard falls off. No big deal, my local luthier glued it back on for $40 during a Winter (the dry season) tune-up.

Otherwise the guitar features, a nicely shellacked interior...could of been sanded inside, but this is no boutique model and back in the 70's nobody did that when making $300 guitars!

This is an acoustic that can last a lifetime. It is the kind that you refret and pass on to your children. 2 mils of shellac all over the thing, and solid tuners with thick gears. The heel of the neck is robust and will not warp (my guitar was left outside for a week in -10 Celcius weather when dropped off by a delivery service) My luthier says it is straight as an arrow.

Who knows.....

Considering you can buy one used for half of what a top of the line Martin Dreadnaught costs there is no question this is a great value. Try one and see for yourself.

I bought my FG300 at a music shop in Douglasville Georgia in about 1970. It was new and a friends parents owned the shop. I paid $250 for it with a case. It is a Red Label with all the look of a Gibson Hummingbird. Lots of pearl and attention to detail. I do not know the wood or the finish...it does have an adjustable neck to keep it easy to fret. It is a dreadnought. Everything is original. The keys are still perfect.

When I bought it...I just wanted the top of the line Yamaha...I had no idea what I was getting into.......I knew it sounded good compared to my old Kay (which I wish I still had), Silvertone (Sears Craftsman..lol) and some classical guitar that I learned on.

This is perhaps one of the few guitars in the world where the bridge can be adjusted to fine tune each string. What a cool feature.

Here is the big thing. I have always wanted a Martin. I've been looking at D28's anywhere from 1299 to 1699. I gotta tell you...they are way over priced. Put a set of Martin Marquise medium gauge strings on this baby and it will kick the Martin at any time...and believe me I've played at least 10 Martin D28's and other models in the last two months. This is a killer...and can do bluegrass, country and rock...I bet John Denver knew about this guitary.

The guitar has been perfect. After 30 years I've only had to adjust the neck slightly two times. I gotta tell you...compare the ease of fretting to a factory martin...way down the bridge...and the FG300 will kick a Martin every time...and the baby never rattles.

Only issue I have ever had was the original pick guard coming loose. I have glued it with "super glue"....because super glue is light and will not affect the harmonics of the wood deck. No problem since.

Finish...to consider that this baby has been in my hands for 30 years..and the fact that it got played by a lot of people...it has held up remarkably well. It looks like the kind of guitar that a lot of people have enjoyed.

Got kinda routy with it a couple of times and left some pick marks on the deck....but it looks like a guitar with "character"...what a nice guitar.

One little place on the top edge has pulled away a little. It was like that the day I got it.....a good luthier could fix it in 10 minutes.

Withstand? 30 years of me and she is still perfect...I think that answers the question.

Never had to deal with anyone at Yamaha. Just no problems.

I have been playing since 1964...albiet pick it up and put it down for years at a time. At age 56 I am working on a lot of things to improve my playing. With retirement not so far away it will be nice to have a hobby that brings so much joy....

Rating...hummm...I mean this from the bottom of my heart....as mentioned earlier I've (since life has been good to me) been looking to buy a really good guitar. Everyone told me get a Martin, get a Guild, get a Taylor, get an Alvarez. You gotta be kidding me. Pound for pound, dollar for dollar...I guarantee there is nothing that comes close to the sound, sustain and performance of this guitar.

I have a 1977 F385 Takamine 12 string....the Martin lawsuit model. What a gem and a Yamaha G-231II classical... They funny thing is that all of the models that I have are rated above 9.5 on the Harmony Central web site. Thank goodness I made some good choice.

If you can find a FG 300...with the orginal pick guard and fairly taken care of...it would be a real value. Today, if I had to replace the FG300 I would pay the equivalent of a Martin D28 to do so. The value proposition is certainly there. I do believe that the newer models of Yamaha don't touch the quality of their first guitars....the fit and finish are just not there....maybe the current pricing is reflective of that...since you can buy one today for what I paid 30 years ago.

To hell with Martin...I think they are overated badly....I play a little bluegrass with my cousins husband and he says...Can I play the Yamaha....he has a D12 Martin...this is a funny world.

Hey ! Just found this site...nice ! I beleave my FG-300 was made in the early 70-s. It has the standard features...20 frets ,ajustable bridge, double m-p inlay on neck + bridge,"dreadnought"solid spruce soundboard,
rosewood body+ fret board,m-p inlayed insignia...

The sound is quite moving...exuisite ! Lovely deep bass vipes with
soothing over tones with above average volume...in all ..
rich,solefull harmonics...A pure delite to hear. I play any and all type of music with this FG-300!

Ive experiensed the pickgard comming lose.my only minnor complaint.
Ive had this FG-300 for 4 years. I traded a "Guild Starfire 3" for it.
...go figure. I just fell in luv with it...ya know ? It may not have been taken the best care of...because it has a few "tweeks"..
A bit of fret vibrations here and there, neck could use a peck or two..and the nut needs replaced,it has uneven notchs. The finish is quite nice, everything is tite and true. There is some darkening of
the finish...gives it a antuige apearense. the action will be perfect
when i get the tweeks out , ill have a pro do it..no doupt too valuble ! if i sold it as is ied have to get $1500. easy !

Oh yea i'ed use this in any pro live gigs or recordings,A VERY WELL MADE GUITAR..SUPURB SOUND, Ofcorse age has someTHING to do with that.

Ive never dealt with company... im sure they are great.

Been playing for 20 years ,Have several guitars electics,dreads, clasical,and a "slide". If i find a good deal on the FG-#s i'ed get it
in a heatbeat , love the sound... "deep sole". Infact the nicest sounding guitars ive played havE been yamahas... true !

I'm not sure what year this guitar was made, But I bought it from a very close friend of mine in 1997.It has a red nippon gakki label inside, so I'm thinking probably around the same time as most in the previous reviews.It has a laminated top, no pick-ups or any electronics.It does have an adjustable bridge, with individual tuners.Standard Yamaha covered tuners.Last but not least, a black yamaha cap covering the adjustment rod on the head.

The sound sends those cold chills down your spine. Nothing under $1500-$2000 can touch it in my opinion. Oh yeah, and new strings just make the chills that much colder.On a scale of 1-10 I'd have to give it a 12 or so, but 10 is all they allow!!!Perfect for almost any style of music(pre-1990, as if anything later is even considered music)bluegrass, folk, rock, etc.

Compared to many guitars I've had priveledge to play, nothing comes even in close proximity to the playability, without doubling or even tripling the price. the only problem so far is, like many of the other reviews, I have had to re-glue the pickguard down.Other than this minor detail, the action, fit, and finish are all perfect.

I would not be afraid to stand in front of 10,000 people and play this instrument, it is as faithful as the sun rising and setting,even now 30+ years old. Also haven't had any trouble at all with tuners sticking or neck warping or anything of that nature. Very low-maintenance!!!!

Never had to deal with Yamaha for repair or warranty!

I've been playing for nearly 10 years( still an ametuer by all means )I also own a Gibson Les Paul Custom 1978/black. From the very first time I played the FG-300, I fell in love with the sound and playability and pretty much begged for my buddy to sell me this guitar, and when he practically gave it to me($200)I've never regretted spending the money. If it were stolen,well, we'd better not go there.It'd be pretty drastic!!You'd have to have one to understand!!!

My FG-300 was purchased in Battle Creek, Mi. in 1976 for $300. I'm told it is modeled similar to the Gibson Hummingbird acoustics. Very distinctive pick guard. The wood has aged very nicely. You can check out the rest of the reviews to find out the body and neck woods used. I just recently replaced the original tuners with Pings because my son broke one of them a couple of years ago. It has an adjustable bridge which I have never touched.

I still consider myself a novice...much more so when I purchased the instrument. To put it simply, I have always loved the rich sound. I play a lot of Eagles, Jackson Browne etc. and it sounds great.

I am amazed at how playable this guitar is. It has a thin neck and the string action is very close. I have never had to have the guitar serviced. The neck is straight and true.

The only thing I can say is that I have owned this guitar for 27 years. There have been many years of it simply being kept in a closet or dragged around from home to home and It is still in near mint condition.

I was little more than a beginner when I bought this guitar and over the years have not committed to getting better. This past Christmas season, I put some new strings, played a little and kind of rediscovered what a great guitar this is. I play every day for at least an hour and in just a couple of months have improved noticably. Not only is this a wonderful sounding guitar that is easy to play, it is also about as pretty an instrument as I've seen around. The pick guard may be seen by some as gaudy but I just think it enhances the appearance. I would be very upset to lose this guitar not only for the sound and looks but also for the sentimental value. As a side note, I have watched e-bay for auctions of Yamaha FG-300s and have seen them sell for nearly $700. It appears that there are more than a few people who appreciate this instrument.

I bought mine new somewhere in Wyoming in 1975, and it's evolved over the years:
~replaced the tuners with Grovers in about 1980;
~after the pickguard fell off for the 3rd time, I made my own out of suede leather and glued it on. It changed the sound subtly but nicely and gets lots of comments;
~had a Hot Dot pickup installed in the bridge when I bought it - totally discrete as it plugs in thru the tail strap pin. No controls, but a clean acoustic sound, amplified.
~the biggest one is that I had the adjustable bridge removed. Because of the height of it, it was exerting too much pressure on the top and actually cracked a support rib, causing the top to bulge alarmingly and destroying the action. Replaced it with a plain piece of bone set in rosewood in '89 and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

It's just fine for everything I play. Mostly folk-rock, a little finger-picking, occasional backup for rock'n'roll.

Real clean, full sound plugged or unplugged. I've had it through lots of amps - liked the options with a Peavy best. I usually run Martin Marqees. With light strings it's a little soft in the high end, but it's so much fun to play!

It's very well made - matched wood and clean inlays. It's hard to say if the cracked rib/bridge problem was a flaw or just over-use. It was a hassle, thus the lower score, but once fixed it's been solid.

I haven't giged a lot, but she's a tough old girl! What's left of the original hardware still shows no signs of problems. There are some belt buckle scratches and lots of small dings, but nothing thru the varnish. Everything's solid and I'd pull it out for any occasion without hesitation. Both the color and sound have mellowed beautifully thru the years.

Never had to deal w/ Yamaha. Either did the work myself or had a professional luthier do it. Don't remember about the warranty, but it was 14 yrs old before it needed any pro help.

I've been playing since 8th grade, bought this guitar at age 17. Also have a Sigma 12-string, Fender acoustic bass and an old Univox hollow-body electric. Currently just have a Fender Champ practise amp - haven't needed more for a long time, but who knows?

I'd look for another one if this were lost or stolen, after my broken heart mended! I haven't played another guitar that I like as well for under $1000.

My favorite feature is the ease of playing. The action's real low and you hardly know you're playing it.

Originally chose it because of the cool pick-guard - which dissapeared into a box 20 years ago!

Late 1960's, unsure of the year, label is Nippon Gakki FG 300. My guitar tech thinks it has a solid top, but reading these reviews leads me to believe otherwise. Adjustable saddles on the bridge, very unusual for an acoustic. Thick pickguard - that's why it is in the shop now. Great playability on the neck, nice finish on the back and sides, worn from years of being on the road.

Everyone raves about the sound of this guitar. I use it for rock songs, accompanying myself. I use Martin Light Gauge, nothing sounds like a new set of strings. It has a rich, full sound. I am considering getting a bridge pickup added using saddle pickups - something new I just learned about.

Everything about this guitar was always top-rate. The fit and finish have aged very well. The wood is getting mellow but the overall action is always good. I am getting the frets dressed and the intonation set (after 20+ years!)

This guitar has crossed the US and been played everywhere from clubs to open fields, camping trips to showcases. It has always been reliable. I replaced the tuning heads with Schallers about 20 years ago, the original Yamaha heads were starting to stick. The pickguard started to come loose, was re-glued. The re-glue job is now warping, causing damage to the top. I am having the whole pickguard replaced with a newer, thinner one. Can't get the original flower design, though, without shelling out major $$.

Never had to call them.

My father traded his D35 Martin for this guitar and cash in late '60's, early 70's, not sure. He liked the sound, it was exactly like the Martin to him. Back then, Gretsch and Martin guitars were everywhere. He gave it to me in '76, I have played it ever since. I love this guitar. It was my first, you know, so it will always be special. I have traveled all over the US, it is always with me. I play rock and blues, own a '77 (Kalamazoo) Gibson RD Custom, a bass, a Framus 12-string, bunch of electronic gear. I play this guitar every other day or so, always use it to work out pieces of music. The only problem I've ever had is the pickguard, detailed in another section of this review.

Solid top of spruce...bottom rosewood...wonderful finish...mohogany neck...dreadnought style...tune-o-matic tail...thin rosewood neck...

Deep and rich sound...other players enjoy the sound...very mellow, especially with silk and steel strings

I have done nothing to the guitar...soon, I will probably get a fret job, I've had it since 1973...new...had no flaws...now there are very few minor scratches and dents, have to look hard to see most of them...rating for this is due to need for professional adjustment after years of use

I have used this guitar in many performances with my folk group...hole pickup works well with it...strap buttons are solid as the day bought...I use other guitars with varying tampre for appropriate songs...my FG 300 is great when finger picking, especially with silk and steel

I have had no interface with Yamaha since my 1973 purchase...I will probably go to a professional luthier for fret replacement some day

I have played many other Yamahas and own a classical too...none of them come close to it...would never think of trade in or resale...it is like an appendage...if it was lost or stolen, I would hunt one down of the same era and be glad to pay for it, if it met my need in replacement...I have two Framus---they are great for beat around and are very deep and loud, but not close to my FG 300

Features on this one is the same as on all the other ones mentioned here. Flawless in the assembly-like most of Yamaha prod. Sealed tuners, full bound neck,head and body.Big, thick flowered pickguard-thick being the key here-guessing about a sixteenth of an inch. Pick guard warped and started coming loose about 15 years ago. More on that later. Being a basic accoustic features are sort of limited-but will give it a 9 comparing it to other guitars this age.

The sound of this thing is awsome comparing it to a five hundred to one thousand dollar Epiphone of Fender or just about any other accoustic in its class.It may not be a Taylor or a Martin but what it lacks in sound is very minimal-and for 2500 less.The big boys should take a lesson from Yamaha-think quality-not money.There is no pickguard on it right now and after reading one of the reviews I may not put one back on it.

Like I said earlier-fit and finish was flawless. Some of the most beautiful wood and the bookmatched top and backsides are utterly flawless. It has aged to a beautiful darker tan colored top and the insides are flawless-varnished completely inside. I took it to a local guitar shop last month-thinking about getting a bridge pickup put on it-and the fellow there liked to have fell over. Said you couldn't get one made like it any more-with some big bucks maybe.

Only thing to happen to this one is the pickguard. I just play to suit myself and in church some. All the hardware is intact. I oil the keys about once a year.Don't know if it helps but can't hurt.The finish is still beautiful with just some very tiny hairline cracks in a few places. Guitar guy says it is still in remarkable shape for its age.

I have been in contact with Yamaha about 3 times in the last few months. They are absolutely super with their help. No warranty on this old baby. Never needed one LOL.

Now to the good stuff. This guitar was bought new by my wife for our first anniversary in 1968.Makes this jewel about 33 years and 8 months old.I believe it is the oldest one on this particular review. Red label-NIPPON GAKKI FG 300. This was before they started putting serial numbers in them evidently.No one can find one anywhere. I play mostly to suit myself.Finger picking and strumming.This guitar sat in the closet for about15 years up until about 4 months ago.Went to see my brother and one of his buddies was into bluegrass and started the old flame. Played his HD35 Martin(yawn)and came back home and took this one out of the closet.Had 4 old rusty old strings on it. Got me a new set of fender bullets-nothing special happened-than a set of martin lights -things started looking up-played them out for a while-then let my guitar man talk me into a set of DP med-12's-54's-gosh a mity-you aint believing how this thing sounds. Tear your heart out-just like a long lost love-I can't believe I let it set for that long hidden in a dusty closet. Now it gets played about 2 hours a day regardless. Oh about the pickguard-I talked to the people at yamaha again about the pickguard. She said she would talk to one of her techs. about it. I told her sorta how it was made. She said there wasn't a record of ot anywhere and they didn't stock something that old but she would see if they could find one.She called me back-that's right-about 3 times in all-very helpful-and said that there was an old warehouse they were cleaning out and there might be one there. Sure I thought. About a monthe later the phone rang one eve and sure as heck it was her. Said they had found one. Liked to peed on myself.I asked her how much I owed her and she said this one cost about 69 bucks-but get this-she said being I had been through so much they would pick up the tab on it and send it to me for free.Can't beat that. GOt the new one-guess what-it is exactly like the original one-only about one quarter inch smaller-made me want to cry. Called her back-said she would keep looking but there wasn't much hope.Maybe some on here will be able to help. But I got to thinking-maybe the old one was so thick and heavy it really did hurt the sound. Now if I could get that impression off where the old one was -but what the heck-the way it sounds now just close your eyes and enjoy it.And one more thing-that D35 martin could sure use the neck and finger board off of this old yamaha.I played about 10 different accoustics at guitar center recently-some high end ones might sound a little better but I can honestly say-Martin-Taylor-Guild-Gibson-ther wasn't one i played could touch the playability of this old baby. Gonna give to my grandson when it gets 50 years old. Sure it will still be going strong. Stolen-don't even go there. Hunt you down and nail your eyelids to the headstock. Then beat you to death with it.