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Yamaha Folk Guitar Series | Introducing FG Red Label

Yamaha Folk Guitar Series | Introducing FG Red Label

Atmosfeel | Pickup and Preamp Demo

Atmosfeel | Pickup and Preamp Demo

Yamaha

Description

Made by Yamaha at its Custom Shop in Hammamatsu, Japan, the FS5 Red Label is a concert acoustic guitar that features an A.R.E. treated solid Sitka spruce top and scalloped top bracing to help deliver a rich midrange and low-frequency response. Yamaha has paired the FS5 with a solid mahogany for a boost of warmth, more woody tone and to bolster the midrange. The FS5 Red Label's bone nut and saddle provide a more efficient transfer of energy from the strings to the neck and body.

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 FS5 Red Label Concert Acoustic Guitar Natural Matte
Yamaha FS5 Red Label Concert Acoustic Guitar Natural Matte
Yamaha FS5 Red Label Concert Acoustic Guitar Natural Matte

Features

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

Specs

Body
  • Body type: Concert 
  • 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: Bone
  • Number of strings: 6
  • Special features:
  • Case: Hardshell case
  • Accessories: None
  • Country of origin: Japan

Reviews

5

2 Reviews

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Buyer be aware. Pick guard is not wooden; it's plastic.
Filters
Best Uses
  1. Jamming1
  2. Practicing1
  3. Recording1
  4. Small Venues1
Cons
  1. The tuning machines are not professional grade1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced2
Pros
  1. Good Audio2
  2. Comes in a nice hard shell case1
  3. Fun To Play1
  4. Good Feel1
  5. Stays In Tune1

Reviewed by 2 customers

  • Buyer be aware. Pick guard is not wooden; it's plastic.

    5

    submitteda year ago

    byLewis

    fromMedford, OR

    Wonder why Yamaha thought they needed to lie about this? This is a great sounding, great playing, well built guitar. The wooden looking texture on the pick guard is a plastic film that can easily be peeled off, leaving a smooth black surface. I like it much better that way!

  • Yes. A stunningly great guitar.

    5

    submitted5 years ago

    byplsoutherland

    fromRaleigh, NC

    This is a great guitar. I've been "horse trading" guitars for years and this one instantly fell into the "keep this one" slot. You can tell it's solidly built. Seems more solid than a lot of other more expensive guitars. It sounds much deeper and rich than any other 000 I've owned. If there's anything I hesitate to like it's the 1.75 inch but that's obviously personal preference. If you're in the market for a guitar in this price range or above, go play the "above your price range" guitars and then play this one. I guarantee you'll be floored.

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Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted2 years ago

    asked byDonald

    fromundisclosed

    Does this come with a hard case for that price?

    Open Reply - Gear-Adviser
    Yes