Yamaha FG-413S

Solid Spruce top, slick glossy finish, "sandburst" finish (more subtle than most obnoxious sunbursts I've seen)

great warm deep sound. you can bang on the strings with no buzz. I was surprised at the sound for such a moderately priced guitar.

I've only had it a couple weeks and have only had to tune it once (checked the tune every couple days on my chromatic tuner), feels very solidly built when you pick it up, everything flush and well finished, banged it on walls a couple times with no ill effect.

I love this guitar, it sounds and looks great. I feel the greatest selling point is the sound, it fills the room, reall projects. I would drop the cash on the counter again in a heartbeat

This is a pretty basic guitar as far as acoustics go. I can't quite work out why it is that some of the reviewers here (and elsewhere) repeatedly say 'it's no Martin/Taylor/Gibson' etc - of course it isn't, but it's certainly no joke and for the price I paid, #190, I think it's a fantastic, good quality instrument. It has a solid sitka spruce top, which should mean that the sound will improve as it will age. Mine has no pick-ups, it's exactly as it came from the shop. The tuners are a little loose but that's no big deal; this guitar stays in tune consistently. Only real bad point is that although the guitar is priced quite reasonably, Yamaha could have been abit less miserly and provided some kind of gig bag...

I play in a band but I have only used this for recording, and it recorded very well. It has quite a bright, sweet tone, but not too tinny - I mainly use this at home for writing and mucking about on. It's enjoyable to play; I play it far more than the main guitar I use for the band - a Gibson SG - and while I can't ever imagine selling the SG I see this as 'my guitar'. I haven't ever played a really expensive acoustic guitar, but I have played some that cost more than this, and to me this guitar sounds beautiful.

The guitar seems to be very well made, except for the slightly loose tuning pegs. The action is probably a little on the high side, but it suits me. The strings (I don't know what type) that the guitar came with were OK but I changed them for a pack of Martin SP+ Lights which made a real difference to the sound.

This is a real 'workhorse'. Cheesy and cliched as it sounds, I can see this as a guitar that will be with me until the day I die. I don't agree with the first reviewer - I reckon that with the right kind of pick-up fitted, this would be fine for live performance. It certainly doesn't deserve to be dismissed as a 'camping guitar'. The finish seems quite durable. It's already darkened slightly in colour since I got it 12 months ago, and I'm hoping that will continue as it ages - it looks pretty cool!

Have had no need to get in touch.

I'm giving this a 10. For the money paid this really is a fantastic guitar. I don't know if I'd get another if I lost it; as everyone here knows, the problem with mass-produced guitars is that they can vary hugely in quality. Maybe I was lucky with this one! However, if I did lose it I'd certainly check this out again. I'd especially recommend it to people who are just starting to learn. For under #200 I don't think you could get a better quality instrument, one which will inspire you to learn.

I think anybody buying this guitar cause they want a good guitar should blow the mothballs out of their ears cause this guitar is kinda a big healthy joke, but ya gotta take into account the context of what the purchase is about, and in this case I wanted to buy a camping guitar, so I would say for a camping guitar, an all around beater, this one can't be beat ha ha! For $250 Canadian, which is what? 30% off or what in US funds $170 or something like that, and that Canadian price is in Vancouver BC, the price goblins of North AMerica so ya gotta figure in Montreal it would be another 20% cheaper so what the heck what a deal! Anyways even in friggin Vancouver Canada prices what a deal ha ha! The guitar is like rubber, at least the neck feels that way, and the body feels like compressed cardboard, I know it isn't, but it feels that way, what a joke!
The tuners are cheapo so I gotta fiddle tuning but it intonates pretty good, I've had the guitar a couple of years, I bought it for a cheap guitar ya can take to the beach or go camping , it is light as a feather in a gig bag, and after picking it up today after almost a year in the pawnshop, it still sounds the same, it is a joyful guitar, the action is kinda jumpy, not particularly even, some tension pushing down the strings, not exactly comfortable, at least to me, but who cares, I couldn't perform with it, it is like a joke cause the sound doesn't exactly blow me over, but it is ok, I can tune it down and it responds ok, the right hand is more important playng this guitar so I developed a way of communicating with it, I can play it soft or medium, and not bother anybody, it is alot of fun, I have written songs on it so it is ok in my books, but I refer to it as "the camping guitar" or the "rubber guitar" ha ha!
So for features as a CAMPING GUITAR I give it a 10 ha ha ha

The thing will never win any ribbon prizes but it doesn't completely disgust me, I dunno a 5 I guess

The action is tight, like a cheapo guitar but maybe a little better, the heads are between junko and cheap medium, the frets are ok, the neck feels like rubber, the body takes a beating and keeps on ticking, that compressed cardboard ha ha, don't have to worry about humidity or dryness cause it is like a rubber guitar - for a cAMPING GUITAR it is fine, it has endured wet wet mornings and alos 45 degrees hot so this guitar is a weather -beater ha ha ha1

10 baby this is a 4 wheel drive camping guitar for the little kids

who knows

as a performing guitar, stinko, but as a camping guitar, 7-9 rating so I will say 8.

I bought the 02' model. The guitar has 22 frets, a spruce top w/mahogony elsewhere. Rosewood fretboard, no-name Grover knock-off tuners. Very basic looking guitar, but I like it that way - it looks like a guitar. No electronics. The only thing this guitar is missing is a second strap button, and perhaps a neck with straight pull.

I bought this guitar to play a couple bluegrass gigs, without having to worry too much about it. I play folk and jazz with it as well, and have made several rough demos using it. Mine is a little dark sounding, with pronounced mids, and a low boomy sound typical of most dreadnoughts. It's not a Martin, and it's not a Gibson, but it's really quite a decent sounding guitar. Once you get some Elixirs on it, it just sings.

Fit and finish on this guitar is pretty good. It's not as tidy as some more expensive guitars on the insides (bracings are not as nicely sanded, glue is excessive), but overall, fit and finish is excellent. Bought it set up too high. The tuners also needed tightening. Fretting is perfect, and the dot inlays have little filling.

This guitar has been very reliable, with the exception of the bridge piece. I guess it shipped with the plastic bridge to sharp, as I was breaking an unusual number of strings. I filed slightly larger notches and eased up on the having playing, and the problem subsided. The non-gloss finish on the headstock is prone to scratches, but the rest of the body still looks absolutely impeccable. Great finish. I haven't installed another strap button (I will not drill into the guitar), but used with an acoustic strap, the plastic one seems to hold up okay. I will likely replace it with a locking mechanism. I never gig without backup, but so far, it has yet to let me down!

never dealt with them, no clue about the warranty.

This is not the fastest or the slowest guitar to play. I wish it came with a fitted case, but I guess for the price, you can't expect that. This is a fantastic (and inexpensive guitar) that is a worthwhile investment for any guitar player. I would certainly buy again. Yamaha has great consistency and excellent quality for such a low price. With possible exception of some smaller luthiers, I don't think you can find a better guitar in this class.

Basic mid level solid top dreadnaught acoustic with no frills.
Isn't it funny how so few manufaturers put "made in" labels in guitars these days. What have they got to hide?!!

I teach guitar and singing, so I play a wide variety of styles. It has a bright sound with the original strings. I compared it to an Ibanez AW10 which was in the same price range, but sounded way too "tinny" (nice action though). I also played an entry level Seagull but was not impressed.

As with all wooden musical instruments, the sound on this guitar is likely to improve with age.

With all the Yamahas I've owned, the action was too high out of the box. The guitar tech at the shop spent half an hour setting it up for me and now it feels just right. I noticed from some of the reviews on this site that many people buy instruments via Mail Order only to find that they get a poorly set up unit. I know that you can sometimes find a bargain shopping that way, but the setup is not likely to please you when you open the carton. I would only buy online if the nearest shop was over 200km away. Nothing beats a well sorted guitar.

The external finish is flawless.
A look inside reveals a few rough edges, but still as good as anything I've seen at twice the price.

One of the reasons so many music teachers choose Yamaha, is that they are real workhorses (the guitars, not the music teachers) and stand up to student use and abuse. I've never had a Yammy fail on me.

I would never bother contacting any manufacturer. I believe it is the job of the shop you've bought it from to help you. They make a good living (at least some of them do...) from the cash you spend with them, so let them handle it!

Been playing for 22 years and teaching for 10. I also own a 15yo. Yamaha solid top classical and a Strat Plus. Some of my students (and from what I've read on this site, they are not alone...) are "Gear Junkies", believing that they are just one more piece of equipment away from musical nirvana. This is, of course absurd. The main problem is that they spend so much time looking at, talking about, comparing and thinking of gear that little time is left for practicing and playing. Sure, it's important to have quality equipment which you are comfortable with, but it's important to keep things in perspective - but I digress...

This guitar is great value. Here in Australia we seem to pay way too much compared to our US friends. Maybe it's to do with greedy local distributors. Fender, for example, are so out of control here that their guitars and amps at almost double American prices.
But I digress again... This guitar is sensibly priced and will not dissapoint.

I just bought it, it was made in taiwan, and it came with a gig bag, made in 02

Now this is the whole reason why I bought this guitar, i compared it to the f310 and the f340, the f310 just sounded really dull, the f340 buzzed a little bit, however this just sounded perfect just a really rich sound and it didnt buzz!

the guitar was set up fine, it just had a couple of minor scratches

I drag it with me everywhere, and its in great shape. I think i'd probably use it for a live gig

haven't had any trouble with the guitar yet

I definitely recommend this guitar to anyone beginner, or advanced. For under 300 Euros its just an amazing deal.Like i said the sound alone is most definitely worth it, and the neck seems to be very comfortable as well!

this one was made in 02,same features as the rest reported here, im going to rate this not to other guitars but to the price paid.

keeping in mind price paid,this axe strums with the best of them.i have had a friend say that it sounds as good as a $1700 gibson that he has,can i completment it more.picking is a little slow, not bad but not as fast as my martin.its a guitar that you can play sweet and soft or put a little muscle on it and it wails.

set up at blue mnt guitar w leb nh those guys are the best....ive already said its quite fast.its a good looking guitar something you can look at foreever.

its a yamaha,built like a tank,very consistant sound.

never dealt with it but it comes with a lifetime.

this guitar cost under $300 and im comparing it to martins and gibsons.please keep in mind that every guitar sounds different you can make a hundred and only one sound truly great so play them all and decide.mine likes elicers light the best.i also own.vega and deering banjo,martin 00015,strat,samic artist,crate gfx120,

it was made 2002, it has a solid top, and mahgany body, body style is dreadnought, its a beautiful gutiar

i just started learning the guitar, and i bought a learners gutiar but didn tlike it that much , so i went and bought my frist proper gutiar , theres nothin about the guitar i dont like

the gutiar was so well put together, i took it to my gutiar teacher and he couldnt belive how well it was manufactured, there wasnt a mark or scratch on the gutiar that i could complain about

this gutiar could withstand live playing i would think, and the hardware seems like it will last, i would say i could depend on the gutiar, and i would defeinfaly use it at a gig without backup

the warranty i got was $25.00 for 2 years for 4 string changes and 4 neck changes a year

Bought new in July 2002 for #199

Mine is actually the left-handed version, so an even better buy at this price.

Solid Sitka spruce top, laminated Nato (like mahog) back and sides.

Heavy varnish all over, which looks a bit old-fashioned to me, but is seems to be tough, and it still sounds good.

Lovely warm sound. Perhaps a little lacking in definition, but more than you could reasonably expect for the price. Almost no audible difference between open and bar chords (unlike my previous guitar, which only had sustain on open chords!).

I'm certainly playing more now, just because it sounds so much better.

Very well put together. Great action, well finished. The varnish is a bit heavy for my taste (as mentioned above) but otherwise no complaints.

Looks as if it will stand up to anything I'm likely to put it through.

No problems as yet.

I'm really a bass player (30 years), but I really like it, and would definitely get another if it was stolen. More than good enough for my needs.

Yessss! I always wanted to write the first review for a product. I've just bought this Yammy 413s model and it has a solid spruce top which will hopefully improve the tone with age. A fairly plain but good looking guitar. Natural finish, no binding, rosewood veneer on head. All very functional and Yamaha-looking. Tuners are no-name and not the better Yamaha ones I had on an old model once. They don't look or feel as reliable but we'll see in the long run. For what it is though, it's got what it needs. One thing I'm not sure about is the increased scale length of yamahas in the past few years. Maybe it helps the tone but I had a Yammy from the 70s that was easier to play, with lighter string tension. This one's a bit tougher but if as they say, it gives a better tone then as always, I'd take good tone over other considerations.

For the price it has a very good sound. It's been said before with Yamaha and this just goes to show their consistency, that while not the sweetest ever sound, it is load when needed - very, punchy, a very good sounding mid range, and for the price, all if not more than you could reasonably expect. I'm very pleased with it and it rates highly against higher level guitars I have had eg gibson, Guild. Also, we are told that the solid top will only improve with age. We'll see.

Action a bit high but not excessively. I shaved the saddle down a touch and tweaked the truss rod and it's quite playable now. Everything is well and solidly put together and the nut is excellently cut, often a failing on lower end guitars

As all Yammys I've ever seen, built like a tank, very well put together and solid.

N/A

It's everything I need in an acoustic. I teach and play with kids so I need something tough and that projects loudly for singalongs etc. At home for more subtle moments, it may not be a Lowden or Santa Cruz but it delivers nicely. As usual, Yamaha have produced a fine guitar for far less money than you would expect. you can pay 2,3 4 times as much with other companies and not notice any improvment in the sound. What you see is what you get. A no-nonsense, good sounding, hard-wearing, nice-looking acoustic guitar at a very reasonable price that will hopefully age nicely and be a faithful pal for many years.