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Yamaha Folk Guitar Series | Introducing FG Red Labelplay button

Yamaha Folk Guitar Series | Introducing FG Red Label

Atmosfeel | Pickup and Preamp Demoplay button

Atmosfeel | Pickup and Preamp Demo

Yamaha FG Red Label Demo | FG3play button

Yamaha FG Red Label Demo | FG3

Yamaha

collapse expand iconDescription

The FG3 Red Label dreadnought acoustic guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top that has been given Yamaha's Acoustic Resonance Enhancement A.R.E. treatment paired with scalloped top-bracing to deliver a rich midrange and low frequency response. Its ebony fingerboard and bridge add strength and stability.

Timeless design with modern inspiration

Yamaha’s “Red Label” Folk Guitar series was first launched in 1966 as their first production of steel-string acoustics, which is considered by many as the iconic Yamaha acoustic line. Yamaha’s new Red Label series retains the vintage aesthetic of the original ’60s models—with a semi-gloss finish, open-gear tuners, the original V-shaped headstock with the time-honored "tuning fork" logo and, of course, the red label inside—but uses everything Yamaha has refined and developed over their more than half-century of making acoustic guitars.

New scalloped bracing

Yamaha guitars are well known for their balanced sound. However, when defining the voice of Red Label, Yamaha wanted to add more low end for a fuller, warmer tone that would be ideal for solo singer-songwriters and modern folk music. To achieve this, new bracing designs were developed for the FG and FS Red Label guitars, which are optimized for each body shape and the natural characteristics of the tonewoods. The new scalloped bracing delivers plenty of volume and enhances low-frequency response without compromising durability.

Acoustic Resonance Enhancement (A.R.E)

As tonewoods age, they vibrate more freely and become more resonant, producing a louder, more powerful sound with enhanced high-frequency response and more sustain in the lows and low-mids. Yamaha’s Acoustic Resonance Enhancement (A.R.E.) process achieves those same characteristics by using heat, humidity and pressure to simulate the effects of time on the soundboards. The A.R.E. process of accelerating the aging of the wood gives Red Label models the same rich, vintage-quality tone and response of a guitar you’ve been playing for years.

Yamaha FG3 Red Label Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural Matte
Yamaha FG3 Red Label Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural Matte
Yamaha FG3 Red Label Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural Matte

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Elixir NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze Light strings
  • Black ABS bridge pins with white dots
  • Black and white body binding, soundhole inlay
  • Black pickguard
  • Classic V-shaped heastock with "Tuning Fork" logo
  • Includes hex wrench

collapse expand iconSpecs

Body
  • Body type: Dreadnought
  • Cutaway: No
  • Top wood: Solid Sitka spruce
  • Back and sides: Solid Mahogany
  • Bracing pattern: Scalloped
  • Body finish: Semi-gloss
  • Orientation: Right handed
Neck
  • Neck shape: Not specified
  • Nut width: 1.75" (44 mm)
  • Fingerboard: Ebony
  • Neck wood: African mahogany
  • Scale length: 25"
  • Number of frets:
  • Neck finish: Matte
Electronics
  • Pickup/preamp: No
Other
  • Headstock overlay: Not specified
  • Tuning machines: Open Gear chrome
  • Bridge: Ebony
  • Saddle and nut: Urea
  • Number of strings: 6
  • Special features:
  • Case: Hard bag
  • Accessories: None
  • Country of origin: China

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

3.4

5 Reviews

60%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Yamaha fg3 Red Label
Yamaha fg3 Red Label
Filters
Best Uses
  1. Jamming2
  2. Practicing2
  3. Recording2
  4. School Bands2
  5. Small Venues1
Cons
  1. Poor Quality1
  2. Bad Finish1
  3. Grinding Frets1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced4
Pros
  1. Good Audio3
  2. Fun To Play2
  3. Good Feel2
  4. Stays In Tune2
  5. Consistent1

Reviewed by 5 customers

  • Yamaha fg3 Red Label

    5

    submitted2 years ago

    byLawrence

    fromNorth Carolina

    All solid wood. Fun to use and easy to play. I love the bass of this guitar.

  • This guitar sounds incredible!

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byMotorFred

    fromOntario Canada

    I never thought I'd purchase a Yamaha acoustic over a Martin or Taylor but the one I tried just sounded superior! I'm guessing it's the artificial aging process Yamaha does to make the guitar sound broken in. I asked people in the store which sound they preferred by playing a top of the line Martin or the Red Label? Everybody picked the Yamaha including the owner of the store! I bought it shortly after. No regrets after a year of ownership.

  • Yes I would definitely recomend this guitar to anyone.

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byGlenn

    fromMuskegon, Michigan

    And incrediblly rich sounding guitar with great volume.

  • Disappointed

    1

    submitted5 years ago

    byDisappointed Guitar Guy

    fromSan Francisco

    Theres nothing wrong with the sound, in fact it sounds amazing. However there is a weird white haze over the body at some parts. The frets are very unpolished and scrape like crazy when playing vibrato tones, the scraping noise sounds as loud as the tones themselves. There were also some weird sticky substance next to some frets. Poor craftsmanship, the FG5 is probably way better, due to it being made in Japan instead.

  • Major Disappointment

    1

    submitted6 years ago

    byAl

    fromNew York, NY

    I really wanted to love this guitar but it has been a major disappointment. After waiting two months on back order I finally received it. It has a nice tone with very nice solid wood construction, however, i found that the finish on the back was covered with this hazy white film that wouldn't come off. I also found that when i play a vibrato the string makes a horrible grinding/scraping noise against the fret. So i returned it in exchange for another one. After waiting a month on back order i found the same hazy film on the back and the same grinding noise. This is clearly a manufacturing issue.

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