Yamaha FGX5 Red Label Acoustic Guitar
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- Yamaha "Red Label" guitars are a tribute to 60's style Yamaha acoustics and feature A.R.E. Wood Torrefication, all solid wood construction, and the Atmosfeel pickup sytsem!
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From what I understand this shop in Japan is actually the custom shop. With only six people working in the shop. And they have all dedicated their lives to making guitars.
Japan is one of the few countries where you can break away from normality and become an apprentice for a specific craft. You come into it at an early age and get to learn From a master were generations of knowledge and techniques have been passed down.
With that being said the made in Japan models offer a level of craftsmanship and love being put into each guitar that rivals any USA factory. I am in no way saying that these are better but saying these Japanese ones are not “toys” or “cheap guitars for children to learn on”
Yamaha guitar is have a sound all over their own. Don’t forget they also make Amazing pianos that are known for their warm sound and sustain. Hence the A.R.E wood treatment bleeding into their guitar making. They just sound amazing and are surely in the high end bracket of acoustic guitars.
I think the price being so low is due to the fact that for some reason the rest of the world only gets 20% of the guitars coming out of the Hammamatsu shop. So they don’t have a monstrous “shipping” issues and everything that goes along with it. And also there are only 6 people working in the shop. So it’s not a huge operation that they have to fund to pump out high quality control. They make just as much guitars as any other U.S factory, there is just less people doing it. It’s not a huge operation. So that cost us much lower reflecting down into the price point. So that’s why your made in Japan model from Yamaha can often take months to arrive. Your waiting for your luthier to build it. And also why you almost never get to play a made in Japan model “in a store”
Custom shop Yamahas are priced little bit more, over $10.000 for GC82S hand crafted classical guitar ;)
My FGX5 neck has very small imperfections, like if neck was made by hand, not by CNC. So who knows, guitar is definitely made in Japan by skilled craftsman, but not in custom shop I'm afraid.
It also has little bit sharp fret ends and spruce top is more rift-sawn than quarter-sawn. But it sounds and plays fantastic, so I don’t care ;)
Yeah, I was wrong,! They are made in Yamahas custom shop in Hamamatsu same as other high end Yamahas, my mistake ;) watch?v=grmJ4TE1pCM
I can't wait to get me one of these babies. Yamaha makes really nice guitars for any price point. Last year I was on my way to buy a Martin D28 and left with an LL16D black instead. Since I didn't buy the Martin and saved quite a bit, I decided to spoil myself with a Taylor 814, but instead I ended up getting a CPX1200II. I can't believe the price tag on these guitars. It makes me so happy that I can have such good sounding and quality of instruments for a fraction of what I was going to pay for other big brands. That's not to take away from how wonderful Martins, Taylors, and Gibsons are. I guess I just preferred the sound of the Yamahas I've tried.
I have a late 60’s red label FG-150 my dad gave me when I was a kid. Still have it and I cherish it.
I'm not quite at a red label budget but I picked up a Yamaha FG730s 5 years ago and I feel like I got a lot more guitar for the $300 I paid for it. Big bold sound and just beautiful to hold and look at. It wasn't only the best in its price range but it held up against competitors that cost twice as much. Yamaha is a solid brand.
Awesome guitar!! I just purchased a FG-850 Yamaha all mahogany body and its amazing!! I also have a FG-460SA I've had for 20 years now and it still sounds amazing!! Keep on rocking my friends!!🤠👍🤘🎸🤘
I worked on a Yamaha fg180 I believe it was that sounded like this, needed a neck reset but was a booming guitar, owner decided not to reset.
I have a made in Taiwan 1979 fg 331 and even those were great same booming tone amazing sustain. Om style guitar just gorgeous sounding. Same thing needs a neck reset. I went the cheap route and sanded down the bridge till I’m ready to tackle a job like that myself. I had to glue the saddle down so it wouldn’t tilt from the strings since there is a lot of tolerance now that the channel for the saddle is very shallow but it holds fine sounds great. Stays in tune well too and mine has the original tuners still not worn out yet. 😁
@@richardshank7659
Yamaha glued the necks on with epoxy not hide glue so it's impossible to steam off the neck. It's impossible to do a neck reset.
@@frankdiscussion2069 actually only on some and it was sporadic. Often many of the early fgs from the 60s through 70s had hide glue but there have been early ones that I’ve heard have epoxy but it’s rare. They don’t start heavily using epoxy till the early 80s. Late 70s they used a bit under the fretboard but that was it. I don’t think in the late 70s they were using hide glue it was some other kind of glue other than epoxy.
I have a Yamaha AC5R that is a fantastic sounding, playing and looking instrument. The Yamaha holds its own against Taylor guitars that cost $1000.00 to $1500.00 more.
T B I too have a AC5R. It sounds incredible. These made in Japan Yam’s are the best kept secret in acoustic ax’s
I've played my FGX5 for several years. It's my favorite I've ever played including Taylor, Martin and Takamine.
4:40 - demo
Sounds great! It's nice to hear a great guitar that doesn't break the bank.
theyre not cheap.
Roughly $1000 USD, but well worth the money, especially the F5 models since they come with a hard shell case.
You should demo the Aurasfeel pickup, it sounds AMAZING!
Martin guitars are fantastic, but their reliance on Fishman to provide pickups instead of inventing their own always holds them back on the stage.
The Yamaha Red Label's pickup is the perfect way to complete the package!
I have had my non-electric version for a week now. It is a fantastic guitar. Saved some significant money after just asking my Sweetwater rep if any promotions were in the near future for Yamaha guitars. He emailed me a very nice quote. It is worth the hype, and I'm super happy that I never have to buy another dreadnought. The one I received is that good.
I was just at my local music store to drop off my martin d18 for some slight repairs. I got to play an fg5. What a nice sounding guitar. It is kind of like my martin d18 but at only half the price. It is a very nice sounding guitar. If you had $1400, or could save up for it, I'd highly recommend it.
You think it'd hold its own in a bluegrass setting? May not have the deep low end a d28 does. I'm really wanting one but just want decent volume and EQ
That thing sounds insane.
Got the fgx3 and upgraded the saddle and pins , amazing guitar
Hey Gavin, what made you change those parts and what did you replace them with? How was the overall setup when you got the guitar?
Hey Dan , the fgx3 comes with plastic pins and saddle while the fgx5 comes with a
Bone saddle and ebony pins. To really get the most out of ur instrument I recommend
having the good qualitie materials in these areas. Don't get me wrong the guitar still
Sounded fantastic even when it arrived without touching it with the few extras. It arrived
With a decent set up but I gave it a set up to have it playing to my liking. I have to say
This is a cannon, big sounding dreadnought and I absolutely love it . Hope that helped Dan
@@gavincarrollmusic7401 That indeed helped, thanks. Will buy the 3 and consider similar changes.
What brand pins did you use?
@@UncleChillGuitar my local guitar Luthor supplied them so I couldn't tell you , they are ebony
And he had to bore out the saddle holes a fraction to fit them.
I have a 1978 FG-75 tan label made in Taiwan and a 2013 FG-730 made in China (bought it for my dad to keep at his assisted living facility in case it got ripped off until he could no longer play after 60+ years). The 730 is 10x more beautiful but the sound of the 75 blows the 730 away.
The FG-75 was what I called my beach guitar for 20+ years, then one day I realized, “hey this thing is 40 years old now”. It’s no longer my beach guitar. It now hangs proudly on the wall with my HD-35 and my B25-12N and I love playing it.
Around 1969 a Yamaha 6 string was $69 and they went up to around $129. 12 string which I traded in for a Martin was around $ 175 . 50 years later and back looking at a Yamaha again . Great sound and a name I can trust . It’s a acoustic electric this time around
I have this guitar on my bucket list of guitars sounds amazing
Sounds great! I too like the strong bass frequencies produced by this guitar.
I helped buy my hippy girlfriend a Yammy in '73 like this one, although she really wanted a guitar with a flowery scratch plate, like a Gibson 'Bird. Often wondered if she kept the Yammy, listening to this reassures me it was a wise buy after all.
maxwellfan55 sick story man! Rock on 🤘🏽
I had a red label up until 2007 it bellied out on me, came unglued from the bracing. It was well over 30 years old, even with the broken bracing it still sounded damn good. I wish i would have just got it fixed, a guy who fixes guitars bought it from me. Hes probably still picking that old yammy. This bbn ine has awesome bass response.
I've been a Guild guy forever. Never had an interest in Yamahas but there was a brief period when they had an acoustic that was very Martin like. Late 70's maybe early 80's?
I still suck at guitar but bought a FGX5 anyway. The more I practice the more I like it. I've taken it to jams and I thought it did well. When I let people much better than myself play it, I thought it's sound went with both Martin and Gibson well. It held it's own, I liked the richness with the Gibson and little better. The Martin was a D18 and the Gibson a J 45. I agree with those that say Yamaha has their own thing with the sound going on.
There is a 6 part TH-cam of the sound comparisons of a Gibson J 45, Martin D 18 and a Yamaha fgx5. It's pretty striking.
I still have my first guitar... an FG400 from 1990... its a bit beat up, but i still love her. I've added more over the last 20 years. APX500, 600, FGX830C, They are incredible for the price.
I have had one or two Yamaha acoustics including an original Red Label FG140. Very well built instruments but I have always found the tight string spacing a bit of a struggle.
Surprising, as this guitar is spec'd with a 1.75" nut.
make a new nut for it, it's the first thing I do with an old yamaha
Great guitar! Curious to know what you guys think of the Yamaha A series guitars? Specifically thinking about getting an A3M or A3R or upgrading to the A5 series. Would love to hear your thoughts.
I did not expect this. Great guitar and demo.
Even my Yamaha F310 sounds amazing though!!
Although I now own all Taylor, Martin guitars, many years ago I had an FG-300 I believe the model number was, ordered with a custom, plain pick guard (the standard pick guard was just a little too froufrou considering my "environment") available for sale only in Japan at the time. After combat I had been transferred to a Marine Recon unit in Okinawa but then almost immediately deployed to the Philippines (training Filipino Marines) so I barely had time to play that guitar but it was outstanding. The Yamaha had to go into storage while I was away. On return, I could hardly wait to pick that beauty up again, however, I was heartbroken (well, actually, on the verge of going vigilante!) ... the Yamaha had been stolen. Our Recon base 1stSgt believed it to be during a visit from a contingent of "fellow" US Armed Forces from the other side of the island (Okinawa) who were going through some training exercises during my absence.
• Didn't have time to order and receive another one, since I was soon deployed back to the USA, however, a couple of years later, I receive a letter from that same Recon 1stSgt (now a MGySgt), really more of a terse note stating, "I found the A-hole who took your guitar. After catching up with him he's still recovering in Leavenworth on numerous other charges. Enclosed is $600 we rounded up to cover the costs of a new guitar and any trouble. Semper Fi." Now THAT, almost brought a tear to my eye.
Despite that I have since owned all U.S. mfd acoustics, I will never forget that guitar (although I'm not sure of the exact model number), its volume, bass, projection, overall tonality.
• Bottom line, ENJOY your F-310! (although the guitar in this vid is only $1400, maybe worth considering if you really like your 310?)
@@DJWRailroad What an amazing journey you took me on just now.I think your first guitar is always the most important though. My F310 is very satisfying to me, I really enjoy playing it. I hope to one day buy myself a Martin or Gibson guitar...but for now, I'm more than greatful with my 310. It looks like it will carry me many more musical years.
@@arnoldtvisagie - Oustanding Arnoldt, that you enjoy playing your F-310 as much as you say do! It's not so much the guitar as it is the player, right?
E.g., Quinton King has made even the most inexpensive guitars (there is NO "cheap" guitar in my vocab!) sound great on these demos! Although it's not my typical preference, I was listening to a recording of a Christian musician, playing a $150 to $200 guitar. That man made that guitar fit the song, made it sound amazing.
Best wishes on your playing and future musical goals!
@@arnoldtvisagie I have a F310 brought more then 10 years ago and still great guitar for the price
I found a 1983 FG200 in the store whose initials are “GC” (don’t hit me) & they were only asking $140 for it. Made in Taiwan - Green Label. But Man - it BOOMS! I had to re-secure tuners. I also refretted it as it needed new frets. It needed a neck reset, but Yamaha used epoxy on the neck back then and they’re almost impossible to get off. So I shaved down the bridge & saddle, & it plays like a million bucks now. Action is very low. And yes, it does Growl! Can’t wait until these “Red Labels” hit the stores.
Have a Yamaha FS850 all mahogany which sounds great but would love to have the FS5.
Gorgeous tone❤
Best guitar I’ve ever had. I gave up my love for Martin for one glad I did
To my chagrin I don't own an LL16 or FGX5. But I do own a FG830 (so does my son) with only solid tone wood being the top. I think it's as much the
player as the component materials that makes a guitar sound good.
I have a yamaha fgx830 C-E. I don't think that guitar is quite as nice as the FG5 that I played at my music store, but still a great guitar. I feel my fgx830 C-E sounds a lot better then the $540 I paid for it. I really want to get a martin hd28 to go along with my D18, but until I can get that guitar, my FGX830 C-E will do very nicely.
Powerful beast
Excelent! Yamaha LL16D please, thank you!
What is the best guitar u have ever reviewed and played
sounds great, can tell it plays well too from Quinton's enthusiasm! yeah every time you guys throw a yammy in the mix it can go toe to toe with any of those high end models. i don't know what to think about the aging these companies do on the tops. kinda like buying a pair of converse all stars that were made dirty at the factory before you wore them.
I've owned several Nippon Gakki Red Label Yammies over the years. The "Poor Mans Martin"! I want one of these new ones for sure
It sounds #incredible and with #excellent guitarmanship!
☆☆☆☆☆
I've never come across an old Yamaha that was all solid wood.
Some played and felt quite nice.
None, I've touched, sounded anything like this.
Is this harkening back to models that never existed?
I love the recent L and LL(?) models.
I remember them well as I worked in a great music store in the late sixties. They sold for $89 and were a good entry level instrument. But they were the equivalent of a Chevy Nova. Decent bang for the buck...but just okay. These guys are rhapsodic about an instrument that's a far cry from the original. Never, ever saw wood on the old ones that looked like this. This one doesn't even look like mahogany, although I'm sure it is.
Looks more like Sapele than true mahogany. Could just be the finish.
Please, can you compare the FG5 with Martin D 18 ?
no comparison...I did the 18 was far superior
What's the neck shape like on the FGX5? I've read that it's thin. I've play a FG3...are they the same? Thanks for your demos!
I think that they are pretty much the same neck profiles.
I’m sorry, but I’ll take this over a Martin any day. I have a late 60s red label FG140 currently and plan to grab one of these when the 140 finally bites the dust
How much is this guitar in srilankan rupees?
What is the big difference between
the 3 and 5
3 is made in China and 5 made in Japan. The Japanese one by all accounts is just a higher quality guitar.
Price? I'm thinking about whether I should get an aged martin d28, aged Yamaha, or this new Yamaha. Any suggestions?
Martin guitars are great but this Yamaha is also a fine guitar! www.musicvilla.com/yamaha/acoustics/fgx5-red-label-folk-guitar
You cannot ever compare a D28 with any Yamaha. Get both. The Yamaha’s are great guitars to keep handy, take places, let kids learn on. The D28 you cherish forever and play it often.
@@herbiesnerd yeah I want a martin d28 of the same year as my birth year so bad but they arr so expensive!
Lowell Calavera no koolaid sipping here. Lifelong owner. I bought the used 1999 HD-35 to replace the 1959 OO-18G my dad bought brand new.
Having a Martin in the house gives me comfort. I felt like my own child died when the ‘59 was stolen 4 years ago.
I’ve played a lot of high end guitars like you’re talking about, and it’s not the sound that sets them apart, it’s how they feel. The nicer the guitar, the better you play. They just feel so right.
When those guitars get to be over 30 years old, then they produce a magical sound. Until then, they all sound good.
You’re talking apples and oranges. The sound of my old cheap Yamaha betrays it’s lack of quality because it sounds so good.
yalo kin get this one as its well built .. I reviewed one of them on my channel
Too
Hope all is well. Are these only Mahogany Bk/Sd or will there be a Rosewood model also
Sounds terrific, but do they make an OM or 000 version?
FSX5 small body
will it take medium strings?
Now /this/ looks like a potential successor to the 1970s-era FG-180.
How is the action on this guitar?
The action not lower... Just nice.... The neck short scale...String Easy bending
How the price?
OK Quinton, please reply! Yamaha FGX5, or Martin Road Series D13E?
Ed P yamaha! This is hand made by master luthier in japan, the equivalent of this is 3k dollar martin
But the FSX5 is the best, i dont think 000-28 EC can match the sound of it, killer guitar plus the atmosfeel pre amp is the best sounding mic/piezo blend i ever heard in just 1,399$ hahhahaa beat that!
BTW im Martin guy but if someone creates much better guitar i will give credit to th company because its for all of us as a players, excellent guitar in a very reasonable price by Yamaha. And i would like to add that the yamaha durablity especially in humidity was outstanding proven and tested that the instrument will last, Martin and Taylor coudnt find a way to beat humidity in other countries, so dont buy a Martin solid wood guitar if your in high humidity areas.
@@videocity4917 Thanks for your feedback! I have a couple Yamahas already - an FG730 (dred) and an LS6 (FSX5 size). Both are beautiful, particularly the LS6, though it is a bit overbuilt and "tight" (too quiet for most duties, but GREAT for fingerstyle). To that end, I'm leaning towards the FGX5, since I prefer the larger body sound.
Ed P either way of these red labels u cant go wrong, since theyre both matte ( semi gloss ) finish they reall loud and sustain is amazing unlike L series which is gloss finish which tightens the sound.
I have try the Fgx5... Its Awesome... Easy to bending string due to short neck... IF U more to strumming Power Chords... Bottom end Mellow
@@videocity4917 Why would you even compare a 000 body to a dread? Two different animals. With that said, I have a D28 marquis and a 0028ec (both rosewood) I am planning on this Yamaha, as I am wanting a Mahogony dreadnaught.
I had LL6. This is my next one
The specs on this thing! I might have to get.
Sounds great! Nitro finish?
This or gibson j-15?
thisssss
yup!
This seems like a very good, traveling guitar, for when you don’t want to break out your more expensive Martins and Taylors.
MSRP $2320 usd
@@fendushi 1450
quite cool!
Please price in UK please.
Has anyone compared LLTA VS FGX5. I am confused which one to buy.
I have the Yamaha eletrocoustic FG830 with rosewood all around had it for 4 yrs now,still sounds good out the box,now I just bought the Martin GPC11E with Fishman mtx,Awesome guitar check it out,my friends,
Thank me later.. KK
Can someone tell me the Yamaha models made in USA as well as Japan.
Quinton - loved that bluegrass stuff! also, I bought a Tamaha FG 365 brand new in 1979 and still have it, great guitar. Also had a cheap Yamaha classical and have a nice Yamaha flamenco. all good guitars for the price. I did some amatuer studio stuff with the $99 classical and the 365, after it was miked up ans a little reverb added, you couldn't tell if it was a J-200 or a D-45. BTW, owned 2 J-200s and still have one, also a D-35. Am a Gibson/Martin man, but will always give credit to those Yamahas. my brother even had a Yamaha amp that was great.
He’s good at any guitar playing :)
Nice review thanks
Urgh I have a yamaha fg140 but the neck man its coming forward it needs a reset :/
SIR I WOULD DIE TO PLAY LIKE YOU . TXS.
Have an FG180 bought ne
oct 19
new in oct 1970...traveled with me from wny (buffalo)
to arizona, alaska, texas back to WNY, colorado north dakota maine ohio pa. virginia wv.cn.nj. md.
michigan. finest operating knock off of a Martin D18 ever made. looks old worn needs fret job finger board
finger board needs to be planed a bit. It has held its place in any music situation it has encountered. love it...and its loved me back. we have gotten old together. shes part of my total world for 50+years, made her tooled leather strap in 1971...and still works, sounds and plays like when new. This FG180 has stood test of
time... I've been a lucky man to never been with out a good music maker.
71 years old currently...
playing strong.
.
I love that they're bringing these back. I call vintage Yamahas the "Poor Man's Martin": th-cam.com/video/Zptr9Vi2q0M/w-d-xo.html
I have three Martins and they are great but I tell you these Yamaha's do not take a backseat to them !
Thom Miller sonically, they compete really well at a much lower price
@@RobertCassard You are so right Robert! I had an old one from the early '70's that burnt up in a house fire when an old girlfriend's house burnt. It was a great guitar ! You have a blessed evening and never forget what those hero's did for us that we can set here and write on a computer. I had family fight in the Revolution right up to the present day.GOD BLESS !
Its better than my Martin d16. For sure.
Umm.. all Yamaha's are special.
Ehhhhh, I just got two or these and the workmanship was so bad, they both had to go back. Deep tooling scratches on the top of one and the other was missing an entire application of stain on the lower half of the sides. It was literally a ragged two-tone. Sent two letters to Yamaha Customer Service and no reply. Can't say much for the dealers dumping them on me either.
Good videos-p
how?!?! it sounds 100x better than taylor's 300 series and cost way less!! how is this guitar not getting any awards or something wtf
Am I right that the old red label's were laminate back and sides?
Yes but a much better laminate then we have now adays. It was whole sheets of thinly sliced wood going criss cross ways every layer and resonated very well. Thats what made them so famous at the time. The laminate we see now adays is one thin top layer and with bits and bobs glued together. Doesn't resonate anyway near the way the old ones were made.
@@Steven-Duffy I'm sure you're right, I have a few 80's FG-750S.
Too open sounding for me. But most satin fished guitars are.
Those original FG-160s and FG-180s were all plywood, if memory serves.
True story I went to the huge sweetwater store in fort Wayne Indiana and played on a nice $3600 taylor, but I could believe how much better my 1977 Yamaha fg 345 sounded and it's not even a red label it's a tan label that says Made in Taiwan and its mind blowing good. Many Vintage Yamaha fg models are just incredible gems regardless of the Nippon gakki red label or not.
There’s definitely something to those old models. I recently purchased a 1973 Yamaha FG-160 tan label with plans to restore it and sell it but now I want to keep it. The more I play it, the more I like it. I went to a music store tonight and played a bunch of $1500 -$2000 guitars and none of them made the Yamaha sound bad. I played it when I got home and it still impressed me. It has a great sound and resonance that’s hard to pin down. It’s the sound of 49 years of aging and maturity. It’s also still in great shape. They really knew how to build them back then.
@Trucker_Pete @Trucker_Pete awesome I would suggest putting brass nuts and bridge pins they made my old yamaha sound and look better. I won a bid on ebay on a early 70's fg 140 in excellent condition on a ebay auction sold by goodwill. Was going sell it but kept it after all. Probably sit in a closet for 30 years before donating to goodwill. It's red label but doesn't say nippon gakki. Yamaha did some label changes when moving production to Taiwan. Red, black, tan. I like the new yamaha guitars but the vintage ones are legit legendary.
Hahaha the face you make Quinton when you talk guitar booty 😂😂😂
Great tone for little money
At least he's not wearing a Martin shirt!
Yamaha's Price/Quality ratio is probably the best of all Asian-built instruments. Yamaha drums, pianos, brass, woodwinds are world class instruments; why not guitars? I had an LL6X (now my bandmate plays it), and despite having laminated sides & back, it's built better and sounds better than many more expensive USA brands/models I've played. And the old, all-solid models they're talking about, well, all you have to do is listen to this video of Bert Jansch: th-cam.com/video/4MO_Xxq3LVw/w-d-xo.html
Got to get rid of the spectator and I’ll watch.
That's a lot of mid lows! Not the best guitar for recording anyway... They're really nice guitars.
the sexual tension between these guys is very strong.
all solid wood acoustic for 8-900 good deal.
It’s listed for 1400 on their website
@@andrewptob but all day u can snag it for 9 or 1k
@@soofitnsexy Yup, I would think so. Bargaining still exists in the guitar world.
@@andrewptob i do it all the time...u never pay list price...for example I bought my martin d 41 for 3500 total brand new lists for almost 5k
@@soofitnsexy Oh, wow. Nice haul, man! :). Yeah, I bought a D16GT online about 3 months ago (my first online guitar purchase!). It was listed at 1350 and I offered 1000 and the seller accepted right away. I was like, dang, I should've offered 800. Lol. But, I love the guitar and haven't been able to put it down since I got it. Maybe one day I'll be able to venture into the higher end Martin models. Cheers.
Playing way too far behind the sound hole. People who play in a group or band develop this habit trying to cut through the mix of players. Not a great idea as a solo player.
Kelly Jones Stereo phonics plays these red labels.
People wanna hear it as you continue talking over the guitar😅