FGX800C
Natural
The FG800 with a cutaway and a proper pickup system bolted on
Amazon rating
4.7 (273)Price band
$300 - $500
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The short version
This is the FG800 formula — solid spruce top, scalloped bracing, laminated back and sides — with the two additions that turn a bedroom guitar into a working one. The cutaway makes the upper frets reachable, which matters more than people expect the first time they need to play above the twelfth fret. The electronics are the bigger deal: an SRT piezo pickup feeding a SYSTEM66 preamp, which is a genuine step above the anonymous under-saddle systems fitted at this price. SRT is the same pickup family Yamaha uses much further up its range, and it is voiced to stay natural rather than turning brittle and quacky through a PA. Note the details that differ from the plain FG800: the back and sides here are nato and okoume rather than nato and mahogany, the fingerboard and bridge are walnut rather than rosewood, and the scale is the longer 650 mm.
Score profile
Six axes, scored 1-10. These are editorial judgements about what this instrument delivers for the money — not measurements, and not anyone else’s ratings.
- Build
- 8.0
- Tone
- 8.0
- Versatility
- 9.0
- Comfort
- 8.0
- Hardware
- 8.0
- Value
- 9.0
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Full specifications
| Brand | Yamaha |
|---|---|
| Model | FGX800CNatural |
| Body | |
| Body | Dreadnought cutaway |
| Body wood | Solid spruce top with nato/okoume back and sides |
| Top | Solid spruce |
| Back & sides | Nato / okoume |
| Bracing | Scalloped bracing |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Neck & fingerboard | |
| Neck joint | Set neck with cutaway |
| Neck wood | Nato |
| Neck finish | Matte |
| Scale length | 25 9/16" (650 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Walnut |
| Radius | 15 3/4" (400 mm) |
| Nut width | 1 11/16" (43 mm) |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Walnut |
| Electronics | |
| Electronics | SRT piezo pickup with SYSTEM66 preamp |
| Controls | Volume, 3-band EQ, onboard tuner |
| General | |
| Type | Acoustic-electric guitar |
| Finish | Natural |
| Orientation | Right-handed |
21 verified fields. Specifications come from the manufacturer first, then the Amazon listing, then authorised dealers — sources are listed at the foot of this page. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.
The good and the bad
What we like
- Solid spruce top, so it sounds like a real acoustic unplugged as well as amplified
- SRT piezo and SYSTEM66 preamp are a clear step above generic budget electronics
- Cutaway gives genuine upper-fret access
- Covers both roles: a home acoustic and a stage instrument
What we do not
- Laminated nato and okoume back and sides limit harmonic complexity
- Budget nut and saddle, as across the FG range
- Yamaha does not publish a fret count for this model
- Heavier and bulkier than the thinline APX600 for stage use
Who it is for
Skill level
Styles it suits
What owners and reviewers report
Patterns we found across published reviews and owner feedback. These are summaries of recurring themes — we do not reproduce or invent individual testimonials.
What comes up most
- The combination of a solid top with usable electronics is the most cited reason owners pick this over the plain FG800
- Amplified tone is repeatedly described as natural rather than harsh, which owners attribute to the SRT pickup
- The usual Yamaha praise applies: consistent factory setup and build quality for the money
Frequent complaints
- Owners note the same budget nut, saddle and factory strings as the rest of the FG line
- Some report the onboard tuner as adequate rather than precise
Recognised strengths
- Widely treated as the best-value acoustic-electric in the sub-$400 bracket
Recognised weaknesses
- Laminated back and sides remain the ceiling on how good it can sound unplugged
The verdict
If you know you will be plugging in — a church, an open mic, a small stage — this is the version of the FG to buy, and the premium over the acoustic-only model is modest for what it adds. The solid top means it still works as a proper acoustic when unplugged, which the thinline APX600 does not, so it covers more ground than either of its stablemates. The compromises are the usual ones at this price: laminated back and sides, budget nut and saddle, and no fret count published by Yamaha. None of that undermines the recommendation.
Sources
Amazon rating captured 2026-08-24. ASIN B01DW6A6E8.
Strings for this guitar
All stringsThe manufacturer does not publish the gauge this instrument ships with, so these are ordered by our editorial score rather than by fit. Measure the set on the guitar before changing to something noticeably lighter or heavier.
- 8.2/10
- 8.0/10
Elixir · Strings
NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
The same coated string as the light set, a step easier under the fingers
- 8.0/10
Elixir · Strings
NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
The long-life acoustic string, and still the one to beat on longevity
What else you need
All accessoriesThe highest-scoring option in each category that suits this instrument. If you have never owned a guitar before, the starter guide explains what each of these is for and what you can safely skip.
- 7.8/10
Fender · Tuners
FCT-2 Professional Clip-On Tuner
The tuner to buy first, before strings, before a strap, before anything
- 8.2/10
Dunlop · Picks
The Delrin pick that replaced tortoiseshell, in the gauge most people settle on
- 7.4/10
GLEAM · Stands
The accessory that decides whether the guitar gets played at all
- 7.8/10
CAHAYA · Bags and cases
Six pockets, which is five more than most bags and the reason to pick this one
Compared with
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FG800J
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The safest recommendation in budget acoustics, and it has been for years
Yamaha · Thinline acoustic-electric guitar
APX600
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The same stage acoustic, in the finish that disappears behind you