FSX800C
Natural
The same guitar as the FGX800C, in the body that suits fingerpicking and smaller hands
Amazon rating
4.6 (116)Price band
$300 - $500
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The short version
The FSX800C is the concert-bodied sibling of the FGX800C, and the difference is not cosmetic. A concert body has a narrower waist and less internal air than a dreadnought, which trades some volume and low-end push for balance and note separation — the reason fingerstyle players tend to prefer them, and the reason they record more easily without a boomy low mid to tame. It is also physically more comfortable, particularly seated and particularly for smaller players. The scale drops to 634 mm here against the 650 mm of the dreadnought, which slackens the strings slightly and makes barre chords marginally less work. Everything else matches: solid spruce top, scalloped bracing, walnut fingerboard and bridge, cutaway, and the same SRT piezo and SYSTEM66 preamp.
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
- 8.0
- Comfort
- 9.0
- 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 | FSX800CNatural |
| Body | |
| Body | Concert 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" (634 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
- Concert body is more balanced and better separated than a dreadnought, which suits fingerstyle
- Shorter 634 mm scale reduces string tension and eases barre chords
- Solid spruce top with the same SRT pickup and SYSTEM66 preamp as the dreadnought version
- Noticeably more comfortable to play seated
What we do not
- Less volume and low-end push than the dreadnought FGX800C
- Laminated nato and okoume back and sides
- Budget nut and saddle
- Yamaha does not publish a fret count for this model
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
- Comfort is the most repeated theme, particularly from smaller players and those who play seated
- Owners coming from a dreadnought describe the note separation as clearer for fingerpicking
- As across the range, the electronics and factory setup draw consistent praise
Frequent complaints
- Reviewers note the smaller body does not project as strongly when strummed hard
- Same budget nut, saddle and strings as the rest of the FG/FS line
Recognised strengths
- Treated as the better recording guitar of the two body shapes
Recognised weaknesses
- Fewer owner reviews than the dreadnought, so patterns are drawn from a smaller sample
The verdict
Choose between this and the FGX800C on body, not on quality — they are the same instrument in two shapes. Take the FSX if you fingerpick, if you play seated for long stretches, if you are smaller framed, or if you record and do not want to fight a dreadnought low end. Take the FGX if you strum hard and want the extra volume and depth. The shorter scale here is a genuine comfort advantage that rarely gets mentioned. Same compromises as the rest of the range: laminated back and sides, basic nut and saddle.
Sources
Amazon rating captured 2026-08-24. ASIN B01DW6ACI8.
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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