All solid Concert style acoustic guitar with Sitka spruce top, mahogany body and hardbag
The all solidFS3 from Yamaha's Red Label Series combines traditional 1960s aesthetics with modern and innovative features. Accordingly, the new scalloped bracing in combination with a thermally treated Sitka spruce top on a mahogany body provides a warm, powerful tone with clear basses, nuanced and striking mids, as well as brilliant and radiant highs. In addition, the thermal Acoustic Resonance Enhancement (A.R.E.) treatment conveys the sound and sustain of aged wood. The Yamaha FS Concert shape is a good choice for players who prefer a smaller and more compact body, while offering a slightly brighter sound that ideally complements fingerstyle playing. The shortened scale length of 634 mm makes for comfortable playing, whereas the chrome-plated open vintage tuners keep the tuning clean. Last but not least, a hardbag is included in the delivery.
The Yamaha FS3 at a glance:
All solid Concert body
Traditional 60's aesthetics
Thermally treated Sitka spruce top on a mahogany body with modern scalloped bracing for a radiant sound with distinctive mids
Acoustic Resonance Enhancement (A.R.E.) treatment conveys the sound and sustain of aged wood
Ideal for fingerstyle and light strumming
Shortened scale length of 634mm for comfortable playing
Chrome-plated open vintage tuners keep the tuning clean
This is a surprisingly good guitar. The last time I tried Yamaha guitars was 40+ years ago, and wasn't impressed. This guitar impressed me a lot! The sound is exactly what I've been looking for for the last 4 years, and I kept trying other brands, and kept selling them because they didn't deliver, even after a proper set up. The guitar is lightly built (around 4 lbs, <2 kgs), resonant, and is easy to play. Fingerpicking is excellent, and it can take strumming perfectly fine, with some tasty compression from the small size. The scalloped braces gives this guitar the 'oomph' to set it apart from others in this price range. The FS3 did need a proper setup, the hard bag isn't impressive (to me). I've tried a LOT of small-body Spruce/Mahogany over the last 4 years. If I'd tried the new Red Label series sooner, I would've saved a lot of time, money, and headaches. This is the best guitar I've tried against some costing > 2x as much. Best acoustic Spruce/Mahogany guitars under 1000€, imo.
Yamaha FSX5
Martin Guitars 000-15E
Martin Guitars 000-10E
Yamaha AC3R ARE VN
Taylor 112ce-S