Yamaha FGX3 Red Label Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural Matte

Absolutely love the playability of this guitar. Stays in tune, sounds wonderful, love it plugged in and unplugged. I've played it for a few weeks and can't find one thing I would list as a "Con".

I walked into the acoustic room at my local Guitar Center in Johnson City, N Y not looking for anything in particular and saw this FGX3 and decided to give it a try. From the moment I touched the satin finish, it had my attention; so smooth and flawless. Next, I noticed the obvious quality in its construction and took a second look at the price. Then I played it and was amazed with its sound. Against my normal impulse, I put it back and left the store. When I got home I started checking the reviews on this Yamaha and found that they substantiated my initial impressions of the guitar. Bottom line, I went back the next day and bought it and have barely put it down since. Now I have two Martins, two Taylor's and a Rainsong, so I'm used to great guitars, and I'm just as happy with this Yamaha, that costs significantly less. Enough so that I've already gone back to buy its smaller sister, the FSX5. These Yamaha Red Labels are the real deal and I couldn't be more pleased after buying this one.

This guitar is a beast. I've played plenty of Martins, Gibsons, and the lot - new and vintage. This Yamaha sounds better. The playability is there (mine didn't even require a setup), the tone is there (exceptional resonance, clear, warm, bright, not too bassy). I haven't stopped playing. If you are on the fence of it's a bit above your price range, take the plunge or throw a few extra bucks - this guitar is goat.

I was in the middle of a GAS frenzy.n trading a nd buying guitars. At the end I still have a Gibson and three very nice Martins and a great Eastman. And the above guitar. I wanted a good guitar to take out. I played next to a Martin custom shop Martin. I thought the difference was profound. The tone and projection held its own. It was not intimidating. I thought the tone was better. Much more organic and engaging. I was very moved. This is a keeper.

Ok. So I have been playing acoustic guitar and singing semi-professionally for 30 years. Churches, bars, small to medium sized venues. I am currently a church worship music leader and do a lot of recording as a hobby. I have owned too many guitars to count (and sold them all thanks to divorce lol). I was looking for a high end acoustic to depend on as my main instrument, with a budget of no more than $1750. Of course I was comparing Martins, Gibsons, Taylors and the like. I was very happy with a lower end Yamaha 800 series as a "beater," so I started looking at Yamaha's higher end options. When I found this guitar online, it had all I was looking for, but I did not have access to an actual physical example. I have never bought a guitar sight unseen, and I was nervous to do so, but the combination of my respect for the 800 series acoustically and the description of the new Atmosfeel system made this my first choice. I took the risk and ordered it, and I could not be happier. To my ears (subjective I know) it is the best sounding acoustic I've ever played, both unplugged and plugged in. With its mahogany body it is midrange heavy, but not to the detriment of the lows or highs. It has plenty of all three and is pleasantly balanced. It has lots of volume. When I record acoustically into a mic it makes me very happy :-). Plugged into my church sound system or into my fishman loudbox mini, it is also wonderful. It is the most "acoustic" sounding guitar I've ever heard when amplified, and sounds almost exactly the same as when unplugged. The neck is great. I love the tuners. The action may be just slightly high out of the box for some tastes, but I like it as is. It is finger picking friendly, but not so low that it buzzes when strummed aggressively. I've made no changes to the setup yet and may never. I have been playing it nearly every day now for a couple of months, and it is my favorite guitar I have ever owned.