Yamaha FG-300

I bought mine new when I was 15 or so--around 1972. I found out after removing the the half-unglued pickguard that the top was laminated, as the glue had eaten away a 50-cent-piece sized chunk of the top layer (either that or it was a mistake they simply covered up). No electronics, adjustable bridge, and I used the case from my old Yamaha 12-string; tight fit, but it worked for years.

I mostly strung it (strang it?) with light-guage strings, sometimes switching over to Super or Hybrid Slinkies. Of course it sounded like total crap most of the time. I yanked the pickguard after reading an article online that said it deadened the highes, but it sounded really thin after that, so I broke down and put some medium-guage D'Angelicos on it, adjusted the harmonics, and WOW--I can't believe how good a $230, 30-year-old, laminated guitar sounds! I was getting ready to go out and buy a Seagull, but I really see no need for that now. The neck's a little narrow for me (6'1", 200#), but I'm out of practice, too.

It's certainly picked up a few dings and scratches (not to mention the pickguard scar) from various camping trips and what-have-you over the years, but now it sounds as good as new--maybe even better. All the original hardware is still there and still working well.

30 years? Camping? Used the case as a seat? I will never get rid of this guitar. In fact the next step is looking into getting it refinished!

Never had any reason to call.

I've been playing guitar since I was eight, keyboards since I was 14, and drums since I was 22--and I'm 45 now. I flirted with accordian, bass, mandolin and percussion, but I always come back to the guitar. I'd really be bummed if I lost this guitar, but I'd probably buy a new Seagull or a Guild to replace it; finding another one would probably be next to impossible.

Label inside says Nippon. In very good condition and I've treated it well. The guitar has aged nicely in sound and its mellow look (similar to a Martin J.Buffet top) of the top; I didn't know it was a laminated top. The sides and back appear to be rosewood. Even with an adjustable bridge, I've never adjusted it; I don't want to mess with a good thing. Seven years ago the first 5 frets were replaced due to wear. The pickguard (thicker than many today) needed glue about 15 years ago.

The FG300 has always sounded good to me, in rock, folk and jazz. My style blends a counter-rhythm jazz strum (high to low strings) and use of 1 or 2 bass strings picked while finger-picking/strumming higher stringsI typically use a soundhole insert pickup (D.Markley) and make no audio change. John Pearse Lt-wt. strings have been my standard for 12 years: when new they ring sweetly for about two weeks. I change strings monthly. The FG300's thin neck allows me to solo all over, high and bass, and I love that switchability.
When I play other guitars at music shops I think, Will I find a replacement? Very few come close to consideration! (No Martins do.) Perhaps a Gibson could replace it, for over $1,000.

Since I bought this Yamaha FG300 thirty years ago, I've never adjusted the bridge or the neck. It played great from the start. Fine appearance (elegant) and no flaws. Over the years people have commented on what a beautiful guitar this is.

This is an oft-played, cared-for guitar. The finish looks wonderful. I cannot remember if the wood looked mellow years ago, or if change was gradual. Some wear is at the edge of the soundhole from strum-stroke. Pickguard needed adhesive years ago. Nothing has fallen off. This guitar was built solidly, though I thought it lacked weight, at least compared to many other guitars.

Never even tried to contact Yamaha, or the music dealer who sold the guitar. The dealer gave me a "bring it back" warranty for a year, but no Yamaha paper.

Played guitar since 1966. Dumped my first $25 guitar and bought the Yamaha FG300 in 1971, with Yamaha hard case. I also play a Fender Strat.
If I lost this guitar, a comparable replacement might be a Gibson J150 or a Hummingbird. I hate the fact that I want to buy another acoustic but nothing plays as sweetly in the under-$1,000 price range. Sometimes I wonder how it would sound with a thin-line pickup inside.

I have not been able to determine exactly when my FG 300 was made. Although it has a laminated top, the resonance and volume equal most solid tops. My father-in-law bought this guitar at a yard sale and after playing it for a few years, gave it to me because I liked it so much. When I got it it needed a few minor repairs. The fancy western style pickguard, (which really sets this guitar apart) needed reglued. Nothing a little Duco cement couldn't fix. The adjustable bridge needed some new screws as some were stripped out by someone who obviosly didn't know what they were doing. Again, a very simple fix. Although this guitar seems to stay in tune forever, the tuner screws have a tendancy to work themselves loose from the headstock from time to time so I check them and retighten if necessary whenever I change strings. As a machinist I would have to say that the tuners themselves are not the best.

The sound quality of this guitar is very well suited to my playing in our bluegrass group. The other members of my group often comment on the sweet sound of my FG 300. I play through a mic. mounted on a goosneck from my vocal mic. stand. This guitar mics very well and looses none of its excellent tone through the mic. I use Martin bluegrass strings which produce the low end I need when playing rhythm and the high end on the upper strings really cuts through when playing solo breaks. Overall, I would have to say I am very pleased with the tone of this guitar for this type of music. It is very comparable to the most popular bluegrass guitar made by the company that makes my strings.

Although this guitar needed some TLC when I got it, from the factory this was a very well crafted and very good looking instrument. I prefer a thin neck which this instrument has. The neck is as straight as an arrow. I have the action set super low and there is absolutely no buzzing at any position on the fretboard. As far as the finish, it is in as new condition except at the top of the neck where I do most of my playing. The finish has worn through about 3/4" long at the thumb position. The binding has yellowed slightly, probably from polishes, but the inlays are still as beautiful as when they were new. Being that we play mainly in 2 or 3 keys, the guitar has developed some very slight fretboard indentation and minimal fret wear at these positions. This has not affected the overall playability whatsoever.

Right now this is the only acoustic I own and I feel very secure playing live with it. It never have to re-tune while playing. Just some minor tuning with new strings between sets. We used to take our mandolin players Martin for a backup but never had to use it. A few broken strings have been changed in the time it took our frontman to tell 1 or 2 jokes. The FG 300 is very light but the construction, bracing, and craftsmanship is rock solid.

I have been playing guitar for 32 years and I have played everything from Folk Masses (church) to hard rock. I have owned a couple of acoustics and several electrics of which my late seventies Les Paul Deluxe was my favorite. It was the only guitar that had an action close to my Yamaha. I would not have chosen this guitar for purchase before I owned it. I did not even know what it was when I first saw it. After playing my FG 300 for about 10 years now, I feel very fortunate that my father-in-law chose to give it to me. I am forever gratefull and can honestly say that I will never be so stupid as to sell it as was the case with my Les Paul. This is the guitar I will take to the grave.

I checked with Yamaha, and they said this guitar was built around 1970
in Japan. It has a laminated top, but pshaw! I have another yamaha vintage 1980 with a laminated top, and have gone head to head with a Martin D-35, and the Yamaha won! This guitar was bought out of a pawn shop for 90 bucks with the hard case, it still had the original store tag, and neck wrench. it has a western style pickguard with a thistle ornamentation, seemed gaudy at first, but it grows on you, it has a unique adjustable bridge, with individual string adjusters, beautiful abalone inlay on the head, with mother of pearl inlays on the fingerboard. the neck is thin, and the action is awesome. I have added a piezio pickup, and use this for live performances.

I have an '80's Yamaha FG340 that makes martin owners weep (paid $156 new in 1975) this guitar has a lighter sound, but the guitar is much lighter weight. I play Rock, blues, bluegrass, country, folk, pop, and my own stuff, this is a great playing guitar, and I use it plugged in, but I rather use my other yamaha for straight acoustic work, fuller sound.

with the adjustible bridge, a couple turns with the screwdriver will adjust the action. the neck is straight as an arrow, I have the action set double extra low, and as long as I don't get excited and bang on the guitar, there is no buzzing, or dead spots on the neck. when I got it out of the pawn shop, it was missing strings, and it looks like somebody dropped it and crunched one spot on the bottom edge near the strap pin, but other than looking close, you can hardly notice it, and the guitar is fully intact, no buzzing, this guitar is built like a light weight tank. probably great for a beach guitar, tennis or what ever.

I use this guitar for gigs all the time, the hardware is solid, it holds tune very well, it has never let me down, I never bring a back up. as far as lasting goes, Thirty years, obviously some abuse during it's life, and still going strong!

Don't know

I have been playing guitar for about 36 years, I have owned Yamaha guitars for just about all of them, I have an '75 FG 340, '80 SGB 2000, this FG 300, and a fender strat. I admit, if I lost this guitar, I would just keep on truckin, it is not my numero uno, but it is a great peice of yamaha history, and a great playing guitar. I definitly would have to replace it hopefully with a CPX 15. but some day maybe... I especially like the western look of this guitar, its lightness, its thin neck, and definitely its playability. I also like how cheap I got it. Sorry pawn guys, this thing was worth a LOT more!!

I was interested to see a review of a Yamaha FG 300. This is an old guitar. I bought mine in 1982. It was the first fairly good guitar I owned and I still have it. I bought it in Hong Kong for the equivalent of about $120.
Even though I have acquired several other guitars over the years, including a Martin, two Guilds, a Taylor, a Lowden and two Ovations, I still have a fondness for the FG 300. Some of my attachment is sentimental, however, it's not a bad guitar. My assessment follows.
The FG-300 has a laminated top, and generally laminated top guitars don't have the resonance that a solid top guitar has, however, the FG 300's top is very lightly built. Mine has that slight swelling behind the bridge, such as one might see on old solid top guitars. Nowadays manufacturers tend to overbuild tops to reduce the risk of stress cracking. This obviously reduces the resonance so in fact the lightly built FG 300 can compete sonically with some more heavily built solid top guitars. For example, I have an Epiphone Hummingbird with a solid top which is about twice as thick as the Yamaha's top. I would rate the Yahama's sound at least as good as the Epiphone's, probably a little better.
The other features on the FG-300 include a bridge with individually adjustable saddles. Covered, Yamaha manufactured tuners. MOP inlays on a rosewood fingerboard, and figured mahogony back and sides (I'm can't really tell if these are laminated or not)

Sound is good. Comparable to many solid top guitars.
Conventional wisdom is that laminated tops and adjustable bridges won't do much to help sound however, as mentioned above in the case of the top this is offset to a large extent by the light build of the top. In the case of the adjustable bridge the two main screws at the ends of the bridge are anchored pretty firmly through the top of the guitar and so the acoustic coupling doesn't really seem to have been compromised.
My guitar is as bought in that I haven't fitted a pick up or altered it in any way.

Action is excellent, even after 27 years. I have made minor truss rod and intonation (adjustable bridge) adjustments but that's all the maintenance its had. It is a good playing guitar.
The inside is well finished and varnished. This may help the sound. Some guitars are very poorly finished inside.

When I bought this guitar I didn't have much money and all I could afford was a cheap fibre case. I brought it back from Hong Kong to Ireland as conventional luggage in the hold of a 747. When I moved to the U.S. it was in storage in Scotland for four years and when it was eventually shipped to the states the case was badly damaged and the neck of the guitar had marks where it was supported in the case. Evidently other stuff had been loaded on top of the case. In short, this guitar has been around the world and thrown about a bit but has stood up to it very well.

I've never had to deal with Yamaha since the guitar didn't need any follow-up.

I've been playing for 29 years. I have 12 other guitars (9 acoustics, two electrics and a bass). Acoustics - Martin, Taylor, Lowden, Guild (2), Ovation (2), Epiphone, Mitchell. Electrics - Fender and Yamaha (SA 2000).

this guitars feature are awsome, actually some of the best i've ever seen on an acoustic guitar. this guitar was purchased in 1980 at uncle bob's in milwaukee. it has the individual string adjustment settings, pearl in-lays, a steel neck, and we just installed a dean markley pickup (Z-70). This guitar came with one of the best cases it's a heavy duty one with no damage to it in 20 years.

This is a great sounding acoustic guitar! This guitar gives a crisp clean sound and with the newly installed pick-up there is not many other guitar's I can think of that have this kind of quality sound.

this guitar's action is awesome it contains no flaws every thing on this guitar was made with quality.

this guitar's reliability is outstanding! I had this guitar for 20 years and I havent had one single problem.

This guitar is so durable this hasn't ever had to go through customer service, in fact this guitar hasn't ever had to be delt with for any repairs.