Yamaha FG-335II

This is an 82' model, has a solid spruce top, NOT laminated like a guy
said back down, everything else they have said about it is pretty much true, when it comes to features. taiwan made, w/japenese machine heads. neck is thin but girthy and even though I play classical guitar and my main axe is a fender strat, which has a wide neck on it, this neck hurts my right hand thumb, (Im a lefty), but to do justice to it, I belive it has to do w/the .11 strings that were put on by my luthier when in sent it over for a lefty makeover. This is, in my opinion a very pretty looking guitar for been a low end dreadnought.

First of all I deem myself a pretty fair guy when it comes to rating an instrument, since the product's category, price and real use has to be taken into consideration, so, this been said, I think this guitar is very good I the sparkly clean department, but lacks a lot of resonance and bass response on the wound strings. To be honest, this is my first dreadnought guitar, but have had for several year now a beautiful souding 2800.00 classical guitar, so I know a thing or 2 about sound and resonance of the tone woods. This guitar inspires me to play phil keaggy stuff new age, but that is just me. fingerpicked it sound alright, using a pick it compensates a lot for the resonance lacking, due to the stronger accentuated attack. I will update this after I change strings to .10 althought I don't think it will help any to bring out more sound from it, but maybe help my hands feel more confortable when it comes to the overall feel of the instrument. of course one has to remember, this is a right hand guitar converted to left, which brings a lot of intonation problems specially after the 12th fret, but in this case I can barely hear the difference, and the harmonics ring out beautifully strong. have not played it live yet, nor w/any acoustic p/u.

nice action, finish is hard to rate as this has been a very mistreated puppy that I discovered at my friend's home, but i'd say that to have survived this long under the conditions it was subjected to, finish is very good.

This guitar is a f****ng tank, it's solid, strong almost dent proof, finish is still holding on, I will defenitely use it without backup, with the exception of spare strings of course.

never've dealt w/them

I have an electric yamaha guitar rg420 lefty model, and my experience with both of them as beginner instruments have been great, I dont consider myself a beginner anymore after been playing for 13 years on and off, more on than off lately, and have several other electrics and equipment, but I do consider myself a beginner on the fingerpicking acoustic style, and this is my first guitar, funny, after 20 years of been made!!, and as a beginners guitar is a fantastic value instrument, I have proven that yamaha is a company that do delivers quality instruments with a very good quality/price balance, sort of like epiphone for solids. even thought it's not a luthier made martin or such, I feel I have a little museum piece just because it's been out of the production line a long time ago.
If lost or stolen it would be sadly missed as my first acoustic guitar, but would be replaced for a 400.00 plus electric acoustic.

1976-77, Taiwanese manufacture
Nonlocking tuners from Japan
Dreadnought style, probably spruce and mahoghany
Transparent natural finish
Neck seems thin to me...and I have small hands. Thin frets, rosewood fretboard (aren't they all?)

Style? If I get a style, I'm quitting. <g>

Just gets better with age. I'm the original owner, had it 25 years now, and with decent bronze on it...sings like an angel. I'm no more than a dangerous amateur, but the sound compares well with most guitars I've heard and played. Somehow I always like mine better...

Gets noisy if you work at it. I don't work at it.

You know, after 25 years I no longer remember about the action. :)

But everything else is sweet as honey. I can see a little extra glue on the interior, but it doesn't affect the sound...or maybe it does, and maybe I should be glad it's there.

Look, it's still alive after 25 years...I think it'll stand up another 25 with no effort. I've put it to some hard use over the years, and all it needs is a little lemon oil to keep the finish glowing.

Never had to call anyone. I figure they're okay. They have a nice website. Heh.

Been playing for 27 years. Figure to play at least another 27.
If I lost this guitar, I couldn't get another...Yamaha hasn't made 'em for years. I guess I'd have to stick with my Jay Turser "Perfectly Green Guitar" (tip 'o the hat to John Hiatt). This guitar got me through a bunch of college gigs, and now sings my six-year-old to sleep at night. My wife is learning to play using it.

That reminds me--I need to get a new set of strings.

I believe around '82?,Second transition to TAIWAN from JAPAN.
14 frets,Solid top for sure.Body is made of Solid Spruce,Mahogany back and sides.The finish is great,not too thick or thin laquer.The body style is a little bigger than of a Martin Dreads.The tuners are similar to Grovers but made in JAPAN stamped on the casing.The neck is quite girthy like an LP with a rosewood board neck,Thin/Vintage frets.

This guitar was/were given to me by my Godparent when i visited him Back Home (Phils),I play acoustical Rock and Ballads from Eagles to Neil Young and of course wide variety of new acoustical music from Staind to Creed,Puddle of Mudd,Coldplay,Beatles,Frampton,Radiohead,Lenny K.,Incubus and so forth.I use a Dean Markley ZH-7 ( Zero-Hum ) soundhole pickups through a Fishman Pro-EQ II. Yes it sounds so Clear/Loud/with all the strings present from top to bottom.It just rings.I switch from time to time to D'Addarios EXP or GHS phospor bronze acoustic strings.The rich full sounds rivals the Martin D-15,18. Takamines,Guild,Larivee,Taylors,Depending on the model that are a GRAND or more.I love everything about the simpleness of this acoustic.The only thing i've changed are the Nut from plastic to real Bone and the Bridge saddles to a bone also but compensated.The action is set up by myself from Med/Low.

Action is great after a professional set-up. The rest are my own tweaking and adjusting.The top s are well matched,with a slight dark discoloration due to the fading effect. The binding are aged wonderfully on its own.There are no flaws or whatsoever.What made me wonder is that this acoustic could have been in the $1K ranged for the quality and sound along with the material.

I played this puppy hard and soft and theres no buzz or rattling whatsoever.Endured the N.American weather.Played outside/inside. This FG-335 II will last forever.Thinkin' of slapping some jacks and a Rare Earth soundhole pups but this sound so good! I think i will stall for now.I'm so lucky i was given this. I dont know how many more of this are kicking around,nevermind the production numbers made.

N/A

Been playing since 10 years old. Stopped for a couple of years and got back on the saddle again and never stopped.The only thing i wish this woul've had were the binding.Other than that its a WINNER

As simple as it comes...straigh acoustic w no pickup.

Sound is stellar for a low-end acoustic. Bright, full. I string it up with Martin Lights and the guitar does the rest.

Laminate made in china, but the top is solid (can't remember the material...I knew once). Nice low action for a cheap guitar...one of the things that sold me on it.

I've been using it for 10 years, and I bought it used, so I'd guess it's at least 15 years old, and still a great guitar. Actions is as low as the day I bought it, and I've never adjusted the neck tension. Original machine heads still keep decent tune. No complaints.

I am deeply jealous of my friend Jack whose Yamaha FG-335II acoustic
I play every chance I get. When he put a fresh set of strings on this
thing it awakened to sound better than many of the guitars I fool
with in the Fine Guitar Room at Guitar Center.
About 12 years ago he was offered this instrument for half price because it had a serious ding in one of the sides. It is a big dreadnaught but of a more jumbo shape than a martin which is a bit smaller actually. It has 14 frets past the body. Its nicely made but the real charm of this laminated top moderate cost instrument is its
huge sweet clear sound. This thing is so rich sounding and barks so loud when picked crisply both high and low that both Jack and I found ourselves looking at more recent Yamahas to see if it is a family affair.
I think that they just got this model right. I remember that Yamaha had a reputation for making a good sounding axe at a great price and this thing must be one of the real reasons for that reputation.
Some of the 1000 dollar plus instruments they are making now are quite fine but this FG 335II is better sounding than most of the present Yamaha instruments any where near its build quality. I think it rivals a good d-18 Martin in quality. I want one bad! Several of the frets are wearing down but it took a professional setup quite nicely and plays easily. The difference in sound quality between this guitar and most others I get a chance to play is plain breathtaking. It is a plain, solidly made guitar, quiet trim, laminated top, rosewood fingerboard I think. Big, action rose in 12 years. normal features.

Sounds too good. Soundwise this particular guitar eats stuff like Tacomas alive.
And theyre not bad. But they cost 1000 plus
Rivals The Martins or Taylors I've played. It may not equal really fine
D-28 but it is a GREAT guitar.

ITs put together pretty good. simple, clean and durable.
This particular instrument had a near hole in the big bout side.
action is ok. needed a setup after 12 years which helped enormously.

This Guitar belongs on stage playing the best for the best. I would be proud to own and play this thing anywhere. the old thing is flat
fine gear. IT should hold up indefinitely as it seems well enough made to be maintained in playable state for quite a long time.
ITs the Sound. the sound. I cant say enough about it obviously.

Jack was offered this guitar as a closeout on a damaged instrument.
its been maintained at home and by a fine local setup guy in Los Angeles Area. (Eric's guitar shop in the San Fernando Valley)

Jack is studying Django Reinhardt material and is a developing player who began on keyboards. I am a good player for about 30 seconds (no more) but I know the difference between an indifferent sounding acoustic guitar and a really lovely instrument. This thing is a good one. a Really good one. Dont know if they're all like this but Im hunting for a FG-335II right now.(Jackk absolutely wont sell me his!)

Received as a gift in 1982. Solid-top dreadnought. 14 frets clear. A little larger body than the Martin dreadnoughts. Nothing fancy, but an incredibly good guitar.

Solid acoustic sound. I play folk, country, alternative, singer/songwriter. I use a Dean Markley Pro-Mag pickup. The Pro-Mag is not great, but it only cost $45. I have several friends who want this guitar, but it was my first guitar and I will never give it up. It has aged extremely well and provides a rich sound, though no comparison to my D-42.

The action was tweaked before I got it. Just the way I like it, not to high for leads, but not too low for volume. Just now, after years of use, the 3rd fret is wearing thin. It has very good intonation as well. Finish was great, and it has aged very well.

Has been used live some, but not too much. Has lasted a long time without any problems. Finish is still in great shape, though I take very good care of all of my instruments. Strap button added to heel when I bought it. Both strap buttons are still solid.

Never had to deal with the company. That,in my opinion is the sign of a great company.

Been playing for 20+ years. Own a Martin Backpacker and a Martin D-42. If it were lost or stolen I would be crushed because of everything I have been through with it. Would probably buy another if I could find one. Good guitar that has aged extremely well. I think it was a fantastic value.