Yamaha FG730S
Best Budget Acoustic Guitar
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The Best Budget Acoustic Guitars
Yamaha FG730S
- Don Makoviney
- Last Updated: April 12, 2016
If someone asked me to recommend a great sounding, easily playable, budget guitar I would recommend the Yamaha FG730S. It has great reviews stretching back over a decade. You've even heard this guitar on some very famous albums. The level of detail and craftsmanship found put this guitar in a class above the rest. The best thing? It's cheap! Pro sound at an enthusiast price.
Table of Contents
- Why you should go to a guitar store for your guitar.
- What makes a good budget guitar?
- How we chose what to test.
- How we tested.
- Our pick
- Other recommendations.
Research online, but don’t buy this guitar online
With few exceptions, you really should go try out the Yamaha FG370S at your local or regional guitar shop. There are just too many variables to consider when picking a guitar you plan on keeping for a long time.
If you absolutely must buy online, that’s fine. Just make sure you take it to a local guitar shop as soon as you get it. It’s Let an expert examine it. Sometimes there could be hard to see issues that only an expert can detect. If you do it soon after you receive it, and there are problems, you can return it and exchange it for a new one.
Go look at all the reviews at Guitar Center, Zzounds, and Amazon if you must, then go to your local music gear retailer and try it out in person.
What qualifies as a ‘great’ budget guitar?
With budget guitars, we don’t obsess about the different styles of wood, colors, etc. This means most of the name brands, like Gibson, Fender, Martin, Taylor, etc are excluded from this guide, simply on price alone.
We just want a great sounding guitar under $300, regardless of brand.
We’re examining and reviewing acoustic guitars only. We have a separate guide for our best budget acoustic-electric guitar choices. Why? Because we want all of our limited funds to go towards a great sounding pure acoustic guitar without having to allot some of our budget to electronics and amplification.
A great budget guitar will be one that you could possibly keep for a lifetime and pass on. It will also have great reviews about sound, playability, and … that’s it! That’s all we’re looking for here.
Remember, if our picks don’t exactly fit what you’re looking for, just move up or down the scale (pun!) and get something that fits your particular style and tastes. But if you have no idea where to start or what to buy, the Yamaha FG730S is the one to get.
How we picked
This was one of the easier guides to write, as guitar is my primary instrument. I taught guitar to beginners for many years and needed to recommend guitars on a monthly basis.
Nowadays, I’m still often asked to suggest good quality budget guitars for my nephews, workmate’s kids, as well as plenty of beginning adults. I usually point them to a couple of different brands and models, but I always recommend the Yamaha FG730S.
Our winner
There’s not much more to say than what is at the top of the guide. It sounds wonderful. It’s not too big, so it’s great for kids, but it’s not too small either, so adults can play it with ease.
Check out this video to see it in action:
My daughter has a variant of this guitar and it sounds really nice. We’ve recorded several acoustic pieces with it. It’s the perfect size for a teenager, and very easily playable.
Other great choices
The Yamaha FG700S is great for $199. (shown right)
If, for some reason, the Yamaha options aren’t available, I’ve also played and recommended the Alvarez AD60, the Takamine G-Series, as well as the Ibanez AC240 Artwood Grand Concert acoustic.
(See below for more information on these models.)
Any of these guitars will sound great, play well, and give you many many years of playing time. Peruse the prices and if you must buy online, make sure to take your guitar to a local shop and get it tuned up.
Happy playing!
Tell Me If There's A Deal For This
The Best Budget Acoustic Guitars
Yamaha FG730S
Important Specs
| Top | Solid Spruce |
| Back/Side/Rib | Rosewood |
| Neck | Nato |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Bridge | Rosewood |
| Body Depth | 3 15/16"-4 5/8" |
| Tuners | Diecast Chrome |
| more specs |
Synopsis:
If someone asked me to recommend a great sounding, easily playable, budget guitar I would recommend the Yamaha FG730S. It has great reviews stretching back over a decade. You've even heard this guitar on some very famous albums. The best thing? It's C.H.E.A.P! Pro sound at an enthusiast price. The level of detail and craftsmanship make Yamaha's 730S the acoustic guitar to get.
A Bigger Price Saver ...
Yamaha FG700S
If you absolutely cannot go above $200 for a new acoustic guitar, the FG700S sounds great, plays well, and truly fits the budget category.
If you have big hands
Ibanez AC240
Larger in every way (including a wider fretboard). This is the one to get if you're constantly fighting your sausage fingers. ;-)
Another solid choice
Alvarez AD60
If you have room to spend a tad more than $300, the Alvarez is a great choice. Solid Sitka Spruce top. Alvarez is known for great sounding and playable guitars across all price points. A great choice.
Important Specs
| Top | Solid Spruce |
| Back/Side/Rib | Rosewood |
| Neck | Nato |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Bridge | Rosewood |
| Body Depth | 3 15/16"-4 5/8" |
| Tuners | Diecast Chrome |
| more specs |
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